The Barchester Chronicles (1982)

Nigel Hawthorne: Dr. Grantly

Quotes 

• Rev. Septimus Harding : I am safe because the church has more money than the reformers. And because of a fine legal quibble, I'm safe.

  Archdeacon Grantly : Yes.

  Rev. Septimus Harding : Does Sir Abraham say anything about the morality of the situation?

  Archdeacon Grantly : Certainly not! The legal profession does not concern itself with morality.

  Bishop Grantly : Our department, is it not?

  Rev. Septimus Harding : Forgive me, Bishop, Archdeacan: if the world considers me to be a thief, it is of small comfort to know that a "fine legal quibble" says that I am not! Excuse me.

  [exits] 

  Archdeacon Grantly : My father in law can be a very difficult person.

  Bishop Grantly : He has persistent bouts of Christianity.

• Archdeacon Grantly : Now for heaven's sake, don't let's have a division in the ranks, unless you wish to be ruined quietly.

  Rev. Septimus Harding : If I am to be ruined, I'd much rather be ruined quietly.

• Archdeacon Grantly : This appears to be the gist of the matter...

  Bishop Grantly : You mean to say, amongst all these documents there is a gist?

• Rev. Septimus Harding : It seems to be a very fine legal quibble.

  Archdeacon Grantly : Sir Abraham specializes in fine legal quibbles.

• Susan Grantly : What are you going to live on?

  Rev. Septimus Harding : God that feedeth the young ravens will take care of me also.

  Archdeacon Grantly : Pish! If the ravens persisted in refusing the food prepared for them, they wouldn't be fed.

• Rev. Obadiah Slope : And the bishop is generally unhappy about the state of the locks.

  Archdeacon Grantly : Locks? Specific locks, my lord, or locks in general?

  Bishop Proudie : Uh, merely one or two locks, er, on the outhouses.

  Rev. Obadiah Slope : Specifically, the coal house, the wood house, and the locks on the servants' bedrooms.

  Mrs. Proudie : Indeed, the locks in the entire building leave much to be desired.

  Bishop Proudie : Of course, a great deal depends upon a lock, but equally so, er, uh, upon the key. Well, hem, ha-hah, I always think that the fault - if fault there be - frequently lies, er, well, with the key, hmm, rather than the lock.