12 Angry Men Quotes

"Juror #8: Look, there was one alleged eye witness to this killing. Someone else claims he heard the killing, saw the boy run out afterwards and there was a lot of circumstantial evidence. But, actually, those two witnesses were the entire case for the prosecution. Supposing they're wrong? Juror #12: What do you mean, supposing they're wrong? What's the point of having witnesses at all? Juror #8: Could they be wrong? Juror #12: What are you trying to say? Those people sat on the stand under oath. Juror #8: They're only people. People make mistakes. Could they be wrong? Juror #12: Well, no, I don't think so. Juror #8: Do you 'know' so? Juror #12: Oh, come on. Nobody can know a thing like that. This isn't an exact science. Juror #8: That's right, it isn't.

Movie: 12 Angry Men
"Juror #3: Look, you voted guilty. What side are you on? Juror #11: I don't believe I have to be loyal to one side or the other. I'm simply asking questions.

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #3: Reasonable doubt! That's nothing but words.

TV Show: 12 Angry Men
Juror #8: Suppose we're wrong.

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #3: It's these kids - the way they are nowadays. When I was a kid I used to call my father, 'Sir'. That's right... 'Sir'. You ever hear a kid call his father that anymore?
Juror #8: Fathers don't seem to think it's important anymore.
Juror #3: You got any kids?
Juror #8: Three.
Juror #3: I got one. Twenty-two years old. [takes photo from his wallet and shows it to Juror #8]
Juror #3: Aah. When he was nine years old he ran away from a fight. I saw it; I was so embarrassed I almost threw up. I said, I'm gonna make a man outa you if I have to break you in two tryin'. And I made a man out of him. When he was sixteen we had a fight. Hit me in the jaw - a big kid. Haven't seen him for two years. Kids... work your heart out...

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #8: There's something else I'd like to talk about for a minute. I think we've proved that the old man couldn't have heard the boy say I'm gonna kill you, but supposing...
Juror #10: You didn't prove it at all. What're you talking about?
Juror #8: But supposing he really did hear it. This phrase, how many times have all of us used it? Probably thousands. I could kill you for that, darling. Junior, you do that once more and I'm gonna kill you. Get in there, Rocky, and kill him! We say it every day. That doesn't mean we're going to kill anyone.
Juror #3: Wait a minute. What are you trying to give us here? The phrase was I'm gonna kill you. The kid yelled it at the top of his lungs! Don't tell me he didn't mean it. Anybody says a thing like that the way he said it, they mean it.

Movie: 12 Angry Men
[last lines] Juror #9: Hey... what's your name? Juror #8: Davis. Juror #9: My name's McCardle. [pause] Juror #9: Well, so long. Juror #8: So long.

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #6 : Well, I'm not used to supposin'. I'm just a workin' man. My boss does all the supposin' - but I'll try one. Supposin' you talk us all out of this and, uh, the kid really did knife his father?

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #10 : Bright? He's a common ignorant slob. He don't even speak good English.
Juror #11 : *Doesn't* even speak good English.

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #10 : I don't understand you people! I mean all these picky little points you keep bringing up. They don't mean nothing. You saw this kid just like I did. You're not gonna tell me you believe that phony story about losing the knife, and that business about being at the movies. Look, you know how these people lie! It's born in them! I mean what the heck? I don't have to tell you. They don't know what the truth is! And lemme tell you, they don't need any real big reason to kill someone, either! No sir! [ Five gets up from his seat ]
Juror #10 : They get drunk... oh, they're real big drinkers, all of 'em - you know that - and bang: someone's lyin' in the gutter. Oh, nobody's blaming them for it. That's the way they are! By nature! You know what I mean? VIOLENT!
Juror #10 : [ Nine rises and crosses to the window ] Where're you going?
Juror #10 : Human life don't mean as much to them as it does to us! [ Eleven gets up and walks to the other window ]
Juror #10 : Look, they're lushing it up and fighting all the time and if somebody gets killed, so somebody gets killed! They don't care! Oh, sure, there are some good things about 'em, too. Look, I'm the first one to say that. [ Eight gets up and walks to the nearest wall ]
Juror #10 : I've known a couple who were OK, but that's the exception, y'know what I mean? [ Two and Six get up from the table. Everyone's back is to Ten ]
Juror #10 : Most of 'em, it's like they have no feelings! They can do anything! What's goin' on here? I'm trying to tell you... you're makin' a big mistake, you people! This kid is a liar! I know it. I know all about them! Listen to me! They're no good! There's not a one of 'em who is any good! I mean, what's happening in here? I'm speaking my piece, and you... [ the Foreman gets up and walks away. So does Twelve ]
Juror #10 <

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #8 : It's always difficult to keep personal prejudice out of a thing like this. And wherever you run into it, prejudice always obscures the truth. I don't really know what the truth is. I don't suppose anybody will ever really know. Nine of us now seem to feel that the defendant is innocent, but we're just gambling on probabilities - we may be wrong. We may be trying to let a guilty man go free, I don't know. Nobody really can. But we have a reasonable doubt, and that's something that's very valuable in our system. No jury can declare a man guilty unless it's SURE. We nine can't understand how you three are still so sure. Maybe you can tell us.

Movie: 12 Angry Men
[ last lines ]
Juror #9 : Hey... what's your name?
Juror #8 : Davis.
Juror #9 : My name's McCardle. [ pause ]
Juror #9 : Well, so long.
Juror #8 : So long.

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #8 : Here's what I think happened: the old man heard the fight between the boy and his father a few hours earlier. Then, when he's lying in his bed he heard a body hit the floor in the boy's apartment, heard the woman scream from across the street, got to his front door as fast as he could, heard somebody racing down the stairs and assumed it was the boy.
Juror #6 : I think that's possible.
Juror #3 : ASSUMED? Brother, I've seen all kinds of dishonesty in my day, but this little display takes the cake. Y'all come in here with your hearts bleedin' all over the floor about slum kids and injustice; you listen to some fairy tales; suddenly you start gettin' through to some of these old ladies... well, you're not getting through to me, I've had enough! WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU GUYS? You all know he's guilty. He's got to burn! You're letting him slip through our fingers.
Juror #8 : Slip through our fingers? Are you his executioner?
Juror #3 : I'm one of 'em!
Juror #8 : Perhaps you'd like to pull the switch?
Juror #3 : For this kid? You bet I would!
Juror #8 : I feel sorry for you... what it must feel like to want to pull the switch. [ baiting him ]
Juror #8 : Ever since you walked into this room, you've been acting like a self-appointed public avenger! You want to see this boy die because you personally want it, not because of the facts! You're a sadist! [ Three lunges wildly at Eight, who holds his ground. Several jurors hold Three back ]
Juror #3 : I'll kill him! I'LL KILL HIM!
Juror #8 : You don't *really* mean you'll kill me, do you?

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #8 : There's something else I'd like to talk about for a minute. I think we've proved that the old man couldn't have heard the boy say "I'm gonna kill you," but supposing...
Juror #10 : You didn't prove it at all. What're you talking about?
Juror #8 : But supposing he really did hear it. This phrase, how many times have all of us used it? Probably thousands. "I could kill you for that, darling." "Junior, you do that once more and I'm gonna kill you." "Get in there, Rocky, and kill him!" We say it every day. That doesn't mean we're going to kill anyone.
Juror #3 : Wait a minute. What are you trying to give us here? The phrase was "I'm gonna kill you." The kid yelled it at the top of his lungs! Don't tell me he didn't mean it. Anybody says a thing like that the way he said it, they mean it.

Movie: 12 Angry Men
[ Juror 8 has convinced everyone to change their votes to 'not guilty' except for Juror 3 ]
Juror #7 : Well, what do we do now?
Juror #8 : [ to #3 ] You're alone.
Juror #3 : I don't care whether I'm alone or not! It's my right.
Juror #8 : It's your right.
Juror #3 : Well, what do you want? I say he's guilty.
Juror #8 : We want to hear your arguments.
Juror #3 : I gave you my arguments!
Juror #8 : We're not convinced. We want to hear them again. We have as much time as it takes.
Juror #3 : Everything... every single thing that took place in that courtroom, but I mean everything... says he's guilty. What d'ya think? I'm an idiot or somethin'? Why don't cha take that stuff about the old man; the old man who lived there and heard every thing? Or this business about the knife! What, 'cause we found one exactly like it? The old man SAW him. Right there on the stairs. What's the difference how many seconds it was? Every single thing. The knife falling through a hole in his pocket... you can't PROVE he didn't get to the door! Sure, you can take all the time hobblin' around the room, but you can't PROVE it! And what about this business with the El? And the movies! There's a phony deal if I ever heard one. I betcha five thousand dollars I'd remember the movies I saw! I'm tellin' ya: every thing that's gone on has been twisted... and turned. This business with the glasses. How do you know she didn't have 'em on? This woman testified in open court! And what about hearin' the kid yell... huh? I'm tellin' ya, I've got all the facts here...
Juror #3 : [ He struggles with his notebook, throws it on the table. The photo of him with his son is on top ] Here... Ah. Well, that's it - that's the whole case! [ He turns towards the window as the other jurors stare at him ]

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #2 : It's hard to put into words. I just think he's guilty. I thought it was obvious from the word, 'Go'. Nobody proved otherwise.
Juror #8 : Nobody has to prove otherwise. The burden of proof is on the prosecution. The defendant doesn't even have to open his mouth. That's in the Constitution.

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #8 : Look, there was one alleged eye witness to this killing. Someone else claims he heard the killing, saw the boy run out afterwards and there was a lot of circumstantial evidence. But, actually, those two witnesses were the entire case for the prosecution. Supposing they're wrong?
Juror #12 : What do you mean, supposing they're wrong? What's the point of having witnesses at all?
Juror #8 : Could they be wrong?
Juror #12 : What are you trying to say? Those people sat on the stand under oath.
Juror #8 : They're only people. People make mistakes. Could they be wrong?
Juror #12 : Well, no, I don't think so.
Juror #8 : Do you 'know' so?
Juror #12 : Oh, come on. Nobody can know a thing like that. This isn't an exact science.
Juror #8 : That's right, it isn't.

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #3 : You're talking about a matter of seconds. Nobody can be that accurate.
Juror #8 : Well I think that testimony that can put a boy into the electric chair SHOULD be that accurate.

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Juror #11 : I beg pardon...
Juror #10 : "I beg pardon?" What are you so polite about?
Juror #11 : For the same reason you are not: it's the way I was brought up.

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #3 : What do you mean you want to try it? Why didn't his lawyer bring it up if it's so important?
Juror #5 : Well, maybe he just didn't think about it huh?
Juror #10 : What do you mean didn't think of it? Do you think the man's an idiot or something? It's an obvious thing.
Juror #5 : Did you think of it?
Juror #10 : Listen smart guy, it don't matter whether I thought of it. He didn't bring it up because he knew it would hurt his case. What do you think of that?
Juror #8 : Maybe he didn't bring it up because it would of meant bullying and badgering a helpless old man. You know that doesn't sit very well with a jury; most lawyers avoid it if they can.
Juror #7 : So what kind of a bum is he then?
Juror #8 : That's what I've been asking, buddy.

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #3 : That business before when that tall guy, what's-his-name, was trying to bait me? That doesn't prove anything. I'm a pretty excitable person. I mean, where does he come off calling me a public avenger, sadist and everything? Anyone in his right mind would blow his stack. He was just trying to bait me.
Juror #4 : He did an excellent job.

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Juror #10 : Oh, listen, I don't see what all this stuff about the knife has got to do with anything. Somebody saw the kid stab his Father, what more do we need? You guys can talk the ears right off my head you know what I mean? I got three garages of mine going to pot while you're talking! So lets get down and get out of here!

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Juror #7 : You a Yankee fan?
Juror #5 : No, Baltimore.
Juror #7 : Baltimore? That's like being hit in the head with a crow bar once a day.

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #3 : Look, you voted guilty. What side are you on?
Juror #11 : I don't believe I have to be loyal to one side or the other. I'm simply asking questions.

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #8 : I just want to talk.
Juror #7 : Well, what's there to talk about? Eleven men in here think he's guilty. No one had to think about it twice except you.
Juror #10 : I want to to ask you something: do you believe his story?
Juror #8 : I don't know whether I believe it or not - maybe I don't.
Juror #7 : So how come you vote not guilty?
Juror #8 : Well, there were eleven votes for guilty. It's not easy to raise my hand and send a boy off to die without talking about it first.
Juror #7 : Well now, who says it's easy?
Juror #8 : No one.
Juror #7 : What, just because I voted fast? I honestly think the guy's guilty. Couldn't change my mind if you talked for a hundred years.
Juror #8 : I'm not trying to change your mind. It's just that... we're talking about somebody's life here. We can't decide it in five minutes. Supposing we're wrong?
Juror #7 : Supposing we're wrong! Supposing this whole building should fall down on my head. You can suppose anything!
Juror #8 : That's right.

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #8 : I just think we owe him a few words, that's all.
Juror #10 : I don't mind telling you this, mister: we don't owe him a thing. He got a fair trial, didn't he? What do you think that trial cost? He's lucky he got it. Know what I mean? Now, look - we're all grown-ups in here. We heard the facts, didn't we? You're not gonna tell me that we're supposed to believe this kid, knowing what he is. Listen, I've lived among them all my life - you can't believe a word they say, you know that. I mean they're born liars.
Juror #9 : Only an ignorant man can believe that.
Juror #10 : Now, listen...
Juror #9 : Do you think you were born with a monopoly on the truth? I think certain things should be pointed out to this man.

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[ after Juror #10 explains that he believes the boy is guilty because of the testimony of the woman across the street ]
Juror #8 : I'd like to ask you something: you don't believe the boy's story; how come you believe the woman's? She's one of 'them', too, isn't she?
Juror #10 : You're a pretty smart fella, aren't you?

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #3 : It's these kids - the way they are nowadays. When I was a kid I used to call my father, 'Sir'. That's right... 'Sir'. You ever hear a kid call his father that anymore?
Juror #8 : Fathers don't seem to think it's important anymore.
Juror #3 : You got any kids?
Juror #8 : Three.
Juror #3 : I got one. Twenty-two years old. [ takes photo from his wallet and shows it to Juror #8 ]
Juror #3 : Aah. When he was nine years old he ran away from a fight. I saw it; I was so embarrassed I almost threw up. I said, "I'm gonna make a man outa you if I have to break you in two tryin'". And I made a man out of him. When he was sixteen we had a fight. Hit me in the jaw - a big kid. Haven't seen him for two years. Kids... work your heart out...

Movie: 12 Angry Men
Juror #8 : According to the testimony, the boy looks guilty... maybe he is. I sat there in court for six days listening while the evidence built up. Everybody sounded so positive, you know, I... I began to get a peculiar feeling about this trial. I mean nothing is that positive. There're a lot of questions I'd have liked to ask. I don't know, maybe they wouldn't have meant anything, but... I began to get the feeling that the defense counsel wasn't conducting a thorough enough cross-examination. I mean he... he let too many things go by... little things that...
Juror #10 : What little things? Listen, when these fellas don't ask questions it's because they know the answers already and they figure they'll be hurt.
Juror #8 : Maybe. It's also possible for a lawyer to be just plain stupid, isn't it? I mean it's possible.
Juror #7 : You sound like you met my brother-in-law.

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[ after Juror #8 has established that the old man witness could not have heard the killing over the noise of the elevated train ]
Juror #3 : Why should he lie? What's he got to gain?
Juror #9 : Attention, maybe.
Juror #3 : You keep coming in with these bright sayings. Why don't you send 'em into a paper - they pay three dollars apiece.
Juror #6 : What are you talkin' to him like that for? Guy talks like that to an old man really oughta get stepped on, you know. You oughta have more respect, mister. If you say stuff like that to him again... I'm gonna lay you out.

Movie: 12 Angry Men