Kasper Gutman: The best goodbyes are short. Adieu.
Kasper Gutman: By Gad, sir, you are a character. There's never any telling what you'll say or do next, except that it's bound to be something astonishing.
Kasper Gutman: These are facts, historical facts, not schoolbook history, not Mr. Wells' history, but history nevertheless.
Joel Cairo: I am prepared to pay five thousand dollars for the figure's return. Do you have it? Sam Spade: No. Joel Cairo: But if it isn't here, why did you risk serious injury to prevent my searching for it? Sam Spade: Why should I sit around here a...
Sam Spade: People lose teeth talking like that. If you want to hang around, you'll be polite.
Sam Spade: Haven't you anything better to do than to keep popping in here early every morning and asking a lot of fool questions? Lt. Dundy: And gettin' a lot of lyin' answers! Sam Spade: Take it easy.
Sam Spade: Here. [hands him Wilmer's guns] Sam Spade: You shouldn't let him go around with these on him, he might get himself hurt. Kasper Gutman: Well, well, what's this? Sam Spade: A crippled newsie took 'em away from him. I made him give 'em back.
[to Spade] Joel Cairo: No, no. Our private conversations have not been such that I am anxious to continue them. Forgive me for speaking so bluntly, but it is the truth.
Sam Spade: You gotta convince me that you know what this is all about, that you aren't just fiddling around hoping it'll all... come out right in the end!
Effie Perine: Look at me, Sam. You worry me. You always think you know what you're doing, but you're too slick for your own good. Some day you're going to find it out.
Brigid O'Shaughnessy: What would you do if I didn't tell you? Something wild and unpredictable? Spade: I might.
Sam Spade: If you kill me, how are you going get the bird? And if I know you can't afford to kill me, how are you going to scare me into giving it to you? Kasper Gutman: Well, sir, there are other means of persuasion besides killing and threatening t...
Sam Spade: You don't have to trust me as long as you can persuade me to trust you.
Joel Cairo: Look what you did to my shirt.
Lt. Dundy: Well you know me Spade, if you did it or if you didn't, you'll get a square deal from me and most of the breaks. Don't know as I'd blame you much - man that killed your partner. But that won't stop me from nailing ya. Sam Spade: Fair enoug...
