“There is nothing in the world so damaged that it cannot be repaired by the hand of Almighty God”.
This is a quote from, Appointment with Death, a movie adaption of Agatha Christie’s book. The quote isn’t in the book. There are significant changes to the plot in this adaption. It isn’t a pleasant story. One of the characters, Jinny, experiences severe childhood abuse. I feel the “flash backs” are overdone.
Did a script writer add these words of hope to cheer up a rather dismal story? Or did Hercule Poirot (David Suchet) insert them himself?
The quote is profound and faith stretching, but nothing is impossible with God.
Hi, I'd be really interested to know where this quote came from too. I've just finished watching that Poirot & instantly came online to search for the quote because it struck me as an odd thing for Poirot to say.
Hopefully someone will be able to enlighten us.
This Appointment with Death has just been shown on UK TV. Although this quotation is not Christie it sounds very much like something that David Suchet would say. When he is interviewed about his faith he is always clear and positive but never aggressive. The sentence following this quotation is, I think, particularly telling: "I encourage you to know this, because without this certainty we should all of us be mad."
Although not a Biblical quotation, the principle is entirely Biblical and resonates with the Grace of God in Christ.
Yes indeed. Thanks Paul for dropping by.
I also immediately went to the computer to search this quote and ended up here. I noted that at the end Poirot gives Jinnie a rosary. He believe he is also holding a rosary in his tent earlier in the production.
I am watching this new series on a weekly basis and noted that at the end of "Murder on the Orient Express" in the final scene Poirot is crying and holding his rosary. I am an addict of this series and this is the first year that I have paid attention to these details, which makes me think that they are just showing up.
So, I guess I should read the original books to see if this is really what Agatha wrote. The answer remains to be seen/read.
I'm sorry to post anonymously but I've forgotten my name/password.
We aren't the only ones to notice this.
Google, "Poirot, rosary" and read all the notes this turn of events has inspired.
Thanks "anonymous" for pointing this out. I hadn't noticed the rosary. I did look up Google. Seems like there has been some poetic license taken with these newest adaptions.
I just saw a version on pbs –
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/poirot/watch.html
I looked up the quote because I loved it, however in the version I saw there is no mention of 'by God's hand'
different writers, or was it edited out?
thanks!
'there is nothing in the world so damaged that it cannot be repaired. I encourage you to know this, because without this certainty we should all of us be mad'
Leaving out "by the hand of Almighty God" certainly waters down the quote.
Seems like one writer is adding bits then another is editing the edits. After a while one wonders if there are any original words left!
Just finished watching the film and went straight to the internet to find out to whom this marvelous quote can be attributed. I am so happy to find myself in the company of others who, too, were struck by that touching "pearl of wisdom". I am still struggling to decipher the French sentence towards the end…"Je vous ?salud, ?allous" Can't figure it out – I am assuming it's something like "I bid you well" Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks Kirsten for dropping by. I still haven't been able to find a copy of the book to see if that line is in it.
I also can't help with the French. Hopefully someone else will.
Cheers, Susan!
For me, it doesn't really matter if these are Agatha Christie's words, an ad-lib by David Suchet or an edit by the screenplay writer, it was such a delightful and uplifting "find" towards the end of the film (and Suchet delivery was so endearing). I was already tuning out because usually the endings of most films/movies pale in comparison to what was just seen; to find such a – as you said in your blog post – profound statement was a treasure.
Yes, it was a delightful surprise and Suchet's delivery was well done.
I found the quote to be uplifting and hopeful. When you see the damage caused to all of the characters by the acts of one woman left in her wake there had to be something positive. And this truly was.
One thing thought. Poirot says that hope was released in to the world but in the original tale hope is the only thing left in Pandora's box as directed by Zeus. That would be a sad though that there is no hope in the world….
Indeed it would be very sad if there was no hope left in the world. But we know that is not the case. 1 Corinthians 13:13: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
Thanks for dropping by.
Very interesting indeed! This is my first episode of Poirot in more than a decade and I too like many others here was enthralled by the ending's reference to God and hope. I too immediately went to the internet and found this site. It's really amazing how many different people have had the same experience!!! -Reza, cambridge, ma
Yes indeed,
Thanks for dropping by.
Christie, like her favoured character, Miss Marple, was a devout Anglican.
It is said she grew to quite dislike the Poirot character (in part due to his Catholicism) though I'm sure she would have approved of this line..)
Yes, probably would.
Thanks for dropping by.
2016, I just finished watching this episode of Poirot on Netfix. I also was motivated to find the exact words, and landed here. Yes, I agree, no mater who inserted the words into the script, this truth is timeless, as is the Word of God. When we actually see the character of the creator we can believe:
"There is nothing in the world so damaged that it cannot be repaired by the hand of the almighty God. I encourage you to know this, because without this certainty, we should all of us be mad."
It's surprising the number of people who see the episode and type that quote into a search engine!
Great to know that others feel the same about the quote.
Thanks for dropping by.