#1: Did you ever think of yourself as actually dead, lying in a box with a lid on it?
#2: No.
#1: Nor do I, really. It’s silly to be depressed by it. I mean, one thinks of it like being alive in a box. One keeps forgetting to take into account the fact that one is dead, which should make all the difference, shouldn’t it? I mean, you’d never *know* you were in a box, would you? It would be just like you were asleep in a box. Not that I’d like to sleep in a box, mind you. Not without any air. You’d wake up dead for a start, and then where would you be? In a box. That’s the bit I don’t like, frankly. That’s why I don’t think of it. Because you’d be helpless, wouldn’t you? Stuffed in a box like that. I mean, you’d be in there forever, even taking into account the fact that you’re dead. It isn’t a pleasant thought. Especially if you’re dead, really. Ask yourself, if I asked you straight off, ‘I’m going to stuff you in this box. Now, would you rather be alive or dead?’ naturally, you’d prefer to be alive. Life in a box is better than no life at all, I expect. You’d have a chance, at least. You could lie there thinking, ‘Well, at least I’m not dead. In a minute somebody is going to bang on the lid, and tell me to come out.’ [bangs on lid]’Hey you! What’s your name? Come out of there!’
#2: [long pause] I think I’m going to kill you.
#1: I don’t believe in it anyway.
#2: What?
#1: England
#2: Just a conspiracy of cartographers then.
1) I could jump over the side. That would put a spoke in their wheel. 2) Unless they’re counting on it. 1) I shall remain on board. That’ll put a spoke in their wheel.
1) Rosencrantz? 2) Yes? 2) Guildenstern? 2) Yes? 1) Do you even differentiate?
1) What a shambles! We’re not getting anywhere! Not even England. And I don’t believe in it anyway. 2) In what? 1) England. 2) Just a conspiracy of cartographers, you mean?
1) No, no, no… Death is ‘not.’ Death isn’t. Take my meaning? Death is the ultimate negative. Not-being. You can’t not be on a boat. 2) I’ve frequently not been on boats. 3) No, no… What you’ve been is not on boats.
1) What’s the first thing you remember? 2)No, it’s no good. It was a long time ago. 3) No, you don’t take my meaning. What’s the first thing you remember…after all the things you’ve forgotten? 4) Oh, I see. …I’ve forgotten the question.
A) What a shambles! We’re just not getting anywhere–not even England.
B) I don’t believe in it anyway.
A) What?
B) England.
A) Just a conspiracy of cartographers, you mean?
Consistancy is all I ask! Give us this day our daily mask.
Death is the ultimate negative – not being.
Do you ever think of yourself as actually dead, lying in a box with a lid on it? Silly to be depressed by it; I mean, one thinks of it like being alive in a box. One keeps forgetting to take into account the fact that one is dead … which should make all the difference. Shouldn’t it? I mean, you’d never know that you were in a box, wouldn’t you? It would be just like you were asleep in a box. Not that I’d like to sleep in a box, mind you — not without any air. You’d wake up and, after a start, then where would you be?
In a box.
That’s the bit I don’t like, frankly. That’s why I don’t think about it.
Do you think death could possibly be a boat?
Do you want to play questions?
Don’t touch things
Don’t you see?! We’re actors- we’re the opposite of people!
Eternity is a terrible thought. I mean, where’s it going to end?
For a handful of coin I happen to have a private and uncut performance of ‘The Rape of the Sabine Women,’ or rather woman, or rather Alfred, and for eight you can participate.
Here’s something. You’d think that this would fall faster than this. [drops the two objects] … And you’d be absolutely right.
I guess you’d be helpless, wouldn’t you? Stuffed in a box like that. I mean you’d be in there forever — even taking into account the fact that you’re dead. It isn’t a pleasant thought. ‘Specially if you’re dead, really. Ask yourself: If I asked you, straight off, ‘I’m going to stuff you in this box, Now, would you rather be alive or dead,’ NATURALLY you’ll prefer to be alive. Life in a box is better than no life at all… I expect. You’d have a chance at least. You could lie there thinking, ‘Well … At least I’m not dead. In a minute, somebody’s going to open the lid, and tell me to come out: Hey you! What’s your name? Come out of there!
If this is our destiny, then that was his, and if there are no explanations for us, let there be none for him.
One is free on a boat. For a time. Relatively.
There must have been a moment, at the beginning, where we could have said- no. But somehow we missed it. Well, we’ll know better next time.
We can do you fight…or rape…or both.
We cross our bridges when we come to them and burn them behind us, with nothing to show for our progress except a memory of the smell of smoke, and a presumption that once our eyes watered.
We’re actors! We’re the opposite of people!
We’re more of the blood, love and rhetoric school…
We’re on a boat
Whatever became of the moment when one first knew about death? There must have been one. A moment. In childhood. When it first occured to you that you don’t go on forever. It must have been shattering, stamped into one’s memory. And yet, I can’t remember it.
Would you like to play a game of questions?
Page Topic: Movie Quotes from ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’: Quotes from the movie ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’