Ann Shankland: I didn't mean any harm.
John Malcolm: That's when you do the most damage.
Ann Shankland: We all make mistakes.
John Malcolm: You specialize in them.


--Burt Lancaster (as John Malcolm) in Separate Tables

Ann Shankland: You're making it a bit too obvious, you know, that you hate the very sight of me.
John Malcolm: The very sight of you is perhaps the one thing about you I don't hate.


--Burt Lancaster (as John Malcolm) in Separate Tables

Nalinle: But will they not say that growing corn is woman's work?
Massai: I am a warrior. What I do can never be woman's work.


--Burt Lancaster (as Massai) in Apache

Nalinle: Why did you come back, Massai?
Massai: This is where I belong.
Nalinle: Is it? Is this where you plan to die?
Massai: Only a warrior chooses a place to die. I am no longer a warrior.


--Burt Lancaster (as Massai) in Apache

Hans Ehrengard: Dynamite in the hands of a fool means death.
Bill Dolworth: In this case, it could mean life. Ours. If we're lucky enough to get back to this rat trap, it might be touch and go. All you gotta do is light this fuse. You got ten seconds to run like hell. Then dynamite, not faith, will move that mountain into this pass. Peace, brother.


--Burt Lancaster (as Bill Dolworth) in The Professionals

Resistance leader: London agrees the art is important. Anything we can do to save it... but they leave it up to us.
Labiche: Why not? What can they lose? This morning we had four men left in this group. Now we have three. One, two, three.
Pesquet: Bernard?
Labiche: We started with eighteen. Like your paintings, mademoiselle, we couldn't replace them. For certain things we take the risk, but I won't waste lives on paintings.
Miss Villard: They wouldn't be wasted! Excuse me, I know that's a terrible thing to say. But those paintings are part of France. The Germans want to take them away. They've taken our land, our food, they live in our houses, and now they're trying to take our art. This beauty, this vision of life, born out of France, our special vision, our trust... we hold it in trust, don't you see, for everyone? This is our pride, what we create and hold for the world. There are worse things to risk your life for than that.
Labiche: I'm sorry, mademoiselle, we can't help you.


--Burt Lancaster (as Labiche) in The Train

[Cash advocates killing the Kiowa outside of the house]
Ben: All right, Cash. Let's see if they're after our scalps first.
[shoots the top of one Indian's lance]
Ben: I'm going out to talk. Cash, if they break the peace, kill them.
Cash: When will that be?
Ben: When they kill me.


--Burt Lancaster (as Ben Zachary) in The Unforgiven

[Charlie Rawlins has asked Ben for permission to marry Rachel]
Rachel: Well, Ben; you ain't goin' to shoot Charlie now are you?
Ben: I'm thinkin' about it. If I wasn't so short-handed I might.


--Burt Lancaster (as Ben Zachary) in The Unforgiven

[first lines]
Donald Westerhazy: Where have you been keeping yourself?
Ned Merrill: Oh, here and there. Here and there.


--Burt Lancaster (as Ned Merrill) in The Swimmer

[holding an unlit cigarette]
J.J. Hunsecker: Match me, Sidney.


--Burt Lancaster (as J.J. Hunsecker) in Sweet Smell of Success