The Silence of the Lambs quotes

View Quote We've tried to study him, of course, but he's much too sophisticated for the standard tests.

View Quote Do not touch the glass. Do not approach the glass. You pass him nothing but soft paper – no pencils, no pens. No paper clips or staples in his paper. Use the sliding food carrier only, no exceptions. If he attempts to pass you anything, do not accept it. Do you understand?

View Quote [To Catherine] Are you about a size 14?

View Quote [Shouting] You don't know what pain is!

View Quote [To Clarice while dying] What's it like to be beautiful?

View Quote Miggs: I bit my wrists so I can diiiiie!

View Quote Jack Crawford: Believe me, you don't want Hannibal Lecter inside your head.

View Quote Dr. Chilton: I am going to show you why we insist on such precautions. On the evening of July 8th, 1981, he complained of chest pains and was taken to the dispensary. His mouthpiece and restraints were removed for an EKG. When the nurse leaned over him, he did this to her. [pulls out photo] The doctors managed to reset her jaw more or less. Saved one of her eyes. His pulse never got above 85, even when he ate her tongue.

View Quote Jack Crawford: I remember you from my seminar at UVA. You grilled me pretty hard, as I recall, on the bureau's civil rights record in the Hoover years. I gave you an A.
Clarice: A-minus, Sir.

View Quote Murray: Is it true what they're saying, he's some kinda vampire?
Clarice: They don't have a name for what he is.

View Quote Jack: Just do your job, but never forget what he is.
Clarice: And what is that?
[Cut to Clarice's first trip to the psychiatric prison]
Dr. Chilton: Oh, he's a monster. Pure psychopath. So rare to capture one alive. From a research point of view, Lecter is our most prized asset.

View Quote Dr. Chilton: Crawford is very clever, isn't he, using you?
Clarice: What do you mean, sir?
Dr. Chilton: A pretty young woman to turn him on. I don't believe Lecter's even seen a woman in eight years. And, oh, are you ever his taste. So to speak.

View Quote Dr. Lecter: Why do you think he removes their skins, Agent Starling? Enthrall me with your a****en.
Clarice: It excites him. Most serial killers keep some sort of trophies from their victims.
Dr. Lecter: I didn't.
Clarice: No. No, you ate yours.

View Quote Dr. Lecter: First principles, Clarice. Read Marcus Aurelius. Of each particular thing, ask: What is it in itself? What is its nature? What does he do, this man you seek?
Clarice: He kills women.
Dr. Lecter: No, that is incidental. What is the first and principal thing he does, what needs does he serve by killing?
Clarice: Anger, social resentment, sexual frustration ...
Dr. Lecter: No, he covets. That's his nature. And how do we begin to covet, Clarice? Do we seek out things to covet? Make an effort to answer, now.
Clarice: No. We just ...
Dr. Lecter: No. We begin by coveting what we see every day. Don't you feel eyes moving over your body, Clarice? And don't your eyes seek out the things you want?

View Quote Dr. Lecter: Now then, tell me. What did Miggs say to you? Multiple Miggs in the next cell. He hissed at you. What did he say?
Clarice: He said, "I can smell your ****."
Dr. Lecter: I see. I, myself, cannot. You use Evian skin cream, and sometimes you wear L'Air du Temps ... but not today.