The Quiet Man Quotations

The Quiet Man was a 1952 American film about an expatriate Irishman and boxing champion who returns from the United States to Ireland to reclaim his family's farm and winds up falling in love with and marrying a local woman.

Directed by John Ford. Written by Maurice Walsh, Frank S. Nugent, and Richard Llewellyn.

Sean Thornton

There'll be no locks or bolts between us, Mary Kate, except those in your own mercenary little heart!

Michaleen Oge Flynn

[To Mary Kate, "introducing" Sean] Mr. Sean Thornton, bachelor, meet Miss Mary Kate Danaher. Miss Danaher, meet Mr. Thornton, from Pittsburgh, Massachusetts, USA.

Is this a courting or a donnybrook? Have the good manners not to hit the man until he's your husband and entitled to hit you back.

Father Peter Lonergan

Ah, yes. I knew your people, Sean. Your grandfather, he died in Australia, in a penal colony. And your father, he was a good man too.

Now when the Reverend Mr. Playfair, good man that he is, comes down, I want us all to cheer like Protestants.

Others

Townswoman: [sweetly, to Sean] Here's a good stick to beat the lovely lady.

Dialogue

Michaleen Flynn: What do they feed you Irishmen in that Pittsburgh?

Sean Thornton: Steel, Michaleen. Steel and pig iron furnaces so hot a man forgets his fear of hell.

Michaleen Flynn: I have... I have come.

Mary Kate Danaher: Oh, I can see that. But from whose pub was it?

Michaleen Flynn: Pub? Pub? You've the face of an angel with the tongue of an adder. I have a good mind to go about me own business and tell Thean Shornton he's better off without ya!

Mary Kate Danaher: Wait a minute, what was that?

Michaleen Flynn: Well ye be listenin' then and not interrupting the shockelhorn;mdash;the matchmaker... I have come at the request of Thean Shornton...

Mary Kate Danaher: Sean Thornton.

Michaleen Flynn: Shut up... bachelor and party of the first part, to ask if you, uh—strictly informally, mind you—uh, Mary Kate Danaher, spinster, and party of the second part.

Mary Kate Danaher: Well. Go on. You were sayin'?

Michaleen Flynn: Actually, me mouth is like a dry crust and the sun is that hot on me pate.

Mary Kate Danaher: Would you be steppin' into the parlor? The house may belong to my brother, but what's in the parlor belongs to me.

Michaleen Flynn: I will then, and I hope that there's a bottle there, whoever it belongs to.

Mary Kate: What manner of man is it that I have married?

Hugh Forbes: A better one, I think, than you know, Mary Kate.

Father Paul: Father Lonergan!

Father Longergan: Shhh...

Father Paul: It's, it's a big fight in the town!

Father Longergan: And there's a big fight in this fish right here.

Father Paul: I'd have put a stop to it, but you see...

Father Longergan: You do that, lad. It's your duty.

Father Paul: But see now, it's Danahar and Sean Thornton!

Father Longergan: Who?

Father Paul: Danahar and Sean Thornton!

Father Longergan: Well why the devil didn't you tell me? [Quickly drops fishing rod and runs]

. . .

[The two priests arrive at the scene of the fight]

Father Paul: Father, shouldn't we put a stop to it now?

Father Longergan: [Smiling, making fighting movements] Ah, we should lad, yes we should, it's our duty. Yes, it's our duty... [Smiles as a punch is heard]

Cast

John Wayne - Sean Thornton
Maureen O'Hara - Mary Kate Danaher
Barry Fitzgerald - Michaleen Oge Flynn
Victor McLaglen - Squire "Red" Will Danaher
Ward Bond - Father Peter Lonergan
Mildred Natwick - The Widow Sarah Tillane

Quoternity