“Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai” quotes

(1999)
Movie Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
Jim Jarmusch directed this movie in 1999
Title Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
Year 1999
Director Jim Jarmusch
Genre Drama, Crime, Thriller, Action
Plot – Ghost Dog lives in a hut on the top of a building with his beloved pigeons. His daytime is marked by the rules of an ancient samurai code and by his duty as a killer. He works for boss Louie in fact. Ghost Dog's technique is simple: he locates the victim, he carries out the task then he sends Louie a pigeon to inform him the job is done. Due to a series of mistakes, Ghost Dog doesn't complete a chore and becomes the target himself.
All actors – Forest Whitaker, John Tormey, Cliff Gorman, Dennis Liu, Frank Minucci, Richard Portnow, Tricia Vessey, Henry Silva, Gene Ruffini, Frank Adonis, Victor Argo, Damon Whitaker, Kenny Guay, Vince Viverito, Gano Grills, Touché Cornel, Jamie Hector, Chuck Jeffreys, Yan Ming Shi, Vinny Vella, Joseph Rigano, Roberto Lopez, Salvatore Alagna, Jerry Todisco, Isaach De Bankolé, Dreddy Kruger, Timbo King, Clay Da Raider, Dead And Stinking, Deflon Sallahr, Camille Winbush, Clebert Ford, José Rabelo, Jerry Sturiano, Tony Rigo, Alfred Nittoli, Angel Caban, Luz Valentin, Rene Bluestone, Jordan Peck, Jonathan Teague Cook, Tracy Howe, Harry Shearer, Vanessa Hollingshead, Sharon Angela, RZA, Scott Bryce, Paul Diomede, Gary Farmer
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  • “Taking an enemy on the battlefield is like a hawk taking a bird. Even though it enters into the midst of a thousand of them, it gives no attention to any bird than the one it first marked.”
    Forest Whitaker - Ghost Dog
  • “When one has made a decision to kill a person, even if it will be very difficult to succeed by advancing straight ahead, it will not do to think about doing it in a long, roundabout way. One's heart may slacken, he may miss his chance, and by and large there will be no success. The Way of the Samurai is one of immediacy, and it is best to dash...” (continue)(continue reading)
    Forest Whitaker - Ghost Dog
  • “- Ghost Dog: I don't understand him. I don't speak French, only English. I never understand a word he says.
    - Pearline: And that's your best friend?
    - Ghost Dog: Yeah.”

    Forest Whitaker - Ghost Dog
    Forest Whitaker - Pearline
  • “There is surely nothing other than the single purpose of the moment. A man's whole life is a succession of moment after moment. If one fully understands the present moment, there is nothing left to do, and nothing else to pursue.”
    Forest Whitaker - Ghost Dog
  • Our bodies are given life from the midst of nothingness. Existing where there is nothing is the meaning of the phrase "Form is emptiness". That all things are provided for by nothingness is the meaning of the phrase "Emptiness is form". One should not think that these are two separate things.
    Forest Whitaker - Ghost Dog
  • “There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you still get the same soaking. This understanding...” (continue)(continue reading)
    Forest Whitaker - Ghost Dog
  • “If one were to say in a word what the condition of being a samurai is, its basis lies first in seriously devoting one's body and soul to his master.”
    Forest Whitaker - Ghost Dog
  • “- Sonny Valerio: Where's he live?
    - Louie: Fuck, if I know. That's the next strange thing. I mean, I can't just call him up. Instead, he contacts me every day through a bird.
    - Sonny Valerio: Did you just say he contacts you through a bird? Did I just hear you say that?!”

    Cliff Gorman - Sonny Valerio
    John Tormey - Louie
  • “It is bad when one thing becomes two. One should not look for anything else in the Way of the Samurai. It is the same for anything that is called a Way. If one understands things in this manner, he should be able to hear about all ways and be more and more in accord with his own.”
    Forest Whitaker - Ghost Dog
    [Tag:loyalty]
  • “In the words of the ancients, one should make his decision within the space of seven breaths. It is a matter of being determined and having the spirit to break through to the other side.”
    Forest Whitaker - Ghost Dog
  • Among the maxims on Lord Naoshige's wall, there was this one: "Matters of great concern should be treated lightly". Master Ittei commented: "Matters of small concern should be treated seriously".
    Forest Whitaker - Ghost Dog
    [Tag:concern, problems]
  • “- Sonny Valerio: All the rappers, they got names like that: Snoop Doggy Dogg, Ice Cube, Q-Tip, Method Man. My favorite was always Flavor Flav from Public Enemy. You got the funky fresh fly flavor.
    - Ray Vargo: I don't know about that, but it makes me think of Indians. They got name like... Red Cloud, Crazy Horse, Running Bear, Black Elk.
    - Sonny...” (continue)
    (continue reading)
    Cliff Gorman - Sonny Valerio
    Henry Silva - Ray Vargo
    Gene Ruffini - Old Consigliere
  • “The Way of the Samurai is found in death. Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily.”
    Forest Whitaker - Ghost Dog
  • “It is good to carry some powdered rouge in one's sleeve. It may happen that when one is sobering up or waking from sleep, a samurai's complexion may be poor. At such a time it is good to take out and apply some powdered rouge.”
    Forest Whitaker - Ghost Dog
    [Tag:cosmetics, skin]
  • “Every day when one's body and mind are at peace, one should meditate upon being ripped apart by arrows, rifles, spears, and swords. Being carried away by surging waves. Being thrown into the midst of a great fire. Being struck by lightning, being shaken to death by a great earthquake. Falling from thousand-foot cliffs, dying of disease, or...” (continue)(continue reading)
    Forest Whitaker - Ghost Dog
  • - Sonny Valerio: "If a warrior's head were to be suddenly cut off, he should still be able to perform one more action with certainty". What the fuck does that mean?
    - Ray Vargo: It's poetry. The poetry of war.

    Cliff Gorman - Sonny Valerio
    Henry Silva - Ray Vargo
    [Tag:meaning, poetry, war]
  • “It is a good viewpoint to see the world as a dream. When you have something like a nightmare, you will wake up and tell yourself that it was only a dream. It is said that the world we live in is not a bit different from this.”
    Forest Whitaker - Ghost Dog
  • “Even if one's head were to be suddenly cut off, he should be able to do one more action with certainty. With martial valor, if one becomes like a revengeful ghost and shows great determination, though his head is cut off, he should not die.”
    Forest Whitaker - Ghost Dog
  • “- Louie: Jesus, Vinny. You just iced a woman, you know that?
    - Vinny: You know what you are, Louie? You're a fuckin' male chauvinist pig.
    - Louie: What do you mean, I'm a male chauvinist pig? You just shot a broad.
    - Vinny: A cop. I just shot a cop. They wanna be equal? I made her equal.”

    John Tormey - Louie
    Victor Argo - Vinny
    [Tag:equality, women]
  • “- Louie: Goddamn it. You shot me in the exact same fucking place as last time!
    - Ghost Dog: I'm sorry. I mean you no disrespect. You're my retainer. I don't want to put too many holes in you.”

    John Tormey - Louie
    Forest Whitaker - Ghost Dog
  • “In the Kamigata area, they have a sort of tiered lunchbox they use for a single day when flower viewing. Upon returning, they throw them away, trampling them underfoot. The end is important in all things.”
    Camille Winbush - Pearline
    [Tag:end]
  • “It is said that what is called the Spirit of an Age is something to which one cannot return. That this spirit gradually dissipates is due to the world's coming to an end. In the same way, a single year does not have just spring or summer. A single day, too, is the same. For this reason, although one would like to change today's world back to the...” (continue)(continue reading)
    Forest Whitaker - Ghost Dog
  • “- Ghost Dog: You know, in ancient cultures, bears were considered equal with men.
    - Hunter: This ain't no ancient culture here, mister.
    - Ghost Dog: Sometimes it is.”

    Forest Whitaker - Ghost Dog
    Tracy Howe - Bear Hunter
Highlights