Ian McShane
MIH: 'American Star' Exclusive Interviews
Ian McShane

Ian McShane Quotes

Actor
Ballerina - Ian McShane Character Poster

Memorable Quotes from Ian McShane

41 quotes
Embrace the Mystique of Silence
Coach (to Jensen, wearing Frankenstein's mask) Don't talk to the other drivers. Frank never did. Part of the mystique. Let the mask do the work.
The Nature of Perspective in Strategy
John Wick You always have an angle, don't you?
Winston Doesn't everyone?
Youthful Spirit in an Aging Body
Frank Powell Old man, young heart!
Confrontation of Power and Loyalty
The Adjudicator Have you decided to step down?
Winston I think not.
The Adjudicator And you, will you be putting a bullet in his head?
John Wick No, I don't think I will.
The Adjudicator Very well.
Administrator Administration.
The Adjudicator I'd like to change a designation.
Administrator Verification?
The Adjudicator Adjudication 1011979, The Continental Hotel, New York.
Administrator New designation?
The Adjudicator Deconsecrated.
Support for Women's Independence in Business
Al Swearengen No, not being either to say you have to run women. I strongly endorse that.
A Direct Insult from Teddy Bass
Teddy Bass Gentlemen! You're all cunts.
[raising his glass]
A Character's Enthusiasm for the Game
Coach Bam. (Triggers the bomb and blows up Hennessey and Ulrich, then breaks the fourth wall) I love this game.
A Call to Action and Loyalty
Winston I know you will do The Continental proud.
Charon I'll see you soon, sir.
Winston And you, Jonathan, do what you do best.
John Wick What's that?
Winston Hunt... Si vis pacem, para bellum !
[Latin translation: If you want peace, prepare for war]
Newcomer Nicknamed Igor in Prison Dynamics
Machine Gun Joe (about Jensen) Who's the new fish?
Coach Grease monkey.
Machine Gun Joe (to Jensen) Well well. Monkey. I got a new name for you - Igor, because you about the ugliest bloodsucker out here in this prison yo!
Anticipation of Race Day Preparation
Jensen Ames So where's the ammo?
Gunner We get that on race day.
Jensen Ames Pity.
Coach Yeah, everyone thinks that, the first time.
Jensen Ames Thinks what?
Coach About turning the guns on the guards. About escaping.
Jensen Ames No, I wasn't thinking that.
Coach Well I'm glad, because Hennessey's got electric kill switches on all the guns on all the cars. And all the guard towers are fortified, and their guns are bigger than your guns. Oh, did I mention the helicopters and also the fact that we're on an island here a mile from the nearest shoreline? The only way in or out of here is on that one skinny bridge you came in on.
The Legacy of Forgotten Nobility
Winston Ah, history is littered with Marquis who were only remembered by their servants.
The Old Ways of Loyalty and Life
Marquis A man's Second, like his sponsor, either walks out with his champion or is buried beside him. The Old Ways.
Winston Such is life.
Considering Political Aspirations Amidst Adversity
Al Swearengen Maybe you oughta think about running for office? Outnumbered, as we are, by shit-birds.
Sol Star Food for thought, Mr. Swearengen.
Inquiry on the Nature of Brevity
Al Swearengen Does brevity exist in your repertoire, sir?
Law and Order in Deadwood
Al Swearengen Well, if it ain't for Hearst to follow the law, why the fuck should it be for you? Now, how should I construe that look on your mug, Bullock?
[''Bullock's eyes narrow'']
Seth Bullock My job ain't to follow the law, Al. My job is to interpret it, then enforce it accordingly.
Al Swearengen You'd best counsel your partner proper. The safety of mother and child...
Seth Bullock Sol and me'll see to it.
Al Swearengen Hearst won't take long before he honors the rigors of his putrid fuckin nature. He'll want an answer.
Seth Bullock I'll deliver your fuckin answer.
[''Turns and walks out''; ''Swearengen smiles knowingly'']
Power Dynamics in Deadwood's Commerce
Al Swearengen Ah... produce George Hearst Esquire, colossus of commerce, junior senator from California, who since our paths last crossed has went from strength to stronger strength still.
George Hearst Even as you name me, a figure to be reckoned with in this camp, Mr. Swearengen, I have been made this morning, more than somewhat, to look an incompetent.
Al Swearengen An incompetent? Now, how would that ever be?
George Hearst These years now past, I'd have you recall my having been attacked. Shot, and near as not, done in by a whore, whose name, if I ever knew it, has now been lost to me.
Al Swearengen I dimly recall the matter. The nameless whore embarked on a program of vengeance, and, by God, she nearly brought off.
George Hearst Referring to her attempt to murder me.
Al Swearengen Not to pretty the picture.
George Hearst I have lived believing the matter had been settled. And I was satisfied in that belief. But now, I realize I was tricked. The whore you presented in the box was not the shooter at all.
Al Swearengen Ah, you're going for the long, larger minded view... Senator.
George Hearst Which depends on running telephone lines across the claims. On recognizing common ground, bringing the future to it. A brief illustration of my point...
Al Swearengen Does brevity exist in your repertoire, sir?
[''Cutting off Hearst'']
George Hearst I am making an offer on Charlie Utter's land. Lumber for construction arrived this morning.
Al Swearengen Confident, are we?
George Hearst Back my bid to buy Utter's land. Use your position in the town to sway others and I will drop any counteraction against the whore... The pregnant whore.
Al Swearengen Uncharacteristically straightforward, sir.
George Hearst Discover your deepest nature, Mr. Swearengen. Walk with the future.
A Conversation About the Day of the Week
Doc Cochran Name the day of the week, Al.
Al Swearengen Fuck difference does the day make?
Doc Cochran I'd have you but say the name.
Al Swearengen Tuesday, then, you half-a-scarecrow-looking cocksucker.
Doc Cochran Friday it is.
Al Swearengen Oh, mistaking Friday for Tuesday. Well, secure my burial plot.
The Consequences of Killing or Sparing Lives
Winston Killing a man can turn him into a martyr. Letting him live... tells the world he's a coward or a turncoat.
Assessing John Wick's Survival Odds
Charon Do you expect him to make it out?
Winston Fourteen million dollar bounty on his head, and every interested party in this city wants a piece of it. I say the odds are about even.
A Question of Straightforwardness
Al Swearengen You ever think, Bullock, of not going straight at a thing?
[''Pause'']
The Rise and Fall of a Racing Star
Lists Travis Colt. Our local superstar. He used to race for Nascar.
Gunner Yeah, he was good, too.
Lists Until he fell asleep behind the wheel of his Mercedes with the help of a bottle of scotch and a handful of freaks. Wiped out the entire patio of Moscala. Sent a dozen people to the hospital and killed three of them.
Coach Technically, he's the best driver in here, but a mean son of a bitch quitter.
Membership Revoked at The Continental
Winston Ms. Perkins. Your membership to The Continental has been, by thine own hand, revoked.
[pauses as he walks up to her; Gunmen execute Ms. Perkins]
Caution After Surviving a Chemical Fire
Frank Powell Never—sneak up on a man who's been in a chemical fire.
Character Backgrounds and Car References in Dialogue
Lists Jensen Garner Ames. Moved to the states at 24 years old. Named after a car, the Jensen Intercepter. A three time local speedway champion.
Jensen Ames You've done your homework, or do you just know everything?
Coach Jensen Intercepter. I had one. Handled like a school bus.
Reflections on Honor and Responsibility
Charon It was... an honor... my friend.
[as he dies]
Winston It should have been me.
Marquis You're right. It should've. Now go and think about why it wasn't.
Embrace Your Inner Ghosts
Al Swearengen We're all of us haunted by our own fucking thoughts. So make friends with the ghost, it ain't going fuckin anywhere.
The Code of Our Existence
Winston I know what you're thinking, Jonathan. We live by a code. Which is why I'm not the one telling you that a certain helicopter on a certain helipad is being fueled for a certain someone.
A Direct Insult from Frank Powell
Frank Powell You're a pussy.
Power and Sacrifice in a Dangerous Game
Marquis Arrête! As your sponsor, I claim the coup de grâce. Your weapon. Give it to me.
[to Caine, as he picks out another bullet]
Caine Is my daughter free now?
Marquis Oui. You and your daughter. Enjoy.
Marquis Rules.
Winston Ha! You arrogant asshole. He didn't shoot.
John Wick Consequences.
Navigating Challenges in a High-Stakes Race
Coach Tomorrow morning, you'll meet your navigator, Case. She'll help you navigate the course, reload your weapons, and help with the running of the car.
Jensen Ames I'd love to talk to her ahead of time before the race.
Gunner Yeah, I'd like a big bad girl to lick peanut butter off my toes, but it ain't gonna happen. This is still a prison, man. She's a chick. They get busted from the women's facility upstate.
Coach It's all about ratings. Fast cars, pretty women...
Gunner Machine Gun Joe's the only one that has male navigators, cause he's gay.
Lists Well... actually, it's because he goes through them so fast, and... audience gets squeamish.
Gunner Yeah he goes through them... through their skin.
Coach He cuts each kill into his skin as a souvenir, I hear.
The Consequences of Conflict and Loyalty
The Adjudicator You gentleman, of course, realize that was the first wave. Merely an ]. We can keep this up as long as you'd like, but it only ends one way.
[[w:amuse-bouche|amuse-bouche]
Winston Are you sure a protracted war is the best way forward?
The Adjudicator There won't be anything "protracted" about it.
Winston Oh you can take the Continental, I have no doubt about that, but keeping it, that's a different matter entirely. My allegiances run way beyond this building.
The Adjudicator We are High Table.
Winston And we... are New York City.
The Adjudicator Are we negotiating?
Winston I believe we are.
Determination and Resourcefulness in Adversity
Teddy Bass Where there's a will - and there is a fucking will - there's a way - and there is a fucking way.
Defending My Vehicle from Interference
Coach Nobody screws with my car.
Explosive Entertainment in Death Race
Coach (as the Dreadnought explodes) Now that's entertainment.
Embrace Strength to Avoid Victimhood
Frank Powell Play the victim and you will be the victim.
A Casual Encounter Between Old Friends
John Wick Hello Winston.
Winston Jonathan! Now, as I recall, weren't you the one tasked to dole out the beatings, not to receive them?
John Wick Rusty, I guess.
Winston To what do we owe the pleasure?
John Wick Iosef Tarasov.
Winston What about him?
John Wick I'd like to talk with him.
Winston A talk, you say. I'm familiar with the parlance, Jonathan. I want to ask you this: Have you returned to the fold?
John Wick Just visiting.
Winston Have you thought this through? I mean chewed it down to the bone? You got out once. You dip so much as a pinky back into this pond, you may well find something reaches out, and drags you back into its depths.
Safe Haven No Longer for John Wick
Winston This haven is safe no more.
John Wick Are services still off limit to me?
Winston Under the circumstances, your privileges are reinstated immediately. What do you need?
[[The Matrix (film)|Guns. Lots of guns]
A Decision on John Wick's Fate
The Adjudicator What are we going to do about John Wick?
[during the parley]
Winston Oh, he has to die. Sorry, Jonathan. I don't see any other way.
[suddenly pulls out gun and shoots Wick several times, causing him to fall off the roof]
Divine Dismissal in Deadwood
Trixie Our Father, which art in Heaven...
Al Swearengen Let Him... fucking... stay there.
Understanding Life Beyond Prison Walls
Jensen Ames Why don't you wear a number, Coach?
Coach Because I'm not a prisoner. I qualified for parole three years ago. Got as far as the gate. They got a name for it: something-or-another syndrome. Simple fact is, world's changed since I've been in here. Don't know what, don't much want to. But this... this I know.
Jensen Ames What did they sent you away for?
Coach Oh, plenty... and nothing.
A Reflection on Feelings in Darkness
Al Swearengen It's a sad night. Something's afire. Christ, I do have feelings.