War & Peace (TV Mini Series)

Episode #1.4 (2016)

Paul Dano: Pierre Bezukhov

Quotes 

• Osip Alexeevich Bazdeev : I understand you've made a great effort to change your life. That's very commendable. How do you feel about yourself?

  Pierre Bezukhov : Well, I can look at myself without disgust now. But... I'm still not happy. You know, not at all. I sleep badly, I wake with fearful thoughts. What's the matter with me?

  Osip Alexeevich Bazdeev : Perhaps you are changing your world and forgetting to change yourself. Do you try to forgive those who have wounded you?

• Pierre Bezukhov : But what about yourself? You have so much to give. Marry again. Why not?

  Andrei Bolkonsky : And make some other poor girl unhappy? I'm surprised to hear you recommend marriage, Pierre. We neither of us distinguished ourselves there, did we?

• Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky : No more war? This peace treaty with France won't last. And mark my words, we'll be fighting Napoleon again before you're much older.

  Pierre Bezukhov : No, sir! We must believe that man is capable of evolving.

  Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky : Evolving? Men don't change! You could drain the blood from their veins and put in water, there might be no more war. You're talking old women's nonsense, sir. But I'm happy to see that there are still a few idealists left on earth.

• Pierre Bezukhov : Look, I must say this to you. We've had all these conversations and you've been talking as if your life is over, but you're a young man still. You know, so many good things can happen to you. Since I became a mason and started to live a good life, I feel capable of anything. We must live. You know, we must love. And we must believe that... there's more to it all than our lives on this scrap of earth. There's something else out there, it is true, Andrei. You must believe it.

  Andrei Bolkonsky : Yes, if only it were so.

• Pierre Bezukhov : One thing I thank God for is that I didn't kill that man.

  Andrei Bolkonsky : Why so? If a dog is vicious, he's better off dead.

  Pierre Bezukhov : Oh, but to take a man's life, that must always be wrong.

  Andrei Bolkonsky : Why must it always be wrong? For you, perhaps. For me, there are only two evils. Sickness and remorse.

• Pierre Bezukhov : Yes, this is the life. Bread and cheese. And wine in moderation. To hell with high society.

• Andrei Bolkonsky : I've been staring in, into the abyss, Pierre. So, now, my sole aim is to live for myself. To do as little harm as possible, and to have as little to do with other people as I can.

  Pierre Bezukhov : No, I can't agree. That wouldn't be enough. I used to live for myself and I ruined my life. Now I try to think of others. Actively try to help them, and I'm much happier for it. Anyway, you don't live just for yourself. What about your sister, your father, your little son?

  Andrei Bolkonsky : They are a part of myself.