"The film is lavishly produced and visually splendid, like all the Merchant-Ivory productions ("Howards End," "The Remains of the Day"). But what is it about? Revolution? History? Slavery? Romance? No doubt a lot of research and speculation went into Jhabvala's screenplay, but I wish she had finally decided to jump one way or the other. The movie tells no clear story and has no clear ideas; it is all elaborate glimpses of a private man who, as the architect of his own home, did not see why anyone would ever want to walk upstairs side-by-side."

"God Almighty never meant to human beings to be like animals. We has a soul, and a head and a mind!"

"Casting Nick Nolte as a Founding Father may sound like this film's riskiest choice, but in fact it makes solid sense. Beyond having the right physical stature for the imposing, sandy-haired Jefferson, Mr. Nolte captures the man's vigor and his stiff sense of propriety. He may not adapt effortlessly to the role of an intellectual giant, but his performance is thoroughly creditable, despite lines like "My poor head was simply whirled about by my unruly heart." His intensely masculine presence goes a long way toward explaining Jefferson's deep, overlapping involvements with women at this stage of his life."

"You roast it, then you eats it on the cob. And it's the sweetest stuff you ever eaten in your life."

"[to James Hemings] Won't be no field nigger if it's his own child I's carryin'."

"Nick Nolte as Thomas Jefferson"

"Sal, if we stays in Paris, we's free."

"[on the verge of tears] There's something in my eye."

"He will never marry again because that is what he vowed to my mama on her deathbed."

"Sally, this is your money. It'll be right here in the corner."

"He is the best master in all of Virginia, but he is the master, and they're the servants. Slaves! And I am certain that they hate us—yes, I know they do."

"You and I are alive, and the Earth belongs to us, the living."

"[referring to Franz Mesmer's animal magnetism practice] Sir, this is just trash and tricks for the weak mind."

"[to Jefferson] Do you have no son?"

"Gwyneth Paltrow as Patsy Jefferson"

"You will forgive my perhaps somewhat exaggerated anxiety. For an American, freedom of religious conscience is one of our great principles."

"A wise man will only depend upon himself."

"Our heart is pleased because she is pleased."

"Thandie Newton as Sally Hemings"

"Vincent Cassel as Camille Desmoulins"

"Estelle Eonnet as Polly Jefferson"

"We joined the crowd admitted, according to some ancient custom, to view the king and queen on their way to Mass. I meant to impress upon my daughter the vainglory of these spectacles. May we Americans never emulate them, nor burden our taxpayers with such useless splendors."

"Seth Gilliam as James Hemings"

"Todd Boyce as William Short"

"Did somebody put you up to this?"

"There's no way you know anything about me!"

"Ginger as Nivek the Dog"

"Miranda Godkin as Mysterious Woman"

"You used to have anger issues. Now, you're just sitting alone in a quite park."

"What would you do if a stranger knew everything about you?"

"John Houston as Michael"

"I do know you very well. Every detail. Every memory. Every secret."

"James Gammon as Charles Goodnight"