The Untouchables — Movie Quotes

Malone explains to a naive Ness in a church what it will actually take to defeat a man like Capone.

The definitive line of the film, encapsulating the theme that extraordinary evil requires extraordinary (and violent) measures to defeat.

Asked by Malone when Ness first recruits him, and repeated throughout the film as the stakes rise.

The recurring philosophical question of the movie. It challenges Ness to decide if he is willing to sacrifice his moral purity to achieve justice.

Malone says this after a raid to teach a corrupt cop a lesson. Ness repeats it to Capone after defeating him in court, showing he has fully absorbed Malone's teachings.

A signifier of closure and grim education. It marks the transition from theory to harsh reality.

Spoken to a reporter at the very end of the film when asked what he will do if Prohibition is repealed.

An ironic final line. The man who fought to enforce Prohibition admits he will partake in alcohol once it's legal, showing his rigidity has softened and he is no longer defined solely by the law.

Screamed at Ness in the courtroom after Ness provokes him, marking the moment Capone loses his composure.

Capone's dismissal of legal authority. He believes real power comes from violence and money, not the state.