86 'Glengarry Glen Ross' Quotes for Workaholics and Coffee Lovers Alike

Although it didn't bring in the money, the movie "Glengarry Glen Ross" was acclaimed and remains popular today. With a wonderful cast, excellent writing, and snappy dialogue, it's a great watch for anyone who enjoys crime drama. Read these 86 quotes to get a taste of its award-winning medicine.

The film "Glengarry Glen Ross" was based on a Pultizer-winning two-act play of the same name. While the play was published in the early 1980s, the film adaptation was only released in 1992. It had a cast of big names such as Kevin Spacey, lan Arkin, Ed Harris, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, and the iconic Al Pacino.

The movie follows a group of real estate salesmen who compete aggressively against one another when they discover that most of them will be fired unless they perform at their absolute peak.

The term "coffee is for closers" has become synonymous with the film as a representation of this cutthroat focus on working extremely hard. Ethan E. Rocke expanded on this idea in "Coffee or Die Magazine." He reported that the comedy writer David Wong saw this one-liner as a representation of the promise of the American Dream. This is essentially the idea that those who work until they drop receive and deserve rewards, which in this case, is coffee.

Make your own observations of this movie and its coffee-crazed workaholics by reading the following 86 quotes.

Shelley Levene's quote: "Coffee is for closers." | Image: AmoDays

Shelley Levene: Quotes from a Talkaholic

"I got my balls back, and, you know, John, you have the advantage on me now. Whatever it takes to make it right, we'll make it right. We're going to make it right." — Shelley Levene

"A man is his job." — Shelley Levene

"What Roma was trying to tell you—what I told you a long time ago—you don't belong in this business." — Shelley Levene

"You do get the opportunities, you get it as I get it, as everybody gets it." — Shelley Levene

"If you're gonna make something up, John, be sure that it helps. Or keep your mouth shut. I'm done with you." — Shelley Levene

Shelley Levene's quote: "If you can't think on your feet, you should keep your mouth closed." | Image: AmoDays

"Did you tell 'em about my sale?" — Shelley Levene

"Coffee is for closers." — Shelley Levene

"Listen to me now. Your partner depends on you. Your partner, the man who is your partner, depends on you, and you go with him and for him." — Shelley Levene

"The leads are weak." — Shelley Levene

"I'm telling you—the one thing you can tell them is that it's a remarkable sale." — Shelley Levene

Shelley Levene's quote: "A man is his job." | Image: AmoDays

"Can't learn it enough, got to learn on the streets. You can't buy it. You gotta live it." — Shelley Levene

"You do not know your job. That's what I'm saying." — Shelley Levene

"Williamson! Williamson! Put me on the board! Put me on the Cadillac board!" — Shelley Levene

"It's better than a good sale. It's…" — Shelley Levene

"If you can't think on your feet, you should keep your mouth closed." — Shelley Levene

Shelley Levene's quote: "Can't learn it enough, got to learn on the streets. You can't buy it. You gotta live it." | Image: AmoDays

Richard Roma: Quotes from a Cutthroat Salesman

"They say that it was so hot in the city today, grown men were walking up to cops on street corners begging them to shoot them." — Richard Roma

"I come back, and you can't even keep the contract safe!" — Richard Roma

"They stole the leads, they stole the phones, they stole the, uh—Christ, what am I going to do this month?" — Richard Roma

"You're a good man. You just hit a bad streak." — Richard Roma

"Lingk puts me over the top. You filed it. It went downtown. Now, you owe me the car." — Richard Roma

Richard Roma's quote: "Thieves always tell the truth, George; it's the easiest thing to remember." | Image: AmoDays

"In any case, I gotta argue with you. I gotta knock heads with the cops. I'm busting my balls. Sell your dirt to deadbeats." — Richard Roma

"Anyone in this office lives on his wits." — Richard Roma

"I say this is how we must act. I do those things which seem correct to me today. I trust myself, and if security concerns me, I do that, which today I think will make me secure. And every day I do that when that day arrives that I need a reserve—odds are that I have it, and the true reserve that I have is the strength that I have of acting each day without fear, according to the dictates of my mind." — Richard Roma

"Money in the mattress." — Richard Roma

"There's an absolute morality? Maybe." — Richard Roma

Richard Roma's quote: "I subscribe to the law of contrary public opinion: if everyone thinks one thing, then I say, bet the other way." | Image: AmoDays

"Yes. You know who doesn't?" — Richard Roma

"Patel? Ravadem Patel? How am I gonna make a livin' on these deadbeats? Where did you get this one? From the morgue?" — Richard Roma

"Three? No, I count two." — Richard Roma

"What you're hired for is to help us... does that seem clear to you? To help us, not to... [expletive] us up... to help those who are going out there to try to earn a living." — Richard Roma

"Whoever told you that you could work with men? Oh, I'm gonna have your job..." — Richard Roma

Richard Roma's quote: "There's an absolute morality? Maybe." | Image: AmoDays

"You never open your mouth until you know what the shot is." — Richard Roma

"Thieves always tell the truth, George; it's the easiest thing to remember." — Richard Roma

"You know how long it took me to get there? A long time." — Richard Roma

"I'm waiting for the new leads." — Richard Roma

"Bad people go to hell? I don't think so. If you think that, act that way. A hell exists on earth? Yes. I won't live in it. That's me." — Richard Roma

Richard Roma's quote: "What I'm saying — what is our life? Our life is looking forward, or it's looking back — that's it. That's our life. Where's the moment? And what is it we're so afraid of?" | Image: AmoDays

"How can I be secure? Through amassing wealth beyond all measure? No. And what's beyond measure? That's a sickness. That's a trap. There is no measure. Only greed." — Richard Roma

"You get befuddled by a middle-class morality? Get shut of it. Shut it out. You cheat on your wife? You did it, live with it." — Richard Roma

"I subscribe to the law of contrary public opinion: if everyone thinks one thing, then I say, bet the other way." — Richard Roma

"What I'm saying—what is our life? Our life is looking forward, or it's looking back—that's it. That's our life. Where's the moment? And what is it we're so afraid of?" — Richard Roma

Richard Roma's quote: "How can I be secure? Through amassing wealth beyond all measure? No. And what's beyond measure? That's a sickness. That's a trap. There is no measure. Only greed." | Image: AmoDays

"I don't have to eat this month, great. Give it to me. Bring them. Come on." — Richard Roma

"When you die, you're going to regret the things you don't do." — Richard Roma

Blake: Quotes from a Macho Man

"You can't play in the man's game; you can't close them... then go home and tell your wife your troubles. Because only one thing counts in this life: Get them to sign on the line which is dotted. You hear me...?" — Blake

"You're weak! I've been in this business 15 years..." — Blake

"You got the prospects coming in. You think they came in to get out of the rain?" — Blake

Blake's quote: "ABC. A - Always. B- Be. C - Closing. Always Be Closing." | Image: AmoDays

"You want to know what it takes to sell real estate? It takes brass balls to sell real estate." — Blake

"Put that coffee down! Coffee is for closers only." — Blake

"The bad news is you've got—all you got—just one week to regain your jobs, starting tonight. Starting with tonight's sit." — Blake

"These are the new leads. These are the Glengarry leads. To you, these are gold; you do not get these. Because to give them to you would be throwing them away." — Blake

"[goes up to Moss's desk and glares at him] And to answer your question, pal, why am I here? I came here because Mitch and Murray asked me to. They asked me for a favor. I said the real favor, follow my advice and fire your [expletive] because a loser is a loser!" — Blake

Blake's quote: "You certainly don't, pal, 'cause the good news is, you're fired." | Image: AmoDays

"ABC. A - Always. B- Be. C - Closing. Always Be Closing." — Blake

"Your name's Levene? You call yourself a salesman...?" — Blake

"Let's talk about something important. They all here?" — Blake

"You certainly don't, pal, 'cause the good news is, you're fired." — Blake

"I'm here on a mission of mercy!" — Blake

Blake's quote: "That watch costs more than you car. I made $970,000 last year. How much you make? You see, pal, that's who I am, and you're nothing." | Image: AmoDays

"You know why, mister? 'Cause you drove a Hyundai to get here tonight, I drove an eighty thousand dollar BMW. That's my name." — Blake

"I'd wish you good luck, but you wouldn't know what to do with it if you got it." — Blake

"Are you gonna take it? Are you man enough to take it? What's the problem, pal?" — Blake

"If you can't take this, how can you take the abuse you get on a sit? You don't like it, leave. I can go out there tonight with the leads and materials you've got and make myself $15,000. Tonight! In two hours! Can you? Can you? Go and do likewise." — Blake

Blake's quote: "I'd wish you good luck, but you wouldn't know what to do with it if you got it." | Image: AmoDays

"The money's out there. You pick it up; it's yours. You don't; I got no sympathy for you. You wanna go out on those sits tonight and close? Close! It's yours. If not, you're gonna be shining my shoes. And you know what you'll be saying—a bunch of losers sittin' around in a bar? 'Oh yeah. I used to be a salesman. It's a tough racket." — Blake

"That watch costs more than you car. I made $970,000 last year. How much you make? You see, pal, that's who I am, and you're nothing." — Blake

Dave Moss: Quotes from a Man Full of Revenge

"You're hot, so you think you're the ruler of this place." — Dave Moss

"We don't gotta sit here and listen to this." — Dave Moss

"Cop couldn't find his [expletive] with two hands and a map." — Dave Moss

Dave Moss’s quote: "The rich getting richer — that's the law of the land.” | Image: AmoDays

"Yes, well, that's very cute, but you're running this office like a bunch of [expletive]." — Dave Moss

"You're such a hero; you're so rich; how come you're coming down here wasting your time with such a bunch of bums?" — Dave Moss

"What's your name?" — Dave Moss

“I'm not going home. I'm going to Wisconsin." — Dave Moss

"The rich getting richer—that's the law of the land." — Dave Moss

Dave Moss’s quote: "We don't gotta sit here and listen to this." | Image: AmoDays

"You got the memory of a [expletive] fly! I never liked you, anyway." — Dave Moss

"Who's my pal, Ricky, and what are you? What, what are you, Bishop Sheen? What are you, friend of the working man? Big deal!" — Dave Moss

John Williamson: Quotes from a Man of Indifference

"All but one. Ricky Roma." — John Williamson

"If you tell me where the leads are, I won't turn you in. If you don't, I am going to tell the cop you stole them; Mitch and Murray will see that you go to jail. Believe me; they will. Now, what did you do with the leads? I'm walking in that door, you have five seconds to tell me, or you're going to jail. I don't care, you understand? Where are the leads?" — John Williamson

John Williamson’s quote: "You've got a big mouth… now I'm gonna show you an even bigger one." | Image: AmoDays

"They're crazy. They just like talking to salesmen." — John Williamson

"Look, I have a lot on my mind right now. They're coming in, all right? They're very upset; I'm trying to make some sense…" — John Williamson

"This is my job on the line, and you are gonna talk to me. Now, how did you know that contract was on my desk?" — John Williamson

"I talked to Mitch and Murray an hour ago. They're coming in, you understand. They're a bit upset about this morning's…" — John Williamson

"The leads are coming!" — John Williamson

John Williamson’s quote: "The only thing 'remarkable' about it is who you made it to." | Image: AmoDays

"Will you go to lunch? Go to lunch. Will you go to lunch?!" — John Williamson

"How could I tell them about your sale? I don't even have a teleph— I'll tell them about your sale when they bring in the leads, all right? Shelley, all right? You closed a deal. Fine. You made a good sale, fine." — John Williamson

"That if the sale sticks, it'll be a miracle." — John Williamson

"You've got a big mouth… now I'm gonna show you an even bigger one." — John Williamson

"The only thing 'remarkable' about it is who you made it to." — John Williamson

Salesman Jibber Jabber Quotes

James Lingk’s quote: "Hey, don't follow me. Just don't follow me, okay? I let you down. I know I let you down. I'm sorry. Forgive me. I don't know. I don't know anymore. Forgive me." | Image: AmoDays

"When I talk to the police, I get nervous." — George Aaranow

"I work here. I didn't come in here to be mistreated." — George Aaronow

"Hey, don't follow me. Just don't follow me, okay? I let you down. I know I let you down. I'm sorry. Forgive me. I don't know. I don't know anymore. Forgive me." — James Lingk

Richard Roma’s quote: "When you die, you're going to regret the things you don't do." | Image: AmoDays

The movie was nominated for 14 awards. One of these was an Oscar nomination for Al Pacino in the category of Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture.

Simultaneously, they did take home eight wins. These wins included Best Supporting Actor for Alec Baldwin at the 2013 20/20 Awards, Best Cast Ensemble at the 1992 Awards Circuit Community Awards, and Best Actor for Jack Lemmon at the 1992 National Board of Review, USA Awards in 1992.

Find out more about another acclaimed movie by reading these 44 starry-eyed "La La Land" quotes for all the dreamers.