So I said to the major, But, uh, that operation involves considerable risk. We haven't sufficient collateral.

6 seconds sound clip from the The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) movie soundboard.

You can hear this line at 01:54:21.724 in the Blu-ray version of the movie.

Quote context

[...]

- But I'm not gonna say it. I'm just going to sum the whole thing up in one word.

- My wife doesn't think I'd better sum it up in that one word.

- I wanna tell you that the reason for my success as a sergeant is due primarily to my previous training in the Corn Belt Loan and Trust Company.

- The knowledge I acquired in the good old bank I applied to my problems in the infantry.

- For instance, one day in Okinawa, a major comes up to me he says, Stephenson, you see that hill?

- Yes, sir. I see it.

- All right, he said. You and your platoon will attack said hill and take it.

- So I said to the major, But, uh, that operation involves considerable risk. We haven't sufficient collateral.

- I'm aware of that, said the major, but the fact remains, that there is the hill and you are the guys who are going to take it.

- So I said to him, I'm sorry, major. No collateral, no hill. So we didn't take the hill, and we lost the war.

- I think that, uh, little story has considerable significance. But I've forgotten what it is.

- And now, in conclusion, I'd like to tell you a humorous anecdote. I know several humorous anecdotes, but I can't think of any way to clean them up.

[...]