- Napoleon Bonaparte: The Pope considered me despicable, yet he crossed the Alps to anoint me. The King of Austria called me a Corsican gutter rat, and gave me his daughter as a bride. Anyone can make use of a friend. The trick is to use one's enemies.
- Betty Balcombe: Papa is sending me to school in London. God, how I longed for it! Begged him! He wouldn't hear of it.
- Napoleon Bonaparte: How did you manage?
- Betty Balcombe: I found a man I could use: I told him I was in love with you. He can't wait to pack me off.
- Napoleon Bonaparte: When I go into battle, I never bother to take food for all my troops. It stands to reason some of them will be killed. Why bother hauling provisions for corpses?
- Barry O'Meara: Apart from my duties as your physician, I'm required to report daily that I've seen you as a precaution against escape. I agreed to obey that order on the condition that I could inform you of it. I'm not a spy.
- Napoleon Bonaparte: I have nothing against spies.
- Napoleon Bonaparte: I'd like a bible.
- Sir Hudson Lowe: It never occurred to me that you were religious.
- Napoleon Bonaparte: I only read the love poetry. And the battle scenes. You can learn a lot from those Old Testament boys.
- Napoleon Bonaparte: You think there's always a choice between good and evil? Sometimes there's only a choice between horrors.
- Sir Hudson Lowe: Could I say although this is the first time I've had the honor of meeting you in person, I've long regarded you with the utmost admiration; well aware that you make a point of keeping out of the public eye, and that many of your countrymen are unaware of the historic services that you have rendered to...
- Lord Sissal: [interrupting] Do you always talk so much, or is it a disease one catches out here?
- Lord Sissal: Either accept our terms, or you hang. It's what's known in the law books as blackmail, and in the history books as statesmanship.
- [first lines]
- Count Bertrand: Allow me to introduce myself.
- Sir Hudson Lowe: That's quite unnecessary. I know who you are.
- Sir Hudson Lowe: You are free to move anywhere on the island, provided you are accompanied by an English officer.
- Napoleon Bonaparte: I am not your prisoner.
- Sir Hudson Lowe: You held a great deal of power for a very long time. I expect it's not easy to accept someone else in command. Nevertheless, that is the fact of the matter.
- Barry O'Meara: Why, when a respectable man does something despicable, does he always insist it's his duty?
- Napoleon Bonaparte: There are only two kinds of men in the world: those who will use you, and those you can use.
- Lord Sissal: Ah, Thomas.
- Barry O'Meara: Yes sir?
- Lord Sissal: Saw your father before I left. Asked me to inquire how you were getting on.
- Barry O'Meara: [who thinks his father is a political sell-out] Tell him I'm working on a plot to burn Parliament.
- Lord Sissal: [laughing] I'll tell him! Never liked your father. Puritanical bastard! Stupid as a flatiron!