The Wire quotes

Bunk

Better to be lucky than to be good.

Clay Davis

You think I have time to ask a man why he giving me money? Or where he gets his money from? I'll take any motherfucker's money if he givin' it away!

Clay Davis

Because if some federal motherfucker comes through the door, I say hey, it's all in the game. But a city police? Baltimore city?! Hell no, can't be happenin', because I have raised too much goddamn money for the mayor and his ticket. Hell no! Ain't no soul in the world that fuckin' ungrateful!

Calm down, Clay-

Clay

Money-launderin'? They gonna come talk to me about money-launderin'?! In West Baltimore?! Sheeeeeeeeeit. Where do you think I'm going to raise cash for the whole ticket? From laundromats and shit? From some tiny-ass Korean groceries? You think I have time to ask a man why he giving me money? Or where he gets his money from? I'll take any motherfucker's money if he givin' it away!

Namond

I love the first day, man. Everybody all friendly an' shit.

Omar

How you expect to run with the wolves come night, when you spend all day sporting wit' the puppies?

Omar

It ain't what you takin', it's who you takin' it from.

Slim Charles

Yeah, now, well, the thing about the old days: they the old days.

You think I dream of comin' to work up in this shit on a Sunday mornin'. Tell all my friends what a good job I got. I'm workin' to support a family man. Pretend I ain't talking to you. Pretend like I ain't even on this Earth. I know what you are, and I ain't steppin' to, but I am a man, and you just clip that shit and act like you don't even know I'm there.

Marlo

I don't.

I'm here. [Marlo moves closer] Look, I told you I wasn't steppin' to. I ain't disrespectin' you, son.

Marlo

You want it to be one way.

What?

Marlo

You want it to be one way.

Man, I don't...

Marlo

You want it to be one way.

Man, STOP! Stop, sayin' that.

Marlo

But it's the other way.

Cutty

[to the Deacon] You hang around and you can see me preach on some young-uns. Solemn left and sanctified right.

A good church man is always up in everybody's shit. It's how we do.

Proposition Joe

Business men, such as myself, does not believe in bad blood with a man such as yourself. Disturbs the sleep.

Omar

Oh, I bet it do.

Marlo

That's my money.

Omar

Man, money ain't got no owners. Only spenders.

Omar

[to Marlo] I like that ring too. [pause] Boy, you got me confused with a man who repeat himself.

Norman

I'm a devious motherfucker once I get goin'.

Chris Partlow

[to Michael] Yo' we always in the market for a good soldier. We see one we like, we take care of his situation. Take him in, school him, make him family. And if you with us, you with us. Just like we be with you, All the way.

There ain't no special dead. There's just dead.