A Few Good Men Quotes That Display the Best of Dialogue

Highly acclaimed for his trenchantly satirical dialogue, Aaron Benjamin Sorkin’s third play, “A Few Good Men (1989)” served as his Broadway breakthrough. The play’s blockbuster success triggered the legendary movie adaptation starring Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson (famously known to frighten millions through a crack in the door).

The play revolves around the accusation that two United States Marines were culprits in the murder of a fellow marine. Highlighting key themes of honor and the abuse of power, it begs the question of accountability and court justice. A very holistic and engaging read in itself, check out these A Few Good Men quotes for some quick wit and sharp humor!

Top 20 A Few Good Men Quotes on the Marine and Trials

A Few Good Men Quotes Involving Lawyers

#1. “Lt. Sam Weinberg: Cmdr. Galloway, Lt. Kaffee is considered to be the best litigator in our office. He successfully plea-bargained 44 cases in 9 months. Lt. Daniel Kaffee: One more and I get a set of steak knives.” ― Aaron Sorkin, A Few Good Men

#2. “You see Danny, I can deal with the bullets, and 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 fucking courtesy.” — Col. Nathan R. Jessup, A Few Good Men

#3. “I get paid no matter how much time you spend in jail.” ― Aaron Sorkin, A Few Good Men

#4. “He’s not about to have clients go to jail for life when he knows they could be home in six months.” — Capt. Jack Ross, A Few Good Men

A Few Good Men Quotes on Army and Marine Life

#5. “Col. Nathan R. Jessup: Ever put your life in another man’s hands, ask him to put his life in yours? Lt. Daniel Kaffee: No, sir. Col. Nathan R. Jessup: We follow orders, son. We follow orders or people die. It’s that simple.” — Aaron Sorkin, A Few Good Men

#6. “Lt. Daniel Kaffee: I’m just not that crazy about boats, that’s all. Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway: Jesus Christ, Kaffee, you’re in the Navy for crying out loud.” ― Aaron Sorkin, A Few Good Men

#7. “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 rifle company Windward Guantánamo Bay Cuba, if you’re given an order you follow it or you pack your bags.” ― Aaron Sorkin, A Few Good Men

#8. “We joined the Marines because we wanted to live our lives by a certain code, and we found it in the Corps. Now you’re asking us to sign a piece of paper that says we have no honor. You’re asking us to say we’re not Marines. If a court decides that what we did was wrong, then I’ll accept whatever punishment they give. But I believe I was right sir, I believe I did my job, and I will not dishonor myself, my unit, or the Corps so I can go home in six months. Sir.” — Lance Cpl. Harold W. Dawson, A Few Good Men

A Few Good Men Quotes Displaying Wit and Humor

#9. “Lt. Daniel Kaffee: How did you know where the mess hall was if it’s not in this book? Cpl. Jeffrey Barnes: Well, I guess I just followed the crowd at chow time, sir.” ― Aaron Sorkin, A Few Good Men

#10. “Lt. Daniel Kaffee: What’s a fence line? Capt. Whitaker: Sam. Lt. Sam Weinberg: A big wall separating the good guys from the bad guys.” ― Aaron Sorkin, A Few Good Men

#11. “Col. Nathan R. Jessup: I felt his life might be in danger. Lt. Daniel Kaffee: Grave danger? Col. Nathan R. Jessup: [sarcastically] Is there another kind?” ― Aaron Sorkin, A Few Good Men

#12. “Lt. Daniel Kaffee: This your signature? Lance Cpl. Harold W. Dawson: Yes, sir. Lt. Daniel Kaffee: You don’t have to call me ‘sir’. Is this your signature? Pfc. Louden Downey: Sir, yes, sir. Lt. Daniel Kaffee: You certainly don’t need to do it twice in one sentence.” ― Aaron Sorkin, A Few Good Men

#13. “Is the colonel’s underwear a matter of national security?” (To the court after asking what Jessup packed for a one-day trip to Washington DC) ― Aaron Sorkin, A Few Good Men

#14. “Lt. Daniel Kaffee: Yardarm? Sherby, does the Navy still hang people from Yardarms? Lt. Sherby: I don’t think so. Lt. Daniel Kaffee: Dave, Sherby doesn’t think the Navy hang people from yardarms anymore.” ― Aaron Sorkin, A Few Good Men

#15. “Col. Nathan R. Jessup: How the hell is your dad, Danny? Lt. Daniel Kaffee: He passed away seven years ago, sir. Col. Nathan R. Jessup: Don’t I feel like the fucking asshole? Lt. Daniel Kaffee: Not at all sir.” ― Aaron Sorkin, A Few Good Men

#16. “What do you wanna talk about now? My favorite color?” — Col. Nathan R. Jessep, A Few Good Men

Other A Few Good Men Quotes

#17. “We live in a world that has walls and those walls need to be guarded by men with guns.” ― Aaron Sorkin, A Few Good Men

#18. “You can’t handle the truth!” — Colonel Jessup, A Few Good Men.

#19. “You are like seven of the strangest women I have ever met.” ― Aaron Sorkin, A Few Good Men

#20. “A crime? What crime did he commit? Lieutenant Kendrick, Dawson brought a hungry guy some food. What crime did he commit?” — Lt. Daniel Kaffee, A Few Good Men

Conclusion

Aaron Sorkin took the idiom “the third time’s a charm” to a whole other level. These A Few Good Men quotes capture the essence of the play, both scrupulously and accurately. They lead the reader to ponder and reflect. Moneyball (2011) and Steve Jobs (2015) are a testament that he will always be one of the most acclaimed authors of the industry.

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