The Thin Red Line (1998)

Jim Caviezel: Pvt. Witt

Photos 

Quotes 

• Private Witt : Do you ever feel lonely?

  First Sgt. Edward Welsh : Only around people.

• Private Witt : I remember my mother when she was dyin', looked all shrunk up and gray. I asked her if she was afraid. She just shook her head. I was afraid to touch the death I seen in her. I couldn't find nothin' beautiful or uplifting about her goin' back to God. I heard of people talk about immortality, but I ain't seen it.

  Private Witt : I wondered how it'd be like when I died, what it'd be like to know this breath now was the last one you was ever gonna draw. I just hope I can meet it the same way she did, with the same... calm. 'Cause that's where it's hidden - the immortality I hadn't seen.

• Private Witt : [narrating]  War don't ennoble men. It turns them into dogs... poisons the soul.

• Private Witt : I seen another world. Sometimes I think it was just my imagination.

• Private Witt : [voice over]  Everyone lookin' for salvation by himself. Each like a coal thrown from the fire.

• 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.

• Private Witt : How did we lose all the good that was given us? Let it slip away. Let it slip away. Scattered it, careless. What's keepin' us from reaching out, touching the glory?

• Private Witt : [voice over]  Maybe all men got one big soul everybody's a part of, all faces are the same man. One big self.

• Private Witt : I can take anything you dish out. I am twice the man you are.

• Private Witt : [narration]  Who are you to live in all these many forms? Your death that captures all. You, too, are the source of all that's gonna be born. Your glory. Mercy. Peace. Truth. You give calm a spirit, understanding, courage. The contented heart.

• Private Witt : [voice over]  We were a family. How'd it break up and come apart, so that now we're turned against each other? Each standing in the other's light. How'd we lose that good that was given us? Let it slip away. Scattered it, careless. What's keepin' us from reaching out, touching the glory?

• Private Witt : Kids around here never fight.

  Melanesian Woman with Child : Sometimes. Sometimes when they see the planes, they always fighting.

• Private Ash : I would have had you Witt if you were a Jap, long ago.

  Private Witt : They leave you here?

  Private Ash : Yeah, I was holding them up.

  Private Witt : You got one good huh?

  Private Ash : Right in the knee. Yeah, I'm out of this war for good Witt. The Doc fixed me up pretty good, plenty of ammo. What are you doing up here?

  Private Witt : I took a walk away from the village. You can come with me if you want, I can help you along.

  Private Ash : No, its peaceful up here you know? I'll only slow you up. Someone will be along. You give the boys my best, huh?

  Private Witt : I will.

  Private Ash : Ok.

• Sergeant Keck : It's for the best. I'm aII messed up down there. I can't fuck no more. Whoa... Where am I? Where am I?

  Private Witt : You're gonna be aII right. Even if you die, you didn't Iet your brothers down. If you hadn't thrown yourself against that embankment, we'd aII have been kiIIed.

  Sergeant Keck : I'm cold. I'm cold. I'm - freezing...

• Imprisoned AWOL Soldier : He hates you worse than poison.

  Private Witt : I never felt he hated me, cause I don't hate him.

• Private Witt : I Iove Charlie Company. They're my people.