Housemaster (1938)

Kynaston Reeves: The Rev. Ovington

Quotes 

• The Rev. Ovington : A boy is not a reasoning animal.

• Charles Donkin : You are set in authority over 500 of the oddest, shyest, most observant, most critical and least articulate creatures that God ever made. And you treat them as if they were the occupants of a particularly insensitive oyster bed. You've trampled on their most cherished traditions.

  The Rev. Ovington : It is sometimes necessary to trample on traditions.

  Charles Donkin : But not with hobnailed boots.

• The Rev. Ovington : I have decided to put the town permanently out of bounds.

  Charles Donkin : Bur, Mr. Ovington, access to the town has been free and open since time immemorial. The boys won't like their privileges being tampered with.

  The Rev. Ovington : That is the perfectly natural reaction of all boys toward anything that is good for them.