Harold Finch quotes from Person of Interest

Carl Elias

Harold, to what do I owe the privilege?

Harold Finch

Did you speak to Detective Fusco?

Carl Elias

I hope the good detective is okay.

Harold Finch

He is now, no thanks to you.

Carl Elias

Perhaps if you had told me about my friend Bruce's death, I wouldn't have had to resort to other sources.

Harold Finch

I didn't tell you because I was afraid you would seek retribution. There are powerful forces in play.

Carl Elias

You don't have to tell me, Harold. I have a scar on my chest to prove it. But a little advice: a leader enlists all his resources in war, not just his favourites.

Harold Finch

This is a battle best fought alone. John and I can handle it, and I'd appreciate it in the future if you would leave Detective Fusco out of this.

Carl Elias

Some time ago, you gave me a book, advice for these troubled times. I would like to return the favour. War requires sacrifices.

Harold Finch

I'll bear that in mind.

Carl Elias

You know what your problem is, Harold?

Harold Finch

No, tell me.

Carl Elias

Underneath all that intellect, you're the darkest of all of us. It's always the quiet ones we need to be afraid of. I just hope I'm not around the day that pot finally boils over.

Harold Finch

I'm afraid you're mistaken.

John Reese

Bad news, Finch. Our number just checked into the ER.

Harold Finch

The emergency room? What happened?

John Reese

He's sick. Looks like the only thing he's about to kill is a box of Kleenex.

Harold Finch

I have played by the rules for so long.

Not from where I'm sitting.

Harold Finch

No. Not your rules. You work at the behest of a system so broken that you didn't even notice when it became corrupted at its core. When I first broke your rules, a sitting president had authorized assassination squads in Laos, and the head of the FBI had ordered his men... you... to conduct illegal surveillance on his political rivals. Your rules have changed every time it was convenient for you. I was talking about my rules. I have lived by those rules for so long. Believed in them for so long. Believed that if you played by the right rules, eventually you would win. But I was wrong, wasn't I? And now all the people I cared about are dead. Or will be dead soon enough. And we will be gone without a trace. So now I have to decide. Decide whether to let my friends die, to let hope die, to let the world be ground under your heel all because I played by my rules. I'm trying to decide. I'm going to kill you. But I need to decide how far I'm willing to go... how many of my own rules I'm willing to break to get it done.

Look, you want to add threatening the life of a federal agent to your file, I will draw up those charges right now. No waiting is required.

Harold Finch

I wasn't talking to you. [looks up at the camera, talking to Samaritan]

Harold Finch

This place... can you get me out of it?

You created me. I can do anything you want me to.

Root

These guys are really pissing me off. Can you get me the 338?

Harold Finch

The 338?

Root

The really big gun, and a hair scrunchie.

Harold Finch

[Panicked] Are you hit?

Root

I'm fine, Harry. I'm just fine.

Harold Finch

I wish you wouldn't do this on my account.

John Reese

I'm just protecting a number, Harold. It's what you hired me to do.

[phone rings. Harold hesitates, then answers it. Root's voice comes out of it] Can you hear me?

Harold Finch

[Almost exclaimed in happiness ] Root?!

No, Harold. I chose a voice.

Harold Finch

In life, Root was your conduit. So despite my reservations it seems only appropriate that she continue in that function. And I must confess... hers is a voice that I miss... deeply.

Aw, Harry. You sure know how to make a girl feel special.

Eight letters. Your decision, Harold.

Harold Finch

Eight letters? You knew all along.

Maybe I know you better than yourself.

Harold Finch

The world without you wasn't definitely better or worse than the one we currently inhabit. It was just... different.

Are you sure, Harold?

Harold Finch

Humanity has always managed to survive on its own.

John Greer

With a little help from the gods.

Harold Finch

Mr. Reese, John, this wasn't supposed to be the way.

John Reese

Sure it is. This is what I do, remember? When you came to me, you gave me a job, a purpose. At first... well I've been trying to save the world for so long that saving one life at a time seemed anticlimactic. But then I realized that sometimes one life - if its the right life - that's enough. Goodbye, Harold.

Finch

No!

I'm sorry, Harry. My core systems are failing, I'm almost gone. I'll stay with John, help him as long as I can. Only thirty seconds left.

Finch

No, please.

You need to go, Harry. You're kinda screwing up the big guy's plan if you bleed out up here.

I know I've made some mistakes. Many mistakes. But we helped some people, didn't we?

Harold Finch

Yes. Yes we did.

Goodbye, Harold.

Harold Finch

Goodbye.