Minister of War: Books? Books? I don't read books!

- Gilbert Emery (as Minister of War) in The Life of Emile Zola (1937)

La Rue: We've been watching your writings, young man. You're a troublemaker! These articles of yours, attacking our leading men of letters, the arts! Criticizing the civic authorities!
Émile Zola:: Perhaps you know of something better for me to criticize?

- Paul Muni (as Emile Zola) in The Life of Emile Zola (1937)

Émile Zola:: I shall tell the truth. Because if I did not, my nights would be haunted by the spectre of an innocent man expiating under the most frightful torture a crime he never committed.

- Paul Muni (as Emile Zola) in The Life of Emile Zola (1937)

Émile Zola:: What does it matter if an individual is shattered - if only justice is resurrected?

- Paul Muni (as Emile Zola) in The Life of Emile Zola (1937)

Émile Zola:: At this solemn moment, in the presence of this tribunal, which is the representative of human justice, before France, before the whole world, I swear that Dreyfus is innocent! By all that I have won, by all that I have written to spread the spirit of France, I swear that he is innocent. May all that melt away; may my name perish if Dreyfus be not innocent. He is innocent.

- Paul Muni (as Emile Zola) in The Life of Emile Zola (1937)

Émile Zola:: Why didn't Picquart say anything?
Lucie Dreyfus: Colonel Picquart is a good officer. He kept silent at the request of his superiors.
Émile Zola:: You mean they KNEW and they ordered him to suppress the truth? Why,that's monstrous!

- Paul Muni (as Emile Zola) in The Life of Emile Zola (1937)