David Lynch: 10 Most Iconic Quotes From All His Films, Ranked

David Lynch is one of the most divisive and innovative directors in cinema history. Some people love his work, while others find it tedious and impossible to decipher. However, no matter what people think of him, there is no doubt that David Lynch has had a significant impact on film history, from his early films, like Eraserhead and The Elephant Man to Twin Peaks, his highly-popular foray into television.

Lynch is also well-known for his fascinating (and occasionally controversial) scripts. Unlike many other film directors, David Lynch has never been afraid to include dialogue that embraces the trippy and surreal. So, to get better understanding of the man behind the camera, let’s take a look at the 10 most iconic quotes from all his films, ranked.

10 “In Heaven, everything is fine. In Heaven, everything is fine. You’ve got your good things. And I’ve got mine.” – Lady in the Radiator

In Eraserhead, Lynch’s surreal and often disturbing directorial debut, the protagonist (Henry Spencer) begins a relationship with woman, who bears him a grotesque, alien-like child. As Henry attempts to care for the creature, he has visions of the Lady in the Radiator, who sings songs while stomping on similar creatures. The lyrics of her songs sound uplifting but are quite melancholic when juxtaposed with Henry’s strange world.

9 “We’ve met before, haven’t we?” – Mystery Man

Lost Highway tells the story of a musician, Fred Madison, who is seemingly being watched in his home. While attending a party, Fred is approached by a “Mystery Man.”

The Mystery Man claims that they have met before, though Fred has no recollection. Then, the Mystery Man claims to be in Fred’s house at that very moment. This creepy sequence is one of the most iconic and unsettling moments in all of Lynch’s films.

8 “I can’t seem to remember if it’s today, two days from now, or yesterday. I suppose if it was 9:45, I’d think it was after midnight!” – The Neighbor

David Lynch is known for including characters whose behavior is strange to the point of being absolutely terrifying. In Inland Empire, an actress (Nikki Grace) begins to transform into the character she plays in her latest film, with strange and nightmarish results. Her neighbor is perhaps the most frightening character in the film, offering Nikki bizarre advice and premonitions.

7 “There are consequences to one’s actions. And there certainly would be consequences to wrong actions. Dark they would be, and inescapable.” – Piotrek Krol

Inland Empire is full of memorable quotes, many of which come from Nikki’s controlling husband, Piotrek Krol. Known as an extremely powerful man, Piotrek is feared by many of those in the film industry. Piotrek also knows this, and uses this power to keep control over Nikki. In the quote above, Piotrek exhibits his own dark nature, as well as his ability to punish those that he does not like.

6 “This whole world is wild at heart and weird on top.” – Lula Pace Fortune

Wild at Heart follows Sailor Ripley and Lula Pace Fortune, two young lovers on the run from a group of gangsters and Lula’s own mother. The film has many allusions to The Wizard of Oz, and much like Dorothy, the pair encounter many strange characters along the way. Wild at Heart is perfectly summarized in this iconic observation by Lula Pace Fortune.

5 “Did I ever tell ya that this here jacket represents a symbol of my individuality and my belief in personal freedom?” – Sailor Ripley

Like many “road movies,” Wild at Heart is ultimately about the freedom to live life to the fullest. Both Sailor and Lula just want to be together and escape the trappings of their lives. While the quote above is somewhat comical in its original context, it also reflects the underlying purpose of their journey.

4 “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.” – Paul Atreides

While Dune has since become a cult classic, it was originally met some skepticism. Nonetheless, this sci-fi masterpiece is based on the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert.

In the film, Paul Atreides finds himself embroiled in a dispute over the planet Dune, which is the sole source of the extremely valuable drug known as “Milange.”

3 “My life is full because I know I am loved.” – John Merrick

Based on the life of John Merrick (sometimes cited as “Joseph Merrick”), The Elephant Man is one of Lynch’s most straightforward and poignant films. It also contains some of the most iconic movie quotes of all time. Despite his deformities, John Merrick found peace and love among his close friends.

2 “I am not an elephant! I am not an animal! I am a human being! I am a man!” – John Merrick

In The Elephant Man, when a group of young boys start taunting Merrick at a train station, he accidentally knocks over a young girl while trying to flee. This prompts a crowd to remove Merrick’s head covering and chase him down, cornering him in a public restroom. In a moment of desperation and shame, Merrick shouts at the crowd before collapsing in exhaustion.

1 “People are frightened by what they don’t understand.” – John Merrick

This quote perfectly summarizes the life of John Merrick in The Elephant Man. The people of London gawk and stare, disgusted by Merrick’s unfortunate disfigurement. With the exception of Dr. Frederick Treves and a group of close acquaintances, no one takes the time to go get to know Merrick or show him any affection. Instead, they treat him as a disgusting circus freak who should be shunned from polite society.

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Matthew Jones
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Matthew Jones is a freelance writer who specializes in film theory and analysis. If you’d like to see more of Matthew’s writing, check out his blog at Philosophy in Film.

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