Hannibal Lecter quotes from Hannibal

Will Graham

Gratitude has a short half-life.

Hannibal Lecter

So can doubt.

Suicide seems like a valid solution to my problem.

Hannibal Lecter

How does that make you feel?

Alive. How does it make you feel?

Hannibal Lecter

I've always found the idea of death comforting. The thought that my life could end at any moment frees me to fully appreciate the beauty, and art, and horror of everything this world has to offer.

A death benefit?

Hannibal Lecter

Upon taking his own life, Socrates offered a rooster to the god of healing, Asclepius, to pay his debt.

What debt might that be?

Hannibal Lecter

To Socrates, death was not a defeat but a cure.

Hannibal Lecter

You tried to kill me Will. It's hard not to take that personally. However, if I were Beverly's murderer I'd applaud your effort.

Will Graham

I'm no more guilty of what you've accused me of, than you are of what I've accused you of.

Hannibal Lecter

I don't expect you to feel self-loathing or regret or shame. You knew what you were doing and you made your own decisions, decisions that were under your control.

Will Graham

Oh, you think I'm in control?

Hannibal Lecter

I think you're more in control now than you have ever been. You found a way to hurt me. I wonder how many more people are going to get hurt by what you do. I'll give Alana Bloom your best. Goodbye, Will.

Hannibal Lecter

You were determined to know the Chesapeake Ripper, Dr. Gideon. Now is your opportunity.

Abel Gideon

You intend me to be my own last supper.

Hannibal Lecter

Yes.

Abel Gideon

How does one politely refuse a dish in circumstances such as these?

Hannibal Lecter

One doesn't. The tragedy is not to die, Abel, but to be wasted.

Abel Gideon

My compliments to the chef.

Will Graham

Our last kitchen conversation was interrupted, by Jack Crawford. I'd like to pick up where we left off. If memory serves you were asking me if it would feel good to kill you.

Hannibal Lecter

You've given that some thought.

Will Graham

You wanted me to embrace my nature, doctor. I'm just following the urges I kept down for so long, cultivating them as the inspirations they are.

Hannibal Lecter

You never answered my question. How would killing me make you feel?

Will Graham

Righteous.

Will Graham

I have to deal with you and my feelings about you. I think it's best if I do that directly.

Hannibal Lecter

First you have to grieve for what is lost and what has changed.

Will Graham

I've changed, you changed me.

Hannibal Lecter

The friendship that we had is over, the Chesapeake Ripper is over.

Will Graham

Had to be Miriam, didn't it? She was compelled to take his life so she could take her own back.

Hannibal Lecter

How will you take your life back?

Will Graham

I'd like to resume my therapy.

Hannibal Lecter

Where shall we begin?

Will Graham

I'm riddled with regrets.

Hannibal Lecter

A life without regret would be no life at all.

Hannibal Lecter

When you killed Randall, did you fantasize that you were killing me? Most of what we do, most of what we believe is motivated by death.

Will Graham

[quietly] I never felt as alive as when I was killing him.

Hannibal Lecter

Then you owe Randall a debt. How will you repay him?

Alana Bloom

Whatever it is you are playing, Hannibal, you have to listen very carefully to what you are creating.

Hannibal Lecter

I'm listening.

Do you have a sister, Dr. Lecter?

Hannibal Lecter

I had a sister.

Then you understand my need to protect Margot, mostly from herself. She's pathological. I'm sure she's told you horrible things that I've done.

Hannibal Lecter

I can't tell you what Margot's confessed to me. Fortunately for you, I can't tell anyone.

[laughing] You got me.

Will Graham

You can't reduce me to a set of influences. I'm not the product of anything. I've given up good and evil for behaviourism.

Hannibal Lecter

Then you can't say that I'm evil.

Will Graham

You're destructive. Same thing.

Hannibal Lecter

Evil is just destructive? Storms are evil, if it's that simple.

Hannibal Lecter

Mason is discourteous. Discourtesy is unspeakably ugly to me.

Will Graham

Have you thought about eating him?

Hannibal Lecter

When feasible, one should eat the rude.

Will Graham

Free-range rude. Mason Verger is a pig. He deserves to be somebody's bacon.

I'm hungry.

Hannibal Lecter

Eat your nose, then.

Eat my... eat my nose...

I have a taste and consistency that's similar to that of a chicken gizzard!

Hannibal Lecter

[to Will] Taste is housed in parts of the mind that perceive pity. Pity has no place at the table.

[burps] I'm full of myself. [laughs]

Hannibal Lecter

Jack suspects you of killing Freddy Lounds.

Will Graham

If he said he suspects me, he suspects you.

Hannibal Lecter

I know.

Will Graham

You should give him what he wants. Reveal yourself.

Hannibal Lecter

Give him the Chesapeake Ripper?

Will Graham

You've taunted him long enough. Let him see you as you truly are.

Hannibal Lecter

Jack has become my friend. I suppose I owe him the truth.

Hannibal Lecter

If Jack were to offer you forgiveness, would you accept this forgiveness?

Will Graham

Jack isn't offering forgiveness. He wants justice. He wants... the truth.

Hannibal Lecter

[raising his glass] To the truth, then... and all its consequences.