There's harsh truth to face. No way I'm gonna make it on the outside. All I do in remorse is to think a way to break my parole, so they may send me back. Terrible thing to live in fear. Brooks Hatlen knew it. All I want is to be back where things make sense, where I won't have to be afraid all the time. Only one thing stops me. A promise I made to Andy.
Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding
Morgan Freeman · 35 quotes
Andy Dufresne
Tim Robbins · 29 quotes
Samuel Norton
5 quotes
Warden Samuel Norton
Bob Gunton · 5 quotes
Heywood
William Sadler · 4 quotes
Brooks Hatlen
James Whitmore · 3 quotes
Floyd
Brian Libby · 3 quotes
Tommy
Gil Bellows · 3 quotes
Most scenes together: Andy Dufresne & Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding (11), Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding & Heywood (4), Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding & Floyd (3)
The Shawshank Redemption quotes
Page 5 of 5Well. I have to say, that's the most amazing story I ever heard. What amazes me most is you were taken in by it.
If you wanna indulge in this fantasy, that's your business. Don't make it mine. This meeting is over.
In here, I'm the guy who can get things for you, sure, but outside all you need is the Yellow Pages. Hell, I wouldn't know where to begin. Pacific Ocean? Shit. Might scare me to death, something that big.
Not me. I didn't shoot my wife, and I didn't shoot her lover. Whatever mistakes I made, I've paid for them and then some. That hotel, that boat, I don't think that's too much to ask.
I don't think you ought to be doing this to yourself, Andy. This is just shitty pipe dreams. I mean, Mexico is way the hell down there and you're in here, and that's the way it is.
Yeah, right. That's the way it is. It's down there and I'm in here. I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'.
Since I am innocent of this crime, sir, I find it decidedly inconvenient that the gun was never found.
It's obvious this fellow Williams is impressed with you. He hears your tale of woe and quite naturally wants to cheer you up. He's young, not terribly bright. Not surprising he didn't know what a state he'd put you in.
Norton
Tommy, I'm asking you to keep this conversation just between us. I feel awkward enough as it is. We got a situation here. I think you can appreciate that.
Yes, sir. I sure can.
Norton
I tell you, son, this thing really came along and knocked my wind out. It's got me up nights; that's the truth. The right thing to do, sometimes it's hard to know what that is. Do you understand? I need your help, son. If I'm going to move on this, there can't be the least little shred of doubt. I have to know if what you told Dufresne was the truth.
Yes, sir. Absolutely.
Norton
Would you be willing to swear before a judge and jury, having placed your hand on the Good Book and taken an oath before Almighty God himself?
Just give me that chance.
Norton
That's what I thought. [signals to Hadley in the watchtower, who shoots Tommy]
Oh, Andy loved geology. I imagine it appealed to his meticulous nature. An ice age here, million years of mountain building there. Geology is the study of pressure and time. That's all it takes, really. Pressure, and time. That and a big damn poster. Like I said, in prison, a man will do almost anything to keep his mind occupied. Turns out Andy's favorite hobby was totin' his wall out into the exercise yard, a handful at a time. I guess after Tommy was killed, Andy decided he'd been here just about long enough.