“Hail the Conquering Hero” quotes

“If I could reach as high as my father's shoestrings, my whole life would be justified - and I would stand here before you proudly instead of as the thief and the coward that I am.”

Eddie Bracken - Woodrow Truesmith

“Smile and the world smiles with you. Frown and you frown alone.”

George Anderson - Bartender

“I've seen a lot of brave men in my life - that's my business. But what that kid just done took real courage.”

William Demarest - Sgt. Heffelfinger

“Politics is a very peculiar thing, Woodrow. If they want you, they want you. They don't need reasons anymore... they find their own reasons. It's just like when a girl wants a man.”

Harry Hayden - Doc Bissell

“They say opportunity's only got one hair on his head and you gotta grab it while it's going by and dog it down or you mightn't get another chance.”
William Demarest - Sgt. Heffelfinger

“- Sgt. Heppelfinger: That's right. Faithful to your mother.
- Woodrow Truesmith: It doesn't mean faithful to your mother at all. It means faithful to the Marines.”

William Demarest - Sgt. Heffelfinger
Eddie Bracken - Woodrow Truesmith

“That's one of the weaknesses of the military viewpoint: doesn't always recognize the importance of civilians in wartime.”

Harry Hayden - Doc Bissell

“I accept the responsibility with a sense of both humility, satisfaction and gratitude.”

Raymond Walburn - Mayor Everett J. Noble

- Sgt. Heppelfinger: A Marine never hides. That's what Semper Fidelis means: it means "Face the music".
- Woodrow Truesmith: It does not. It happens to mean "Always faithful".
William Demarest - Sgt. Heffelfinger
Eddie Bracken - Woodrow Truesmith

“- Town Councilman: Let's get down to business. The trouble with our party is everybody talks too long all the time.
- Doc Bissell: That's the trouble with all parties.”
Franklyn Farnum - Town Councilman
Harry Hayden - Doc Bissell