Schindler's List Intelligence Quotes

How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Schindler's List.

Quote #4

SCHINDLER: Gentlemen, thank you very much. I think I can guarantee you you'll both be in Southern Russia before the end of the month. Good day.

There's smart, and then there's scare-the-pants-off-of-you smart. Schindler knows just how to squeeze the two German yo-yos standing in his way. His well-placed jabs get Stern off of the train just in the nick of time.

Quote #5

BOY: HIM!

The boy points to a man Goeth just shot, fingering him as the chicken thief Goeth's looking for. Goeth falls for it and doesn't bother shooting anyone else. It's a great example of how the Jews—despite their subjugation—can still find ways to preserve life and occasionally beat the Nazis at their own game.

Quote #6

SCHINDLER: That's what the emperors had. A man stole something, he's brought in before the emperor, he throws himself down on the ground, he begs for mercy. He knows he's going to die. And the emperor pardons him. This worthless man, he lets him go.

The hustle is on again, this time by getting Goeth to act merciful by appealing to his need for power. It's how a man like Schindler tries to save lives: with savvy and persuasive argument rather than a gun.