- Christopher Tietjens: [sadly] I can't go back. The sentimentalist must be stoned to death. It makes everyone uncomfortable.
- Sir Reginald: This department
- [the Imperial Department of Statistics]
- Sir Reginald: exists to show that just as there are different ways to put things into words there are different ways to put things into numbers.
- Christopher Tietjens: I detest and despise the work I am asked to do in the department, whose purpose seems to be to turn statistics into sophistry. I am resigning. Good morning.
- Sir Reginald: Resigning? Don't you want to be a man of influence?
- Christopher Tietjens: No. I'd prefer to be in the trenches.