30 Best Spy Game Quotes

Nathan: We didn't know when the Doc was going to be giving the Sheik his physical but it was our one and only opportunity to take him out. So I didn't have the usual time to butter him up. Which means we needed twice the sex with half the foreplay.

Tom: Fuck your rules, Nathan.
Nathan: Okay, but tonight they saved your life.

Troy: [re-enters the room looking faintly amused] There's been... an incident, in China.
Charles: [looks confused for a moment, then shocked as he realises that Muir has played them all] Oh, Jesus Christ.

Nathan: [while siting in a restaurant while every diner at every table and every restaurant employee] The man reading the menu. Threat?
Tom: [seeing the reflection of the image of the man through a metal dome watching the hostess] Only to the hostess.

Charles: [inside a CIA briefing room] We need the press on this like we need a third tit.
Nathan: [inside a CIA briefing room] You using the other two?

Gladys: [in Muir's office] Feeling a little paranoid on our last day?
Nathan: [in Muir's office] When did Noah build the ark Gladys? Before the rain.

Gladys: [in Muir's office] What is this about?
Nathan: [in Muir's office] Money. Free trade, microchips, toaster ovens.
Gladys: [in Muir's office] And what does that have to do with you?
Nathan: [to Gladys as he leaves the office] Nothing.

Tom: Vodka did me in, I'm comin' home.
Nathan: Throw out the bottle. They know.

Charles: Maybe the payoff went to
[peruses paper]
Charles: ... Digby Gibson, when you tipped off the press.
Nathan: Troy?
Troy: Leave Digger outta this! His paper's a front; he's MI6's man in Hong Kong!

Gladys: [over the phone] I've got Commander Wiley.
Nathan: [over the phone] Ok, connect us.
Commander: [over a satellite phone] Commander Wiley Sir. Package received, what's the verdict?
Nathan: [over a satellite phone] We're "on" for tonight.
Commander: [over a satellite phone] Roger sir, understand. Operation Dinner Out is a GO. Confirm.
Nathan: [over the phone] Correct, Dinner out is a go.
Dr. William Byars: [overhearing Muir's side of the phone connection while inside a CIA briefing room] Dinner Out is a go? Hell of a way to speak to your wife.
Vincent: [to Byars, while sitting next to him inside a CIA briefing room] Why do you think they keep dumping him.

Nathan: [continuing to train Tom, while both of them are walking on a street] Technology gets better everyday. That's fine. But most of the time all you need is a stick of gum, a pocket knife and a smile.

Anna: The Scotch is older than she is...
Nathan: Am I supposed to feel bad about that?

Nathan: [inside a CIA briefing room] When I was a kid I used to spend summers on my uncle's farm. And he had this plow horse he used to work with everyday. He really loved that plow horse. One summer she came up lame. It could barely stand. The vet offered to put her down. You know what my uncle said?
Charles: [inside a CIA briefing room] No, Muir, what did he say?
Nathan: [inside a CIA briefing room] He said, why would I ask somebody else to kill a horse that belonged to me?

Tom: She's just someone I used to get to the camp.
Nathan: She gonna be of any more use to us?
Tom: Not to us.

Nathan: You go off the reservation, I will not come after you.

Tom: [talking privately in a bar] I thought spies drank martinis.
Nathan: [talking privately in a bar] Scotch, never less than twelve years old.
Tom: [talking privately in a bar] Is that right? Agency rules?
Nathan: [talking privately in a bar] My rules.

Nathan: I take it you didn't get to be a marksman putting food on your mama's table.
Tom: No, sir. We have a Safeway back home.
Nathan: Where'd you leard to shoot?
Tom: Boy scouts, sir.
Nathan: What, are you kidding me?
Tom: No, sir.

Nathan: [after Muir ordered him to solicit information from an attractive female] You just gave her four pieces of personal information for one dubious impersonal fact.
Tom: Just trying to find out where she got that dress.

Tom: [giving Muir a liquor flask, while eating break at a café] Happy Birthday, Nathan. Did you know Langley has seven different birth dates for you?
Nathan: [while eating break at a café] And they're all wrong.
Tom: I know, believe me, it wasn't easy. KGB, Mossad, also wrong. Fortunately I was well trained.

Nathan: She had worked both ends against the middle for so long, the middle decided to give up and go home.

Robert: [inside a CIA briefing room] Patricia?
Nathan: [inside a CIA briefing room] Yeah, my third wife.
Dr. William Byars: [inside a CIA briefing room] My God, how many wives have you had?
Nathan: [inside a CIA briefing room] Four. You want to hear about them or Bishop?

Tom: Don't tell me that. Don't fucking tell me that. You didn't look in his eyes. Don't tell me that!
Nathan: He was your asset, somebody you use for information.
Tom: Ah, Jesus Christ, you just... You don't just trade these people like they're baseball cards! It's not a fucking game!
Nathan: Oh, yes it is. It's exactly what it is. And it's no kid's game either. This is a whole other game. And it's serious and it's dangerous. And it's not one you want to lose.
Tom: Nathan, we killed this man. We used him and we killed him. Okay, then you got to help me understand this one. You got... Nathan, what are we doing here? And don't give me some bullshit about the greater good.
Nathan: That's exactly what it's about. Because what we do is unfortunately very, very necessary. And if you're not willing to sacrifice scum like Schmidt for those that want nothing more than their freedom, then you better take a long hard look at your chosen profession my friend. Because it doesn't get any easier. You wanna walk? You wanna walk, walk.

Tom: So, when do I get my first assignment?
Nathan: When I decide you're ready.

Nathan: [to Duncan over the phone] If I'm walking into a shit storm I wanna know which way the wind's blowing.

Elizabeth: Fine, that's me. What about you. You can start small... your name?
Tom: You know my name.
Elizabeth: [harshly] Your name.
Tom: Terry
Elizabeth: Tell me your real name. Please.
Tom: Terry
Elizabeth: Gees, you're pathetic.

Tom: [talking privately on a stair case] Central Intelligence?
Nathan: [talking privately on a stair case] You'd be working for me. Mostly undercover.

Nathan: [referring to Tom taking the fall for their mistake] Troy, do you remember when we could tell the good guys from the bad guys?

Tom: [walking in on Nathan Muir shaving] My god, you're hideous! Why do you even bother?

Tom: Happy?
Nathan: Seventy-four casualties, an apartment block leveled, one dead terrorist? Yeah, happy.
Tom: We have some fucked up barometer for success, don't we?

Charles: [looking at Muir's wall with awards and commendation medals hung on them] If these walls could talk, huh. All this history, I envy you.
Nathan: Then bag your job, you can be just like me.
Charles: No, really. The debt this country owes you guys.
Nathan: Chuck, are you gonna dance with your hand on my ass all night or are you gonna make your move?