Zorba the Greek (1964)

Alan Bates: Basil

Photos 

Quotes 

• Basil : I don't want any trouble.

  Alexis Zorba : Life is trouble. Only death is not. To be alive is to undo your belt and *look* for trouble.

• Alexis Zorba : Damn it boss, I like you too much not to say it. You've got everthing except one thing: madness! A man needs a little madness, or else...

  Basil : Or else?

  Alexis Zorba : ...he never dares cut the rope and be free.

• Alexis Zorba : Why do the young die? Why does anybody die?

  Basil : I don't know.

  Alexis Zorba : What's the use of all your damn books if they can't answer that?

  Basil : They tell me about the agony of men who can't answer questions like yours.

  Alexis Zorba : I spit on this agony!

• Basil : Aren't you feeling well?

  Madame Hortense : In my age, monsieur, one is never well... especially on the holidays.

• Basil : I don't believe you give a damn about your country.

  Alexis Zorba : Don't you talk to me like that!

  Alexis Zorba : [pulls open his shirt, shows Basil wound scars on his bare front]  Look here, here and here! Nothing on the back! I have done things for my country that would make your hair stand. I have killed. Destroyed villages. Raped women. And why? Because they were Turks! or Bulgarians! That's the rotten damned fool I was. Now I look at a man - any man - and I say, he is good, he is bad. What do I care if he's Greek or Turk? As I get older, I swear by the bread I eat, I even stop asking that. Good or bad? What is the difference? They all end up the same way... food for worms!

  [laughs] 

• Basil : I... couldn't help.

• Basil : [after Zorba has departed on horseback for a business trip]  Don't be sad. He's coming back.

  Madame Hortense : They all say that.

• [first lines] 

  Basil : Be careful.