It is 25 years since the first volume of "Watchmen", which many think is the greatest comic ever created hit bookshelves. Watchmen, a 12 issue series, written the legendary Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons was published between September 1986 and October 1987. It has since become to be considered as one of the greatest literary achievements ever. It was the only comic or in glossy marketing terms, graphic novel to be included in Time Magazine's All-time 100 Greatest Novels list.
The title is derived from the speech that JF Kennedy was scheduled to deliver on November 22, 1963. That never happened because he was assassinated on the same day. The speech goes like this: "We, in this country, in this generation, are -- by destiny rather than by choice -- the "watchmen" on the walls of world freedom. We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of "peace on earth, good will toward men." That must always be our goal, and the righteousness of our cause must always underlie our strength. For as was written long ago: "except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen waketh but in vain."" The full speech is archived here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/am
To mark the 25th Anniversary of Watchmen, I have compiled a list of the best quotes from each of the 12 volumes. Some are downright kick-ass one-liners while some are conversations. If you have not read Watchmen, you might not get what some quotes imply. I have excluded spoilers for those who have not read the book or seen the movie. But I implore you to read the book even if you have watched the film. Its freaking awesome. So without much ado, here's the Greatest Quotes from Watchmen:
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The streets are extended gutters and the gutters are full of blood and when the drains finally scab over, all the vermin will drown. The accumulated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout "save us!"... and I'll look down, and whisper "no".
- From Rorschach's journal, Watchmen Chapter I.
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"Used to come here often. Back when we were partners."
"Oh uh yeah.. yeah. Those were great times Rorschach! Great times. Whatever happened to them?"
"You quit."
- Watchmen Chapter I
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"Laurie, I'm 65. Every day the future looks a little bit darker. But the past, ever the grimy parts of it... well, it just keeps on getting brighter all the time."
-Sally Jupiter, Watchmen Chapter II
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Heard joke once. Man goes to Doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says "Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town. Go and see him. That should pick you up." Man bursts into tears. Says "But Doctor.. I am Pagliacci."
- From Rorschach's journal, Watchmen Chapter II.
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"Perhaps you'd best tell Ms. Juspeczyk and your superiors that I'm leaving"
"Leaving?"
"Yes, for Arizona first, I think, and then Mars."
- Watchmen Chapter III.
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She buys me a beer. The first time a woman has ever done this for me. As she passes me the cold, perspiring glass, our fingers touch..
It's 1963. We're making love after an argument, our tenderness in direct proportion to its violence..
It's 1966, and she's packing; tearful, careless with anger..
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It's September, 1961. John Kennedy is shaking my hand, asking what it's like to be a superhero. I tell him he should know and he nods, laughing..
Two years later, his head snaps forwards and then back. Two shots..
- Watchmen Chapter IV
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This city is an animal, to understand it I read its droppings, its scents, the movement of its parasites. I sat watching the trashcan, and New York opened its heart to me. -Rorschach's journal, Watchmen Chapter V
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"Well, who is he?"
"Who is he? This ugly little zero is the terror of the underworld.. and we're gonna lock him up with them. Its karma, man. Everything evens out eventually. Eveything balances."
- Watchmen Chapter V
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As they dragged him away, Rorschach spoke to the other inmates. He said "None of you understand. I'm not locked up in here with you. You're locked up in here with me."
- Notes of Dr. Malcom Long, Watchmen Chapter VI
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"We do not do this thing because it is permitted. We do it because we have to. We do it because we are compelled."
- Rorschach, Watchmen Chapter VI
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Meanwhile in Afghanistan, the fighting spreads.. As the conflict moves closer to its borders, Pakistan today called on the U.S. to intervene..
- abc news, Watchmen Chapter VII
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There is no such thing as quitting. Just sometimes there's a longer pause between relapses.
- Laural Juspeczyk, Watchmen Chapter VII
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"Hurm. Never disposed of sewage with toilet before. Obvious, really. Two-nothings"
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"Rorschach? Is that... ? Yes, yes it's you. Come on, man. We came to bust you out and we better hurry before, uh... Uh, we're not interrupting anything?"
"No. Excuse me. Have to visit men's room."
-Watchmen Chapter VIII
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"This is where we hold our conversation. It commences when you surprise me with the information that you and Dreiberg have been sleeping together."
"Y.. you know about me and Dan?"
"No. Not yet. But in a few moments you are going to tell me."
-Watchmen Chapter IX
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"In each human coupling, a thousand million eggs vie for a single egg. Multiply those odds by countless generations, against the odds of your ancestors being alive; meeting; siring this precise son; that exact daughter... Until your mother loves a man she has every reason to hate, and of that union, of the thousand million children competing for fertilization, it was you, only you, that emerged."
-Dr. Manhattan, Watchmen Chapter IX
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"Some of us have always lived on the edge, Daniel. It is possible to survive there if you observe the rules: Just hang on by fingernails... and never look down."
- Rorschach, Watchmen Chapter X
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"You're ignoring the subtext: incresed sexual imagery even in the candy ads. It implies an erotic undercurrent not uncommon in times of war. Remember the baby boom..."
"So, should we buy into... uh...?"
"Into major erotic video companies. Thats short term. Also we should negotiate controlling shares in selected baby food and maternity goods manufacturers."
-Watchmen Chapter X
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"Ever read JFK's intnded speech?" "'We in this country, in this generation, are by destiny, rather than choice, the watchmen on the walls of world freedom.'"
-Adrian Veidt, Watchmen Chapter XI
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"Rorschach...? Rorschach, wait! Where are you going? This is too big to be hard-assed about! We have to compromise..."
"No. Not even in the face of armageddon. Never compromise."
-Watchmen Chapter XII
