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Buffalo Bill with his quote: "When it's time to kill, you kill. That's the way it works." | Source: Youtube/MGMStudios
Buffalo Bill with his quote: "When it's time to kill, you kill. That's the way it works." | Source: Youtube/MGMStudios

40 Chilling 'The Silence of the Lambs' Buffalo Bill Quotes and More

Bettina Dizon
Oct 08, 2023
09:00 A.M.
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"The Silence of the Lambs" is among the critically acclaimed psychological thrillers of its time. The film follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling's chilling journey as she tries to catch a serial killer, Buffalo Bill, famous for his inhumane treatment of his victims.

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In FBI trainee Clarice Starling's desperation to catch serial killer Buffalo Bill, she turns to the brilliant yet mad cannibalistic serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter, who lets her into the mind of a psychopathic killer.

While he allows her to get his valuable insights on the case, he asks for helpful information in return. Clarice's encounters with Hannibal increase, so she involves herself in his dangerous mind games.

Read 34 quotes from this main character and others in this thrilling and horrifying film.

Hannibal Lecter's quote from "The Silence of the Lambs:" "Billy hates his own identity, you see." | Source: AmoDays

Hannibal Lecter's quote from "The Silence of the Lambs:" "Billy hates his own identity, you see." | Source: AmoDays

Chilling Buffalo Bill Quotes from 'The Silence of the Lambs'

"It rubs the lotion on its skin, or else it gets the hose again." – Buffalo Bill

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"All good things to those who wait." – Buffalo Bill

"When it's time to kill, you kill. That's the way it works." – Buffalo Bill

"You don't know what pain is!" – Buffalo Bill

"I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve." – Buffalo Bill

Buffalo Bill's quote from "The Silence of the Lambs:" "I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve." | Source: AmoDays

Buffalo Bill's quote from "The Silence of the Lambs:" "I'm not a monster. I'm just ahead of the curve." | Source: AmoDays

"A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti." – Buffalo Bill

"We covet what we see every day." – Buffalo Bill

"You know what you look like to me, with your good bag and your cheap shoes? You look like a rube." – Buffalo Bill

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"You still wake up sometimes, don't you? You wake up in the dark and hear the screaming of the lambs." – Buffalo Bill

"Sharpen your wits. It's going to be an interesting ride." – Buffalo Bill

Buffalo Bill's quote from "The Silence of the Lambs:" "Sharpen your wits It's going to be an interesting ride." | Source: AmoDays

Buffalo Bill's quote from "The Silence of the Lambs:" "Sharpen your wits It's going to be an interesting ride." | Source: AmoDays

"You think you can dissect me with this blunt little tool?" – Buffalo Bill

"They don't kill to eat. Kill only for the thrill of it. Their adrenaline pumps in their blood. The taste of which makes them hungry." – Buffalo Bill

Buffalo Bill Quotes from 'The Silence of the Lambs' Addressing Clarice

"You know, Buffalo Bill wasn't born bad, Clarice. He was made that way." – Buffalo Bill

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"The silence of the lambs, Clarice. It haunts me." – Buffalo Bill

"Look deep into yourself, Clarice Starling. Go seek out Miss Moffat, an old patient of mine." – Buffalo Bill

Buffalo Bill's quote from "The Silence of the Lambs:" "Look deep into yourself, Clarice Starling. Go seek out Miss Moffat, an old patient of mine." | Source: AmoDays

Buffalo Bill's quote from "The Silence of the Lambs:" "Look deep into yourself, Clarice Starling. Go seek out Miss Moffat, an old patient of mine." | Source: AmoDays

"You've got to be firm, Clarice, strong enough to face your own reflection." – Buffalo Bill

"The world is more interesting with you in it, Clarice." – Buffalo Bill

"I never do anything half-heartedly, Clarice. You should know that." – Buffalo Bill

"Quid pro quo, Clarice. I tell you things; you tell me things." – Buffalo Bill

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"Don't you feel eyes moving all over your body, Clarice?" – Buffalo Bill

Buffalo Bill's quote from "The Silence of the Lambs:" "Quid pro quo, Clarice. I tell you things; you tell me things." | Source: AmoDays

Buffalo Bill's quote from "The Silence of the Lambs:" "Quid pro quo, Clarice. I tell you things; you tell me things." | Source: AmoDays

Clarice Starling Quotes from 'The Silence of the Lambs'

"Most serial killers keep some trophies from their victims." – Clarice Starling

"Are you strong enough to point that high-powered perception at yourself? What about it? Why don't you - why don't you look at yourself and write down what you see? Or maybe you're afraid to." – Clarice Starling

"There's no correlation in the literature between transsexualism and violence. Transsexuals are very passive." – Clarice Starling

"If Lecter thinks you're his enemy, maybe we'd have better luck if I went in by myself." – Clarice Starling

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"That doesn't interest me, Doctor, and frankly, it's the sort of thing that Miggs would say." – Clarice Starling

Buffalo Bill's quote from "The Silence of the Lambs:" "Don't you feel eyes moving all over your body, Clarice?" | Source: AmoDays

Buffalo Bill's quote from "The Silence of the Lambs:" "Don't you feel eyes moving all over your body, Clarice?" | Source: AmoDays

"Yes, but then I would have missed the pleasure of your company." – Clarice Starling

"That's only a part of the island. There's a very, very nice beach. Terns nest there. There's beautiful." – Clarice Starling

Hannibal Lecter Quotes from 'The Silence of the Lambs'

"I do wish we could chat longer, but I'm having an old friend for dinner." – Hannibal Lecter

"We begin by coveting what we see every day." – Hannibal Lecter

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Hannibal Lecter's quote from "The Silence of the Lambs:" "I do wish we could chat longer, but I'm having an old friend for dinner." | Source: AmoDays

Hannibal Lecter's quote from "The Silence of the Lambs:" "I do wish we could chat longer, but I'm having an old friend for dinner." | Source: AmoDays

"You still wake up sometimes, don't you?" – Hannibal Lecter

"You know, we get a lot of detectives here, but I must say I can't ever remember one as attractive." – Hannibal Lecter

"Do you know why he's called 'Buffalo Bill'? Please tell me, Senator." – Hannibal Lecter

"I didn't kill him, Clarice. But I'm not sure that I could have." – Hannibal Lecter

"That is incidental. What is the first and principal thing he does? What needs does he serve by killing?" – Hannibal Lecter

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"He covets. That is his nature. And how do we begin to covet, Clarice? Do we seek out things to covet? Make an effort to answer now." – Hannibal Lecter

"Brave Clarice. You will let me know when those lambs stop screaming, won't you?" – Hannibal Lecter

"I've been in this room for eight years, now Clarice, and I know they'll never let me out, not while I'm alive. What I want is a view where I can see a tree or even water. I want to be in a federal institution far away from Doctor Chiltern. I'll help you catch him, Clarice." – Hannibal Lecter

"Billy hates his own identity, you see." – Hannibal Lecter

"But we don't reckon time the same way, do we, Clarice?" – Hannibal Lecter

Clarice Starling's quote from "The Silence of the Lambs:" "That doesn't interest me, Doctor, and frankly, it's the sort of thing that Miggs would say." | Source: AmoDays

Clarice Starling's quote from "The Silence of the Lambs:" "That doesn't interest me, Doctor, and frankly, it's the sort of thing that Miggs would say." | Source: AmoDays

"The Silence of the Lambs" stars Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling, Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, and Ted Levine as Buffalo Bill.

Those who enjoyed watching "The Silence of the Lambs" will also appreciate reading quotes from other psychological thrillers, including 48 Villanelle Quotes from the Brilliantly Portrayed Psychopath in "Killing Eve."

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