The Shawshank Redemption: 19 Unforgettable Quotes

Last updated on Oct 26th, 2023

The Shawshank Redemption: 19 Unforgettable Quotes

Andy Dufresne is a quiet banker convicted to two life sentences for the murder of his wife and her lover. In prison, he befriends inmate Ellis “Red” Redding and starts a money laundering operation led by the prison warden Samuel Norton.

The Shawshank Redemption is not just a film about prison but about human perseverance and the spirit that survives under various challenges. It’s also about justice, injustice, quiet revenge, and hope.

Decades after its premiere, the film is still popular and broadcast regularly.

After all, a rock, a hammer, a Bible, and a poster are enough to keep dreams alive.

In the honor of Andy and Red’s friendship, we have chosen 19 memorable quotes from the film.

I-believe-in-two-things.-Discipline-and-the-Bible.-Here-you will-receive-both.
1

I believe in two things. Discipline and the Bible. Here you’ll receive both. Put your trust in the Lord. Your ass belongs to me. Welcome to Shawshank.Warden Norton

I-could-see-why-some-of-the-boys-took-him-for-snobby.
2

I could see why some of the boys took him for snobby. He had a quiet way about him. A walk and a talk that just wasn’t normal around here. He strolled like a man in a park, without a care or worry in the world. Like he had on an invisible coat that would shield him from this place. Yeah. I think it would be fair to say… I liked Andy from the start.Ellis Redding

Prison-is-no-fairy-tale-world.
3

Prison is no fairy-tale world.Ellis Redding

Salvation-lies-within.
4

Salvation lies within.Warden Norton

These-walls-are-funny.-First-you-hate-them,-then-you-get-used-to-them.
5

These walls are funny. First you hate them, then you get used to them. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. That’s institutionalized.Ellis Redding

The-world-went-and-got-itself-in-a-big-damn-hurry.
6

The world went and got itself in a big damn hurry.Brooks Hatlen

I-have-no-idea-to-this-day-what-those-two-Italian-ladies-were-singing-about.
7

I have no idea to this day what those two Italian ladies were singing about. Truth is, I don’t wanna know. Some things are best left unsaid. I’d like to think they were singing about something so beautiful it can’t be expressed in words, and it makes your heart ache because of it. I tell you those voices soared, higher and farther than anybody in a grey place dares to dream. It was like some beautiful bird flapped into our drab little cage and made these walls dissolve away, and for the briefest of moments, every last man in Shawshank felt free.Ellis Redding

That is-the-beauty-of-music.-They-cant-get-that-from-you.
8

That’s the beauty of music. They can’t get that from you.Andy Dufresne

Hope-is-a-dangerous-thing.-Hope-can-drive-a-man-insane.
9

Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.Ellis Redding

The-funny-thing-is,-on-the-outside,-I-was-an-honest-man,-straight-as-an-arrow.
10

The funny thing is, on the outside, I was an honest man, straight as an arrow. I had to come to prison to be a crook.Andy Dufresne

You-know-what-the-Mexicans-say-about-the-Pacific-They-say-it-has-no-memory.
11

You know what the Mexicans say about the Pacific? They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory.Andy Dufresne

Get-busy-living-or-get-busy-dying.
12

Get busy living or get busy dying.Andy Dufresne

Every-man-has-his-breaking-point.
13

Every man has his breaking point.Ellis Redding

It is-a-miracle!-Man-up-and-vanished-like-a-fart-in-the-wind!
14

Lord! It’s a miracle! Man up and vanished like a fart in the wind!Warden Norton

Geology-is-the-study-of-pressure-and-time.-That is-all-it-takes,-really.
15

Geology is the study of pressure and time. That’s all it takes, really. Pressure and time. That and a big goddamn poster.Ellis Redding

Andy-Dufresne,-who-crawled-through-a-river-of-shit
16

Andy Dufresne, who crawled through a river of s*** and came out clean on the other side.Ellis Redding

Some-birds-arent-meant-to-be-caged.-Their-feathers-are-just-too-bright
17

Some birds aren’t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright and when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up does rejoice, but still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty now that they’re gone.Ellis Redding

Hope-is-a-good-thing,-maybe-the-best-of-things,-and-no-good-thing-ever-dies.
18

Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.Andy Dufresne

I-find-Im-so-excited-I-can-barely-sit-still-or-hold-a-thought-in-my-head.
19

I find I’m so excited I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it is the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend, and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.Ellis Redding