Quotes / Sharpe

Richard Sharpe is the protagonist of a bestselling series of novels by Bernard Cornwell, which were subsequently adapted into a series of TV movies starring Sean Bean as Sharpe and Daragh O'Malley as his faithful lancer, Patrick Harper. Sharpe is an early-19th century soldier fighting in the Napoleonic Wars; he's a gutter-born bastard and a ranker in the British army until he saves the life of Sir Arthur Wellesley, who rewards him a Field Promotion.

The Novels

He offered Sharpe the ghost of a smile; an acknowledgement of how many battlefields the two men had shared across the years. A more perceptive man than Sharpe might have read some message in The Duke's seeking the companionship of a veteran soldier, but Sharpe merely felt his usual awkwardness when he was in the company of his old commanding officer.

—Sharpe's Waterloo

The TV Adaptation

Teresa: If you were French, I would take a knife and you would tell me all I wanted to know.
Sharpe: But we are allies.
Teresa: Allies? Do allies keep secrets from each other?
Sharpe: Lovers lie to each other, and yet they still make love.

—Sharpe's Rifles

Man in Black: You say you are an Irishman. Why should you be loyal to the British dogs, who want to take you to Lisbon to shoot you?
Harper: Jesus, you took the words right out of my mouth.
Man in Black: I can help you. Give me the box.
Harper: And if I do?
Man in Black: You will be rich.
Harper: And if I don't?
Man in Black: You will be dead.
Harper: Well, you're having the best of the argument so far.

—Sharpe's Rifles

I was a sergeant once. I was the best god-damned bloody sergeant in the god-damned bloody army.

—Sharpe, Sharpe's Eagle

Sharpe's a killer. Killed three French cavalrymen and saved Wellesley's life. Three seconds, slash, cut, thrust. And that's while he was still a Sergeant.

—Major Hogan, Sharpe's Eagle

Harper: So, you and me are going to stop a rebellion? Just the two of us?
Sharpe: Well I don't see no bugger else.

—Sharpe's Challenge

Perhaps then, you might at least be prevailed upon to perform one last duty? In which case I assure you there is no trouble to yourself.

—Govorner Sedgefield, Sharpe's Peril, who apparently hasn't seen the title of the episode.

Day comes a man has to decide: whether he stands to protect what he holds dear, or bows himself under another's will.

—Sharpe, Sharpe's Peril

You are a good man, Colonel Sharpe, for all you would have the world think otherwise.

—Marie-Angelique, Sharpe's Peril

Simmerson: It would appear I owe you my life.
Sharpe: We all make mistakes, Sir Henry.
Simmerson: [grumbles, then laughs] Quite so, quite so. God speed you safe home... Richard.
[They shake hands]
Harper: I have now seen it all.

—Sharpe's Peril

Wellesley: Major Hogan reports a number of losses, Sir Henry. He says you first lost your head, and instead of destroying the bridge, you marched over it. He says you then lost your nerve, and ran from a small French patrol. He says you lost ten men, a Major and two sergeants. He says you finally lost your sense of honour and destroyed the bridge, cutting off a rescue party led by Lieutenant Sharpe... Major Hogan leaves the worst to the last. He says you lost the King's Colours.
Simmerson: The fault was not mine, sir. Major Lennox must answer.
Wellesley: Major Lennox answered with his life! As you should have done if you had any sense of honour! You lost the Colours of the King of England! You disgraced us, sir. You shamed us, sir. You will answer.

—Sharpe's Eagle

Bastard!

—Sharpe, Every Episode, Repeatedly

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