"You are an idealist. I pity you like I would pity the village idiot."

- Gen. George Broulard (Adophe Menjou) to Col. Dax (Kirk Douglas)

In this scene from the classic 1957 Stanley Kubrick film about the aftermath of a First World War French military debacle, Broulard blasts Dax for turning down a promotion to general.

Broulard thought Dax's efforts to defend three men scapegoated for the botched attack and to nail a general who wanted his own troops shelled were just part of manoeuvring for a promotion. :)

Here's a Wikipedia page on the film and a collection of reviews at Rottentomatoes.com.