Memorable Quotes

McMurphy: She was fifteen years old, going on thirty-five, Doc....

And now they're telling me I'm crazy over here because I don't sit there like a goddamn vegetable. Don't make a bit of sense to me. If that's what's being crazy is, then I'm senseless, out of it, gone-down-the-road, wacko. But no more, no less, that's it.


McMurphy: [on Nurse Ratched] In one week, I can put a bug so far up her ass, she don't know whether to shit or wind her wristwatch.


McMurphy: I must be crazy to be in a loony bin like this.


McMurphy: I'm a goddamn marvel of modern science.


McMurphy: Which one of you nuts has got any guts?


McMurphy: [pretending to watch the World Series on TV.] Someone get me a fucking wiener before I die!


McMurphy: [on electroshock therapy] They was giving me ten thousand watts a day, you know, and I'm hot to trot! The next woman takes me on's gonna light up like a pinball machine and pay off in silver dollars!


Nurse Ratched: If Mr. McMurphy doesn't want to take his medication orally, I'm sure we can arrange that he can have it some other way.


Chief: My pop was real big. He did like he pleased. That's why everybody worked on him….

McMurphy: Killed him, huh?

Chief: I'm not saying they killed him. They just worked on him. The way they're working on you.


Nurse Ratched: [in response to Billy's liberating adventure] Aren't you ashamed?

Billy: No, I'm not.

[Applause from friends]

Nurse Ratched: You know Billy, what worries me is how your mother is going to take this.

Billy: Um, um, well, y-y-y-you d-d-d-don't have to t-t-t-tell her, Miss Ratched.

Nurse Ratched: I don't have to tell her? Your mother and I are old friends. You know that.

Billy: P-p-p-please d-d-don't tell my m-m-m-mother.