David Gale [Giving a lecture to his college students]
Fantasies have to be unrealistic. Because the minute- the second- that you get what you want, you don't- you can't- want it anymore.
Most-quoted character in The Life of David Gale (2003): in 16 of its 22 quotes
Most scenes with: Constance Harraway (2)
Living by your wants will never make you happy; what it means to be fully human is to strive to live by ideas and ideals and not to measure your life by what you ever attain in terms of your desires but those small moments of integrity, compassion, rationality, even self-sacrifice.
More lines from David Gale
9 quotes David Gale David Gale This is what Pascal means when he says that we are only truly happy when daydreaming about future happiness.
David Gale [while drunk]
Socrates was ugly, Plato was fat, and, um, and Aristotle was a prissy dresser!
David Gale I fell off the wagon and hurt myself.
David Gale They wanted me to die knowing the key to my freedom was out there somewhere!
David Gale Death is a gift.
David Gale We spend our whole lives trying to stop death. Eating, inventing, loving, praying, fighting, killing. But what do we really know about death? Just that nobody comes back. But there comes a point in life - a moment - when your mind outlives its desires, its obsessions, when your habits survive your dreams, and when your losses... Maybe death is a gift. You wonder. All I can tell you is that by this time tomorrow I'll be dead. I know when. I just can't say why. You have 24 hours to find out.
David Gale Alejandro, the woman with facial hair, has no job.
David Gale Noemi, a shaved man, has given up on her English task.
Scenes with David Gale
6 scenes
Governor Hardin
Alan, let me say something I always say and I'm gonna keep on saying. And that is that I HATE killin'. That's why my administration is willing to kill to stop it.
David Gale So, you don't subscribe to the idea that 'a good state is the one that protects its most despised members?'
Governor Hardin
It's a nice liberal idea. But, like most nice liberal ideas, naive.
David Gale It's a quote from you, Governor. From your first state attorney campaign
Governor Hardin
[flustered]
You've got me, Professor. But let me, in my defense, offer YOU a quote. Winston Churchill: 'If you're not a liberal at twenty, you have no heart, if you're still a liberal at thirty, you've got no brain.'
David Gale [studio audience laughs]
So, basically, you feel, to choose another quote, 'a healthy society must stop at nothing to cleanse itself of evil.'
Governor Hardin
Well, yes. I'd have to agree. [laughs] Did I say that too?
David Gale No sir, that was Hitler.
The TA just finished transcribing all the governor's radio and TV comments. Listen to this gem: Journalist - "Governor, don't you think three executions in one week is a little excessive?" Governor - "I say let's bring them in, strap them down, and rock and roll."
David Gale Oh, it's good to know our governor is in touch with his inner frat boy.
Berlin Sorry about being late. There was, you know, a thing.
David Gale Yeah, there usually is, Berlin.
Berlin Look, I know I'm not doing too well, and, to torture a clich?, I will do anything to pass.
David Gale Anything, huh?
Berlin Any. Thing.
David Gale Ok, Berlin.
David Gale [leans in close]
I will give you a good grade, I will give you a very, very good grade if you just [whispers into her ear] study.
Berlin Did I tell you that when you were circumcised they threw away the wrong part?
David Gale Yes, I believe you mentioned it. It's called schmuck.
Berlin What?
David Gale Part of the foreskin they throw away after circumcision, I believe it is called schmuck.
Berlin Aren't we so **** clever.
You wanna tell me what's up?
David Gale Nothing. Everything. Something profoundly stupid happened last night.
I hope you used a condom.
David Gale It was Berlin.
Oh great! Oh, that's great. I can hear the grapevine now. "They had to suspend her so that Gale could dick her with a conscience." A power differential equals coercion. That is great. You're so weak!
David Gale You know, you're not my wife, Constance. Thank God!
Oh, well, don't worry. It's not a position I aspire to, so **** you.
David Gale How do we start?
We start with... you telling me what I'm doing here.
David Gale No one who looks through that glass sees a person. They see a crime. I'm not David Gale. I'm a murderer and a rapist... four days shy of his execution.
