Lex Luthor quotes from Smallville

Lex Luthor

Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird?

Clark Kent

Never read it.

Lex Luthor

You should. You two have a lot in common. Small-town heroes. Believe in the truth. Not willing to back down.

Clark Kent

How does it end?

Lex Luthor

It's not about the ending, it's about the journey.

Clark Kent

What kills me is that I know that I'm right. I just wish I could get them to see it.

Lex Luthor

That, my friend, is the key to leadership. Not only knowing you're right, but convincing everyone else. If you can do that, the world's your oyster.

Clark Kent

You think I'm hiding something from you? Here. Take this hammer. Hit me anywhere.

Lex Luthor

I'm not gonna hit you, Clark.

Clark Kent

Come on! If I can get hit by a car, you can't hurt me.

Lex Luthor

Clark, I just want the truth.

Clark Kent

The truth is I'm just a guy who tried to do the right thing. Isn't that enough?

Lex Luthor

Clark, you can't save the world. All you'll end up with is a Messiah complex and a lot of enemies.

Clark Kent

I saved you, didn't I? That turned out all right.

Lex Luthor

This isn't you.

Lana Lang

Why? Because I'm not doing exactly as I'm told? Because I'm not stuck in a corner hiding in a book? For once I am not afraid of life and nobody can handle it cause you all prefer the insecure little girl. Well I'm sick of her and all of her talk about her dead parents.

Remember, Lex. You're the one opening Pandora's box.

Lex Luthor

I'm just the key, Dr. Hamilton.

Clark Kent

I didn't know you liked comic books.

Lex Luthor

Are you kidding? A strange visitor from another planet who protects the weak? When I was young he was my idol, not to mention that fact he's bald. I have the whole collection.

Lex Luthor

I think he saw Julian as his second chance. A chance for him to have a son he could truly love.

Clark Kent

I'm sorry.

Lex Luthor

It's in the past, Clark. We would have ended up hating each other anyway. My father would have seen to that.

Lex Luthor

What could you possibly have to complain about now? The plant's doing well. LuthorCorp stock is up.

Lionel Luthor

I'm not here to complain, Lex. On the contrary, your performance lately has been... more than adequate.

Lex Luthor

That sounds dangerously like a compliment.

Lex Luthor

You know what those emperors you're so fond of talking about were really afraid of? That their sons would become successful and return to Rome at the head of their own army.

Lionel Luthor

You think you can find your future in Smallville? I'm your future. Join me, Lex. Join me in Metropolis. How long have you been waiting to hear me to say those words?

Lex Luthor

I've waited to hear other things from you for a lot longer. I'll return to Metropolis when I'm ready.

Lionel Luthor

At the head of an army?

Lex Luthor

Do you know what my father gave me for my tenth birthday? A copy of The Will to Power. "Behold the super man. Man is something to be overcome". Sun Tzu, Machiavelli, Nietzsche. They were the voices that nurtured me after my mother died. My father made every question a quiz, every choice a test. Second best was for losers, compassion for losers, trust no one. Those were the lessons I grew up with.

Dominic Sanatori

I'll remember that if I'm ever interviewed by the biography channel.

Lex Luthor

All I'm saying, Dominic, is try and remember who I was raised by. I try to deny it, but I'm still my father's son. Tread carefully.

Lex Luthor

Do you have a family photo?

Jonathan Kent

Yeah, I got lots of family photos, Lex.

Lex Luthor

The only picture of my father and me appears in the LuthorCorp annual report.

Jonathan Kent

Is this the part where I'm supposed to feel sorry for you?

Lex Luthor

No. I just want you to understand if I'm guilty of anything regarding your family, it's envy.

Lex Luthor

In his own way, he's just trying to give you something my father never gave me.

Clark Kent

What's that?

Lex Luthor

Limitations. All my father ever told me was "Don't get caught. Don't cause a scandal". That's not love, that's public relations. You have no idea how lucky you are. When my father dies, kings will come to his funeral, but when yours does, his friends will come.

Lex Luthor

Let's be frank, Dominic. My father sent you here to spy on me because he's afraid of how well I'm doing. This was my last chance to prove myself and he just assumed I'd fail. Now he has to revise his definition of me. I'm not just his screw-up son anymore. Now I'm competition. And my father only knows one way of dealing with competition.

There are some things better left between patient and therapist, Lex.

Lex Luthor

You know, in ancient Persia, the kings would kill a messenger who brought them news they didn't like. In modern times, a sword in the chest might seem a little extreme. Something more subtle would be in order. Enjoying your drink?

Lex Luthor

There's nothing wrong with a good fight. Just remember, the man of tomorrow is forged by his battles today.

Clark Kent

Could I use that? I mean, "the man of tomorrow" for my slogan?

Lex Luthor

Knock yourself out.

Clark Kent

I've always liked Lana, but I can never get near her. I just found out that Chloe likes me and I think I may have feelings for her too.

Lex Luthor

So which one do you want to pursue?

Clark Kent

That's the thing, I want to protect my friendship with both.

Lex Luthor

Then you'll never get either one.