Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994)

Robert Hardy: Professor Krempe

Quotes 

• Krempe : [voiceover]  You fool, Victor Frankenstein of Geneva, how could you know what you had unleashed? How was it pieced together? Bits of thieves? Bits of murderers? Evil stitched to evil stitched to evil. God help your loved ones.

• Krempe : The foolish and vain force their views by their brawn. But knowledge is power only through god, our motto, easily forgotten by you young men in a hurry... . But perhaps the greatest mistake that all students make during their time here is to suppose that they can ever have an original or creative thought. We have all imagined that in our time. But gentleman you have not come here in order to think for yourselves. You are here to learn how to think for your patients. You must learn therefore in the first place, to submit yourselves to the established laws of physical reality.

  Victor Frankenstein : But surely, Professor, you don't intend we disregard more philosophical approaches.

  Krempe : Philosophical?

  Victor Frankenstein : Those which stir the imagination as well as the intellect. As in Paracelsus, for example.

  Krempe : Ah, Paracelsus. An arrogant and foolish Swiss.

  Victor Frankenstein : Albertus Magnus.

  Krempe : His nonsense was exploded 500 years ago!

  Victor Frankenstein : Cornelius Agrippa.

  Krempe : A sorcerer, an occultist. What is your name?

  Victor Frankenstein : Victor Frankenstein sir. Of Geneva.

  Krempe : Oh-ho. Another Swiss. Mr. Frankenstein here at the University of Ingolstadt, we teach and indeed hope to advance the science of medicine. Chemistry, biology physics. We study hard science.

  Victor Frankenstein : But surely professor the greatest possible advances lie in combining these things.

  Krempe : We do not study the ravings of lunatics and alchemists hundreds of years in their graves because they're kind of amateur, fanatical, fantastical speculation does not heal bodies or save lives! Only science can do that. Now have we your permission to continue.

• Krempe : You fool, Victor Frankenstein of Geneva! How could you know what you'd unleashed? How is it pieced together? With bits of thieves, bits of murderers? Evil stitched to evil stitched to evil. Do you really believe this thing will thank you for its monstrous birth? Evil will have its revenge. God help your loved ones.

• Krempe : Once and for all, Frankenstein. Life is life, death is death. These things are real. They are absolute... .

  Victor Frankenstein : That is rubbish and you know it. The premise has been repeatedly challenged by members of your own staff!

  [Pointing to Waldman] 

  Victor Frankenstein : Yes you sir! We don't know where life ends or death begins. Hair continues to grow after what we choose to call death, so do fingernails! We know that a man's brain may die, but his heart and lungs may continue to pump and breathe. Now you know that!

  Krempe : Mr. Frankenstein of Geneva, I warn you what you are suggesting is not only illegal, it is immoral.

  Victor Frankenstein : Rubbish!

• Krempe : Evil stitched to Evil stitched to Evil? What did you think was going to happen? Heaven help your Loved Ones!