The Dark Knight poster

The Dark Knight Quotes

"Some men just want to watch the world burn."

PG-13 2008 · 2h 32m
85
Audience
85
Audience
31 quotes
The Joker's Simple Pleasures Explained
The Chechen No so crazy as you look.
The Joker I told you, I'm a man of my word. Where's the Italian?
[slides down the pile; throws some cash, hitting Lau]
The Chechen Wait, Joker man. What you do with all your money?
The Joker You see, I'm a guy of simple taste. I enjoy, uh, dynamite, and gunpowder, and gasoline!
[Joker's men douse the pile with gasoline]
The Chechen What the—
The Joker Ah-ta-ta-ta. And you know the thing that they have in common? They're cheap.
[brandishes pistol]
The Chechen You said you were a man of your word.
The Joker Oh, I am. I'm only burning my half. All you care about is money. This town deserves a better class of criminal, and I'm gonna give it to em. Tell your men they work for me now. This is my city.
[takes Chechen's cigar, blows on the end; throws cigar onto the pile, setting it ablaze]
The Chechen They won't work for a freak!
The Joker Freak"… Why don't we cut you up into little pieces and feed you to your pooches? Hm? And then we'll see how loyal a hungry dog really is! It's not about money. It's about sending a message. Everything burns!
[mocking the Chechen’s accent; throws a knife to his men; they drag the Chechen away]
The Burden of Choice in Darkness
Bruce Wayne People are dying, Alfred. What would you have me do?
Alfred Pennyworth Endure, Master Wayne. Take it. They'll hate you for it, but that's the point of Batman. He can be the outcast. He can make the choice that no one else can make - the right choice.
Bruce Well, today I found out what Batman can't do. He can't endure this. Today you get to say "I told you so".
Alfred Today, I don't want to. But I did bloody tell you. I suppose they'll lock me up as well, as your accomplice.
[pause]
Bruce Accomplice? I'm gonna tell them the whole thing was your idea!
Belief in Harvey Dent's Potential
Taglines I believe in Harvey Dent.
Unexpected Reunion in a Tense Situation
Bartender I got to take a leak. Keep an eye out for me, will you?
[goes to bathroom]
Wuertz Now what? You need someone to shake it for you?
[after a pause]
Two-Face Hello.
[appearing suddenly]
Wuertz Dent! Jesus! I— I thought you was dead!
Two-Face Half. Who picked up Rachel, Wuertz?
[downs Wuertz's drink, then aims a revolver at him]
Wuertz Must have been Maroni's men.
Two-Face Shut up! Are you telling me that you're gonna protect the other traitor in Gordon's unit?
[slams his hand on the counter]
Wuertz I don't know! He never told me! Listen, Dent, I-I swear to God, I didn't know what they were gonna do to you!
Two-Face Huh. That's funny, cause I don't know what's gonna happen to you either.
[spins his coin on the counter; it lands scarred side up; he kills Wuertz]
The Joker's Perspective on Belief
The Joker I believe ].
[to bank manager; [Friedrich Nietzsche#Twilight of the Idols (1888)|whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you...stranger]
Embracing Chaos Over Control
The Joker Do I really look like a guy with a plan? You know what I am? I'm a dog chasing cars. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it! You know, I just... do things.
[to Dent]
Hope Amidst Darkness
Harvey Dent/Two-Face The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming.
Commissioner Gordon's Plea for Family Safety
Commissioner James Gordon Goddammit, will you stop pointing that gun at my family?!
Acceptance of an Inescapable Fate
Harvey Dent/Two-Face You think I wanna escape from this? There is no escape from this!
Questioning the Nature of Seriousness
Taglines Why So Serious?
Confrontation Over Pain and Identity
James Gordon I'm sorry about Rachel. The doctor says you’re in agonizing pain, but won't accept medication. That you're refusing to accept skin grafts.
Harvey Dent Remember that name you all had for me when I was in Internal Affairs? What was it, Gordon?
Gordon Harvey, I—
Dent Say it...SAY IT!
Gordon Two-Face. Harvey Two-Face.
Dent Why should I hide who I am?
Gordon I know you tried to warn me. I'm sorry. Wuertz picked you up. Was he working for them? You know who picked up Rachel? Harvey, I need to know which of my men I can trust.
Dent Why would you listen to me now?
Gordon I'm sorry, Harvey.
Dent No. No, you're not. Not yet.
[turning to reveal the burned left side of his face]
The Conflict Between Rules and Truth
Batman Where's Dent?
The Joker You have all these rules, and you think they'll save you!
Batman I have one rule.
[pins the Joker against a wall]
The Joker Then that's the rule you'll have to break to know the truth.
Batman Which is?
The Joker The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules. And tonight, you're gonna break your one rule!
Batman I'm considering it.
The Joker You know, there's only minutes left, so you're gonna have to play my little game if you want to save one of them.
Batman Them"?
The Joker You know, for a while there, I thought you really were Dent. The way you threw yourself after her!
[laughs cruelly]
The Joker Look at you go! Does Harvey know about you and his "little bunny"?
Batman WHERE ARE THEY?!
[slams Joker's head into the mirror and punches him]
The Joker Killing is making a choice!
Batman WHERE ARE THEY?!
[punches him again]
The Joker Choose between one life or the other: your friend the District Attorney, or his blushing bride-to-be! You have nothing! Nothing to threaten me with! Nothing to do with all your strength! But don't worry, I'm gonna tell you where they are! Both of them, and that's the point. You'll have to choose. He's at 250 52nd Street, and she's on Avenue X at Cicero.
[whoops with laugher as Batman punches him again; Batman grabs Joker up by the collars]
A Conversation on Care and Humor
Bruce Wayne You look tired, Alfred. You'll be all right without me?
Alfred Pennyworth If you can tell me the Russian for "Apply your own bloody suntan lotion.
[glancing at a yacht full of beautiful Russian women]
The Nature of Fairness in a Cruel World
Batman You don't want to hurt the boy, Harvey.
Two-Face It's not about what I want, it's about what's FAIR! You thought we could be decent men in an indecent time, but you were wrong. The world is cruel, and the only morality in a cruel world is chance — unbiased, unprejudiced, fair. His son has the same chance she had. Fifty-fifty.
[''shows both sides of his coin'']
Batman What happened to Rachel wasn't chance. We decided to act — we three.
Two-Face Then why was it me who was only one who lost everything?!
Batman ...It wasn't.
Two-Face The Joker chose me!
Batman Because you were the best of us! He wanted to prove that even someone as good as you could fall!
Two-Face And he was right.
Batman You're the one pointing the gun, Harvey. So point it at the people responsible.
A Tense Encounter with Dark Humor
Lau I already have. For obvious reasons, I couldn't wait for your permission. Rest assured, your money is safe.
The Joker And I thought my jokes were bad!
[enters laughing sarcastically]
Gambol Give me one reason why I shouldn't have my boy here pull your head off.
The Joker How about a magic trick? I'm gonna make this pencil disappear. Ta-da! It's— it's gone! Oh, and by the way, the suit, it wasn't cheap. You ought to know. You bought it!
[sticks a pencil into the table, point first; slams Gambol's henchman's head down upon the pencil, penetrating his eye socket; Gambol rises in anger]
The Chechen Sit. I want to hear proposition.
[Gambol sits down]
The Joker Let's wind the clocks back a year. These cops and lawyers wouldn't dare cross any of you. I mean, what happened? Did your – did your balls drop off? Hmm? You see, a guy like me—
Gambol A freak!
[mobsters chuckle]
The Joker A guy like me— Look, listen. I know why you choose to have your little group therapy sessions in broad daylight. I know why you're afraid to go out at night: the Batman. See, Batman has shown Gotham your true colors, unfortunately. Dent? He's just the beginning. And as for, uh, the television's so-called "plan": Batman has no jurisdiction. He'll find him, and make him squeal! I know the squealers when I see them, and...
[annoyed; points at Lau, who turns off his camera]
The Chechen What do you propose?
The Joker It's simple. We, uh, kill the Batman.
[the mobsters laugh]
Sal Maroni If it's so simple, why haven't you done it already?
The Joker If you're good at something, never do it for free.
The Chechen How much you want?
The Joker Uh, half.
[the mobsters laugh again]
Gambol You're crazy.
The Joker I'm not. No, I'm not! If we don't deal with this now, soon little, uh, Gambol here won't be able to get a nickel for his grandma.
Gambol Enough from the clown!
[slams the table]
The Joker Ah-ta-ta-ta. Let's not blow this out of proportion.
[revealing hand grenades under his jacket]
Gambol You think you can steal from us and just walk away?
The Joker Yeah.
Gambol I'm putting the word out. Five hundred grand for this clown dead. A million alive, so I can teach him some manners first.
The Joker All right, so listen. Why don't you give me a call when you want to start taking things a little more seriously? Here's my card.
[leaves Joker card on the table, backs out of the room]
The Nature of Morality and Humanity
The Joker Don't talk like you’re one of them! You're not! Even if you'd like to be. To them, you're just a freak, like me. They need you right now, but when they don't, they'll cast you out, like a leper. See, their "morals," their "code"? It's a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. I'll show you. When the chips are down, these, ah, "civilized people"? They'll eat each other. See, I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve.
[to Batman]
Facing Mortality in the Midst of Chaos
Maroni Don't stop for lights, cops, nothin'.
[to driver; sees Two-Face next to him in the back seat]
Two-Face Going to join your wife? You love her?
Maroni Yes.
Two-Face You ever imagine what it would be like to listen to her die?
Maroni Look, take it up with the Joker, huh? He killed your woman. He made you like this.
Two-Face The Joker's just a mad dog. I want whoever let him off the leash. I took care of Wuertz, but who was your other man inside Gordon's unit? Who picked up Rachel? Must have been someone she trusted.
Maroni Look, if I tell you, you'll let me go?
Two-Face It can't hurt your chances.
Maroni It was Ramirez. But you said—
[Two-Face cocks his gun]
Two-Face I said it couldn't hurt your chances. You're a lucky man. But he's not.
[flips his coin; it lands clean side up; flips again; scarred side up]
Maroni Who?
Two-Face Your driver.
[buckles seat belt]
The Nature of Chaos and Control
The Joker You know what I've noticed? Nobody panics when things go "according to plan," even if the plan is horrifying. If tomorrow, I tell the press that, like, a gangbanger will get shot, or a truckload of soldiers will be blown up, nobody panics, because it's all "part of the plan." But when I say that one little old mayor will die — well then, everyone loses their minds! Introduce a little anarchy, upset the established order, and everything becomes chaos. I'm an agent of chaos. Oh, and you know the thing about chaos? It's fair!
[to Dent]
The Battle for Gotham's Hope
James Gordon The Joker won. All of Harvey's prosecutions, everything he fought for: undone. Whatever chance you gave us of fixing our city dies with Harvey's reputation. We bet it all on him. The Joker took the best of us and tore him down. People will lose hope.
Batman They won't. They must never know what he did.
Gordon Five dead, two of them cops? You can't sweep that up.
Batman But the Joker cannot win. Gotham needs its true hero.
Gordon No!
Batman You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." I can do those things, because I'm not a hero, not like Dent. I killed those people. That's what I can be.
Gordon No. No, you can't. You're not!
Batman I'm whatever Gotham needs me to be. Call it in.
Gordon ...A hero. Not the hero we deserved, but the hero we needed. Nothing less than a knight, shining...
[speaking at Dent's funeral]
Gordon We'll hunt you.
[to Batman]
Batman You'll hunt me. You'll condemn me, set the dogs on me, because that's what needs to happen, because sometimes truth isn't good enough. Sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded.
[runs]
Gordon's Son Batman? Batman! Why is he running, Dad?
Gordon Because we have to chase him.
Police sergeant Okay, we're going in. Go! Go! Move!
Gordon's Son He didn't do anything wrong.
Gordon Because he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we'll hunt him, because he can take it, because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian — a watchful protector — a dark knight.
Heroism and Villainy: A Choice Revealed
Harvey Dent/Two-Face You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.
The Joker's Chaotic Introduction and Provocation
The Joker We made it! Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We are tonight's entertainment! I only have one question: Where is Harvey Dent? Do you know where Harvey is? Do you know who he is? Do you know where I can find Harvey? I need to talk to him about something. Just something little, huh? No. You know, I'll settle for his loved ones.
[fires a shotgun into the air; accosting the guests]
Guest We're not intimidated by thugs!
The Joker You know, you remind me of my father. I hated my father!
[grabs him at knifepoint]
Rachel Dawes Okay, stop!
The Joker Well hello, beautiful! You must be Harvey's squeeze, hm? And you are beautiful. You look nervous. Is it the scars? Do you want to know how I got em? Come here. Look at me! So I had a wife — she was beautiful, like you — who tells me I worry too much, who tells me I ought to smile more, who gambles and gets in deep with the sharks. Hey! One day they carve her face. We have no money for surgeries. She can't take it. I just want to see her smile again, hmm? I just want her to know that I don't care about the scars! So I stick a razor in my mouth and do this to myself, and you know what? She can't stand the sight of me! She leaves! Now, I see the funny side. Now I'm always smiling! A little fight in you! I like that.
[grabs her face with knife in hand; Rachel punches him]
Batman Then you're gonna love me.
[appearing out of nowhere]
Facing the Harsh Truth of Love
Harvey Dent/Two-Face Have you ever had to talk to the person you love most, tell them it's all going to be alright when you know it's not? Well... you're about to know what that feels like, Gordon. Then, you can look me in the eye and tell me you're sorry.
Corporate Secrets and Demands Uncovered
Lucius Fox What can I do for you, Mr. Reese?
Coleman Reese You wanted me to do the diligence on the LSA Holdings deal, again. Well, I found some irregularities.
Fox Yes, their CEO is in police custody.
Reese No, not with their numbers; with yours. Applied Sciences - a whole division of Wayne Enterprises - just disappeared, overnight. I went down to the archives and started pulling some old files. You're not gonna tell me you didn't recognize your baby out there, pancaking cop cars on the evening news. Now you have the entire R&D department burning through cash, claiming that it's related to cell phones for the army? What are you building for him now, a rocket ship? I want $10 million a year, for the rest of my life.
Fox Let me get this straight: You think that your client - one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world - is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands, and your plan is to blackmail this person?
Fox Good luck.
A Deceptive Comfort in Times of Crisis
Harvey Dent/Two-Face Tell your boy it’s going to be alright, Gordon. Lie, like I lied.
Debate on Justice and Risk in Chaos
Batman You'd leave a man's life to chance?
[snatching the coin]
Harvey Dent Not exactly.
Batman His name's Schiff, Thomas. He's a paranoid schizophrenic. Former patient at Arkham - the kind of mind the Joker attracts. What do you expect to learn from him?
Dent The Joker killed Gordon. He's gonna kill Rachel!
Batman You're the symbol of hope I could never be. Your stand against organized crime is the first legitimate ray of light in Gotham in decades. If anyone saw this, everything would be undone. All the criminals you pulled off the streets would be released, and Jim Gordon will have died for nothing. You're going to hold a press conference, tomorrow morning.
Dent Why?
Batman No one else will die because of me. Gotham's in your hands now.
[returns the coin]
Dent You can't. You can't give in! YOU CAN'T GIVE IN!
[as Batman leaves]
A Discussion on Unconventional Justice Methods
Bruce Wayne That bandit, in the forest in Burma...did you catch him?
Alfred Pennyworth Yes.
Bruce How?
Alfred We burned the forest down.
Conflict Between Joker and Batman Escalates
The Joker We really should stop this fighting. Otherwise we'll miss the fireworks.
Batman There won't be any fireworks!
The Joker And here we go!
[shocked by silence as the clock passes midnight without either ferry destroyed]
Batman What were you trying to prove? That deep down, everyone's as ugly as you? You're alone!
The Joker Can't rely on anyone these days. You got to do everything yourself. Don't we? That's okay. I came prepared. It's a funny world we live in. Speaking of which, you know how I got these scars?
[pulls out another detonator]
Batman No... but I know how you got these!
[fires gauntlet blades into the Joker's face and throws him off the building, then hoists him back up]
The Joker Ah, you! You just couldn't let me go, could you? This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. You truly are incorruptible, aren't you? Huh? You won't kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness, and I won't kill you because you're just too much fun! I think you and I are destined to do this forever.
Batman You'll be in a padded cell forever!
The Joker Maybe we could share one! You know, they'll be doubling up at the rate this city's inhabitants are losing their minds!
Batman This city just showed you that it's full of people ready to believe in good.
The Joker Until their spirit breaks completely! Until they get a good look at the real Harvey Dent, huh? And all the heroic things he's done. You didn't think I'd risk losing the battle for Gotham's soul in a fistfight with you? No. You need an ace in the hole. Mine's Harvey.
Batman What did you do?
The Joker I took Gotham's "White Knight" and I brought him down to our level. It wasn't hard. See, madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little push!
Meeting About the Mob's Influence
Jim Gordon I hear you've got a hell of a right cross. It’s a shame Sal's going to walk.
Harvey Dent Well, good thing about the mob is they keep giving you second chances. Lightly irradiated bills. Fancy stuff for a city cop. Have help?
[Looking through a bundle of bills]
Gordon We liaise with various agencies-
Dent Save it, Gordon. I want to meet him.
Gordon Official policy is to arrest the vigilante know as “Batman” on sight.
Dent And that flood light on top of M.C.U.?
Gordon If you have problems with malfunctioning equipment, I suggest you take them up with maintenance, counselor.
Dent I've put every known money launderer in Gotham behind bars but the mob is still getting its money out. I think you and your "friend" have found the last game in town and you're trying to hit them where it hurts: their wallets. It's bold. You gonna count me in?
Gordon In this town, the fewer people know something, the safer the operation.
Dent Gordon, I don't like that you've got your own special unit, and I don't like that it's full of cops I investigated while I was at at internal affairs.
Gordon If I didn't work with cops you'd investigated while you were making your name at I.A.- I'd be working alone. I don't get political points for being an idealist. I have to do the best I can with what I have.
Dent You want me to back warrants for search and seizure on five banks without telling me what we're after?
Gordon I can give you the names of the banks.
Dent Well, that's a start. I'll get you your warrants. But I want your trust.
Gordon You don’t have to sell me, Dent. We all know you’re Gotham’s white knight.
Dent I hear they have a different name for me down at M.C.U.
Gordon I wouldn’t know about that..
[softly, with his head down]
Understanding Desperation and Complexity in Conflict
Bruce Wayne Targeting me won't get their money back. I knew the mob wouldn't go down without a fight, but this is different. They've crossed a line.
Alfred Pennyworth You crossed the line first, sir. You squeezed them, you hammered them to the point of desperation, and in their desperation, they turned to a man they didn't fully understand.
Bruce Criminals aren't complicated, Alfred. We just need to figure out what he's after.
Alfred With respect, Master Wayne, perhaps this is a man you don't fully understand either. A long time ago, I was in Burma. My friends and I were working for the local government. They were trying to buy the loyalty of tribal leaders by bribing them with precious stones, but their caravans were being raided in a forest north of Rangoon by a bandit. So we went looking for the stones, but in six months, we never met anyone who traded with him. One day, I saw a child playing with a ruby the size of a tangerine. The bandit had been throwing them away.
Bruce So why steal them?
Alfred Well, because he thought it was good sport. Because some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.
The Origins of the Joker's Scars
The Joker You wanna know how I got these scars? My father was a drinker, and a fiend. And one night he goes off crazier than usual. Mommy gets the kitchen knife to defend herself. He doesn't like that — not... one... bit! So, me watching, he takes the knife to her, laughing while he does it. He turns to me, and he says, "Why so serious?" He comes at me with the knife: "Why so serious?" He sticks the blade in my mouth: "Let's put a smile on that face!" And — Why so serious?
[to Gambol; looks suddenly at Gambol's henchman]
Confrontation Between Batman and Sal Maroni
Batman I want the Joker.
Sal Maroni From one professional to another: If you're trying to scare somebody, pick a better spot. From this height, the fall wouldn't kill me.
Batman I'm counting on it. WHERE IS HE?!
[drops Maroni, breaking his leg, then vaults down to him]
Maroni I don't know where he is. He found us.
Batman He must have friends!
Maroni Friends? You met this guy?
Batman Someone knows where he is!
Maroni Nobody's gonna tell you nothin'. They're wise to your act. You've got rules. The Joker, he's got no rules. Nobody's gonna cross him for you. You want this guy, you got one way, but you already know what that is: just take off that mask. Let him come find ya. Or are you gonna let a couple more people get killed while you make up your mind?
[Batman snarls and lets Maroni go]