Selected dialogue quotes

1. A good newspaper, I suppose, is a nation talking to itself.

2. I lived with people who had varied opinions, some of whom did not accept my Nazi views. I encouraged this. If a man said something that was critical of me or my ideas, I wouldn't consider him an enemy.

3. Poetry is not a creed or dogma. It is a special way of speaking and listening.

4. It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces society, and indeed the whole of human nature and consciousness today. Moreover, it may turn out that such a form of free exchange of ideas and information is of fundamental relevance for transforming culture and freeing it of destructive misinformation, so that creativity can be liberated.

5. Most scripts are bad. I read a lot of them. 'Brick' was a good script just to read. It was like, 'Oh my God, these words feel so good in my mouth.' A lot of movies try to set up a world with cool sets, costumes, camera work. In 'Brick,' the world is born from the words.

6. As a great socialist power the Soviet Union is fully aware of its responsibility to the peoples for preserving and strengthening peace. We are open to peaceful, mutually beneficial cooperation with states on all continents. We are for the peaceful settlement of all disputable international problems through serious, equal, and constructive talks.

7. The mutual confidence on which all else depends can be maintained only by an open mind and a brave reliance upon free discussion.

8. The basic word I-Thou can be spoken only with one's whole being. The concentration and fusion into a whole being can never be accomplished by me, can never be accomplished without me. I require a Thou to become; becoming I, I say Thou.

9. The Socratic manner is not a game at which two can play.

10. Debate is healthy and no one in this chamber - starting with me - has a monopoly on being right.

11. I write plays because dialogue is the most respectable way of contradicting myself.

12. 'What's wrong with denouncing white interlopers?'

13. 'What on earth prompted you to take a hand in this?' 'I don't know. My: my code of morals, perhaps.' 'Your code of morals. What code, if I may ask?' 'Comprehension.'

14. 'Up to a point, Lord Copper.'

15. The thing I hate about an argument is that it always interrupts a discussion.

16. We all remember how many religious wars were fought for a religion of love and gentleness; how many bodies were burned alive with the genuinely kind intention of saving souls from the eternal fire of hell. Only if we give up our authoritarian attitude in the realm of opinion, only if we establish the attitude of give and take, of readiness to learn from other people, can we hope to control acts of violence inspired by piety and duty.

17. Honest differences are often a healthy sign of progress.

18. Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress.

19. 'My goal has not ever been to change minds; my goal is to open minds.'

20. 'Is that vodka?' Margarita asked weakly. The cat jumped up from its chair in indignation. 'Excuse me, your majesty,' he squeaked, 'do you think I would give vodka to a lady? That is pure spirit!'

21. 'So, do you live around here often?'

22. Dialogue is really aimed at going into the whole thought process and changing the way the thought process occurs collectively. We havent really paid much attention to thought as a process. we have engaged in thoughts, but we have only paid attention to the content, not to the process. Why does thought require attention? Every thinking requires attention, really. If we ran machines withinout paying attention to them, they would break down. Our thought, too, is a process, and it requires attention, otherwise its going to go wrong.

23. In the American Jewish community, there is little willingness to face the fact that the Palestinian Arabs have suffered a monstrous historical injustice, whatever one may think of the competing claims. Until this is recognized, discussion of the Middle East crisis cannot even begin.

24. Literature is dialogue; responsiveness. Literature might be described as the history of human responsiveness to what is alive and what is moribund as cultures evolve and interact with one another. Writers can do something to combat these cliches of our separateness, our difference - for writers are makers, not just transmitters, of myths. Literature offers not only myths but counter-myths, just as life offers counter-experiences - experiences that confound what you thought you thought, or felt, or believed.

25. We live in a liberal democracy....That's what we created in this country. I think we should be very clear on this. You know, this country was founded on the principles of the Enlightenment... It was the idea that people could talk, reason, have dialogue, discuss the issues. It wasn't founded on the idea that someone would get struck by a divine inspiration and know everything right from wrong. I mean, people who founded this country had religion, they had strong beliefs, but they believed in reason, in dialogue, in civil discourse. We can't lose that in this country. We've got to get it back.

26. Simon's head was tilted slightly up. His eyes could not break away and the Lord of the Flies hung in space before him. 'What are you doing out here all alone? Aren't you afraid of me?' Simon shook. 'There isn't anyone to help you. Only me. And I'm the Beast.' Simon's mouth labored, brought forth audible words. 'Pig's head on a stick.' 'Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! You knew, didn't you?' said the head. For a moment or two the forest and all the other dimly appreciated places echoed with the parody of laughter. 'You knew, didn't you? I'm part of you? Close, close, close! I'm the reason why it's no go? Why things are what they are?'

27. You have three chromosomes, Bryson. X, Y, and Fuckhead.

28. 'You sound like a man with a vision. Care to pass that bong over this way?' (2004)

29. 'You are old, Father William.' the young man cried, 'The few locks which are left you are grey; You are hale, Father William-a hearty old man: Now tell me the reason, I pray.'

30. Awakening of Western thought will not be complete until that thought steps outside itself and comes to an understanding with the search for a world-view as this manifests itself in the thought of mankind as a whole. We have too long been occupied with the developing series of our own philosophical systems, and have taken no notice of the fact that there is a world-philosophy of which our Western philosophy is only a part. If, however, one conceives philosophy as being a struggle to reach a view of the world as a whole, and seeks out the elementary convictions which are to deepen it and give it a sure foundation, one cannot avoid setting our own thought face to face with that of the Hindus, and of the Chinese in the Far East. ... Our Western philosophy, if judged by its own latest pronouncements, is much naiver than we admit to ourselves, and we fail to perceive this only because we have acquired the art of expressing what is simple in a pedantic way.

31. The weekend began with the expectation that there would be a series of lectures and informative discussions with emphasis on content. It gradually emerged that something more important was actually involved - the awakening of the process of dialogue itself as a free flow of meaning among all the participants. In the beginning, people were expressing fixed positions, which they were tending to defend, but later it became clear that to maintain the feeling of friendship in the group was much more important than to hold any position. Such friendship has an impersonal quality in the sense that its establishment does not depend on a close personal relationship between participants. A new kind of mind thus begins to come into being which is based on the development of a common meaning that is constantly transforming in the process of the dialogue. People are no longer primarily in opposition, nor can they be said to be interacting, rather they are participating in this pool of common meaning which is capable of constant development and change. In this development the group has no pre-established purpose, though at each moment a purpose that is free to change may reveal itself. The group thus begins to engage in a new dynamic relationship in which no speaker is excluded, and in which no particular content is excluded. Thus far we have only begun to explore the possibilities of dialogue in the sense indicated here, but going further along these lines would open up the possibility of transforming not only the relationship between people, but even more, the very nature of consciousness in which these relationships arise.

32. 'Whom are you?' he said, for he had been to night school.

33. It is better to debate a question without deciding it than to decide it without debate.

34. Chorus: O suitably attired in leather boots Head of a traveller, wherefore seeking whom Whence by what way how purposed art thou come To this well-nightingaled vicinity? My object in inquiring is to know. But if you happen to be deaf and dumb And do not understand a word I say, Nod with your hand to signify as much. Alcmaeon: I journeyed hither a Boeotian road. Chorus: Sailing on horseback or with feet for oars? Alcmaeon: Plying by turns my partnership of legs. Chorus: Beneath a shining or a rainy Zeus? Alcmaeon: Mud's sister, not himself, adorns my shoes. Chorus: To learn your name would not displease me much. Alcmaeon: Not all that men desire do they attain.

35. 'I can never bring myself to believe it, John,' said Mary Walker, the pretty daughter of Mr. George Walker, attorney, of Silverbridge.

36. Discussion: 'Try to keep your mind open to new ideas and never let offense stand in the way of discourse, for discourse and the exchange of ideas is the only motion by which the chaff is separated from the wheat in the world of ideas.'

37. Senator, I'm happy to continue the discussion, but I really hope that you will not imply that I take the truth lightly.

38. I'm very glad that there was, in fact, a consequence. I think that this kind of coarse language doesn't belong anywhere in reasonable dialogue between reasonable people. ... It gets ruined by this disgusting -- and I'll use the word 'disgusting' -- comment which doesn't belong in any polite company and certainly doesn't belong on any radio station that I would listen to.

39. Dialogue, as we are choosing to use the word, is a way of exploring the roots of the many crises that face humanity today. It enables inquiry into, and understanding of, the sorts of processes that fragment and interfere with real communication between individuals, nations, and even different parts of the same organization. In our modern culture men and women are able to interact with one another in many ways: they can sing, dance, or play together with little difficulty, but their ability to talk together about subjects that matter deeply to them seems invariably to lead to dispute, division, and often to violence. In our view this condition points to a deep and pervasive defect in the process of human thought.

40. Rock: 'I tell you what - who's your boy standing in the middle of the ring?'

41. 'What's funny?' said Pin, shifting uncomfortably in the hospital bed.

42. L'homme qui nous parle est l'amant, l'homme qui ne nous parle plus est le mari.

43. Ed: Rip up the streets? HST: With jackhammers. Ed: With jackhammers?

44. If you need to tell your readers something...there are only two characters that you can put it convincingly into their dialogue. One is Hermione, the other is Dumbledore. In both cases you accept, it's plausible that they have, well Dumbledore knows pretty much everything anyway, but that Hermione has read it somewhere. So, she's handy.

45. Shimrod said: 'Once I thought of you as a child in a woman's body.' Melanchte smiled a cool smile. 'And now?' 'The child seems to have wandered away'.

46. Can you nei do her, numb? asks Dolph, suspecting the answer know. Oikkont, ken you, ninny? asks Kev, expecting the answer guess. (286.25-27)

47. 'I'm an owl; you're another. Sir Critic, good day.' And the barber kept on shaving.

48. 'We must learn to respect each other's views and to differ without anger or ill will.' (14 July 2005)

49. 'I think the overwhelming Fijian support for the Bill is saying we are offering a hand of reconciliation, a hand of forgiveness, a hand of friendship, a hand of repentance and unity. I were in Chaudhry's shoes I would grab the opportunity to try and establish dialogue through this Bill with the Fijian people to promote reconciliation and unity and I will do the same with Mr Beddoes as well. He has expressed his opposition to the Bill. This is a rare opportunity for them to help bridge the obvious gulf between our people.'

50. 'Do you know what this is, Lord Vorkosigan?' Giaja asked.

51. 'So much for that line of reasoning, Lord Richars,' Ekaterin finished. She sat back with a hand-dusting gesture, and added, by no means under her breath, 'Twit'

52. The sayings of Muhammed are a treasure of wisdom not only for Muslims but for all of mankind.

53. There are no dialogues, only intersecting monologues.

54. Without distance there is no dialogue between the two.

55. Picket lines and picket signs Don't punish me with brutality Talk to me, so you can see Oh, what's going on What's going on.

56. Sheriff Bart (Cleavon Little): 'Excuse me while I whip this out.'

57. Robin Hood: Watch my back! Achoo: Yo' back just got punched twice.

58. Dr. Frankenstein: (Gene Wilder): 'Igor, would you give me a hand with the bags?' Igor: (Marty Feldman): '[doing a Groucho Marx] Certainly, you take the blonde and I'll take the one in the turban.'

59. Igor: (Marty Feldman): 'Sed-a...' Inga: (Teri Garr): 'Sed-a...' Igor: (Marty Feldman): 'Dirty word! He said a dirty word!'

60. Dr. Frankenstein 'Damn your eyes!' Igor (pointing at his lazy eye) 'Too late!'

61. 'What is all this? Damn me if I don't have you thrown out of here!' The beast just smiled and said: 'Damn you, I think you said? Very well!'

62. Demonstrations against such talks are legitimate. Shouting down is not, in my opinion.

63. He was the first author who wrote treatises in the form of dialogues ... And as he argued against almost every one who had lived before his time, it is often asked why he has never mentioned Democritus.

64. Terri (Hilary Duff)'s new roommate is Denise (Dana Davis), who plans to work hard for a scholarship, and resents [Duff] as a distraction. Sizing up Terri's wardrobe and her smile, she tells her: 'You're like some kind of retro Brady Buncher.' I hate it when a movie contains its own review.

65. Debate with Reza Aslan (2007)[4]

66. Answer honestly... Disabuse me of my ignorance. Don't let me get away with anything. Don't try to play my game. Be real. Be passionate. Hold your ideas. Give me resistance. Give me traction I can work against. The friction between reality, or the truly held concerns of the person, and the farcical concerns that I have, or my need to seem important, as opposed to actually understanding what's true... Where those two things meet is where the comedy happens. So be real. That's the best thing you can do. And call me on my bullshit.

67. Tarbash: 'You know when you get out of the bath and your skin is nice and...open? You ever feel that way? I feel very open today, very much open.' Diane the Flower Lady: 'I'll tell you what's open is your ASS!' Tarbash: 'That is open, too.'

68. Sable: 'It's right over here. Come and get it.'

69. What the hell kind of bed you giving us, anyways. We don't want no pants rabbits. Ch. 2, p.20

70. Islam is the best, but we Muslims are not the best. The West is neither corrupted nor degenerate. It is strong, well-educated, and organized. Their schools are better than ours. Their cities are cleaner than ours. The level of respect for human rights in the West is higher, and the care for the poor and less capable is better organized. Westerners are usually responsible and accurate in their words. Instead of hating the West, let us proclaim cooperation instead of confrontation. - Alija Izetbegovic, cited in 'The Two Faces of Islam' by Stephen Schwartz

71. George:I never seen no piece of jail bait worse than her. You leave her be. Ch.2, p.33

72. I will call I've heard that line before No you haven't. That's the guy's line, so I know you haven't heard it, and I don't think you've even said it

73. It doesn't say that. Where are you at? Right there... oh. I didn't say that. That's not what it says. -Tupac

74. Triple H and Mr. McMahon bantering about his illegitimate son; the conversation momentarily switches to animal talk

75. 'When I, a thoughtful and unblessed Presbyterian, examine the Koran, I know that beyond any question every Mohammedan is insane, not in all things, but in religious matters. When a thoughtful and unblessed Mohammedan examines the Westminster Catechism, he knows that beyond any question I am spiritually insane. I cannot prove to him that he is insane, because you never can prove anything to a lunatic - for that is a part of his insanity and the evidence of it. He cannot prove to me that I am insane, for my mind has the same defect that afflicts his... When I look around me, I am often troubled to see how many people are mad.'

76. There are no dialogues, only intersecting monologues.

77. I don't know what you're laughting about, Bell, but you've laughed at me for the last time.

78. (To caller) Let me ask you, didn't you find Jesus at the Last Supper in the Passion of the Jesus to be very hot an-and sexy?

79. Mmmm-hmmm.... (repeatedly - and loudly - said while a caller speaks, much to their chagrin)

80. You think I'm kind of a funny little man, don't you?

81. Have you the wing?

82. Kitty: Shikspur? Shikspur? Who wrote it? No, I never read Shikspur. Lady Bab: Then you have an immense pleasure to come.

83. A key difference between a dialogue and an ordinary discussion is that, within the latter people usually hold relatively fixed positions and argue in favor of their views as they try to convince others to change. At best this may produce agreement or compromise, but it does not give rise to anything creative.

84. What is essential here is the presence of the spirit of dialogue, which is in short, the ability to hold many points of view in suspension, along with a primary interest in the creation of common meaning.

85. Fundamentalism as it is called is not confined to the Muslim world. It is something that we have seen in different parts of the world. Let us hope that a dialogue between the followers of the three great monotheistic religions could help in putting an end to this.

86. Let me say this loud and clear. There is a world of difference between terrorist acts and the Islamic Shari'a. Islam is not only a religion, but a way of life. And at its heart lie the sacred principles of tolerance and dialogue.

87. We oppose occupation of land by force and we believe in dialogue as the method for regaining Arab rights. This is the spirit of the Great Arab Revolt.

88. Mmm-hmm. Fascinating.

89. Okay, That tears it!

90. Are you for real?

91. What's THAT all about?

92. Dialogue should simply be a sound among other sounds, just something that comes out of the mouths of people whose eyes tell the story in visual terms.

93. Il faut ecouter ceux qui parlent, si on veut en etre ecoute.

94. Good prose is written only face to face with poetry.

95. One seeks a midwife for his thoughts, another someone to whom he can be a midwife: thus originates a good conversation.

96. Groucho: Would you mind getting up off of that fly paper and giving the flies a chance? Chico: Flies can't read papers.

97. It takes two to speak the truth, - one to speak, and another to hear.

98. I hardly know an intellectual man, even, who is so broad and truly liberal that you can think aloud in his society. Most with whom you endeavor to talk soon come to a stand against some institution in which they appear to hold stock, - that is, some particular, not universal, way of viewing things.

99. 'You know Adam?' Teddy asked him. 'Do I know who?' 'Adam. In the Bible.' Nicholson smiled. 'Not personally,' he said dryly.

100. Thug:[repeating] Look, bud, I said 'Your money or your life.'