Al Pacino Speech on Leadership
The movie "Scent of a Woman" was released thirty years ago on December 23, 1993. Al Pacino won his first "Best Actor" Oscar? for his brilliant portrayal of an overbearing, blind retired Lieutenant Colonel who hires a young guardian (Chris O'Donnell), to assist him. It's a heart-wrenching and heartwarming tale when they embark on a wild weekend trip that will change the lives of both men forever. However, the one scene most people remember about the movie is the monologue by Al Pacino at the Baird School Disciplinary Hearing about leadership and integrity. Absolute Masterpiece!!
”I have come to the crossroads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew. But I never took it. You know why? It was too damn hard!”
”there isn't nothin' like the sight of an amputated spirit; there is no prosthetic for that.”
Here is the full text of the speech:
Mr. Trask: I'm going to recommend to the disciplinary committee that you be expelled, Mr. Sims. You are a cover-up artist and you are a liar.
Frank Slade: But not a snitch.
Trask: Excuse me?
Slade: No, I don't think I will.
Trask: Mr. Slade.
Slade: This is such a crock of shit.
Trask: Please watch your language, Mr. Slade. You are in the Baird School not a barracks. Mr. Sims, I will give you one final opportunity to speak up.
Slade: Mr. Sims doesn't want it. He doesn't need to labeled: "Still worthy of being a 'Baird Man.'" What the hell is that? What is your motto here? "Boys, inform on your classmates, save your hide" -- anything short of that we're gonna burn you at the stake? Well, gentlemen, when the shit hits the fan some guys run and some guys stay. Here's Charlie facing the fire; and there's George hidin' in big Daddy's pocket. And what are you doin'? You're gonna reward George and destroy Charlie.
Trask: Are you finished, Mr. Slade?
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Slade: No, I'm just gettin' warmed up. I don't know who went to this place, William Howard Taft, William Jennings Bryan, William Tell -- whoever. Their spirit is dead -- if they ever had one -- it's gone. You're building a rat ship here. A vessel for sea goin' snitches. And if you think you're preparing these minnows for manhood you better think again. Because I say you are killing the very spirit this institution proclaims it instills! What a sham. What kind of a show are you guys puttin' on here today. I mean, the only class in this act is sittin' next to me. And I'm here to tell ya this boy's soul is intact. It's non-negotiable. You know how I know? Someone here -- and I'm not gonna say who -- offered to buy it. Only Charlie here wasn't sellin'.
Trask: Sir, you are out of order!
Slade: Outta order? I'll show you outta order! You don't know what outta order is, Mr. Trask! I'd show you but I'm too old; I'm too tired; I'm too fuckin' blind. If I were the man I was five years ago I'd take a FLAME-THROWER to this place! Outta order. Who the hell you think you're talkin' to? I've been around, you know? There was a time I could see. And I have seen boys like these, younger than these, their arms torn out, their legs ripped off. But there isn't nothin' like the sight of an amputated spirit; there is no prosthetic for that. You think you're merely sendin' this splendid foot-soldier back home to Oregon with his tail between his legs, but I say you are executin' his SOUL!! And why?! Because he's not a Baird man! Baird men, ya hurt this boy, you're going to be Baird Bums, the lot of ya. And Harry, Jimmy, Trent, wherever you are out there, FUCK YOU, too!
Trask: Stand down, Mr. Slade!
Slade: I'm not finished! As I came in here, I heard those words, "cradle of leadership." Well, when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall. And it has fallen here; it has fallen. Makers of men; creators of leaders; be careful what kind of leaders you're producin' here. I don't know if Charlie's silence here today is right or wrong.
I'm not a judge or jury. But I can tell you this: he won't sell anybody out to buy his future!! And that, my friends, is called integrity! That's called courage! Now that's the stuff leaders should be made of. Now I have come to the crossroads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew. But I never took it. You know why? It was too damn hard. Now here's Charlie. He's come to the crossroads. He has chosen a path. It's the right path. It's a path made of principle -- that leads to character. Let him continue on his journey.
You hold this boy's future in your hands, committee. It's a valuable future. Believe me. Don't destroy it! Protect it. Embrace it. It's gonna make ya proud one day -- I promise you.
What is your most memorable leadership moment in a movie? please share in the comment section. Thanks.
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Factory Internal Auditor at Nigerian Security Printing & Minting Company
1 年Wonderful speech. I thought so, the day I saw the movie. Splendid. An award movie.
Factory Internal Auditor at Nigerian Security Printing & Minting Company
1 年Wonderful speech. I thought so too, the I watched the movie. Splendid. Love him.
Sr IT Manager ServiceNow Platform Owner Daimler Truck Group
1 年Excellent movie and brilliant writers. When all it torn away, all you have remaining is your integrity.
Ag HoD of ICT in Education at REB
1 年And that, my friends, is called integrity! That's called courage! Now that's the stuff leaders should be made of. Now I have come to the crossroads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew. But I never took it. You know why? It was too damn hard. Now here's Charlie. He's come to the crossroads. He has chosen a path. It's the right path. It's a path made of principle -- that leads to character. Let him continue on his journey.
NPAA FTS Manger OEM Coatings | Continuous/Process Improvement | Kaizen | SPC | DMAIC | Lean | 5S
1 年What happened at the Baird school in that movie is always and exactly what you get when corrupted "values" are idolized and conformity to the evil and illogic of it is mandated - its called communism, and it's alive and active all over the place. But as was demonstrated in the movie, for that kind of evil to be overcome all it takes is for one man to stand up and speak the truth.