Marty Hart quotes from True Detective

There can be a burden in authority, in vigilance, like a father's burden. It was too much for some men. A smart guy who's steady is hard to find. I was all right, better than some, but, you know, I knew how to talk to people, and I was steady. Rust - now his Texas files were classified or redacted, and he wasn't big on talking except when you wanted him to shut up, but he was smart.

And I don’t hold grudges, I believe that’s the shit that leads to cancer.

Every time I think you've hit a ceiling, you, you keep raising the bar. You're like the Michael Jordan of being a son of a bitch.

Do you know the good years when you're in them, or do you just wait for them until you get ass cancer?

What always happens between men and women? Reality.

See, infidelity is one kind of sin, but my true failure was inattention.

A man's game charges a man's price. Take that away from this, if nothing else.

Hey. You better get those jumper cables ready, the motherfucker is lying.

You know, I've seen all the different types. We all fit a certain category - the bully, the charmer, the, uh, surrogate dad, the man possessed by ungovernable rage, the brain - and any of those types could be a good detective, and any of those types could be an incompetent shitheel.

Which type were you?

Oh, just a regular type dude... with a big ass dick.

Rust Cohle

People out here, they don't even know the outside world exists. Might as well be living on the fucking Moon.

There's all kinds of ghettos in the world.

Rust Cohle

It's all one ghetto man, giant gutter in outer space.

Rust Cohle

I'd consider myself a realist, alright? But in philosophical terms I'm what's called a pessimist.

Okay, what's that mean?

Rust Cohle

It means I'm bad at parties.

Let me tell you, you ain't great outside of parties either.

Rust Cohle

I think human consciousness is a tragic misstep in evolution. We became too self-aware. Nature created an aspect of nature separate from itself. We are creatures that should not exist by natural law.

Wow, that sounds God fucking awful, Rust.

We are things that labor under the illusion of having a self, this accretion of sensory experience and feelings, programmed with total assurance that we are each somebody, when in fact everybody's nobody.

I wouldn't go around spouting that shit if I was you. People around here don't think that way, I don't think that way.

I think the honorable thing for our species to do is deny our programming. Stop reproducing. Walk hand in hand into extinction. One last midnight, brothers and sisters opting out of a raw deal.

So, what's the point in getting out of bed in the morning?

Rust Cohle

I tell myself I bear witness, but the real answer is that it's obviously my programming. And I lack the constitution for suicide.

My luck, I picked today to get to know you and... three months I don't hear a word from you and...

Rust Cohle

You asked.

Yeah, and now I'm begging you to shut the fuck up.

Rust Cohle

This place is like somebody's memory of a town, and the memory is fading. It's like there was never anything here but jungle.

Stop saying shit like that. It's unprofessional.

[about Beth] That girl's not 18. Sheriff know you got underage workin' here?

What do you know about where that girl's been? Where she come from? You wanna know Beth's situation 'fore she ran out on her uncle?

There are other places she could go.

Such holy bullshit from you. It's a woman's body, ain't it? A woman's choice.

Well, she don't look like a woman to me. At that age she is not equipped to make those kinda choices. But I guess you don't give a shit what kind of damage she's doin' to herself as long as you're makin' your money.

Girls walk this Earth all the time screwin' for free. Why is it you add business to the mix and boys like you can't stand the thought? I'll tell you. It's cause suddenly you don't own it the way you thought you did.

[Gives money to Beth] Do something else.

Rust Cohle

That a down payment?

Is shitting on any moment of decency part of your job description?

What?

Rust Cohle

You wash up, you got some pussy on ya.

Key to a healthy marriage.

Rust Cohle

Oh, that's Maggie, huh?

Hey! What's with your fucking nose?

Rust Cohle

Nothing man, sorry, forget it.

I get a connotation being implied here... about my wife?

Rust Cohle

Are you saying that's your wife? That high tide you're walking in with?

[Angrily slams Rust into a locker] You got some idea how my wife's pussy is supposed to smell?

Rust Cohle

No, I just meant you're wearing the same clothes as you did yesterday. [slowly grabs Martin's wrists] Coupled with the fact that I ain't stupid. Wasn't making no comment as to the particularity of the scent.

You don't say fuck-all about my wife... don't say her name!

Rust Cohle

You got some self loathing to do this morning, that's fine, but it ain't worth losing your hands over.

How would that work exactly?

Rust Cohle

I'd just apply a couple of pounds of pressure. [tightens the grip on Martin's wrists] Snap your wrists. You're senior detective, think I'm lying?