A character in The Pillars of the Earth
Played by Liam Garrigan
The Pillars of the Earth · 42 quotes
Tied for 7th most-quoted character in The Pillars of the Earth: in 4 of its 42 quotes
Most scenes with: Philip (2), Tom Builder (2)
I won't see this church completed.
AlfredDA?
Nor will you, Alfred. Nor you, Jack, most likely. I may see it roofed. You might see the interior well on its way. But it might be 50 years before it's finished, which is why I teach you. That's why you must never stop learning even after I'm gone.
AlfredLearn from who?
From your pupils. Your younger masters, they might find new ways to perfection.
Alfred[after Philip says that either Alfred or Jack must leave after they fought and destroyed part of the cathedral] He's an apprentice! I'm a master stonemason. Send him away, DA, not me! I'm your real son! If Ma was alive, this wouldn't even be a choice! We were a team once, remember? I was supposed to be your successor!
Alfred, you'll have to pay a fine for the damage caused. One month's wages.
AlfredA month?
Doubt the prior would accept any less. Could you leave us for a moment.
AlfredDa!
Go... before I double it. I'm sorry, Jack.
Why me?
I pleaded with Philip, but he wouldn't soften.
This is my life.
He's my son.
I'm your son too. You said it.
You're the one that Philip will miss. You know, Alfred... he's competent. But you're brilliant. Now, in a week or a month, the Prior will see his mistake.
[Crying] And if he doesn't? You wouldn't even have a job if it weren't for me.
That's enough.
Do you hear what I'm saying? I burned it down. I burned the old cathedral so that you would have work.
God forgives you then. Get out. Get out!
AlfredI want to replace him. I'm a master builder. Father gave me his tools. I know the site and the plans.
You don't have the experience.
AlfredNeither did he when you hired him. I have his ambition. And I have his skill. The men listen to me, and I'm willing to learn.
I need to pray on this, Alfred.
AlfredNo, you need to think of the future.
AlfredI want to vault the cathedral in stone.
That's impossible. Tom said that wood is the only material...
AlfredWood is cheaper, yes, but it can burn. That's how you lost the first cathedral.
Will the walls take the weight?
AlfredYeah, we can reinforce them. I know more about stone than he ever did.
It will cost more and take longer.
AlfredBut it will last forever. That's the point, isn't it?
These quotes come from Wikiquote's The Pillars of the Earth pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
