Conquest of Space (1955)

Walter Brooke: Gen. Samuel T. Merritt

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Quotes 

• Sergeant Imoto : Some years ago, my country chose to fight a terrible war. It was bad, I do not defend it, but there were reasons. Somehow those reasons are never spoken of. To the Western world at that time, Japan was a fairybook nation: little people living in a strange land of rice-paper houses... people who had almost no furniture, who sat on the floor and ate with chopsticks. The quaint houses of rice paper, sir: they were made of paper because there was no other material available. And the winters in Japan are as cold as they are in Boston. And the chopsticks: there was no metal for forks and knives and spoons, but slivers of wood could suffice. So it was with the little people of Japan, little as I am now, because for countless generations we have not been able to produce the food to make us bigger. Japan's yesterday will be the world's tomorrow: too many people and too little land. That is why I say, sir, there is urgent reason for us to reach Mars: to provide the resources the human race will need if they are to survive. That is also why I am most grateful to be found acceptable, sir. I volunteer.

  General Samuel T. Merritt : Thank you, Sergeant Imoto. You're not a little man.

• General Samuel T. Merritt : According to the Bible, Man was created on the Earth. Nothing is ever mentioned of his going to other planets. Not one blessed word.

  Captain Barney Merritt : Well, at the time the Bible was written, it wouldn't have made much sense, would it?

  General Samuel T. Merritt : Does it now? The Biblical limitations of Man's wanderings are set down as being the four corners of the Earth. Not Mars, or Jupiter, or infinity. The question is, Barney, what are we -- explorers or invaders?

  Captain Barney Merritt : Invaders? Of what, sir?

  General Samuel T. Merritt : The sacred domain of God. His heavens. To Man, God gave the Earth, nothing else. This taking of... of other planets... it's almost like an act of blasphemy.

  Captain Barney Merritt : But why? They belong to no one else.

  General Samuel T. Merritt : We don't know that.

  Captain Barney Merritt : But look, sir, it couldn't be just an accident that at the very time when Man's resources on Earth are reaching an end, Man develops the ability to leave his own world and seek replenishment on other planets. The timing is what fascinates me: it's too perfect to be accidental.

  General Samuel T. Merritt : Those other planets might already be tenanted.

  Captain Barney Merritt : Oh, I don't think so... the universe was put here for Man to conquer.

• General Samuel T. Merritt : Merritt speaking. Here's the report. Lost course for several days due to near-collision with asteroid, but we can still reach destination as planned... which may be Mars, or Hell. This voyage is a cursed abomination! If it were possible I'd come back now, return the ship to Earth and blow it up--

  Captain Barney Merritt : General, please!

  General Samuel T. Merritt : --together with all plans in existence for building another! We're committing Man's greatest sacrilege, and we can't stop.

• General Samuel T. Merritt : Before any of you accept, I should like to make it unmistakably clear that the dangers of this journey are above and beyond anything that the Space Corps or your own governments have any right to ask of you. I can give you confounded little reason for this attempt to reach Mars, and no assurance at all that it will even be successful. It's my personal conviction that no one but an idiot would volunteer, and I shall strongly suspect the sanity of anyone who does. All right, we've all got it straight. Who wants to go?