James Cole Oh, wouldn't it be great if I was crazy? Then the world would be okay.
2nd most-quoted character in Twelve Monkeys (1995): in 12 of its 42 quotes
Most scenes with: Jeffrey Goines (2), Dr. Kathryn Railly (2)
I'm looking for the Army of the Twelve Monkeys.
More lines from James Cole
4 quotes James Cole James Cole All I see are dead people.
James Cole I am insane, and you are my insanity.
James Cole It's just like what's happening with us, like the past. The movie never changes. It can't change; but every time you see it, it seems different because you're different. You see different things.
Scenes with James Cole
7 scenesI am mentally divergent, in that I am escaping certain unnamed realities that plague my life here. When I stop going there, I will be well. Are you also divergent, friend?
James Cole Jose — psst! Jose, what's going on?
Jose Bad news, man
James Cole Volunteers?
Jose Yeah. And they said your name.
Jose [pause]
Hey, maybe they'll give you a pardon, man.
James Cole [sarcastic]
Yeah, that's why none of the volunteers come back. They all get a pardon.
You know what crazy is? Crazy is majority rules. Take germs for example.
James Cole Germs?
Uh-huh. Eighteenth century, no such thing, nada, nothing. No one ever imagined such a thing. No sane person. Along comes this doctor, uh, Semmelweis, Semmelweis. Semmelweis comes along. He's trying to convince people, other doctors mainly, that's there's these teeny tiny invisible bad things called germs that get into your body and make you sick. He's trying to get doctors to wash their hands. What is this guy? Crazy? Teeny, tiny, invisible? What do they call it? Uh-uh, germs? Huh? What? Now, up to the 20th century, last week, as a matter of fact, before I got dragged into this hellhole. I go in to order a burger at this fast food joint, and the guy drops it on the floor. James, he picks it up, he wipes it off, he hands it to me like it's all OK. "What about the germs?" I say. He says, "I don't believe in germs. Germs is a plot made up so they could sell disinfectants and soaps." Now he's crazy, right?
What we say is the truth is what everybody accepts... I mean, psychiatry: it's the latest religion. We decide what's right and wrong. We decide who's crazy or not. I'm in trouble here. I'm losing my faith.
James Cole Look at them. They're just asking for it. Maybe the human race deserves to be wiped out.
Wiping out the human race? That's a great idea. That's great. But more of a long-term thing. I mean, first we have to focus on more immediate goals.
James Cole This is a place for crazy people. I'm not crazy.
Dr. Peters We don't use the term "crazy," Mr. Cole.
James Cole Well you've got some real nuts here.
Nobody is going to die! You're not going to save the world, Okay you're delusional. You've made this all up out of bits and pieces in your head...
James Cole You're all gonna die.
Nobody is going to die! You're not going to save the world, Okay your delusional. You've made this all up out of bits and pieces in you're head.
James Cole No.
Uh, Yes! Let me give you an example. You know Jeffrey Goines. You were both patients at County Hospital, at the same time.
James Cole Jeffrey Goines was a fruitcake.
James Cole She's not honey babe, She's a doctor. My psychiatrist. Understand?
Charlie the Hotel Clerk
Whatever gets it up for you, Jack.
Where are we going?
James Cole Philadelphia.
Philadelphia? That's more then a hundred miles away!
James Cole I know, that's why I can't walk there.
