32 quotes
The Importance of Cooking Timing
Jake
Is it done?
Irma
No, it's not done.
Jake
Don't overcook it. You overcook it, it's no good. It defeats its own purpose.
Jake
What are you doin'? I just said don't overcook it. You're overcookin it, bring it over.
Irma
You want your steak?
Jake
Bring it over. Bring it over! It's like a piece of charcoal! Bring it over here!
Irma
You want your steak?
Jake
Yeah, right now!
Irma
Okay. There's your stupid steak. Can't wait for it to be done?
Jake
No, I can't wait.
Irma
Good! Okay? Happy? Happy?
Jake
That's all I want. That's all I want!
Irma
That's...there! No, more! There!
Jake
Botherin me about a steak, huh?
Irma
That's great!
Jake
You're botherin me about the steak?
Irma
Yeah!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Discovery of Betrayal at Home
Jake LaMotta
Guy comes home, finds his wife in bed with another guy. The wife says, Look who's here. Big mouth. Now the whole neighborhood'll know.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Determination to Never Surrender
Jake LaMotta
I'm gonna win. There's no way I'm goin down. I don't go down for nobody.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Strategizing for a Title Shot
Joey
Do you want a title shot?
Jake
What am I? What am I, a circus over here? What are ya doin'?
Joey
You're killin yourself for three years now, right? There's nobody left for you to fight. Everybody's afraid to fight you. OK. Along comes this kid Janiro. He don't know any better. He's a young kid, up and coming, he'll fight anybody. Good! You fight him. Let's say you lose because of your weight. Are they gonna think you're not as tough as you are, you're not the same fighter? Good! They'll match you with all those guys that were afraid of matchin with you before. What happens? You'll kill em. And they gotta give you a title shot. Now let's say you win, you beat Janiro. Which is, definitely, you should beat him. Right? Right? They still gotta give you a shot at the title. You know why?
Jake
Why?
Joey
Because the same thing as before: there's nobody left. There ain't nobody around. They gotta give you the shot. You understand? If you win, you win. If you lose, you still win. There's no way you can lose. And you do it on your own, just the way you wanted to do, without any help from anybody. Do ya understand? Just get down to 155 pounds, you fat bastard. You stop eatin'!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Challenge in a Boxing Match
Jake
Come on, hit me. Harder. Harder. Come on, don't be a little faggot. Come on. Hit me. You throw a punch like you take it up the ass. Come on. Harder.
Joey
What the fuck do you want? That's hard. What are you trying to prove?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Fighter's Reflection on Life Beyond Boxing
Jake LaMotta
It's over for me. Boxing's over for me. I'm through. I'm tired of worryin about weight all the time. That's all I used to think about was weight, weight, weight. After a while, you know, you realize other things in life. I mean, I'm very grateful. Boxing's been good to me: I've got a nice house, I've got three great kids, I've got a wonderful, beautiful wife - what more could I ask for?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Illusion of Toughness and Power
Jake LaMotta
Friends. They're in a huddle. Big business meeting. By the pool, they sit around and talk. Big deals. They make sure she can hear. Big Man. Get the fuck outta here. Big shot. Get em all in a back room, smack em around, no more big shot, without his gun. They're tough guys. They're all tough guys....Big Shot.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Theater and Boxing: A Fighter's Reflection
Jake LaMotta
I remember those cheersThey still ring in my earsAnd for years they'll remain in my thoughts.Cuz one night I took off my robeAnd what'd I do?I forgot to wear shorts.I recall every fall, every hook, every jab;The worst way a guy could get rid of his flab.As you know, my life wasn't drab...Though I'd rather hear you cheer,When I delve into Shakespeare."A Horse, a Horse, my Kingdom for a Horse,"I haven't had a winner in six months.I know I'm no OlivierBut if he fought Sugar Ray,He would sayThat the thing ain't the ring,It's the play.So gimme a stageWhere this bull here can rage.And though I can fight,I'd much rather reciteThat's entertainment!That's entertainment..
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Assertion of Dominance and Confidence
Jake LaMotta
Go get em, champ. I'm da boss, I'm da boss, I'm da boss, I'm da boss, I'm da boss... I'm da boss, I'm da boss, I'm da boss, I'm da boss, I'm da boss, I'm da boss.
[''Last lines, to himself'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Unyielding Spirit in Adversity
Jake LaMotta
Hey, Ray, I never went down, man! You never got me down, Ray! You hear me, you never got me down.
[''After being beaten half to death by Sugar Ray Robinson, Jake is still standing.'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Questioning Interest in Relationships
Jake
Are you interested in him?
[about Salvy]
Vickie
No, why would I be interested in him?
Jake
You're sure you're not interested in him?
Vickie
Yeah.
Jake
In other words, you're not interested in him, but you could be interested in somebody?
Vickie
Jake, don't start, huh?
Jake
Hey, shut up, or I'm gonna smack your face.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Perceptions of Beauty and Personal Impact
Jake
She said he's pretty.
Joey
Yeah, well, you make him ugly.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation and Frustration in Raging Bull
Joey LaMotta
Salvy, this ain't funny anymore. Is it you? I know somebody's there. I can hear you breathin'. You listenin'? Your mother sucks fuckin big fuckin elephant dicks. You got that?
[on the phone, not realizing it's his brother Jake who's called him]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Reflection on Insecurities and Comparisons
Jake
What's wrong with me? My hands.
Joey
Your hands? What about em?
Jake
I got these small hands. I got a little girl's hands.
Joey
I got em too. What's the difference?
Jake
You know what that means? No matter how big I get, no matter who I fight, no matter what I do, I ain't never gonna fight Joe Louis.
Joey
Yeah, that's right. He's a heavy-weight. You're a middle-weight. What of it?
Jake
I ain't ever gonna get a chance to fight the best there is. And you know somethin'. I'm better than him. I ain't never gonna get a chance. You're askin what's wrong.
Joey
But you're crazy to even think about somethin like that.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Struggles with Loyalty and Reputation
Tommy
Listen to me. Now, Jake, the guy's become an embarrassment. He's embarrassin me with certain people. And I'm lookin very bad. I can't deliver a kid from my own god-damned neighborhood. What is it with him? Why does he have to make it so hard on himself, for Christ's sake? He comes to me, I'll make it easier for him. The man's got a head of rock.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Frustration and Reflection in Competition
Joey
They only gave him that fuckin decision because he's goin in the Army next week. That's the only reason.
Jake
I knocked him down. I don't know what else I gotta do. I don't know what I gotta do.
Joey
You won and they robbed ya. They're miserable because their mothers take it up the fuckin ass, that's why.
Jake
I've done a lot of bad things, Joey. Maybe it's comin back to me. Who knows? I'm a jinx maybe.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Discussing the fighter's future and support
Salvy
That shit would've never happened if Tommy was over there takin care of him. You know he's gotta be with Tommy to fight in New York to get a title shot. I mean, he's gonna wind up fuckin punch-drunk, your brother.
Joey
I know.
Salvy
You know. You gotta make him understand that it's the best thing for everybody involved.
Joey
I said, I know.
Salvy
You know, but you gotta make him know. You gotta tell him and make him understand.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Tension Before the Fight
Vickie
You sure we should be doin this?
Jake
Come here.
Vickie
You said never to touch ya before a fight.
Jake
Come here, before I give ya a beatin'.
Vickie
You said I couldn't. You've been good for two weeks.
Jake
Come here.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Complicated Perspectives on Relationships and Intimacy
Joey
She ain't the kind of girl you just fuck and forget about, this girl.
Jake
Joey, how many times I gotta tell ya? Why're you always cursin when I'm talkin to you? Don't do it around me. Do it around your friends...
Joey
She's a...the kind of girl you bang and forget about; she's not like that. You gotta spend time with her, get involved, you know.
Jake
Did you bang her?
Joey
No.
Jake
Tell me the truth.
Joey
I just told you the truth. I tell you the truth the first time. You don't have to ask me again. I never do that. I always tell you the truth. If I did it, you would know. I took her out a couple of times.
[''Joey pauses.'']
Jake
You went with her and you didn't try to fuck her?
Joey
I try to fuck anything.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Questioning Intimacy and Connection in Relationships
Jake LaMotta
You ever think of anyone else when we're in bed?...You know, like when we made love?
[to Vickie]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Refusal to Submit to Pressure
Jake LaMotta
I take the dive. What more do they want?...They want me to go down too? Well, I ain't goin down, no, not for nobody.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Thrilling Evening with Jake LaMotta
Jake LaMotta
That's the kind of girl that you want to bring home to your father - especially if he's a degenerate. Ah, seriously folks, it's a thrill to be standing here before you wonderful people tonight. Well, in fact, it's a thrill to be standing.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Struggle for Understanding and Dignity
Jake LaMotta
Why? Why? Why?...Why'd you do it? Why? You're so stupid...I'm not an animal. Why do you treat me like this? I'm not so bad.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Perks of Marriage and Friendship
Jake LaMotta
That reminds me of two friends of mines. One was married, one was single. The married guy tells the single guy: Oh, what's the matter with you? What's the matter with you? Look at me. And look at you. And look at me. And look at you. Let me get on with it. When I come home at night, my wife's at the door with a tall drink in her hand. And she gives me a nice hot bath. Then she gives me a nice rub-down. Then she makes passionate love to me. Then she makes me a nice dinner. What more could you ask for? You oughta try that. The other friend says: Hey, that sounds great. When does your wife get home?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation of Desire and Commitment
Joey LaMotta
What are ya thinkin about? Ya keep lookin'. Where the fuck you going? You're dead! You're married! You're a married man, it's all over. Leave the young girls for me.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Title Shot Comes with a Twist
Joey LaMotta
He gave you the old good news/bad news routine. The good news is - you're gonna get the shot at the title. And the bad news is - they want ya to do the old flip-flop for em.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Love and Confinement in a Troubled Marriage
Vickie
I feel like I'm a prisoner. I can't walk, I look at somebody the wrong way I get smacked. I'm tired of havin to turn around and havin both of youse up my ass all the time. I'm twenty years old, I gotta go home and sleep by myself every night?
Joey
What the fuck did you marry him for?
Vickie
Cause I love him.
Joey
You do?
Vickie
Yeah, I love him. Well, what am I supposed to do? This guy, he don't even wanna fuck me.
Joey
He's just been a contender too long. He'll be all right as soon as he gets his shot and then everything will be OK.
Vickie
Jake's never gonna be champ. Too many people hate him.
Joey
You're makin an asshole out of my brother.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation of Betrayal and Jealousy
Irma
I'm not gonna be here when you get back, you fuckin bunch of guineas, you're always hangin out together. Why don't you fuckin stop? You're not goin on business. You're gonna suck each other off, right? Suck em, suck em baby. You fuckin queer. Faggot.
Tommy Como
He ain't pretty no more.
[After Janiro fight]
Vickie
I fucked all of them! What do you want me to say?...I fucked all of them - Tommy, Salvy, your brother! All of them! I sucked your brother's cock, what do you want me to say?...I sucked his cock and everybody else on the fucking street, too. What do you want? You're nothin but a fat pig, selfish fool! His fucking cock is bigger than yours, too!
[to Jake; Jake viciously slaps her again]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Conflict Between Love and Violence
Jake
I'm gonna open his hole like this. Please excuse my French. I'm gonna make him suffer. I'm gonna make his mother wish she never had him. Make him into dog meat. He's a nice, a nice kid. He's a pretty kid, too. I mean I don't know, I gotta problem if I should fuck him or fight him.
Tommy
Fuck him or fight him.
Salvy
If you're really in love with that fucker, just watch out.
Jake
By who?
Salvy
Janiro.
Jake
You mean, you want me to get him to fuck you?
Salvy
Me?
Jake
Yeah.
Salvy
No, I don't want him to fuck me.
Jake
I could do that easily.
Salvy
How ya gonna do that?
Jake
Because I'll get yuz both in a ring, I'll give youse both a fuckin beatin', ya both can fuck each other.
Salvy
Ah, I'll get all full of blood.
Jake
You're used to that.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Conflict Over Loyalty and Money
Joey
They only came up here because Tommy told em to come up and try to help us.
Jake
Whatsa matter with you? Help who? Whatsa matter with you? Help me by takin my money? Is that what you're talkin about, takin my money? I'm here breakin my ass, not them. Don't ever bring em up here again, ya hear me?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Reflection on Beauty and Affirmation
Jake LaMotta
You know how beautiful you are? Anybody ever tell you how beautiful? Yeah, tell you all the time.
[to Vickie]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Jake LaMotta's Defiant Retort
Jake LaMotta
Who's an animal? Your mother's an animal, ya son of a bitch.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.