With Honors (1994)

Gore Vidal: Pitkannan

Quotes 

• Simon Wilder : You asked the question, sir, now let me answer it. The beauty of the Constitution is that it can always be changed. The beauty of the Constitution is that it makes no set law other than faith in the wisdom of ordinary people to govern themselves.

  Proffesor Pitkannan : Faith in the wisdom of the people is exactly what makes the Constitution incomplete and crude.

  Simon Wilder : Crude? No, sir. Our "founding parents" were pompous, white, middle-aged farmers, but they were also great men. Because they knew one thing that all great men should know: that they didn't know everything. Sure, they'd make mistakes, but they made sure to leave a way to correct them. The president is not an "elected king," no matter how many bombs he can drop. Because the "crude" Constitution doesn't trust him. He's just a bum, okay Mr. Pitkannan? He's just a bum.

• Simon Wilder : Which door do I leave from?

  Proffesor Pitkannan : At Harvard we don't end our sentences with prepositions.

  Simon Wilder : Okay. Which door do I leave from, asshole?

• Simon Wilder : You asked a question sir, let me answer it! The genius of the Constitution is that it can always be changed. The genius of the Constitution is that it makes no permanent rule other than its faith in the wisdom of ordinary people to govern themselves.

  Proffesor Pitkannan : Faith in the wisdom of the people is exactly what makes the Constitution incomplete and crude!

  Simon Wilder : Crude? No, sir. Our "founding parents" were pompous, middle-aged white farmers, but they were also great men. Because they knew one thing that all great men should know: that they didn't know everything. They knew they were gonna make mistakes, but they made sure to leave a way to correct them. They didn't think of themselves as leaders. They wanted a government of citizens not royalty. A government of listeners not lecturers. A government that could change, not stand still. The president isn't an "elected king," no matter how many bombs he can drop. Because the "crude" Constitution doesn't trust him. He's a servant of the people. He's a bum, okay Mr. Pitkannan? He's just a bum. And the only bliss he is searching for is freedom and justice.