# What Actor is Responsible for Delivering the Most Iconic Lines? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 20, 2011, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253 "2011-10-20T14:47:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/21 "2011-10-20T17:44:36Z")
> [@Ura-Maru](#): > > Harrison Ford, maybe? > > – > Do Han Solo and Indiana Jones have any non-iconic lines? “I’ve got a bad feeling about this” “I know” "Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes? " ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/22 "2011-10-20T17:49:17Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > “I’ll be back.” > > “It’s not a tumor!” > > “Hasta La Vista, baby.” > > "Yeah, but they were all _ **bad."** _ > > “Remember when I said I’d kill you last? I lied.” > > “To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women!” Stick around. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/23 "2011-10-20T17:52:04Z")
Mae West: Is that a pistol in your pocket or are you just glad to see me? When I’m good I’m very good. When I’m bad I’m better. I used to be Snow White but I drifted. Between two evils, I generally like to pick the one I’ve never tried before. Its not the men in your life that matters, its the life in your men. And one that is not often quoted but should be: I feel like a million tonight. But one at a time. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/24 "2011-10-20T18:48:23Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Aren’t \*\*Humphrey Bogart’s \*\*entire set of lines from \*\*Casablanca \*\*basically iconic? 😉 Absolutely- and even without\*\*\* Casablanca\*\*\*, Bogie would be a contender. “I won’t play the sap for you.” “Pardon me, but could you help out a fellow American who’s down on his luck?” (If you get quoted in Bugs Bunny cartoons, it’s an iconic line!) “Ah, but the strawberries! That’s where I had them!” “I kid you not.” "I hope they don’t hang you, precious, by that sweet neck. Yes, angel, I’m gonna send you over. The chances are you’ll get off with life. That means if you’re a good girl, you’ll be out in 20 years. I’ll be waiting for you. If they hang you, I’ll always remember you. " ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/25 "2011-10-20T20:01:34Z")
I think Jack Nicholson would be up there “Here’s Johnny!” “You can’t handle the truth!” “You make me want to be a better man.” “Do you think God knew what he was doing when he created woman?” McMurphy: "I’m a goddamn marvel of modern science. " “Wait’ll they get a load of me” many more! ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/26 "2011-10-20T20:09:04Z")
Either I don’t know nearly as much about movies as I thought I did (and I already didn’t think I knew much about movies), or other folks have a much lower standard for “iconic” than I do. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/27 "2011-10-20T20:21:43Z")
> [@Labtrash](#): > > I think Jack Nicholson would be up there > > “Here’s Johnny!” > “You can’t handle the truth!” > > “You make me want to be a better man.” > “Do you think God knew what he was doing when he created woman?” > McMurphy: "I’m a goddamn marvel of modern science. " > “Wait’ll they get a load of me” > many more! “I want you to hold it between your knees.” ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/28 "2011-10-20T20:38:42Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Either I don’t know nearly as much about movies as I thought I did (and I already didn’t think I knew much about movies), or other folks have a much lower standard for “iconic” than I do. +1 I’ve recognized about a third of the lines quoted. And even for some of those lines from there I’ve never heard used or referenced/imitated elsewhere. And then even those are usually badly misquoted. But after taking a second look, it looks like the board through repetition is coming to the 3 person conclusion I did. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/29 "2011-10-20T21:23:53Z")
AFI seems to agree with Bogart as the answer. He has 5 quotes on their [“100 years of movies” movie quotes list](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFI%27s_100_Years...100_Movie_Quotes). 4 are from Casablanca, with “The stuff that dreams are made of” from The Maltese Falcon added. The next highest count is 3 for Pacino, Bette Davis, Brando, Tom Hanks, and Vivien Leigh. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/30 "2011-10-20T22:48:00Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > “Do you feel lucky, punk?” Really, now. It’s actually: “… you’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ - Well do ya, punk?” Others by CE: “A man _has_ to know his limitations.” “Dyin’ ain’t much of a livin’, boy.” “You go cuttin’ down on my percentage, it’s liable to interfere with my aim.” “Ever notice how you come across somebody once in a while you shouldn’t have f–ked with?” “Such ingratitude - after all the times I saved your life.” ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/31 "2011-10-20T22:55:52Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Stick around. See you at the party, Richter. Let off some steam. Come with me if you want to live. Consider this a divorce. Who is your daddy, and what does he do? If it bleeds, we can kill it. Get to ze choppah! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/32 "2011-10-20T23:46:04Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > The Arnold quotes are great. The Gene Wilder quotes? I can’t believe I’m having to say this on the SDMB of all places, but cite? “My grandfather’s work was Doo-Doo!” \ _Young Frankenstien_ What did you expect? “Welcome, sonny”? “Make yourself at home”? “Marry my daughter”? You’ve got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know… morons. _Blazing Saddles_ I want everything I’ve ever seen in the movies! _The Producers_ She was a bad egg _Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory_ ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/33 "2011-10-21T00:06:04Z")
Eastwood, like Schwartzenegger, will always do well in this due to the amount of roles each has played where they speak relatively little dialogue, but most of it is memorable. Pacino also needs to be up there, and I’ll add “Attica! Attica! Attica!” to the memorable lines. ---
**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:** [October 21, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/34 "2011-10-21T00:15:34Z")
> [@Ura-Maru](#): > > Harrison Ford, maybe? > > – > Do Han Solo and Indiana Jones have any non-iconic lines? > [@Telemark](#): > > “I’ve got a bad feeling about this” > “I know” > "Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes? " Uh, those were all iconic, not non-iconic. For me, it’s Harrison Ford, because he was lucky enough to be both Han Solo and Indiana Jones, two of the coolest characters in movies. “Never tell me the odds.” ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/35 "2011-10-21T00:30:50Z")
> [@theR](#): > > Walken certainly has a number that are memorable if not iconic. There are enough to make [The Walken Dead](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giAQuLntqXY) somewhat amusing. Oh that was funny. Kevin Pollock does a funny Walken skit…cause they’re fast. My mind is a blank right now for another example of this sort of actor. Maybe Paul Newman? ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/36 "2011-10-21T00:45:01Z")
Jeff Bridges. And did all of them in one movie. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/37 "2011-10-21T00:45:37Z")
This is still the SDMB, right? Shouldn’t there be obligatory mention of John Cleese by now? “And now for something completely different.” “I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.” “Yes, you did, you invaded Poland!” “It’s just a flesh wound! … All right, we’ll call it a draw.” “THIS – IS AN EX-PARROT!” “Oh I’m sorry, just one moment. Is this a five minute argument or the full half hour?” _“My hovercraft – is full of eels.”_ “She turned me into a newt! I got better…” “But, then, the African swallow’s not migratory…” ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/38 "2011-10-21T00:51:59Z")
How about Sigourney Weaver? Aliens: “Get away from her, you bitch!” And the one about nuking it from orbit. Ghostbusters: “Do you want this body?” Galaxy Quest: “Look, I have ONE job on this lousy ship. It’s STUPID, but I’m gonna do it, OKAY?” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/39 "2011-10-21T01:53:17Z")
Wow, no one yet with: _Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn._ ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253/40 "2011-10-21T02:14:58Z")
Schwarzenegger [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pDxn0Xfqkgw/hqdefault.jpg "160 Greatest Arnold Schwarzenegger Quotes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxn0Xfqkgw) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-is-responsible-for-delivering-the-most-iconic-lines/600253.md?page=3)