Quotes about Causes

Jefferson Smith: Dad always used to say the only causes worth fighting for were the lost causes.

- James Stewart (as Jefferson Smith) in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Rhett Butler: I believe in Rhett Butler, he's the only cause I know.

- Clark Gable (as Rhett Butler) in Gone with the Wind (1939)

'Kit Carson' Holliday:Jeb, I'm frightened. That boy is crippled for life. And that man on the train, he died for a principle. A man killed for a principle. One of them is wrong, but which one?

- Olivia de Havilland (as 'Kit Carson' Holliday) in Santa Fe Trail (1940)

Rick: Don't you sometimes wonder if it's worth all this? I mean what you're fighting for.
Victor Laszlo: You might as well question why we breathe. If we stop breathing, we'll die. If we stop fighting our enemies, the world will die.
Rick: Well, what of it? It'll be out of its misery.
Victor Laszlo: You know how you sound, Mr. Blaine? Like a man who's trying to convince himself of something he doesn't believe in his heart.

- Paul Henreid (as Victor Laszlo) in Casablanca (1942)

Scarlett: But you are a blockade runner.
Rhett Butler: For profit, and profit only.
Scarlett: Are you tryin' to tell me you don't believe in the cause?
Rhett Butler: I believe in Rhett Butler, he's the only cause I know.

- Clark Gable (as Rhett Butler) in Gone with the Wind (1939)

Scarlett: Rhett, how could you do this to me, and why should you go now that, after it's all over and I need you, why? Why?
Rhett Butler: Why? Maybe it's because I've always had a weakness for lost causes, once they're really lost. Or maybe, maybe I'm ashamed of myself. Who knows?

- Clark Gable (as Rhett Butler) in Gone with the Wind (1939)

Jefferson Smith: I guess this is just another lost cause, Mr. Paine. All you people don't know about lost causes. Mr. Paine does. He said once they were the only causes worth fighting for. And he fought for them once, for the only reason any man ever fights for them; because of just one plain simple rule: 'Love thy neighbor. And in this world today, full of hatred, a man who knows that one rule has a great trust. You know that rule, Mr. Paine, and I loved you for it, just as my father did. And you know that you fight for the lost causes harder than for any other. Yes, you even die for them.

- James Stewart (as Jefferson Smith) in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Jefferson Smith: I guess this is just another lost cause Mr. Paine. All you people don't know about lost causes. Mr. Paine does. He said once they were the only causes worth fighting for and he fought for them once. For the only reason any man ever fights for them. Because of just one plain simple rule. Love thy neighbor. And in this world today of great hatred a man who knows that rule has a great trust. You know that rule Mr. Paine and I loved you for it just as my father did. And you know that you fight harder for the lost causes than for any others. Yes you'd even die for them. Like a man we both knew Mr. Paine. You think I'm licked. You all think I'm licked. Well I'm not licked. And I'm gonna stay right here and fight for this lost cause. Even if this room gets filled with lies like these. And the Taylors and all their armies come marching into this place. Somebody will listen to me.
[he collapses]

- James Stewart (as Jefferson Smith) in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Robert Jordan: A man fights for what he believes in, Fernando!

- Gary Cooper (as Robert Jordan) in For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943)

Rick: I'm the only "cause" I'm interested in.

- Humphrey Bogart (as Rick Blaine) in Casablanca (1942)