Full Metal Jacket Quotes

Full Metal Jacket is one of the most quotable movies of all time, so putting together a site about "Full Metal Jacket quotes" was quite an undertaking. We think you'll enjoy the results though. We've tried to split the site up into categories of quotations that made sense, but there was a lot of overlap.

Just added: Read our review of Full Metal Jacket. Also, check out our hand-selected list of links to essays and web pages about Full Metal Jacket.

Quotes from Full Metal Jacket

Quotes from Full Metal Jacket consist mostly of quotes from the R. Lee Ermey character, Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, and the Matthew Modine character, Private Joker. So we have sections for quotes from both characters.

Full Metal Jacket - R. Lee Ermey Quotes

The most memorable quotes from Full Metal Jacket, for me, are the ones from R. Lee Ermey as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. With this role, Ermey created the template for every movie drill instructor to come.

I'm Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, your senior drill instructor, from now on you will speak only when spoken to, and the first and the last word out of your filthy sewers will be "Sir". Do you maggots understand that?

If you ladies leave my island, if you survive recruit training, you will be a weapon. You will be a minister of death praying for war.

God was here before the Marine Corps. So you can give your heart to Jesus, but your ass belongs to the Corps!

Where is your honor, dirtbag? You are an absolute disgrace!

I'm going to rip your balls off, so you can not contaminate the rest of the world!

Bullshit I can't hear you. Sound off like you got a pair!

Bullshit. It looks to me like the best part of you ran down the crack of your mama's ass and ended up as a brown stain on the mattress.

What is your major malfunction, numbnuts? Didn't Mommy and Daddy show you enough attention when you were a child?

You are pukes. You are the lowest form of life on Earth. You are not even human fucking beings. You are nothing but unorganized grabastic pieces of amphibian shit!

I'm asking the fucking questions here Private. Do you understand?

Because I am hard you will not like me. But the more you hate me the more you will learn. I am hard but I am fair. There is no racial bigotry here. I do not look down on niggers, kikes, wops or greasers. Here you are all equally worthless.

My orders are to weed out all non-hackers who do not pack the gear to serve in my beloved Corps. Do you maggots understand that?

Private Pyle has dishonored himself and dishonored the platoon. I have tried to help him. But I have failed. I have failed because YOU have not helped me. YOU people, have not given Private Pyle the proper motivation! So, from now on, whenever Private Pyle fucks up, I will not punish him! I will punish all of YOU! And the way I see it ladies, you owe me for one jelly doughnut! Now, get down on your faces!

Today...is Christmas! There will be a magic show at zero-nine-thirty! Chaplain Charlie will tell you about how the free world will conquer Communism with the aid of God and a few Marines! God has a hard-on for Marines because we kill everything we see! He plays His games, we play ours! To show our appreciation for so much power, we keep heaven packed with fresh souls!

You will give your rifle a girl's name because this is the only pussy you people are going to get. Your days of finger-banging ol' Mary J. Rottencrotch through her pretty pink panties are over.

Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Did your parents have any children that lived?
Private Gomer Pyle: Sir, Yes, sir.
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: I bet they regret that? You're so ugly you can be a modern art master piece! What's your name fat body?
Private Gomer Pyle: Sir, Leonard Lawrence, sir.
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Lawrence? Lawrence what... of Arabia?
Private Gomer Pyle: Sir, No, sir.
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: That name sounds like royalty. Are you royalty?
Private Gomer Pyle: Sir, No, sir.
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Do you suck dicks?
Private Gomer Pyle: Sir, No, sir.
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Bullshit. I bet you could suck a golf ball through a garden hose.
Private Gomer Pyle: Sir, No, sir.
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: I don't like the name Lawrence, only faggots and sailors are called Lawrence. From now on you're Gomer Pyle.
Private Gomer Pyle: Sir, Yes, sir.

Full Metal Jacket Quotes - "Queers and Steers"

The Full Metal Jacket quote about "queers and steers" was always one of my friends' favorites.

Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Where you from, Private Snowball?
Private Gomer Pyle: Texas
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Holy shit, Texas! The only things from Texas are steers and queers and you don't look like a steer to me.

Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: How tall are you, private?
Private Cowboy: Sir, five-foot-nine, sir.
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Five-foot-nine, I didn't know they stacked shit that high.

Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Private Joker, do you believe in the Virgin Mary?
Private Joker: Sir, no, sir!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Well, well, Private Joker, I don't believe I heard you correctly!
Private Joker: Sir, the private said "no, sir," sir!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Why you little maggot, you make me want to vomit!
[slaps Joker]
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: You Goddamn communist heathen, you had best sound off that you love the Virgin Mary, or I'm gonna stomp your guts out! Now you DO love the Virgin Mary, don't ya?
Private Joker: Sir, negative, sir!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Private Joker, are you trying to offend me?
Private Joker: Sir, negative, sir! Sir, the private believes any answer he gives will be wrong and the Senior Drill Instructor will only beat him harder if he reverses himself, sir!

Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Are you shook up? Are you nervous?
Private Cowboy: Sir, I am, sir.
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Do I make you nervous?
Private Cowboy: Sir?
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: "Sir" what? Were you about to call me an asshole?

[Referring to Lee Harvey Oswald and mass murderer Charles Whitman]
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Do any of you people know where these individuals learned how to shoot?... Private Joker.
Private Joker: Sir. In the Marines, Sir.
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: In the Marines. Outstanding. Those individuals showed what one motivated Marine and his rifle can do. And before you ladies leave my Island, you will all be able to do the same thing.

[Marching Song]
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: I don't know but I been told...
Marines: I don't know but I been told...
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Eskimo pussy is mighty cold.
Marines: Eskimo pussy is mighty cold.
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: MMM, good...
Marines: MMM, good...
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Tastes good...
Marines: Tastes Good...
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Feels Good.
Marines: Feels good.

Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: [singing] I don't want no teenage queen!
Marines: [singing] I don't want no teenage queen!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: [singing] I just want my M-14!
Marines: [singing] I just want my M-14!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: [singing] If I die in the combat zone...
Marines: [singing] If I die in the combat zone...
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: [singing] Box me up and ship me home!
Marines: [singing] Box me up and ship me home!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: [singing] Pin my medals up on my chest!
Marines: [singing] Pin my medals up on my chest!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: [singing] Tell my mom I've Done my best!
Marines: [singing] Tell my mom I've Done my best!

Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: [singing] Mama and Papa were laying in bed!
Marines: [singing] Mama and Papa were laying in bed!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: [singing] Mama rolled over this is what she said
Marines: [singing] Mama rolled over this is what she said
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: [singing] 'Oh, give me some...
Marines: [singing] 'Oh, give me some...
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: [singing] 'Oh, give me some...
Marines: [singing] 'Oh, give me some...
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: P.T.
Marines: P.T.
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Good for you
Marines: Good for you
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Good for me!
Marines: Good for me!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Mmm, good!
Marines: Mmm, good!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: [singing] Up in the morning to the rising sun!
Marines: [singing] Up in the morning to the rising sun!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: [singing] Gotta run all day... till the running's done!
Marines: [singing] Gotta run all day... till the running's done!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Ho Chi Minh is a son of a bitch!
Marines: Ho Chi Minh is a son of a bitch!
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Got the blueballs, crabs and the seven-year itch!
Marines: Got the blueballs, crabs and the seven-year itch!

Full Metal Jacket - Private Joker Quotes

Private Joker is arguably the main character in the movie, so it's natural that he would have a lot of lines. These "Private Joker quotes" are the ones we thought were most memorable.

Private Joker: Are those...live rounds?
Private Gomer Pyle: Seven-six-two millimeter. Full. Metal. Jacket.

The dead know only one thing: it's better to be alive. - Private Joker

Graduation is only a few days away, and the Marines of Platoon 3092 are salty. They are ready to eat their own guts and ask for seconds. The drill instructors are proud to see that we are growing beyond their control. The Marine Corps does not want robots. The Marine Corps wants killers. The Marine Corps wants to build indestructible men, men without fear. - Private Joker

I wanted to see exotic Vietnam...the crown jewel of Southeast Asia. I wanted to meet interesting and stimulating people of an ancient culture...and kill them. I wanted to be the first kid on my block to get a confirmed kill! - Private Joker

A day without blood is like a day without sunshine. - Private Joker

Private Joker: I wanna slip my tube steak into your sister. What'll you take in trade?
Private Cowboy: What do you got?

Da Nang Hooker: Hey, baby. You got girlfriend Vietnam?
Private Joker: Not just this minute.
Da Nang Hooker: Well, baby, me so horny. Me so horny. Me love you long time. You party?

Private Joker: Fifteen dollars for both of us?
Da Nang Hooker: No. Each you fifteen dollar. Me love you long time. Me so horny.
Private Joker: Fifteen dollar too beaucoup. Five dollars each.
Da Nang Hooker: Me sucky-sucky. Me love you too much.
Private Joker: Five dollars is all my mom allows me to spend.
Da Nang Hooker: Okay. Ten dollar each.
Private Joker: What do we get for ten dollars?
Da Nang Hooker: Every t'ing you want.
Private Joker: Everything?
Da Nang Hooker: Every t'ing.
Private Joker: [to Rafterman] Well, old buddy, feel like spending some of your hard-earned money?

Private Cowboy: Don't shit me, man!
Private Joker: I wouldn't shit you. You're my favorite turd!

Private Joker: Leonard, if Hartman finds us here, we'll be in a world of shit.
Private Gomer Pyle: I am...in a world...of shit.

Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Who said that? Who the fuck said that! Who's the slimy little communist shit, twinkle-toed cocksucker down here who just signed his own death warrant? Nobody huh? The fairy fucking godmother said it. Out-fuck-ing-standing. I WILL PT YOU ALL UNTIL YOU ****ING DIE! I WILL PT YOU UNTIL YOU'RE *******S ARE SUCKING BUTTERMILK! Was it you, you scroungy little **** HUH?
Private Cowboy: Sir, no sir
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: You little piece of shit. You look like a fucking worm I'll bet it was you.
Private Joker: Sir, I said it sir.
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: Well, no shit. What do we got here a fucking comedian. Well I admire your honesty. Hell, I like you, you can come over to my house and fuck my sister. (punch). You little scumbag.

Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: What is this Mickey Mouse shit? What are you two animals doing in my beloved head? Why is Private Pyle out of his bunk after lights out? Why is Private Pyle holding that weapon? Why are you not stomping Private Pyle's guts out?
Private Joker: Sir, it is the private's duty to inform the senior drill instructor that Private Pyle has a full magazine that is locked and loaded, Sir!

Private Joker: Is that you, John Wayne? Is this me?
Private Cowboy: Hey, start the cameras. This is "Vietnam - the Movie."
Private Eightball: Yeah, Joker can be John Wayne. I'll be a horse.
Donlon: T.H.E. Rock can be a rock.
T.H.E. Rock: I'll be Ann-Margret.
Doc Jay: Animal Mother can be a rabid buffalo.
Crazy Earl: I'll be General Custer.
Private Rafterman: Well, who'll be the Indians?
Animal Mother: Hey, we'll let the gooks play the Indians.

Door Gunner: Git some! Git some! Git some, yeah, yeah, yeah! Anyone who runs, is a VC. Anyone who stands still, is a well-disciplined VC! You guys oughta do a story about me sometime!
Private Joker: Why should we do a story about you?
Door Gunner: 'Cuz I'm so fuckin' good! I done got me 157 dead gooks killed. Plus 50 water buffalo too! Them's all confirmed!
Private Joker: Any women or children?
Door Gunner: Sometimes!
Private Joker: How can you shoot women or children?
Door Gunner: Easy! Ya just don't lead 'em so much! Ain't war hell?

Private Cowboy: Tough break for Hand Job. He was all set to get shipped out on a medical.
Private Joker: What was the matter with him?
Private Cowboy: He was jerkin' off ten times a day.
Private Eightball: No shit. At least ten times a day.
Private Cowboy: Last week he was sent down to Da Nang to see the Navy head shrinker, and the crazy fucker starts jerking off in the waiting room. Instant Section Eight. He was just waiting for his papers to clear division.

Pogue Colonel: Marine, what is that button on your body armor?
Private Joker: A peace symbol, sir.
Pogue Colonel: Where'd you get it?
Private Joker: I don't remember, sir.
Pogue Colonel: What is that you've got written on your helmet?
Private Joker: "Born to Kill", sir.
Pogue Colonel: You write "Born to Kill" on your helmet and you wear a peace button. What's that supposed to be, some kind of sick joke?
Private Joker: No, sir.
Pogue Colonel: You'd better get your head and your ass wired together, or I will take a giant shit on you.
Private Joker: Yes, sir.
Pogue Colonel: Now answer my question or you'll be standing tall before the man.
Private Joker: I think I was trying to suggest something about the duality of man, sir.
Pogue Colonel: The what?
Private Joker: The duality of man. The Jungian thing, sir.
Pogue Colonel: Whose side are you on, son?
Private Joker: Our side, sir.
Pogue Colonel: Don't you love your country?
Private Joker: Yes, sir.
Pogue Colonel: Then how about getting with the program? Why don't you jump on the team and come on in for the big win?
Private Joker: Yes, sir.
Pogue Colonel: Son, all I've ever asked of my Marines is that they obey my orders as they would the word of God. We are here to help the Vietnamese, because inside every gook there is an American trying to get out. It's a hardball world, son. We've gotta keep our heads until this peace craze blows over.

Full Metal Jacket Movie Quotes

Full Metal Jacket movie quotes aren't limited to just quotes from 2 characters, although you could limit yourself to just Joker and Hartman if you wanted to and still have an entertaining collection. Here are some movie quotes from some of the other characters.

These are great days we're living, bros. We are jolly green giants, walking the Earth with guns. These people we wasted here today are the finest human beings we will ever know. After we rotate back to the world, we're gonna miss not having anyone around that's worth shooting. - Crazy Earl

Full Metal Jacket - Memorable Quotes

Most of the Full Metal Jacket memorable quotes came from R. Lee Ermey, whose delivery probably had more to do with their memorable quality than anything else. I've heard rumors that he improv'd quite a few of those lines. But Private Cowboy has a couple of memorable lines too, as seen below:

I think what she's trying to say is that you black boys pack too much meat. - Private Cowboy

You know there's not a single horse in the entire country of Vietnam? There's definitely something wrong with that. - Private Cowboy

Famous Quotes from Full Metal Jacket

The most famous quotes from Full Metal Jacket come from Hartman and Joker, but Eightball and Animal Mother have some famous lines too.

Personally, I think, uh... they don't really want to be involved in this war. You know, I mean... they sort of took away our freedom and gave it to the, to the gookers, you know. But they don't want it. They'd rather be alive than free, I guess. Poor dumb bastards. - Private Eightball

Freedom? You'd better flush out your head, new guy. This isn't about freedom; this is a slaughter. If I'm gonna get my balls blown off for a word, my word is "poontang". - Animal Mother

What we have here, little yellow sister, is a magnificent specimen of pure Alabama Blacksnake. But it ain't too goddamned beau coup. - Private Eightball

Animal Mother: You a photographer?
Private Joker: I'm a combat correspondent.
Animal Mother: Well, you seen much combat?
Private Joker: I've seen a little on TV.
Animal Mother: You're a real comedian.
Private Joker: Well they call me the Joker.
Animal Mother: Well I got a joke for you. I'm gonna tear you a new asshole.

Full Metal Jacket Quotes - "This is My Rifle"

I had a friend in high school who joined the Marines. For Full Metal Jacket quotes, "This is my rifle..." were his favorites.

This is my rifle. There are many like it but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me, my rifle is useless. Without my rifle I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy, who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will. Before God I swear this creed: my rifle and myself are defenders of my country, we are the masters of our enemy, we are the saviors of my life. So be it, until there is no enemy, but peace. Amen. - Marines (praying)

Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: [chanting] This is my rifle.
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: [grabbing his crotch] This is my gun.
Marines: This is for fighting.
Marines: [grabbing their crotches] This is for fun.