The Thin Red Line (1998)

Sean Penn: 1st Sgt. Welsh

Photos 

Quotes 

• Private Witt : Do you ever feel lonely?

  First Sgt. Edward Welsh : Only around people.

• First Sgt. Edward Welsh : Everything a lie... Everything you hear, everything you see... So much to spew out... They just keep coming, one after another... You're in a box... A moving box... They want you dead, or in their lie. Only one thing a man can do - find something that's his, and make an island for himself. If I never meet you in this life, let me feel the lack; a glance from your eyes, and my life will be yours.

• First Sgt. Edward Welsh : In this world, a man, himself, is nothing. And there ain't no world but this one.

• First Sgt. Edward Welsh : Hey Witt, who you making trouble for today?

  Private Witt : What do you mean?

  First Sgt. Edward Welsh : Well, isn't that what you like to do? Turn left when they say go right. Why are you such a trouble maker Witt?

  Private Witt : You care about me? Don't ya Sergeant? I always felt like you did. One day I come up and talk to ya. Then the next day it's like we never even met. Lonely house now, you ever get lonely?

  First Sgt. Edward Welsh : Only around people.

  Private Witt : Only around people.

  First Sgt. Edward Welsh : You still believin in the beautiful light are ya? How do you do that? You're a magician to me.

  Private Witt : I still see a spark in you.

• First Sgt. Edward Welsh : We're living in a world that's blowing itself to hell as fast as everybody can arrange it. In a situation like that aII a man can do is shut his eyes and let nothing touch him. Look out for himself.

• First Sgt. Edward Welsh : Property. The whole fucking thing's about property.

• Sergeant Storm : I look at that boy dyin', I don't feel nothin'. I don't care about nothin' anymore.

  First Sgt. Edward Welsh : Sounds like bliss.

• First Sgt. Edward Welsh : I might be your best friend, and you don't even know it.

• First Sgt. Edward Welsh : Where's your spark now?

• First Sgt. Edward Welsh : [Voiceover]  If I never meet you in this life, let me feel the lack. A glance from your eyes, and my life will be yours.

• First Sgt. Edward Welsh : There's not some other world out there where everything's gonna be okay. There's just this one, just this rock.

• First Sgt. Edward Welsh : What difference do you think you can make? One single man in aII this madness. If you die, it's gonna be for nothing.

• First Sgt. Edward Welsh : I don't have that feeling yet. That numbness. Not Iike the rest of you guys. Maybe cause I knew what to expect. Maybe I was just frozen up already.

• First Sgt. Edward Welsh : This army's gonna kiII you. If you were smart, you'd take care of yourself. There's nothing you can do for anybody else. You're just running into a burning house where nobody can be saved.

• First Sgt. Edward Welsh : Captain, you say one more word to thank me, I'II knock you right in the teeth. You mention me in your fuckin' orders and I'II resign so fast and Ieave you here to run this busted-up outfit by yourself. You understand?