The Silence of the Lambs

The Silence of the Lambs Quotes

Hannibal Lecter : First principles, Clarice. Simplicity. Read Marcus Aurelius. Of each particular thing ask: what is it in itself? What is its nature? What does he do, this man you seek?
Clarice Starling : He kills women...
Hannibal Lecter : No. That is incidental. What is the first and principal thing he does? What needs does he serve by killing?
Clarice Starling : Anger, um, social acceptance, and, huh, sexual frustrations, sir...
Hannibal Lecter : No! He covets. That is his nature. And how do we begin to covet, Clarice? Do we seek out things to covet? Make an effort to answer now.
Clarice Starling : No. We just...
Hannibal Lecter : No. We begin by coveting what we see every day. Don't you feel eyes moving over your body, Clarice? And don't your eyes seek out the things you want?

Miggs : I can smell your cunt.

Hannibal Lecter : Now then, tell me. What did Miggs say to you? Multiple Miggs in the next cell. He hissed at you. What did he say?
Clarice Starling : He said, "I can smell your cunt."
Hannibal Lecter : I see. I myself cannot. You use Evian skin cream, and sometimes you wear L'Air du Temps, but not today.

Hannibal Lecter : "Plum Island Animal Disease Research Center." Sounds charming.
Clarice Starling : That's only a part of the island. There's a very, very nice beach. Terns nest there. There's beautiful...
Hannibal Lecter : [ cuts her off ] Terns? Mmh. If I help you, Clarice, it will be "turns" with us too. Quid pro quo. I tell you things, you tell me things. Not about this case, though. About yourself. Quid pro quo. Yes or no? [ pause ]
Hannibal Lecter : Yes or no, Clarice? Poor little Catherine is waiting.
Clarice Starling : Go, doctor.

Hannibal Lecter: A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.

Dr. Frederick Chilton: We've tried to study him, of course, but he's much too sophisticated for the standard tests.

Hannibal Lecter: Well, Clarice - have the lambs stopped screaming?

Hannibal Lecter: Why do you think he removes their skins, Agent Starling? [sarcastically]
Hannibal Lecter: Enthrall me with your acumen.
Clarice Starling: It excites him. Most serial killers keep some sort of trophies from their victims.
Hannibal Lecter: I didn't.
Clarice Starling: No. No, you ate yours.

Hannibal Lecter: You fly back to school, now, little Starling. Fly, fly, fly...

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