12 Angry Men (1957) quotes

View Quote The kid's a dangerous killer, you could see it... He stabbed his own father, four inches into the chest. They proved it a dozen different ways in court, would you like me to list them for ya?

View Quote Well, I'm not used to supposin'. I'm just a workin' man. My boss does all the supposin' — but I'll try one. Supposin' you talk us all out of this and, uh, the kid really did knife his father?

View Quote It's very hard to keep personal prejudice out of a thing like this. And no matter where you run into it, prejudice obscures the truth. Well, I don't think any real damage has been done here. Because I don't really know what the truth is. No one ever will, I suppose. Nine of us now seem to feel that the defendant is innocent, but we're just gambling on probabilities. We may be wrong. We may be trying to return a guilty man to the community. No one can really know. But we have a reasonable doubt, and this is a safeguard which has enormous value to our system. No jury can declare a man guilty unless it's sure. We nine can't understand how you three are still so sure. Maybe you can tell us.

View Quote #8: Look, this kid's been kicked around all of his life. You know, born in a slum. Mother dead since he was nine. He lived for a year and a half in an orphanage when his father was serving a jail term for forgery. That's not a very happy beginning. He's a wild, angry kid, and that's all he's ever been. And you know why, because he's been hit on the head by somebody once a day, every day. He's had a pretty miserable eighteen years. I just think we owe him a few words, that's all.
#10: I don't mind telling you this, mister. We don't owe him a thing. He got a fair trial, didn't he? What do you think that trial cost? He's lucky he got it. You know what I mean? Now look, we're all grown-ups in here. We heard the facts, didn't we? You're not gonna tell me that we're supposed to believe this kid, knowing what he is. Listen, I've lived among them all my life. You can't believe a word they say. You know that. I mean, they're born liars.
#9: Only an ignorant man can believe that... Do you think you were born with a monopoly on the truth?

View Quote #10: Bright? He's a common ignorant slob. He don't even speak good English.
#11: Doesn't even speak good English.

View Quote #11: I beg pardon...
#10: "I beg pardon?" What are you so polite about?
#11: For the same reason you are not: it's the way I was brought up.

View Quote #3: What do you mean you want to try it? Why didn't his lawyer bring it up if it's so important?
#5: Well, maybe he just didn't think of it huh?
#10: What do you mean didn't think of it? Do you think the man's an idiot or something? It's an obvious thing.
#5: Did you think of it?
#10: Listen smart guy, it don't matter whether I thought of it. He didn't bring it up because he knew it would hurt his case. What do you think of that?
#8: Maybe he didn't bring it up because it would of meant bullying and badgering a helpless old man. You know that doesn't sit well with a jury, most lawyers avoid it if they can.
#6: So what kind of a bum is he then?
#8: That's what I've been asking, buddy.

View Quote It's not easy to raise my hand and send a boy off to die without talking about it first...We're talking about somebody's life here. We can't decide in five minutes. Supposin' we're wrong.

View Quote It's pretty tough to figure, isn't it? A kid kills his father. Bing! Just like that... It's the element... I'm telling ya, they let those kids run wild up there. Well, maybe it serves 'em right.

View Quote Oh, listen, I don't see what all this stuff about the knife has got to do with anything. Somebody saw the kid stab his Father, what more do we need? You guys can talk the ears right off my head you know what I mean? I got three garages of mine going to pot while you're talking! So let's get down and get out of here!

View Quote I don't feel I have to be loyal to one side or the other. I'm just asking questions.

View Quote Judge: If there's a reasonable doubt in your minds as to the guilt of the accused, a reasonable doubt, then you must bring me a verdict of not guilty. If however, there is no reasonable doubt, then you must in good conscience find the accused guilty. However you decide, your verdict must be unanimous. In the event that you find the accused guilty, the bench will not entertain a recommendation for mercy. The death sentence is mandatory in this case. You are faced with a grave responsibility. Thank you, gentlemen.

View Quote #10: I don't understand you people! I mean all these picky little points you keep bringing up. They don't mean nothin'. You saw this kid just like I did. You're not gonna tell me you believe that phony story about losing the knife, and that business about being at the movies. Look, you know how these people lie! It's born in them! I mean what the heck? I don't even have to tell you. They don't know what the truth is! And, lemme tell you, they don't need any real big reason to kill someone, either! No sir!
[#5 gets up from his seat]
#10: You know, they get drunk... oh, they're very big drinkers, all of 'em, and bang: someone's lyin' in the gutter. Oh, nobody's blaming them for it. That's how they are! By nature! You know what I mean? VIOLENT!
[#9 rises and crosses to the window]
#10: Human life don't mean as much to them as it does to us!
[#11 gets up and walks to the other window]
#10: Hey! Where are you going? [Beginning to sound desperate] Look, these people're lushing it up and fighting all the time and if somebody gets killed, so somebody gets killed! They don't care! Oh, sure, there are some good things about 'em, too. Look, I'm the first one to say that.
[#8 gets up and walks to the nearest wall]
#10: I've known a couple who were OK, but that's the exception, y'know what I mean?
[#2 and #6 get up from the table. Everybody's back is to #10]
#10: Most of 'em, it's like they have no feelings! They can do anything! What's goin' on here? I'm trying to tell you we're makin' a big mistake, you people! This kid's a liar! I know it. I know all about them! I mean, what's happenin' here? I'm speaking my piece, and you...
[the Foreman gets up and walks away. So does #12]
#10: Listen to me! They're no good! There's not a one of 'em who's any good!
[#7 turns away]
#10: Boy, are you smart! Well, I'm tellin' 'ya we better watch out! This kid on trial here, his type... Well, don't you know about them?
[#3 turns his back]
#10: What are you doin'? Listen to me! I'm tryin' to tell you somethin'! There's a danger here! These people are wild! Don't you know about it? LISTEN TO ME! LISTEN!
#4: I have. Now sit down and don't open your mouth again.

View Quote #8: There's another thing I'd like to talk about for a minute. I think we've proven that the old man couldn't have heard the boy say "I'm going to kill you," but supposing—
#10: You didn't prove it at all. What're you talking about?
#8: But supposing he really did hear it. This phrase, how many times has each of us used it? Probably hundreds. "I could kill you for that, darling." "If you do that once more, junior, I'm going to kill you." "Come on, Rocky, get in there and kill him!" We say it every day. It doesn't mean we're going to kill someone.
#3: Wait a minute. What are you trying to give us here? The phrase was "I'm going to kill you," and he screamed it out at the top of his lungs! Don't tell me he didn't mean it. Anybody says a thing like that the way he said it, they mean it.

View Quote #2: It's hard to put into words. I just think he's guilty. I thought it was obvious from the word, 'Go'. Nobody proved otherwise.
#8: Nobody has to prove otherwise. The burden of proof is on the prosecution. The defendant doesn't even have to open his mouth. That's in the Constitution.