John Locke quotes from Lost

Locke

[to Eko] If the alarm goes off, don't tell [Henry Gale] what it's for.

...What is it for?

Is that true -- what you said about Hemingway?

John Locke

You have good ears.

You have thin doors.

John Locke

You read Hemingway?

Sure, guy ran with the bulls, fought in the Spanish Civil War, stuff I can wrap my brain around. This is I can't get through 5 pages of [indicating the Dostoevsky novel].

John Locke

Well, Dostoevsky had his virtues, too. He was a genius, for one. Bullfighting isn't everything.

So, which one are you?

John Locke

I'm sorry?

Are you the genius, or are you the guy who always feels like he's living in the shadow of a genius?

Jack

How do we know he hasn't snapped her neck?

Locke

How do we know she hasn't snapped his?

Locke

Who are you?

Gale

My name is Henry Gale. I'm from Minnesota and I crashed on this island just like you.

Anthony Cooper

I killed myself off because there are two men out there who were going to beat me to it.

Locke

Oh, what did you do, steal their livers?

Henry

I never entered the numbers, I never pushed the button.

Locke

You're lying.

Henry

No. I'm done lying.

John Locke

You and your people have been here for God knows how long, and you got caught in a net--

God doesn't know.

John Locke

Excuse me?

God doesn't know how long we've been here, John. He can't see this island any better than the rest of the world can. May I ask you a question? What possible reason could I have for putting myself through all this?

John Locke

Maybe your people were looking for this place.

This place? This place is a joke, John.

John Locke

What are you talking about?

I crawled through your vents and I stood at your computer as the alarm beeped. And you know what happened? The timer went all the way down to zero, and then some funny red pictures flipped up in its place. They looked like hieroglyphics, but I'm no expert. And then things got real interesting. There was a loud clunking and a hum like a magnet -- a big magnet. It was really very frightening. And you know what happened next? Nothing happened, John. Nothing happened at all. Your timer just flipped back to 108. I never entered the numbers. I never pressed the button.

John Locke

You're lying.

No, I'm done lying.

Locke

Why would your own people want to kill you?

Henry

Because the man in charge... He's a great man, John, a brilliant man... but he is not a forgiving man.

Locke

[trying to get Sawyer to give them the guns] Where are they, James?

Sawyer

You too, Brutus?

The question mark, John; where is it?

Locke

You know what? You keep chasing after your own shadow.

I know you don't want to show me, but you must.

Locke

No, I don't have to show you anything.

Then I'm sorry.

Locke

You're lost already?

Your map is inexact.

Locke

No kidding.

Your map is inexact. These landmarks... is this a river?

Locke

No, it's a wavy line. I didn't draw it, I just transcribed it. I told you, I don't even know if it is a map.

Let's assume it is.

Locke

What's the axe for?

I don't know yet.

Locke

Boone. Boone made it fall. Then he died. A sacrifice that the island demanded.

What?

Locke

Nothing.

Do you want to watch that again?

Locke

No... No, I've seen enough.

Locke

What are you doing?

I'm taking this back with us.

Locke

Why?

Because they may be important.

Locke

Important? I'm sorry, weren't you watching the same thing I was?

Yes, and I believe the work you have been doing is more important now than ever.

Locke

Work?

Pushing the button.

Locke

That's not work! That's a joke. Rats, in a maze, with no cheese.

We are being tested.

Locke

Tested?

The reason to do it, pushing the button, is not because we are told so in the film.

Locke

Well, then what is the reason, Mr. Eko?

We do it because we believe we are meant to. Isn't that the reason you pushed it, John?

Locke

I was never... meant to do anything! Every single second of my pathetic little life is as useless as that button! You think it's important? You think it's necessary? It's nothing, it's meaningless; and who are you to tell me that it's not?