2nd most-quoted character in Wayward Pines: in 7 of its 32 quotes
Most scenes with: Ethan Burke (4)
Lines by David Pilcher 2
David Pilcher
I know what you're feeling, Ethan. I know what you're thinking. At first, it's, it's the personal things. The family you'll never see again, your friends. The boss you thought you hated. And then your mind starts thinking bigger. About all the lost culture languages, art, knowledge. Thousands of years of culture all gone in an instant. And you start to think, "Is this really it? "The last of mankind? Do I even want to be here?" But slowly, slowly, you realize everything you still have, a new community, a family a future. You still have Wayward Pines.
David Pilcher
As soon as I woke them I told them everything. The truth. The effect wasn't immediate. It spread like cancer. Slowly ate away at the town. Some simply didn't believe me. They ran away. They didn't get very far. Those that did believe caved in to despair. These were ordinary people in an extraordinary situation. Their minds couldn't handle the shock of this new reality. It was too jarring. They'd emerged from Plato's cave into the light. It had blinded them. People are fragile. They need time to adapt. They accept change gradually. But I had been too distant, too remote blind. I'd failed them. I can't change what has happened, but I can strive for a better future. These are the dark ages, but enlightenment is coming and I need you to keep Wayward safe until it does.
Scenes with David Pilcher 5
David Pilcher
Your mind is lashing out, Ethan. It doesn't want to accept the truth, but trust your own eyes, everything you've seen today. There's nothing for you out here. The world you know is gone. And our species has evolved into something less than human. All that is left of civilization, all that remains is Wayward Pines.
What do you want from me?
David Pilcher
I want you to come with me. And I'll show you how, together, we can change things for the better. [screeching in distance] Or if you prefer, you can discover for yourself what is out here. It's your choice, Ethan.
You chose them. You abducted them.
David Pilcher
Yes.
What gave you that right?
David Pilcher
It wasn't a right. It was a burden. When your neighbors' house is in flames, do you rush in and try and save them? Or do you wait outside for fear of trespass?
This girl, her life didn't need saving.
David Pilcher
No, and neither did her children. Or her children's children. But someone in that family would need saving down the line.
What about her parents? Are they here?
David Pilcher
Everyone had to make sacrifices. I left people behind people I loved dearly. I didn't choose to do this. I did it because I had to.
You really expect people to grow and thrive in a world ruled by fear? They didn't choose to be here.
David Pilcher
Has anyone ever lived a life entirely defined by their own choices? No. Socioeconomic status, race, gender the day on which we were born, beauty, height. We are defined by millions of variables, way beyond our own choosing.
But that's different. That's fate. Those aren't choices made by others.
David Pilcher
Others have always made choices for us. Think of the millions drafted into wars decided by their leaders. The causes of which, in retrospect, seem utterly meaningless. A patch of land, someone's religious tenets, the price of a tank of gasoline. My actions were motivated by something far purer. We'd left the old world in the year 2014, and went to sleep for 2000 years. According to my algorithms, that would be enough time for the environment to reset. For the planet to thrive after all the humans had died out and stopped destroying it. We would have a second chance. All your questions today, I've asked myself thousands of times. In that moment, everything became clear. All my work, the sacrifice, was vindicated because I'd been proven right. It was 2000 years later, and we were the only humans left. When humans are united by a cause, they can achieve almost anything.
Why didn't you tell me about this?
David Pilcher
I didn't want to interrupt your investigation. Nothing matters more than keeping the populace calm a-a-and quiet.
I'm afraid the ship's already sailed.
David Pilcher
Why didn't you come and talk to me before all this?
You know I couldn't do that. Besides, what would you have said? "Forget the truth"?
David Pilcher
Your friend Ted has died. Two of our youngest seriously injured in the hospital. Others are missing. That's the price of your truth.
You know it's not like that.
David Pilcher
You didn't mean for anyone to die. How many more need to be sacrificed? I thought you were happy. I thought we made progress.
David Pilcher
How can you be so cheerful with neighbors you're putting into lethal danger? Only a fanatic could be so callous.
Are you sure you're talking about me? Because it sounds like you're talking about yourself, David Pilcher.
David Pilcher
How long have you known?
Doesn't matter. Just please tell me what this place is.
David Pilcher
You were its model citizen. I thought that if I I could make Kate Hewson conform, then I could make anyone conform. There'd be no more need for reckonings.
Whatever you're trying to do here, it will never work if you keep people in the dark.
David Pilcher
It's not a question of keeping people in the dark. It's a question of keeping people alive. Freedom or safety. Not both.
And who anointed you to make that choice?
David Pilcher
I did.
These quotes come from Wikiquote's Wayward Pines pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
Wayward Pines · 32 quotes
