The Damned (1969)

Helmut Griem: Aschenbach

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Quotes 

• Aschenbach : [showing Sophie the Gestapo's secret file room]  These are the most complete archives ever conceived. This is the secret Germany. Nothing is lacking. You can even find your history and Frederick's. Can you believe it? You see it's not very difficult to enter into the lives of people. Every German citizen today is potentially one of our informers. The collective thinking of our people is now complete. Don't you think that is the true miracle of the Third Reich?... If you wish, we could read Konstantine's future together - if he has one.

• Aschenbach : But he who wants to become master of all, even himself, who deludes himself into thinking he is able to make his own decisions to thinking himself. That, no. You don't have these pretensions - right, Martin?

• Aschenbach : Calm yourself. I didn't bring you here to blackmail you. Konstantin has already tried. It didn't bring him any luck. And then to put you in real trouble. You, the son of a hero, the true hero, the only Von Essenbeck... just because a little Jewess had the bad taste to hang herself. Didn't you know? *Jew*. According to the New Order, your's isn't even a crime. In fact, it's... But, that's not enough say we are friends... or allies.

• Aschenbach : You must realize that today in Germany anything can happen, even the improbable, and it's just the beginning, Frederick. Personal morals are dead. We are an elite society where everything is permissible. These are Hitler's words. My dear Frederick, even you should give them some thought.

• Aschenbach : The moment has come to crush the innocent little flower, because the flower obstructs our path. I have already pre announced to Frederick a similar occurrence, but he has not developed well his sense of the Hegelian system.

• Aschenbach : You see, Sophie, if we needed the SA to conquer Germany, to conquer the world we need the Army. But, the Army wants no part of the SA. The generals have been explicit. Either us or them. Do you want the Chancellor to be displeased with our fine generals?

  Sophie Von Essenbeck : Do you really think that Hitler is willing to put his friend, Rohm, in the background?

  Aschenbach : A man like Rohm? That wouldn't be enough and too much of a risk. Certain things are not done halfway.

• Aschenbach : It's impossible.

  Sophie Von Essenbeck : Nothing is impossible in this country. A decree is sufficient.

• Aschenbach : He's your son, Sophie. Must I always be the one to remind you of that?

• Aschenbach : In every question of power, always an alternative is necessary, even hypothetical. It's the first rule in the art of governing.

• Aschenbach : Yours - is a beautiful love story, Sophie. An exemplary story. But I don't see how it is directly connected with the life of the Third Reich.

  Sophie Von Essenbeck : It's not just a love story.

• Aschenbach : You see, Gunther. You, tonight, have acquired something truly extraordinary: the brutality of your father, Frederick's ambition, even the ruthlessness of Martin. But all that is nothing compared to what you already possess: hate, Gunther! You possess hate. It'a a young hate. Pure. Absolute. But be careful. This potential of energy and fury is too important to use it in a paltry private vendetta.

• Aschenbach : Only he who acknowledges he can lose, from one day to the next, everything he might have gained thanks to our ours support, that yes, is a trustworthy friend. But he who wants to become master of all, even of himself, who deludes himself into thinking he is able to make his own decisions, to think by himself, that, no.