“Atonement” quotes

“I'm torn between breaking your neck and throwing you down the stairs.”

James McAvoy - Robbie Turner

“- Briony Tallis, aged 13: If I fell in the river, would you save me?
- Robbie Turner: Of course.”

Saoirse Una Ronan - Briony Tallis aged 13
James McAvoy - Robbie Turner

“I can become again the man who once crossed the surrey park at dusk, in my best suit, swaggering on the promise of life. The man who, with the clarity of passion, made love to you in the library. The story can resume. I will return. Find you, love you, marry you and live without shame.”
James McAvoy - Robbie Turner

“What's the worst word you can possibly imagine?”

Saoirse Una Ronan - Briony Tallis aged 13

“You'd be forgiven for thinking me mad - wandering into your house barefoot, or snapping your antique vase. The truth is, I feel rather light-headed and foolish in your presence, Cee, and I don't think I can blame the heat. Will you forgive me?”
James McAvoy - Robbie Turner

“How old do you have to be before you know the difference between right and wrong? Do you have to be eighteen? Do you have to be eighteen before you can bring yourself to own up to a lie? There are soldiers of eighteen-years-old enough to be left to die on the side of the road!”

James McAvoy - Robbie Turner

“In the book, I wanted to give Robbie and Cecilia what they lost out on in life. I'd like to think this isn't weakness or... evasion... but a final act of kindness. I gave them their happiness.”
Vanessa Redgrave - Older Briony

“Five years ago you didn't care about telling the truth. You and all your family, you just assumed that for all my education, I was still little better than a servant, still not to be trusted. Thanks to you, they were able to close ranks and throw me to the fucking wolves!”

James McAvoy - Robbie Turner

“- Briony Tallis, aged 13: Why don't you talk to Robbie anymore?
- Cecilia Tallis: I do. We just move in different circles, that's all.”
Saoirse Una Ronan - Briony Tallis aged 13

“- Robbie Turner: You'll go to your parents as soon as you can and tell them everything they need to know to be convinced that your evidence was false. You'll go and see a solicitor and make a statement and have it signed and witnessed and send copies to us. Is that clear?
- Briony - 18 years old: Yes.
- Robbie Turner: Then you'll write a...” (continue)(continue reading)
James McAvoy - Robbie Turner
Romola Garai - Briony - 18 years old

“- Cecilia Tallis: You idiot... You realize that's probably the most valuable thing we own?
- Robbie Turner: Not anymore it isn't.”

Keira Knightley - Cecilia Tallis
James McAvoy - Robbie Turner

“Love is all very well, but you have to be sensible.”
Saoirse Una Ronan - Briony Tallis aged 13

“- Cecilia Tallis: My brother and I found the two of them down by the lake.
- Police Inspector: You didn't see anyone else?
- Cecilia Tallis: I wouldn't necessarily believe everything Briony tells you. She's rather fanciful.”
Keira Knightley - Cecilia Tallis
Peter Wight - Police Inspector

“I decided not to take up my place at Cambridge. I decided I wanted to make myself useful, do something practical. But no matter how hard I work, no matter how long the hours, I can't escape from what I did and what it meant, the full extent of which I'm only now beginning to grasp.”

Romola Garai - Briony - 18 years old