David Lightman Hey, I don't believe that any system is totally secure.
Played by Matthew Broderick 
WarGames (1983) · 40 quotes
WarGames (1983) · 40 quotes
Most-quoted character in WarGames (1983): in 17 of its 40 quotes
Most scenes with: Jennifer (6), Joshua (3), McKittrick (2)
Protovision, I have you now.
More lines from David Lightman
3 quotes David Lightman David Lightman [to Dr. Falken]
This is unreal! You don't care about death 'cause you're already dead! I know a lot about you. I know you weren't always like this. What was the last thing you cared about?
David Lightman [to Joshua]
Come on. Learn, goddammit.
Scenes with David Lightman
13 scenes
Mr. Liggett
Alright, Lightman. Maybe you can tell us who first suggested the idea of reproduction without sex.
David Um, your wife?
Mr. Lightman
This corn is raw!
Mrs. Lightman
I know, isn't it wonderful? It's so crisp!
Mr. Lightman
Of course it's crisp! It's raw!
Mrs. Lightman
No, it's terrific! You can just taste the Vitamin A and D in here. It's great!
Mr. Lightman
Could we have pills and cook the corn?
He wasn't very old, was he?
David Oh, he was pretty old, he was 41.
Wow, that is old.
Shall we play a game?
David Oh!
I think it missed him.
David Yeah. Weird isn't it? Love to. How about Global Thermonuclear War.
Wouldn't you prefer a nice game of chess?
David Later. Right now lets play Global Thermonuclear War.
Fine.
David What is the primary goal?
You should know, Professor. You programmed me.
David Oh, c'mon. What is the primary goal?
To win the game.
David Lightman Is it a game... or is it real?
What's the difference?
David Oh wow.
You are a hard man to reach.
Except, that I never could get Joshua to learn the most important lesson.
David What's that?
Futility. That there's a time when you should just give up.
What kind of a lesson is that?
Did you ever play tic-tac-toe?
Yeah, of course.
But you don't anymore.
No.
Why?
Because it's a boring game. It's always a tie.
Exactly. There's no way to win. The game itself is pointless! But back in the war room, they believe you can win a nuclear war.
David I can't swim.
You can't swim?
David No, I can't, all right, Wonder Woman? I can't swim.
Well, what kind of an asshole grows up in Seattle and doesn't even know how to swim?
David I never got around to it, okay? I always thought there was gonna be plenty of time!
Sorry.
David I wish I didn't know about any of this. I wish I was like everybody else in the world, and tomorrow it would just be over. There wouldn't be any time to be sorry about anything. Oh, Jesus! I really wanted to learn how to swim. I swear to God I did.
David Joshua called me.
David, machines don't call people!
David [shrugs]
Yours did.
See that sign up here - up here. "Defcon." That indicates our current "def"ense "con"dition. It should read "Defcon 5," which means peace. It's still on 4 because of that little stunt you pulled. Actually, if we hadn't caught it in time, it might have gone to Defcon 1. You know what that means, David?
David No. What does that mean?
World War Three.
Mr. Liggett
Now there seems to be a lot of confusion on this next question: asexual reproduction. Could someone tell me please who first suggested the idea of reproduction without sex?
David Ah-heh. [whispers something to a classmate]
Mr. Liggett
[overhearing, Jennifer starts to laugh]
Miss Mack! What is so amusing?
I...
Mr. Liggett
[Jennifer breaks up into laughter again and turns to look at David, who puts on a show of mock innocence]
Alright, Lightman. Maybe you could tell us who first suggested the idea of reproduction without sex.
David Umm... Your wife?
Mr. Liggett
[the class erupts into laughter] [pointing to the door]
Get out, Lightman. Get out.
David Hello, are you still playing the game?
Of course. I should reach Defcon 1 and release my missiles in 28 hours. Would you like to see some projected kill ratios?
David [reads]
69% of the housing destroyed. 72 million people dead. [pause] Is this a game or is it real?
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
David Oh, wow.
David I think I saw one. [runs ahead for a moment and stops] What kind of an asshole lives on an island and he doesn't even have a boat?
Maybe we can swim for it. How far do you think it is?
David No. It's uh, two, three miles at least. Maybe more.
Well, what do you say? Let's go for it!
David No.
David No! [pause] I can't swim.
You can't swim?
David No, I can't, okay, Wonder Woman? I can't swim!
Well, what kind of an asshole grows up in Seattle and doesn't even know how to swim?
David I never got around to it, okay? I always thought there was gonna be plenty of time!
Sorry.
David I wish I didn't know about any of this! I wish I was like everybody else in the world, and tomorrow it would just be over. There wouldn't be any time to be sorry... about anything. Oh, Jesus! I really wanted to learn how to swim! I swear to God I did.
Other characters in WarGames
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