Carnival in Flanders (1935)

Françoise Rosay: Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre, Madame Burgomaster

Quotes 

• Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : If life's a bit hard at first, all the better. You're young and in love. Nothing else matters.

• Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : I'm happy for you, darling. A girl's engagement is an important, unforgettable day.

  Siska : What if Papa won't give his consent?

  Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : I'll give mine.

• Siska : The butcher tried to kiss me.

  Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : Did you slap him? Good! And then?

  Siska : I'm to marry him in a month. He said so.

  Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : Just like a drunkard!

  Siska : No. Papa gave his word.

  Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : That sly fox! I should have guessed. That's why he's been pampering me.

• Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : A fawning husband means trickery - remember that.

• Korbus de Witte, le bourgmestre : You Frenchwomen talk too much!

  Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : And you - not enough!

• Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : You're no father - you're a tyrant!

• Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : What do you intend to do?

  Korbus de Witte, le bourgmestre : Don't be so curious.

  Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : I'm not curious. I'm suspicious.

  Korbus de Witte, le bourgmestre : These are lofty matters beyond women's comprehension.

• Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : Do you have the slightest idea what's going on? Of course not. All you do is paint and whine.

• Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : This is no time for billing and cooing.

• Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : It's clear that beards, breeches, and harquebuses mean nothing.

• Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : Women! Women! Since our men clearly can't handle the situation, we will!

  Town Woman #1 : We'll do it without them.

  La poissonnière : Do without men? Impossible.

  Town Woman #2 : Why?

  La poissonnière : You know why.

  Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : Even there, they need us more than we need them.

• Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : Ever since Eden, woman has been better armed.

  Town Woman #3 : Governing is a man's work. We'd be at a loss.

  Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : On the contrary - we have a long experience. Don't we govern our homes and children?

  Town Woman #2 : Yes, but not men.

  Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : Men? Even easier.

• Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : Women! We've accepted men's domination this long because our mothers did, and their mothers before them. But today's events have opened our eyes. Let us show all Flanders the example of a town that women have saved from ruin and dishonor by their energy, determination, and courage! Enough talk - time for action.

• Korbus de Witte, le bourgmestre : Oh! Why all this fitting and finery?

  Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : These are lofty matters beyond men's comprehension.

• Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : The poor man did well to die.

  Le duc d'Olivarès : You really think so?

  Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : Death is sometimes a deliverance for more than just the deceased.

• Le duc d'Olivarès : Ladies, watch Cornelia - I mean the burgomistress. She puts the pretty maidens of Seville to shame.

  Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : [fanning herself]  I've never been taught.

  Le duc d'Olivarès : Please continue - for my pleasure.

• L'aubergiste : Your Grace, if you'd deign to drink from this glass, we'll keep it as a souvenir.

  Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : His Grace has left the table. He's not thirsty.

  L'aubergiste : Couldn't you just wet your lips?

  Le duc d'Olivarès : Very well.

• Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : Let's get some fresh air.

  Le duc d'Olivarès : I'd love to. I'm fond of people, except when they perspire.

• Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : They don't see us. They're planning their future together.

  Le duc d'Olivarès : People do that at every age. It's never too late to be happy.

• Le duc d'Olivarès : Moonlight on the water and singing in the distance - it reminds me of Venice.

  Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre : Venice? You've been to Venice?

  Le duc d'Olivarès : Yes!