# Best single lines of dialogue from artistic works **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 20, 2023, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111 "2023-02-20T22:37:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/81 "2023-02-25T20:10:18Z")
He lives inside his own heart. That’s an awful big place to live in… Sling Blade ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/82 "2023-02-25T21:28:58Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I wonder if, in the development of the play, Neil Simon named Felix specifically to make that joke possible, because it’s worth it. I didn’t remember that joke, but he probably did. In that show House of Cards\*, Kevin Spacey’s name is Frank Underwood and I believe he has cuff-links that say F and U that he wears. Same joke, but better done in the Odd Couple. \*American version ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/83 "2023-02-25T22:08:39Z")
“Professor Elwell, you are the only man I know who can say ‘malignant’ the way other people say ‘Bingo!’” —Dr. Praetorius (Cary Grant) to Prof. Elwell (Hume Cronyn) in _People Will Talk_ (1951) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/84 "2023-02-25T22:25:37Z")
“Walter, you’re wonderful, in a loathsome sort of way.” —Rosalind Russell to Cary Grant in _ **His Girl Friday** _ (1940). ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/85 "2023-02-25T22:48:01Z")
Life. Don’t talk to me about life. -Marvin the Paranoid Android ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/86 "2023-02-26T01:32:36Z")
“I’m a clerk. Gold frames look good on clerks. I like the way I look, so don’t hassle me you little fool.” - Kung Fu Hustle ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/87 "2023-02-26T02:19:28Z")
"It’s easy to confuse what is with what ought to be. Especially when what is has worked in your favor." Game of Thrones, the TV show. Was written for the show, not appearing in the books. I’ve quoted it often. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/88 "2023-02-26T04:09:06Z")
“Danny’s only a man. But he break wind at both ends simultaneous - which is more, I reckon, than any god can do.” Michael Caine (praising Sean Connery) in the 1975 film **The Man Who Would Be King**. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/89 "2023-02-26T15:41:00Z")
Another good one from GoT: “I choose violence” - Cersei Lannister ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/90 "2023-02-27T13:45:30Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I wonder if, in the development of the play, Neil Simon named Felix specifically to make that joke possible, because it’s worth it. Simon said, on many occasions, that he didn’t create the name Felix Unger specifically for that joke, but that the joke occurred to him later as he was writing that scene. It seems a little implausible, but if it’s a fib, it’s one he stuck to for his entire life. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/91 "2023-02-27T16:46:08Z")
I think in the original he was Francis Urquhart? Not sure he had the same cufflinks though! ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/92 "2023-02-27T17:41:30Z")
As I recall, in one of his expository monologues, he made a point of mentioning the nickname F.U. as being particularly appropriate for the party’s Chief Whip. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/93 "2023-03-10T01:44:13Z")
“I looked at the trap, Ray.” It’s a stupid, throwaway joke but it’s hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/94 "2023-03-10T02:20:18Z")
“Then it exploded.” Galaxy Quest. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/95 "2023-03-10T02:31:56Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > “You song-singin’ skinny old maid!” > > —Humphrey Bogart to Katharine Hepburn in _ **The African Queen** _ I thought it was “psalm-singing,” which seems to make more sense. ---
**Author:** ![tripthicket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripthicket/32/297_2.png) [@tripthicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tripthicket)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/96 "2023-03-11T07:53:56Z")
“The building was on fire, and it wasn’t my fault.” – Harry Dresden, _Blood Rites_ The first sentence in the book, even. ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/97 "2023-03-11T08:31:50Z")
“I’m fixin’ to do somthing dumber than hell, but I’m goin’ anyways.” ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/98 "2023-03-11T08:43:27Z")
YOU SHALL NOT PASS!! > Blockquote ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/99 "2023-03-11T09:16:55Z")
after the movie opens a long shot of NYC squalor and it says “new york city 1921” the camera pans to a squat old lady trudging in the snow who looks up and says in a tired-sounding voice “the lower east side … it really sucks” the first line spoken in johnny dangerously ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111/100 "2023-03-11T15:36:44Z")
“Say what again, SAY WHAT AGAIN, I dare you, I double dare you motherfucker.” -Jules [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-single-lines-of-dialogue-from-artistic-works/980111.md?page=6)