Col. Nicholson: One day the war will be over. And I hope that the people that use this bridge in years to come will remember how it was built and who built it. Not a gang of slaves, but soldiers, British soldiers, Clipton, even in captivity.

- Alec Guinness (as Col. Nicholson) in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Shears: I'd say the odds against a successful escape are about 100 to one. But may I add another word, Colonel? The odds against survival in this camp are even worse.

- William Holden (as Shears) in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Shears: You give me powders, pills, baths, injections, enemas; when all I need is love.

- William Holden (as Shears) in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Shears: You make me sick with your heroics! There's a stench of death about you. You carry it in your pack like the plague. Explosives and L-pills - they go well together, don't they? And with you it's just one thing or the other: destroy a bridge or destroy yourself. This is just a game, this war! You and Colonel Nicholson, you're two of a kind, crazy with courage. For what? How to die like a gentleman... how to die by the rules - when the only important thing is how to live like a human being.

- William Holden (as Shears) in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Colonel Saito: All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.

- Sessue Hayakawa (as Col. Saito) in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Colonel Saito: Be happy in your work.

- Sessue Hayakawa (as Col. Saito) in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Colonel Saito: Do not speak to me of rules. This is war! This is not a game of cricket!

- Sessue Hayakawa (as Col. Saito) in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Colonel Saito: I hate the British! You are defeated but you have no shame. You are stubborn but you have no pride. You endure but you have no courage. I hate the British!

- Sessue Hayakawa (as Col. Saito) in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Maj. Clipton: Madness! Madness!

- James Donald (as Maj. Clipton) in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Maj. Clipton: The fact is, what we're doing could be construed as - forgive me sir - collaboration with the enemy. Perhaps even as treasonable activity. Must we work so well? Must we build them a better bridge than they could have built for themselves?

- James Donald (as Maj. Clipton) in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)