Willem Dafoe

Willem Dafoe Quotes

Actor
The Birthday Party - Willem Dafoe as Marcos Timoleon in a Suit
The Birthday Party - Willem Dafoe and Emma Suárez
The Birthday Party - Willem Dafoe and Vic Carmen Sonne
The Man in My Basement - Willem Dafoe at the World Premiere TIFF 2025
The Man in My Basement - Corey Hawkins, Anna Diop and Willem Dafoe at the World Premiere  TIFF 2025
+1

Memorable Quotes from Willem Dafoe

44 quotes
Bobby Peru's Invitation to Listen
Bobby Peru Y'all take a listen, you'll hear the deep sound comin down from Bobby Peru.
Consequences of Abandonment and Bad Luck
William I've been left for dead twice. It was bad luck.
Ballard For who?
William The people who left me!
A Call to Embrace a New Faith
Jesus Brothers, my old friends! Listen to me! It's me the prophets preached about. God talked to me in the desert; he gave me a secret and told me to bring it to you. Didn't you hear me coming? I ran here to Nazareth, where I grew up, to bring you the news. The word of God is here now.
Voice in Crowd You work miracles. Make a miracle for us. Make us believe in you. Otherwise, go away.
Jesus The Messiah doesn't need miracles. He is the miracle. Now he's here. Are you ready for me? I'm here to tear down everything around you, and you know what I'm going to replace it with? Something new: God. The World of God. So take your bread and give it to the poor. What difference does it matter what you own? You have gold and silver? It's going to rot, and that rot is going to eat away your heart. All of you! There will be a flood, and there will be a fire. Everything will be destroyed. But there will be a new ark riding on that fire, and I hold the keys and I open the door, and I decide who goes in and who doesn't. You're my brothers from Nazareth, and you're the first I invite on the ark. Don't wait. Don't waste your life. Come with me.
Legal Promises and Uncertain Outcomes
Rick Masters You have my word you won't have to do the whole nickel.
Carl Cody What does that mean?
Rick Masters Grimes is the best lawyer in the state. It'll either be an appeal bond or a sentence reduction.
Carl Cody And the check is in the mail, and I love you, and I promise not to come in your mouth...
Reflections on Loss and Life's Uncertainty
Marcus It's been a while. My condolences. How're you holding up?
John Wick I keep asking, "Why her?
Marcus There's no rhyme or reason to this life. It's days like today scattered among the rest.
John Wick Are you sure?
Marcus Don't blame yourself.
John Wick What are you really doing here, Marcus?
Marcus Just checking up on an old friend. Goodbye, John.
Iosef Tarasov Everything’s got a price, bitch.
[In Russian]
John Wick Not this bitch.
[In Russian]
Divine Presence Announced in the Desert
Jesus In the desert, the baptist warned us, God is coming. Well, I'm telling you it's too late! He's already here. I'm here! And I'm going to baptize everybody... with fire!
Temptation Between Love and Salvation
Jesus You're here to trick me.
The Cobra/Satan Trick you? To love and care for a woman, to have a family? This is a trick? Why are you trying to save the world? Aren't your own sins enough for you? What arrogance to think you can save the world. The world doesn't have to be saved: save yourself. Find love
Jesus I have love.
A Son's Plea for Forgiveness and Redemption
Jesus Father, will you listen to me? Are you still there? Will you listen to a selfish, unfaithful son? I fought you when you called, I resisted! I thought of no more. I didn't want to be your son! Can you forgive me? I didn't fight hard enough. Father, give me Your hand. I want to bring salvation! Father, take me back! Make a feast! Welcome me home! I want to be Your son! I want to pay the price! I want to be crucified and rise again! I want to be the Messiah!
[stares at the heavens]
Frustration and Rebellion Amidst Chaos
Ron Kovic What are we gonna do now?
Charlie Fuck em.
Ron Kovic Yeah. Sure. How are we gonna get outta here?
Charlie Fuck em all. Fuck the whores. Fuck the cab drivers... fuck Mexico. Fuck Nixon, fuck Vietnam, fuck'em all.
Ron Kovic Yeah, Charlie, but how are we gonna get outta here?
Charlie They made me kill babies, man. Little gook babies. You ever have to kill a baby?
Ron Kovic Yeah, O.K. come on, we gotta get back to the villa.
Charlie FUCK YOU!
[drawing closer]
Ron Kovic Gotta get back to the villa.
Charlie What do you mean "ok"?! What do you mean "ok"? You ever have to kill a baby, you ever have to kill a little gook baby?!!
Ron Kovic What the fuck do you know what I did!!
[wheels away]
Charlie I didn't think so. I didn't think so, you're full of shit.
Ron Kovic No, you are! The fuck? Leave me the fuck alone. You're nuts, you know that? You're nuts. The fuckin sun is goin down! what do you know what the fuck comes out here at night? We gotta get outta here.
Charlie Don't shit me, Kovic. You never killed a baby. You never HAD to kill a baby because... you never put your soul into that war. You never put your soul on the line, man!
[again drawing closer]
Ron Kovic How do you know? How the fuck do you know? maybe I killed babies. Maybe I killed more babies than you did, you FUCK! Maybe I killed a whole bunch a babies, but I don't talk about it! I don't have to talk about it.(wheels away)
Charlie Why not? Wh-Why the fuck not? What do you think you are- better than anybody else? You a hero is that it?
Ron Kovic Fuck you!
Charlie Maybe you got a whole bunch'a fuckin medals, but deep down you know you're full of shit. You never fought that war. YOU WEREN'T EVEN THERE, MAN!
Ron Kovic (Stops. Turns back, enraged) What the fuck did you mean "I wasn't there", man? What did you mean?
Charlie What the fuck are you hidin from?
Ron Kovic I'm not the one that's hidin'. You're the one that's hidin'- down here in Mexico- you're the one that's hidin'! What are you hidin from you whiny fuck!
Charlie Don't shit me. You never killed anybody or anything, did ya, Kovic? Did ya?
Ron Kovic Did you?!
Charlie DID YA?!!!
Ron Kovic Did you?!
Charlie Ya ever look at yourself in the fuckin mirror?
Ron Kovic Did you?
Charlie Fuck you.
Ron Kovic You.
Charlie No. You! FUCK YOU!!!
Ron Kovic No, FUCK YOU!!
The Necessity of Sacrifice
Jesus I wish there was another way, but there isn't. I have to die on the cross.
Judas I won't let you die.
Jesus You don't have a choice. Neither do I. Remember, we're bringing God and man together. They'll never be together unless I die. I'm the sacrifice... Forget everything else, understand that.
The Pride and Challenge of Being a Marine
Marine Sergeant Not everybody can become United States Marines. We want the best and we settle for nothing but the best because there is nothing prouder, nothing finer, nothing standing as straight as a United States Marine. Now they got the Air Force, they got the Navy, they got the Army, they got the Coast Guard - and if you want to join them, go ahead. They got plenty of room. But if you want a challenge, if you want to try something difficult, try to achieve the impossible - try 13 weeks of hell at Parris Island, South Carolina and find out if you got what it takes, find out if you really are a man, then the Marines might be what you are looking for. Tarawa... Iwo Jima... Belleau Wood...the frozen Chosin Reservoir. First to fight, we have never lost a war. We have always come when our country has called.
[to high school boys]
Willie I'm serious, man, you gotta read some books. There's a revolution going on, Kovic. Brothers are gettin it together, and if you ain't part of the solution, man, then you're part of the problem.
Lieutenant It wasn't your fault, goddamn it! They got in the goddamn way!
[to Ron]
Charlie The bitch thinks it's funny I can't move my dick!
[to Ron]
A Fair Contest of Power
Ballard He should be careful. She's very powerful here.
[about William and Lin]
Tovar Then it's a fair contest.
Bobby Peru's Bold Flirtation and Provocative Charm
Bobby Peru You know, I sure do like a girl with nice tits like yours who talks tough and looks like she can fuck like a bunny. Do you fuck like that? Cause if you do, I'll fuck you good. Like a big old jackrabbit bunny, jump all around that hole. Bobby Peru don't come up for air.
[to Lula]
Contractual Demands and Consequences
Rick Masters I want my paper, Jeff. I can't afford to have it circulating right now.
Jeff Rice I told you I don't have it.
Rick Masters Get it. You broke your contract with me Jeff. Now, I don't know whether you're into it but you're gonna have to suck on this until you give me back my paper!
A Sacrifice for Redemption
Judas How will you ever pay for your sins?
Jesus With my life, Judas. With my life. I don't have anything else.
The Burden of Divine Knowledge
Jeroboam His spirit actually appeared to you. He treated you like a royal visitor. He recognized you for something.
Jesus He couldn't have recognized me for anything. I only came here to serve God. That's all. That's all God wants from me. I'm sure of it.
Jeroboam Think of how you're blessed. God actually makes himself known to you. I don't know what God wants from me. All my life I've wanted to hear God's voice. I've dedicated my life to him. Sometimes...I think I feel him, but I'm never really sure. But you always know. God took you by the hand and brought you here.
Jesus You think it's a blessing to know what God wants? I'll tell you what he wants. He wants to push me over! Can't he see what's inside of me? All my sins.
Jeroboam We all sin.
Jesus Not my sins. I'm a liar. A hypocrite. I'm afraid of everything. I don't tell the truth. I don't have the courage. When I see a woman, I blush and look away. I want her, but I don't take her, for God, and that makes me proud. Then my pride ruins Magdalene. I don't steal, I don't fight...I don't kill. Not because I don't want to, but because I'm afraid. I want to rebel against you, against everything...against God, but...I'm afraid. You want to know who my mother and father are? You want to know who my God is? Fear. You look inside me and that's all you'll find.
Jeroboam But the more devils we have inside of us, the more of a chance we have to repent.
Jesus Lucifer is inside me. He says to me, You're not the son of King David. You're not a man, you're the Son of man. And more, the Son of God. And more than that, God. Do you want to ask me anything else?
Reflections on Dracula's Solitude
Max Schreck It made me sad.
[of the novel [[Dracula (novel)|''Dracula'']
Albin Grau Why sad?
Max Schreck Because Dracula had no servants.
Albin Grau I think you missed the point of the book, Count Orlock.
Max Schreck Dracula hasn't had servants in 400 years and then a man comes to his ancestral home, and he must convince him that he... that he is like the man. He has to feed him, when he himself hasn't eaten food in centuries. Can he even remember how to buy bread? How to select cheese and wine? And then he remembers the rest of it. How to prepare a meal, how to make a bed. He remembers his first glory, his armies, his retainers, and what he is reduced to. The loneliest part of the book comes... when the man accidentally sees Dracula setting his table.
Albin Grau Count Orlok, the theatre needs you!
The Captain's Duty in Crisis Situations
Geiger Traditionally speaking, isn't it true that the Captain goes down with his ship?
[before killing the Captain]
Exploring Symbolism in Mythology and Judgment
Detective Dolly So, what's the symbology there?
Paul Smecker Symbology? Now that Duffy's relinquished his "King Bonehead" crown, I see we have an heir to the throne! I'm sure the word you were looking for was symbolism. What is the ssss-himbolism there? Let me explain it to you. In Greek and Roman mythology, when you died, you would have to pay the toll to Charon, the boatman who ferried you across to the gates of judgment. This made sure the dead came to atone for what they did during their lives, Detective Dollypoposkallius.
Detective Dolly Jesus, you're the first one that ever got that!
Paul Smecker Yeah, well, I'm an expert in … nameology!
The Dangers of Change: Love vs. Power
Pontius Pilate It's one thing to want to change the way people live... but you want to change how they think, how they feel.
Jesus All I'm saying is that change will happen with love, not with killing.
Pontius Pilate Either way, it's dangerous. It's against Rome. It's against the way the world is. And killing or loving, it's all the same. It simply doesn't matter how you want to change things. We don't want them changed.
Threat of Violence and Emotion
Bobby Peru Say it! I'll tear your fucking heart out, girl!
Struggle Between Love and Pain
Jesus The feeling begins. Very tender, very loving. Then the pain starts. Claws slip underneath the skin and tear their way up. Just before they reach my eyes, they dig in. And I remember. First I fasted for three months. I even whipped myself before I went to sleep. At first it worked. Then the pain came back. And the voices. They call me by name. Jesus.
A Plan to Persuade the Sister
Jopling I've got to hand it to them. I didn't see that coming. Well, what do you want me to do?
[having discovered Agatha's involvement in Gustave's escape]
Dmitri Talk to the club-footed sister again. And this time, be persuasive.
[on phone]
Confrontation Over Failed Deal
Jeff Rice Yo! Yo! Yo! Yo!
Rick Masters Hello Jeff.
Jeff Rice What are you doing in my crib.
Rick Masters You sent two assholes to do Cody and they blew it. I paid you half, I want it back.
Jeff Rice Yeah, well uh... I'm trying to get that money back myself. I had to front the whole purchase to get my people to do their thing. So I ain't got any more.
Rick Masters Well, then uh... you better try and shit 40 grand, because I ain't leaving without it.
Jeff Rice I owe you Cody. Next time there be no fuck-up.
Rick Masters What next time? He's in protective custody.
Jeff Rice Hell, protective custody don't mean shit to me! The man's dead.
Rick Masters In a pig's ass!
Chaos on Set Amidst Film Production Challenges
Carson Clay Cut! Cut, cut! What the hell is he doing?! Where did he come from? Some of us here are trying to make a work of art! Everyone, back in position!
[the soldiers and Sabine stop acting while Bean stands puzzled]
Carson Clay Get him in something different and put him in the background. You, sweetheart. You never stop, okay? Remember, you're crazy for the taste of Fruzzi yogurt. Well, how long does it take to reset? Then WHY IS EVERYONE MOVING IN SLOW MOTION?!
[to the waitress; points to a yogurt container with the name "Fruzzi" full of strawberries in which a hand sprays scent on it]
News Reporter Cannes jury member Emil Dachevsky, the Russian film director, explained that his son Stepan was last seen on a train with a mysterious foreigner.
Train Station Manager As soon as I saw him, I thought "he's evil.
Carson Clay Action! Cut! The guy with the video camera is fired!
[the commercial goes as normal with Bean dressed in military outfit while holding his camera on the tip of his gun; the soldiers along with Bean stop running]
Female Crew Member Fired.
[holding up a megaphone]
Carson Clay YOU'RE FIRED!
[upon seeing Bean walking while seeing that his camera's battery is dying]
Male Crew Member 1 Are you ready?
Male Crew Member 2 Yep.
Carson Clay Action! Cut! Cut, cut! My explosion! WHERE'S MY EXPLOSION?! All I want is an explosion, a little tiny explosion!
[the whole commercial goes as normal until the tank fires its gun in which the windows of a nearby building used in the set does not explode due to the machine used for the special effects turned off]
Carson Clay Is it really so hard for you guys? I mean, all you had to do is this!
[walking off the set with one of the male crew members; grabs a remote control from the member; presses a button on the remote, creating an explosion off-screen as Carson Clay's sombrero flies into the air]
A Yearning for Peeping in Seafood Store
Bobby Peru Speaking of Jack, One eyed Jack's yearning to go a peeping in a seafood store!
Struggling with Divine Love and Human Desire
Jesus God loves me. I know he loves me. I want him to stop! I make crosses so he'll hate me so he'll find another! I want to crucify every one of his messiahs.
Confrontation of Betrayal and Understanding
Peter Don't you have any respect?
Judas For him?
Jesus You don't understand...
[feebly]
Judas Understand?... You broke my heart. Sometimes I curse the day I ever met you! We held the world in our hands. Remember what you told me? You took me in your arms, do you remember? And you begged me, "Betray me, betray me. I have to be crucified, I have to be resurrected so I can save the world. I am the lamb," you said. "Death is the door. Judas, my brother, don't be afraid. Help me go through the door." And I loved you so much, I went and betrayed you. And you... you... What are you doing here? What business do you have here, with women, with children? What's good for men isn't good for God! Why weren't you crucified?
Peter Look at his wounds, Judas, they're bleeding. You're hurting him. That's enough.
Judas He was going to be the New Covenant. Now there's no more Israel.
Jesus No, you don't understand... The guardian angel... God sent a guardian angel to save me.
Judas Angel? What angel? Look at her. Satan.
[points at the feminine youth, who becomes a pillar of fire]
Satan I told you we would meet again.
Discussion on the "Yale thing" concept
Bateman He was into that whole Yale thing.
[about Paul Allen]
Donald Kimball Yale thing?
Bateman Yeah, Yale thing.
Kimball What do you mean "Yale thing"?
Bateman Well, for one thing, I think he was probably a closet homosexual who did a lot of cocaine. That whole Yale thing.
A Plea for Divine Communication and Guidance
Jesus I'm not going to leave this circle, I'm not going to leave until you speak to me. No signs, no pain, just speak to me in human words. Whatever path you want, I'll take. Love, or the axe, or anything else. Now if you want me to stay here and die, I'll do that too, but you have to tell me.
[drawing a circle in the earth while he speaks to God]
Love as the Essence of Existence
Jesus If I was a woodcutter, I'd cut. If I was a fire, I'd burn. But I'm a heart and I love. That's the only thing I can do.
Conflict of Beliefs and Prophecies
Rabbi That is blasphemy.
Jesus Didn't they tell you? I am the saint of blasphemy. Don't make any mistakes, I didn't come here to bring peace, I came to bring a sword!
Rabbi Talking like that will get you killed.
Jesus Me, killed? Listen to me. This temple will be torn down in three days, torn down to the ground!
Bathroom Humor in Wild at Heart Scene
Bobby Peru I gotta take a piss bad, can I use your head?
Lula Uh... yeah, I guess.
Bobby Peru I don't mean your head-head. I'm not gonna piss on your head, your hair and all, I'm just gonna piss in the toilet. Y'all take a listen, you'll hear the deep sound coming down from Bobby Peru.
Distrust in the Butler's Honesty
Jopling I've never trusted that butler. He's too honest.
[referring to Serge X]
Dmitri Too honest, you say?
[on phone]
Jopling Mm-hm.
Dmitri All right, well, be that as it may, find him quick and make it snappy.
A Promise of Transformation and Healing
Jesus Today and tomorrow I cast out demons and work cures. On the third day, I will be perfected.
Confrontation Over Intimacy and Masculinity
Paul Smecker What are you doing?
Hojo I just wanted to cuddle.
Paul Smecker Cuddle? What a fag.
[''Gets out of bed and walks away'']
Questioning Memory and Responsibility
Max Schreck Did I kill one of your people, Murnau? I can hardly remember.
The Decline of a Once-Great Existence
Max Schreck There was a time when I fed from golden chalices, but now... Don't look at me that way! Now I feed as an old man pees. Sometimes all at once, sometimes drop by drop.
The Rules of Vampirism Explained
Larten Crepsley Now, are you mentally unfit? Didn't you hear me threaten you at the show?
Steve I did. It was awesome. You see, I want this. I want you to make me into a vampire. Vampires- they don't take crap from anybody. They live by their own set of rules.
Larten Crepsley It's true; they do have their own rules. We wrote some of them.
Gavner Purl And one of those rules is: "Children can't become vampires.
Steve Look- blood!
[Holds out a small cut on his hand]
Larten Crepsley Blood! You see Gavner! Blood... Look. If you become a vampire, you have to leave your friends, and your family; it's deeply depressing. Trust me. Now get out of here!
[Wide-eyed; Crepsley drops the act and gives Steve a deadpan expression.]
Steve I haven't seen my dad in years. My mom's drunk all the time. I absolutely hate my life! I've never actually said it before, but it's the truth. This is what I was meant for.
Larten Crepsley What you were meant for? Well, if that's the case, let's test your blood.
Gavner Purl Larten...
Larten Crepsley Who sent you here? Your blood tastes of evil. You can never be a vampire.
Steve What, I have... bad blood? I'm never gonna forget this. One day, I promise you, I will hunt you down-
[''In disbelief, then anger'']
Larten Crepsley And what? Kill me? You know how easily I could kill you. I could do it tonight. I could knock you out, and lay you in front of a bus, and no one would ever know!
Gavner Purl Calm down; save that stuff for the enemy! He's just an idiot kid! Who should be leaving, right now, while he still can.
[''Quietly, looking at Steve'']
God's Belonging to All Humanity
Jesus You think God belongs only to you? He doesn't. God is an immortal spirit who belongs to everybody, to the whole world. You think you're special? God is not an Israelite.
Tension Escalates Between Characters
Bobby Peru Say cheese!
Sailor Cool it man!
Bobby Peru You're next... fucker!
Bobby Peru Those are... dummies... dummy!
A Revelation Shared Between Brothers
Jesus Judas, my brother, I have something to tell you. I have a terrible secret from God. You know why I came to Jerusalem?
Judas Yes. This is where the revolution is going to begin.
Jesus Last night, Isaiah came to me. He had a prophecy. I saw it written. It said, "He has borne our faults; he was wounded for our transgressions, yet he opened now his mouth. Despised and rejected by all, he went forward without resisting, like a lamb led to the slaughter.
Judas I don't understand.
Jesus Judas, I am the lamb. I'm the one who's going to do.
Judas Die? You mean you're not the Messiah?
Jesus I am.
Judas That can't be. If you're the Messiah, why do you have to die?
Jesus Listen, at first, I didn't understand myself...
Judas No, you listen. Every day, you have a different plan. First it's love, then the ax, and now you have to die. What good could that do?
Jesus God only talks to me a little at a time and tells me as much as I need to know.
Judas We need you alive!
Jesus Now I finally understand! All my life-all my life, I've been followed by voices, by footsteps, by shadows. And do you know what that shadow is? The cross. I have to die on the cross, and I have to die willingly. We have to go back to the temple.
Judas And after you die on the cross, what happens then?
Jesus I come back to judge the living and the dead.
Daily Struggles in a Tough Environment
Rick Masters How you making it?
Carl Cody Like every other swinging dick in this place makes it. Day by motherfucking day.
The Uncertainty of Self-Harm
Max Schreck Tell me how you would harm me - when even I don't know how I could harm myself.