- Florence Nightingale: Army regulations should be a matter of common sense!
- Purveyor: Well of course, if you think that Madam, you don't know the army.
- Sidney Herbert (Lord Herbert of Lea): I see the day when women will enter not only the professions but politics as well.
- Lord Palmerston: Why stop at politics? Perhaps Miss Nightingale would like to see the ladies join the army?
- Mrs. Nightingale: How could any woman possibly become a lawyer?
- Sidney Herbert (Lord Herbert of Lea): Portia made rather a good one.
- Florence Nightingale: It's the answer to all my prayers - to all my dreams.
- Sidney Herbert (Lord Herbert of Lea): I'm afraid, myself, that it may be the beginning.
- Florence Nightingale: Sidney, you have no time to be ill. Do you realize that the rate of mortality in the army... .
- Florence Nightingale: And poor pa-pa has sought sanctuary in the library.
- Sidney Herbert (Lord Herbert of Lea): Oh, wise pa-pa.
- Florence Nightingale: I have interviewed 128 women, out of which I have managed to find only 14 who are reasonably suitable. I shall now approach the religious institutions.
- Sidney Herbert (Lord Herbert of Lea): Oh, you'll find them, I have no doubt.
- Commitee Woman: This is a hospital for gentlewomen, Miss Nightingale. None you'll find as broad-minded as any of us here, but I do draw the line at admitting Roman Catholics.
- Florence Nightingale: I want all you ladies of the committee to understand that this bigotry is meaningless to me. Unless we open our doors to all denominations, to Roman Catholics, to Jews, and if necessary, to Mohammedans, I must ask you to accept my resignation.
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