The Princess Bride quotes

View Quote [Vizzini cuts the rope Fezzik used to climb up the cliff, supposedly sending the Man in Black falling to his death. However, when he peers over the edge, he sees the Man in Black clinging to the rock wall.]
Vizzini: He didn't fall? Inconceivable!
Inigo Montoya: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

View Quote Vizzini: Whoever he is, he's obviously seen us with the Princess, and must therefore die. [to Fezzik, pointing to Buttercup] You, carry her. [to Inigo] We'll head straight for the Guilder frontier. Catch up when he's dead. If he falls, fine. If not, the sword.
Inigo Montoya: I want to duel him left-handed.
Vizzini: You know what a hurry we're in!
Inigo Montoya: Well, it's the only way I can be satisfied. If I use my right — tch — over too quickly.
Vizzini: Oh, have it your way.
Fezzik: You be careful. People in masks cannot be trusted.

View Quote Inigo Montoya: Hello there. [The Man In Black glances up and grunts] Slow going?
Man in Black: Look, I don't mean to be rude, but this is not as easy as it looks. So I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't distract me.
Inigo Montoya: Sorry.
Man in Black: Thank you.
[A moment passes. Inigo returns to the edge.]
Inigo Montoya: I do not suppose you could speed things up?
Man in Black: If you're in such a hurry, you could lower a rope, or a tree branch, or find something useful to do.
Inigo Montoya: I could do that. I've got some rope up here. But I do not think that you would accept my help, since I am only waiting around to kill you.
Man in Black: That does put a damper on our relationship.
Inigo Montoya: But I promise I will not kill you until you reach the top.
Man in Black: That's very comforting. But I'm afraid you'll just have to wait.
Inigo Montoya: I hate waiting. I could give you my word as a Spaniard.
Man in Black: No good. I've known too many Spaniards.
Inigo Montoya: Is there any way you'll trust me?
Man in Black: Nothing comes to mind.
Inigo Montoya: [seriously] I swear on the soul of my father, Domingo Montoya, you will reach the top alive.
Man in Black: [pauses] Throw me the rope.

View Quote Inigo Montoya: I do not mean to pry, but you don't by any chance happen to have six fingers on your right hand?
Man in Black: Do you always begin conversations this way?
Inigo Montoya: My father was slaughtered by a six-fingered man.
[The Man in Black holds up his hand, revealing only five fingers.]
Inigo Montoya: He was a great swordmaker, my father. And when the six-fingered man appeared and requested a special sword, my father took the job. He slaved a year before he was done. [unsheaths his sword and hands it to the Man in Black]
Man in Black: [examines the sword with admiration] I have never seen its equal. [hands it back to Inigo]
Inigo Montoya: The six-fingered man returned and demanded it, but at one-tenth his promised price. My father refused. Without a word, the six-fingered man slashed him through the heart. I loved my father, so naturally, I challenged his murderer to a duel. I failed. Six-fingered man leave me alive, but he gave me this. [points to a scar on first one cheek, then the other]
Man in Black: How old were you?
Inigo Montoya: I was eleven years old. When I was strong enough, I dedicated my life to the study of fencing. So the next time we meet, I will not fail. I will go up to the six-fingered man and say, "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
Man in Black: You've done nothing but study swordplay?
Inigo Montoya: More pursuit than study lately. You see, I cannot find him. It's been twenty years now. I am starting to lose confidence. I just work for Vizzini to pay the bills. There's not a lot of money in revenge.
Man in Black: [standing up after a pause in the conversation] Well, I certainly hope you find him someday.
Inigo Montoya: You are ready, then?
Man in Black: Whether I am or not, you've been more than fair.
Inigo Montoya: [assumes fighting stance] You seem a decent fellow. I hate to kill you.
Man in Black: [also assumes fighting stance] You seem a decent fellow. I hate to die.
Inigo Montoya: [enthusiastically] Begin!

View Quote Inigo Montoya: You are using Bonetti's Defense against me, eh?
Man in Black: I thought it fitting, considering the rocky terrain.
Inigo Montoya: Naturally you must expect me to attack with Capo Ferro.
Man in Black: Naturally. But I find that Thibault cancels out Capo Ferro, don't you?
Inigo Montoya: [pushes the Man in Black off a shelf onto lower ground] Unless the enemy has studied his Agrippa, which I have! [jumps and flips over the Man in Black]

View Quote Inigo Montoya: You are wonderful!
Man in Black: Thank you. I've worked hard to become so.
Inigo Montoya: I admit it. You are better than I am.
Man in Black: Then why are you smiling?
Inigo Montoya: Because I know something you don't know.
Man in Black: And what is that?
Inigo Montoya: I am not left-handed! [switches to fighting with his right hand]
[The two continue to fight, until the Man in Black is backed against the cliff edge]
Man in Black: You're amazing!
Inigo Montoya: I ought to be, after twenty years.
Man in Black: There's something I ought to tell you.
Inigo Montoya: Tell me.
Man in Black: I'm not left-handed either. [switches his sword to his right hand]

View Quote [Inigo has been defeated in the duel]
Inigo Montoya: Kill me quickly.
Man in Black: I would as soon destroy a stained glass window than an artist like yourself. However, since I can't have you following me either... [thumps Inigo in the back of the head with the hilt of his sword, knocking him unconscious] Please understand, I hold you in the highest respect.

View Quote [A rock smashes into a boulder just in front of the Man in Black]
Fezzik: [steps out from a set of boulders holding another rock] I did that on purpose. I don't have to miss.
Man in Black: I believe you. So what happens now?
Fezzik: We face each other as God intended. Sportsmanlike. No tricks, no weapons, skill against skill alone.
Man in Black: You mean, you'll put down your rock and I'll put down my sword, and we'll try to kill each other like civilized people?
Fezzik: [holds up his rock] I could kill you now.
Man in Black: Frankly, I think the odds are slightly in your favor at hand fighting.
Fezzik: It's not my fault being the biggest and the strongest. I don't even exercise.

View Quote Fezzik: Why do you wear a mask? Were you burned by acid, or something like that?
Man in Black: Oh no. It's just that they're terribly comfortable. I think everyone will be wearing them in the future.

View Quote [The Man in Black causes Fezzik to fall unconscious.]
Man in Black: [checks to make sure Fezzik is still alive] I do not envy the headache you will have when you wake up. But in the meantime, sleep well, and dream of large women. [picks up his sword and continues pursuing Vizzini]

View Quote [The Man in Black has just challenged Vizzini to a battle of wits for the Princess, to the death.]
Man in Black: [hands a small tube to Vizzini] Inhale this, but do not touch.
Vizzini: [sniffs the tube] I smell nothing.
Man in Black: What you do not smell is called iocaine powder. It is odorless, tasteless, dissolves instantly in liquid, and is among the deadliest poisons known to man.
Vizzini: [smirks] Hmm...
[The Man in Black takes the two wine goblets and turns away from Vizzini. He returns a moment later and, after shifting the goblets around quickly, sets them down in front of himself and Vizzini. Vizzini smirks again.]
Man in Black: Now, where is the poison? The battle of wits has begun. It ends when you decide and we both drink, and find out who is right, and who is dead.

View Quote [Westley and Buttercup finish tumbling down the hill.]
Westley: Can you move at all?
Buttercup: Move? You're alive. If you want, I could fly.
Westley: I told you I would always come for you. Why didn't you wait for me?
Buttercup: Well... you were dead.
Westley: Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.
Buttercup: I will never doubt again.
Westley: There will never be a need.

View Quote Buttercup: [eyeing the Fire Swamp nervously] We'll never survive!
Westley: Nonsense. You're only saying that because no one ever has.

View Quote Westley: [entering the fire swamp] It's not that bad.
[Buttercup stares at him incredulously.]
Westley: I'm not saying I'd like to build a summer home here, but the trees are actually quite lovely.

View Quote [Westley rescues Buttercup from a pit of lightning sand]
Buttercup: [recovering] We'll never succeed — we may as well die here.
Westley: No. No. We have already succeeded. I mean, what are the three terrors of the Fire Swamp? One, the flame spurts. No problem. There's a popping sound preceding each, we can avoid that. Two, the Lightning Sand. But you were clever enough to discover what that looks like, so in the future we can avoid that too.
Buttercup: Westley, what about the R.O.U.S.'s?
Westley: Rodents of Unusual Size? I think they don't exist. [an R.O.U.S. attacks him on cue.]