Dear god Quote by William Goldman
““To the pain means this: if we duel and you win, death for me. If we duel and I win, life for you. But life on my terms. The first thing you lose will be your feet. Below the ankle. You will have stumps available to use within six months. Then your hands, at the wrists. They heal somewhat quicker. Five months is a fair average. Next your nose. No smell of dawn for you. Followed by your tongue. Deeply cut away. Not even a stump left. And then your left eye—" And then my right eye, and then my ears, and shall we get on with it?" the Prince said. Wrong!" Westley’s voice rang across the room. "Your ears you keep, so that every shriek of every child shall be yours to cherish—every babe that weeps in fear at your approach, every woman that cries 'Dear God, what is that thing?' will reverberate forever with your perfect ears.””
About This Quote
Source Film: The Princess Bride, 1987
The speaker threatens progressive physical loss to control and intimidate, emphasizing power through fear.
In simple terms: Power can be wielded by threatening harm.
Key Takeaway
Beware of using fear as a tool for control.
Themes
power
coercion
violence
Mood
tense
dark
Type
cinematic
dramatic
When to use this quote
- political negotiations
- abusive relationships
- bullying situations
Key Concepts
ethics
psychological warfare
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you seen fear used to dominate?
- Can compassion replace intimidation?
A Different Perspective
Such threats are morally reprehensible and often backfire.
