- Émile Zola: At this solemn moment, in the presence of this tribunal, which is the representative of human justice, before France, before the whole world, I swear that Dreyfus is innocent! By all that I have won, by all that I have written to spread the spirit of France, I swear that he is innocent. May all that melt away; may my name perish if Dreyfus be not innocent. He is innocent.
- Émile Zola: Why didn't Picquart say anything?
- Lucie Dreyfus: Colonel Picquart is a good officer. He kept silent at the request of his superiors.
- Émile Zola: You mean they KNEW and they ordered him to suppress the truth? Why,that's monstrous!
- Émile Zola: [reading from his letter "I Accuse"] I shall tell the truth. Because if I did not, my nights would be haunted by the spectre of an innocent man expiating under the most frightful torture a crime he never committed.
- La Rue: We've been watching your writings, young man. You're a troublemaker! These articles of yours, attacking our leading men of letters, the arts! Criticizing the civic authorities!
- Émile Zola: Perhaps you know of something better for me to criticize?