90 A Few Good Men Quotes on Leadership & Truth

2. “We live in a world that has walls and those walls need to be guarded by men with guns.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

3. “You can’t handle the truth!” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

4. “We’re in the business of saving lives, Matthew. With every degree that we allow ourselves to move off the mark of perfection as officers, more people die. That’s a responsibility that I take pretty seriously. Because I absolutely believe that simply taking a Marine who’s not yet up to the job and packing him off to another assignment, is the same as sending a kid into the jungle with a weapon that backfires.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

5. “You are like seven of the strangest women I have ever met.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

6. “I did my job. I’d do it again.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

7. “I hate casualties Matthew. A Marine smothers a grenade and saves his platoon, that Marine’s doing his job. There are casualties, even in victory.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

8. “I’m not going to trip him. I’m gonna lead him right where he’s dying to go.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

9. “You and Dawson, you both live in the same dream-world. It doesn’t matter what I believe. It only matters what I can prove. So don’t tell me what I know, or don’t know. I know the law.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

10. “We didn’t join the Corps ‘cause we felt like it. We joined ‘cause it was a life decision. We wanted to live by a code, sir. And we found it in the Corps.” – Corporal Harold W. Dawson

11. “You see Danny, I can deal with the bullets, the bombs, and the blood. I don’t want money, and I don’t want medals. What I do want is for you to stand there in that faggoty white uniform and with your Harvard mouth extend me some f*ck*ng courtesy.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

12. “He’s not about to have clients go to jail for life when he knows they could be home in six months.” – Captain Jack Ross

13. “I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

14. “The fabric of this base, the foundation of the unit, the spirit of the Corps, these things are worth fighting for. And there’s no one who doesn’t know who’s ever made the choice to put on the uniform.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

15. “This is a sales pitch. It’s not going to be won by the law, it’s going to be won by the lawyers.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

16. “Did you order the code red?” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

17. “Because they stand on the wall, and say, ‘Nothing is going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch.’” – Joanne Galloway

18. “Yeah, we did. We were supposed to fight for people who couldn’t fight for themselves. We were supposed to fight for Willie.” – Louden Dawson

19. “Lieutenant Kaffee, I believe in God, and in His Son, Jesus Christ. And because I do, I can say this—Private Santiago isn’t dead because of a code red. He’s dead because he had no honor. He’s dead because he had no code. And God was watching.” – Lieutenant Jonathan James Kendrick

20. “Oh, I forgot. You were sick the day they taught law at law school.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

21. “I’d prefer you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I’d suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

22. “We use words like honor, code, and loyalty. We use these words as a backbone to a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

23. “Oh, spare me the psychobabble father bullshit.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

24. “I’ll answer the question! You want answers?” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

25. “You don’t even know me. Normally, it takes someone hours to discover I’m not fit to handle a defense.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

26. “We live by a code, sir. Either we were right or we were wrong. We don’t make deals.” – Corporal Harold W. Dawson

27. “I think you thought you were gonna walk in here and flash a badge and that was gonna mean something. I eat breakfast 70 yards away from three thousand Cubans who are trained to kill me. Danny, believe this. I’d kill you. I’d kill everyone in this room. I’d kill anyone to protect what I am paid to protect.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

28. “My are what brought me to this base.” – Lieutenant Jonathan James Kendrick

29. “Colonel Jessup, if it’s not too much trouble, I would like a copy of the transfer order Sir.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

30. “My existence—while grotesque and incomprehensible to you—saves lives. You can’t handle it. Because deep down, in places you don’t talk about, you want me on that wall. You need me there.” – Colonel Jessup

31. “A big wall separating the good guys from the bad guys.” – Lieutenant Sam Weinberg

32. “Is the colonel’s underwear a matter of national security?” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

33. “What do you wanna talk about now? My favorite color?” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

34. “Dave, Sherby doesn’t think the Navy hangs people from yardarms anymore.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

35. “I get sick when I fly because I’m afraid of crashing into a large mountain. I don’t think Dramamine will help.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

36. “It was what they were ordered to do. Out in the real world, it means nothing, and in the Washington Navy yard, it doesn’t mean a whole lot more, but if you’re a Marine assigned to the rifle company Windward Guantánamo Bay Cuba, if you’re given an order, you follow it or you pack your bags.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

37. “We follow orders, son. We follow orders or people die. It’s that simple.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

38. “Lance Corporal Dawson’s ranking after the school of infantry was perfect. Records indicate that more than half that class has since been promoted to full Corporal while Dawson has remained a Lance Corporal.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

39. “I have two books at my bedside, Lieutenant—the Marine Corps Code of Conduct and the King James Bible. The only proper authorities I am aware of are my commanding officer, Colonel Nathan R. Jessup, and the Lord, our God.” – Lieutenant Jonathan James Kendrick

40. “And because he did, because he exercised his own set of values, because he made a decision about the welfare of a Marine that was in conflict with an order of yours, he was punished. Is that right?” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

41. “Sir, a code red is a disciplinary action brought against a Marine who’s fallen out of line.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

42. “Unit, Corps, God, Country, sir. That’s our Code.” – Louden Downey

43. “Commander, I’d like you to leave the room so we can talk about you behind your back.” – Captain West

44. “Oh. Well, if you strenuously object, then I should take some time to reconsider.” – Lieutenant Sam Weinberg

45. “I run my unit how I run my unit. You want to investigate me, roll the dice and take your chances. I eat breakfast 300 yards from 4000 Cubans who are trained to kill me, so don’t think for one second that you can come down here, flash a badge, and make me nervous.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

46. “Now, are these really the questions I was called here to answer? Phone calls and footlockers? Please tell me that you have something more, Lieutenant. These two Marines are on trial for their lives. Please tell me their lawyer hasn’t pinned their hopes to a phone bill.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

47. “A crime? What crime did he commit? Lieutenant Kendrick, Dawson brought a hungry guy some food. What crime did he commit?” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

48. “You know nothing about the law. You’re a used car salesman, Daniel. You’re an ambulance chaser with a rank. You’re nothing. Live with that.” – Joanne Galloway

49. “You’re such a coward, I can’t believe they let you wear a uniform.” – Corporal Harold W. Dawson

50. “You friggin’ people, you have no idea how to defend the nation. All you did was weaken a country today, Kaffee. That’s all you did. You put people’s lives in danger. Sweet dreams, son.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

51. “No offense taken, in case you were wondering.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

52. “Oh, now I see what you’re saying. It had to be Professor Plum in the library with the candlestick.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

53. “It doesn’t matter what they knew, any decent human being would have refused.” – Lieutenant Sam Weinberg

54. “Just because a person’s got a motive doesn’t mean they’re guilty.” – Joanne Galloway

55. “Unless I’m mistaken, they were both going to testify under oath that they had absolutely no recollection of anything.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

56. “There was no poison on the rag and there was no intent to kill, and any attempt to prove otherwise is futile because it just isn’t true.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

57. “I’m going to get you some kind of immunity with the prosecutor, and in about four days, you’re going to appear as a witness for the defense and you’re going to tell the court exactly what you just told me. Right now, I’m going to get you into a motel room and we’re going to start from the beginning.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

58. “Jack didn’t know about the order because if Jack did and he didn’t tell us Jack knows he’d be violating about 14 articles of the Code of Ethics. As it is, Jack’s got enough to worry about because, God forbid, our clients should decide to plead not guilty and testify for the record that they were given an order.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

59. “Colonel Jessup, you have the right to remain silent. Any statement you make may be used against you in a trial by court-martial or in other judicial or administrative proceedings. You have the right to consult with a lawyer prior to any further questions. This lawyer may be a civilian lawyer retained by you at your own expense.” – Captain Ross

60. “On the charge of murder, the members find the accused not guilty. On the charge of conspiracy to commit murder, the members find the accused not guilty. On the charge of conduct unbecoming a United States Marine, the members find the accused guilty as charged. The accused are hereby sentenced to time already served, and you are ordered to be dishonorably discharged from the Marine Corps. This court martial is adjourned.” – Judge Randolph

61. “Have I done something to offend you?” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

62. “What did we do wrong? We did nothing wrong!” – Louden Downey

63. “Corporal Barnes, I hold here the Marine Outline for Recruit Training. You’re familiar with this book?” – Captain Jack Ross

64. “No, it isn’t. It’s tragic.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

65. “Why does a Lieutenant junior grade with a track record for plea bargains get handed a murder case? Could it be so it never sees the inside of a courtroom?” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

66. “Excuse me. I didn’t dismiss you.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

67. “Commander Galloway, Lieutenant Kaffee is considered to be the best litigator in our office. He successfully plea-bargained 44 cases in 9 months.” – Lieutenant Sam Weinberg

68. “I would appreciate it if you would address me as ‘Colonel’ or ‘Sir.’ I believe I’ve earned it.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

69. “Have you ever spent time in an infantry unit, son? Ever served in a forward area? Ever put your life in another man’s hands, ask him to put his life in yours?” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

70. “Do you have an answer to the question, Colonel?” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

71. “Thank you for playing ‘should we or should we not follow the advice of the galactically stupid!’” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

72. “Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to!” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

73. “Commander Galloway, why don’t you get yourself a cup of coffee.” – Captain West

74. “No? Corporal Barnes, I’m a Marine. Is there no book, no manual or pamphlet, no set of orders or regulations that lets me know that, as a Marine, one of my duties is to perform code reds?” – Captain Jack Ross

75. “Jo, if this goes to court, they won’t need a lawyer, they’ll need a priest.” – Captain Isaac Whitaker

76. “Don’t I feel like the f*ck*ng *ssh*l*?” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

77. “Whoa. Hold it. We gotta take a boat?” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

78. “I still think we can win.” – Joanne Galloway

79. “I think I’m entitled.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

80. “Yes sir, we’ll be riding pretty close to the fence line. The Cubans see an officer wearing white, they think it might be someone they’d wanna take a shot at.” – Corporal Barnes

81. “I want a Yoo-Hoo, is that such a big deal? He asks for a Yoo-Hoo and it’s like he’s asking for the correct time. I ask for a Yoo-Hoo and the world is coming to an end. I’m gonna get myself a Yoo-Hoo, okay? Can we drop it now? I want a Yoo-Hoo.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

82. “Certainly not in principle. I disagree only inasmuch as I disagree that a paraplegic is entitled to foxtrot. It’d be nice, it just ain’t possible.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

83. “Oh, nothin’, sir. The Navy’s been great, sir. Everytime we gotta go someplace and fight, you boys give us a ride.” – Lieutenant Sam Weinberg

84. “Maybe we as officers have a responsibility to this country to see to it that the men and women charged with its security are trained professionals.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

85. “Don’t call me ‘son.’ I’m a lawyer and an officer in the United States Navy. And you’re under arrest, you son of a bitch.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

86. “And don’t wear that perfume in court, it wrecks my concentration.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

87. “One more and I get a set of steak knives.” – Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee

88. “Take caution in your tone, Commander. I’m a fair guy, but this f*ck*ng heat is making me absolutely crazy.” – Colonel Nathan Jessup

89. “Tell your friend not to get down there, the Marines at Gitmo are fanatical.” – Joanne Galloway