Lola (1981)
Matthias Fuchs: Esslin
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Quotes
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Esslin : [First lines] He who has no house shall not build one. He who is alone shall long remain so...
Lola : Why do you only read me sad poems?
Esslin : Poetry is always sad.
Lola : And why's that? Why can't it be funny for once?
Esslin : Because a poem comes from the soul. And the soul is sad.
Lola : Is it? And why is that? Nitwit.
Esslin : Because the soul knows more than the mind. That's why it's sad.
Lola : Strange. For me, it's the other way around. For me, the mind knows more than the soul.
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Esslin : I won't allow you to destroy yourself.
Von Bohm : You can't stop me. Would you stand in someone's way who has discovered the truth? The whole is rotten, not just parts, so the whole must be tackled.
Esslin : You'll just look ridiculous.
Von Bohm : Me? I'll make the rules of the game look ridiculous, the whole dishonest system. It scars people and warps them and makes them sick!
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Von Bohm : Giving Capital a helping hand isn't so easy. Hence the need for overtime.
Esslin : One man puts in overtime, while another puts profits in the bank. To each his own.
Von Bohm : That's what I always say. What about you? What does the humanist do after work?
Esslin : I'm member of a group against rearmament. Is that really of interest to you?
Von Bohm : Very much so. I'm always intrigued by fruitless passions.
Esslin : In another group we're studying Bakunin. He wrote a very interesting essay on land and property.
Von Bohm : Uh huh? And what was his conclusion?
Esslin : That the earth belongs to everyone, not just a few.
Von Bohm : I don't understand. It obviously belongs to just a few, not to everyone. Does he really mean it, or is it just wishful thinking on Mr. Bakunin's part?
Esslin : It's reality in a higher sense.
Von Bohm : Very good. I understand. That's why we complement each other so well: you're busy with reality in a higher sense, while I'm busy with reality in a lower sense.
Esslin : I dream, and you act. That's what you mean.
Von Bohm : You think, and I function. That's what you mean.
Esslin : And Schuckert profits! That's what I mean. With your permission, I'll be going now.
Von Bohm : Personally, I think it's good that there's one who dreams while all the others work. But you won't believe that.
Esslin : No.