18 quotes
Understanding Personal Limitations
Harry Callahan
A man's got to know his limitations.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Deciding on Pain Management Options
Infirmary Doctor
Sure you don't want a local for this, Harry? Takes about seven stitches.
[stitching up Harry's head]
Harry Callahan
No, thanks.
Infirmary Doctor
Ok, it's your ass...
Harry Callahan
My head, the cut's on my head.
Infirmary Doctor
Why does everybody suddenly become a comedian in here?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry in Magnum Force
Taglines
Clint Eastwood is Dirty Harry in Magnum Force
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Searching for the Missing Item
Gino, Ricca's Driver:
I'll have to find it.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Discussion on Firearm Specifications and Performance
Officer Phillip Sweet
What kind of a load do you use in that .44?
Harry Callahan
It's a light Special. This size gun it gives you better control and less recoil than a .357 Magnum with wadcutters.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Justified Shooting in Harry Callahan's Perspective
Harry Callahan
Nothing wrong with shooting as long as the right people get shot.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Understanding Personal Limitations
Taglines
A man's got to know his limitations.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Choosing Backup for a Dangerous Mission
Harry Callahan
By the way I'd like to have Davis and Sweet as my backup squad.
Lieutenant Briggs
Davis and Sweet? They're just rookies!
Harry Callahan
Well you drum up someone in the department who can shoot as well and I'll use them.
Lieutenant Briggs
Dammit, there isn't supposed to be any shooting! Besides, they don't experience needed for a job like this.
Harry Callahan
How the hell is a man supposed to get experience if nobody gives him a chance? And Davis is the new pistol champion.
Lieutenant Briggs
Suppose they panic and start shooting?
Harry Callahan
Nothing wrong with shooting as long as the right people get shot!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Tension Between Police Authority and Duty
Lieutenant Briggs
You're on loan to Stakeout, Callahan.
Harry Callahan
That's right, Lieutenant! You saw to that.
Lieutenant Briggs
I've got nothing personal against you, Callahan, but we can't have the public crying police brutality every time you go out onto the street.
Harry Callahan
Well you just might need me on a job like this. Whoever did this was very good at it.
Lieutenant Briggs
You're sure one to know, Harry.
Harry Callahan
Well, I just work for the city, Briggs!
Lieutenant Briggs
So do I, longer than you, and I never had to take my gun out of its holster once. I'm proud of that.
Harry Callahan
Well, you're a good man, lieutenant. A good man always knows his limitations...
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Unexpected Encounters in Everyday Life
Sunny
Hi!
Harry Callahan
Oh, hi... what's your name?
Sunny
Sunny. You know, I've been living here for almost six months now. It's funny I've never met you before.
Harry Callahan
Oh well... I work a lot.
Sunny
I know. You're the cop who lives upstairs.
Harry Callahan
That's right.
Sunny
Mind if I ask you a question?
Harry Callahan
Go ahead.
Sunny
What does a girl have to do to go to bed with you?
Harry Callahan
(after recovering from his initial shock at so brazen a seduction effort) Try knocking on the door.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Consequences of Vigilante Justice
Harry Callahan
You heroes killed a dozen people this week. What are you going to do next week?
[confronted by Davis, Astrachan, and Grimes, the three surviving vigilante cops]
Officer John Davis
Kill a dozen more.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Comment on Justice and Consequences
Harry Callahan
Couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch of guys.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Pilot Questions Captain's Flying Skills
Pilot
Excuse me, Captain. This may seem silly, but can you fly?
Harry Callahan
Nope. Never had a lesson.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Welfare and Freebies in Unexpected Contexts
Prostitute
Too bad you're not on welfare, I'd give you a freebie.
[to cabdriver]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Questioning Trust in Law Enforcement
Nick Royale
(to Palancio after they received an anonymous phone call warning of a pending hit) But what if they are cops? This could be a set-up!
Frank Palancio
After the holes they put in Ricca, you wanna wait and see? If they're cops, they'll have papers, you'll know if they're cops!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation and Implicit Knowledge in Dialogue
Harry Callahan
I asked if you knew where ] is, and you do, don't you asshole?
[[W:San Quentin|San Quentin]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Clint Eastwood Returns as Dirty Harry
Taglines
Clint Eastwood is back in Full Force as Dirty Harry in "Magnum Force.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Department Loyalty and Shooting Skills
Harry Callahan
You know those guys?
Early Smith
They came through the Academy after me. They stick together like flypaper, you know? Everybody thought they were queer for each other.
Harry Callahan
Tell you something. If the rest of you could shoot like them, I wouldn't care if the whole damn department was queer.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.