Camelot (1967)

Laurence Naismith: Merlyn

Photos 

Quotes 

• King Arthur as a Boy : What's the best thing for being sad?

  Merlyn : The best thing for being sad is to learn something.

• [first lines] 

  A Knight : The rules of battle are not for Lancelot Du Lac, Your Majesty! Let us attack now while they sleep!

  King Arthur : [firmly]  We will attack when I give the command - at dawn.

  [the knight leaves, and Arthur begins to talk to himself] 

  King Arthur : Oh, Merlyn, Merlyn, why is Ginny in that castle, behind walls I cannot enter? How did I blunder into this agonizing absurdity? Where did I stumble? How did I go wrong? Should I not have loved her?

  [sighs] 

  King Arthur : Then I should not have been born! Oh, Merlyn, I haven't got much time. Within an inch of sunlight, the arrows begin to fly. If I am to die in battle, please, please do not let me die bewildered!

  Merlyn : [voice only, far off in the distance]  Think back, Arthur! Think back!

• Merlyn : Learn. Learn - why the world wags and what wags it!

• King Arthur : How could I learn if I couldn't think? And I couldn't think; so, I couldn't learn. But, even to think the thought, I thought. But, even the thought, I'm not thinking a thought, is thinking, isn't it?

  Merlyn : Yes! And thinking, boy, is something you should definitely get into the habit of making use of, as often as possible. Thinking helps in everything. Everything but love, that is. Love is a sort of seventh day, so thinking can rest.

• King Arthur : What am I?

  Merlyn : You're a hawk!

  King Arthur : Has the hunting season started?

  Merlyn : By George, I believe it has...

  King Arthur : I'm flying higher!

  Merlyn : Look down! Tell me what you see!

  King Arthur : I see lakes, trees, forests!

  Merlyn : Can you see Camelot?

  King Arthur : Oh yes, I can!

  Merlyn : Can you see the next county?

  King Arthur : Uh... yes! I can see the middle of it! It's Greylock Valley, but I can't see the edges of it!

  Merlyn : Can you see the edges when you're down here?

  King Arthur : Of course, I can! The boundaries are clearly marked!

  Merlyn : Then what do you know as a hawk, that you don't know as Arthur?

• Merlyn : Look down. Look into the water, Wart. TeII me what you see.

  King Arthur : Water, fish, and us.

  Merlyn : Forget the water. Forget us, and think of the fish. Think yourseIf a fish. FeeI yourseIf a fish. Breathe with your giIIs. Now, be - a fish.