A heart-warming, entertaining and philosophical prison film, The Shawshank Redemption stars Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman as Andy Dufresne and Red – murder convicts serving life at Shawshank who become inseparable friends

Directed by Frank Darabont and based upon a novella by Stephen King, The Shawshank Redemption is a tale about friendship, injustice, evil… and hope

In this post we’re going to go through 7 memorable quotes from The Shawshank Redemption - a gem that Imdb users rated the greatest film of all time

The Shawshank Redemption | Quote 7

Welcome to Shawshank

Warden Samuel Norton I believe in two things: discipline and the Bible. Here you’ll receive both. Put your trust in the Lord; your ass belongs to me. Welcome to Shawshank

The Shawshank Redemption | Quote 6

Andy Dufresne and the practical relevance of reading

Boggs Now, I’m gonna open my fly and you’re gonna swallow what I give ya to swallow. And after you swallow mine you’re gonna swallow Rooster’s cause ya done broke his nose and I think he oughta have something to show for it
Andy Dufresne Anything you put in my mouth you’re gonna lose
Boggs Naw, you don’t understand. You do that and I’ll put all eight inches of steel in your ear
Andy Dufresne All right. But you should know that sudden serious brain injury causes the victim to bite down hard. In fact, I hear the bite reflex is so strong they have to pry the victims jaws open with a crowbar
Boggs Where do you get this shit?
Andy Dufresne I read it. You know how to read, you ignorant fuck?

The Shawshank Redemption | Quote 5

Red’s romantic infatuation with Italian opera

Red I have no idea to this day what those two Italian ladies were singing about. Truth is, I don’t want to know. Some things are best left unsaid. I’d like to think they were singing about something so beautiful, it can’t be expressed in words, and makes your heart ache because of it. I tell you, those voices soared higher and farther than anybody in a gray place dares to dream. It was like some beautiful bird flapped into our drab little cage and made those walls dissolve away, and for the briefest of moments, every last man in Shawshank felt free

The Shawshank Redemption | Quote 4

Andy Dufresne‘s desperate plead

Andy after Warden Norton refuses to appeal his case
Andy Dufresne It’s my life. Don’t you understand? It’s my life!

The Shawshank Redemption | Quote 3

Red’s parole hearing

Parole Evaluator Ellis Boyd Redding, your files say you’ve served 40 years of a life sentence. Do you feel you’ve been rehabilitated?
Red Rehabilitated? Well, now let me see. You know, I don’t have any idea what that means
Parole Evaluator Well, it means that you’re ready to rejoin society…
Red I know what *you* think it means, sonny. To me it’s just a made up word. A politician’s word, so young fellas like yourself can wear a suit and a tie, and have a job. What do you really want to know? Am I sorry for what I did?
Parole Evaluator Well, are you?
Red There’s not a day goes by I don’t feel regret. Not because I’m in here, or because you think I should. I look back on the way I was then: a young, stupid kid who committed that terrible crime. I want to talk to him. I want to try and talk some sense to him, tell him the way things are. But I can’t. That kid’s long gone and this old man is all that’s left. I got to live with that. Rehabilitated? It’s just a bullshit word. So you go on and stamp your form, sonny, and stop wasting my time. Because to tell you the truth, I don’t give a shit

The Shawshank Redemption | Quote 2

Andy Dufresne vs Warden Samuel Norton

Warden Samuel Norton I have to say that’s the most amazing story I’ve ever heard. What amazes me most is that you were taken in by it
Andy Dufresne Sir?
Warden Samuel Norton It’s obvious this fellow Williams is impressed with you, he hears your tale of woe and naturally wants to cheer you up. He’s young, not terribly bright, it’s not surprising he wouldn’t know what a state he put you in.
Andy Dufresne Sir, he’s telling the truth.
Warden Samuel Norton Let’s say for the moment this Blatch does exist. You think he’d just fall to his knees and cry “Yes, I did it, I confess! Oh, and by the way, add a life term to my sentence”
Andy Dufresne You know that wouldn’t matter. With Tommy’s testimony I can get a new trial
Warden Samuel Norton That’s assuming Blatch is still there. Chances are excellent he’d be released by now
Andy Dufresne Well they’d have his last known address, names of relatives. It’s a chance, isn’t it?
Norton shakes his head disapprovingly
Andy Dufresne How can you be so obtuse?
Warden Samuel Norton What? What did you call me?
Andy Dufresne Obtuse. Is it deliberate?
Warden Samuel Norton Son, you’re forgetting yourself
Andy Dufresne The country club will have his old time cards. Records, W-2s with his name on them. Sir, if I ever get out, I’d never mention what happens here. I’d be just as indictable as you for laundering that money
Norton slaps his hand on the table
Warden Samuel Norton Don’t you ever mention money to me again, you sorry son of a bitch! Not in this office, not anywhere!

The Shawshank Redemption | Quote 1

Andy Dufresne and hope

Andy Dufresne That’s the beauty of music. They can’t get that from you… Haven’t you ever felt that way about music?
Red I played a mean harmonica as a younger man. Lost interest in it though. Didn’t make much sense in here
Andy Dufresne Here’s where it makes the most sense. You need it so you don’t forget
Red Forget?
Andy Dufresne Forget that… there are places in this world that aren’t made out of stone. That there’s something inside… that they can’t get to, that they can’t touch. That’s yours
Red What’re you talking about?
Andy Dufresne Hope