What is a good quote from 12 Angry Men?

Asked by: Prof. Flossie Sporer II  |  Last update: February 13, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (31 votes)

12 Angry Men is famous for quotes highlighting justice, prejudice, and reasonable doubt, like Juror 8's "It's very hard to keep personal prejudice out of a thing like this," "We don't owe him a thing. He got a fair trial, didn't he?" (Juror 3), and "I have a reasonable doubt in my mind" (Juror 11), all emphasizing the weighty responsibility of a juror's decision.

What is the truth quote from 12 Angry Men?

I don't really know what the truth is. I don't suppose anybody will ever really know. Nine of us now seem to feel that the defendant is innocent, but we're just gambling on probabilities - we may be wrong. We may be trying to let a guilty man go free, I don't know.

What are the quotes from 12 Angry Men Act 1?

Act 1 Quotes

  • Ten: It's tough to figure, isn't it? ...
  • Three: I never saw a guiltier man in my life... ...
  • Eight: There were eleven votes for guilty. ...
  • Eight: I don't want to change your mind.... ...
  • Ten: I don't mind telling you this, mister. ...
  • Nine: (to Ten very slowly). ...
  • Three: You're right. ...
  • Five: I've lived in a slum all my life.

What did juror 7 say to juror 11?

I do not think you have the right to play like this with a man's life. This is an ugly and terrible thing to do. '' As earlier, Juror 7 tries to shut down Juror 11.

What is the slogan of 12 Angry Men?

It explodes like 12 sticks of dynamite! Life Is In Their Hands -- Death Is On Their Minds!

jack klugman about working on 12 angry men

30 related questions found

What is the main message of 12 Angry Men?

A critique of the American jury system during the McCarthy era, the film tells the story of a jury of twelve men as they deliberate the conviction or acquittal of a teenager charged with murder on the basis of reasonable doubt; disagreement and conflict among the jurors forces them to question their morals and values.

Was the boy actually guilty in 12 Angry Men?

In the 1957 film 12 Angry Men, the boy on trial (his name is never stated) has been charged with murdering his own father. The verdict changes from 11 guilty and 1 not guilty at the beginning of the film to 12 not guilty at the end of the film? But the film never actually reveals whether the kid is guilty or not.

Why did Juror 3 cry?

In the 1957 film, he tears up a photograph of his son when he finally changes his vote. In the 1997 film, Juror 3 describes how he feels as if his own son has stabbed him in the chest, to which Juror 8 responds that it is not his son on trial.

What was the quote from Juror 3?

Juror #3: Brother, I've seen all kinds of dishonesty in my day, but this little display takes the cake. Y'all come in here with your hearts bleedin' all over the floor about slum kids and injustice, you listen to some fairy tales... Suddenly, you start gettin' through to some of these old ladies.

Who has the most lines in 12 Angry Jurors?

Here is the list of parts and the line breakdown for the characters in "12 Angry Jurors": 12 ANGRY JURORS CHARACTER LINE COUNT FOREMAN 141 JUROR 2 61 JUROR 3 286 JUROR 4 273 JUROR 5 58 JUROR 6 31 JUROR 7 132 JUROR 8 347 JUROR 9 65 JUROR 10 108 JUROR 11 93 JUROR 12 56 BAILIFF 8 I hope this helps anyone who is interested ...

What does juror 9 say in 12 Angry Men?

Juror 9 says, "It takes a great deal of courage to stand alone." He is referring to Juror 8, who cast the only vote for the defendant's innocence. Juror 8's actions cause Juror 9 to change his vote.

What do 12 Angry Men teach us?

Twelve Angry Men raises timeless questions about the different kinds of biases, the confusing concept of truth, and the value of reason and logic within the American legal system.

What is the courage in 12 Angry Men?

In conclusion, 12 Angry Men is a compelling story of heroism at several levels. It showcases the courage needed to be the only dissenter in a group, and the equal courage to be the first follower of that dissenter.

What are 5 quotes about justice?

Quotes About Justice

  • Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. ...
  • If you want peace, you must work for justice. ...
  • It is essential that justice be done, and it is equally vital that justice not be confused with revenge, for the two are wholly different.

Who is the racist in 12 Angry Men?

In 12 Angry Men, Juror 10 is a racist bigot who owns several garages that he wants to get back to. He sees the defendant as a symbol of his ethnic group and sees the need to prevent incursion from that ethnic group into "civilized" society.

What does juror 3 say about his son?

Despite this, Juror 3 maintained with his guilty vote, and finally breaks down, revealing that he has a son who hasn't talked to him for 2 years and that the accused boy reminds him of the strained relationship that Juror 3 has with his son, which would explain why he declared his guilty vote.

Why is juror 8 a hero?

Described as peaceful and compassionate, Juror 8 is focused on the truth of the case and refuses to give up until the other jurors face that truth. It is through his persuasive abilities that one by one, the other jurors change their initial vote from guilty to not guilty.

What does three yell at the end of Act 2?

On what dramatic note does this act end? Three shouts, "I'm gonna kill you!" to Eight and it's the same expression the boy used before killing his father.

Who is Juror 10 racist against?

Juror 10 is a man of extreme prejudice and ignorance. From the start of the film, he speaks of the defendant boy in racist stereotypes, even assigning a number of negative and derogatory characteristics of the boy.

How does the juror end?

The ending of Clint Eastwood's film Juror #2 is deliberately ambiguous: after Juror #2 (Justin) helps convict the wrong man (James) for killing Kendall, believing it was an accidental hit-and-run he caused, the prosecutor (Faith) discovers his guilt and appears at his doorstep, leaving it unclear if she's there to arrest him, seek closure, or for another reason, forcing viewers to ponder justice and moral compromise.
 

How do 12 Angry Men end?

Juror 8 single-handedly manages to convince the other jurors that the case has room for reasonable doubt, eventually leading to a 12-0 not guilty verdict. Going into the ending of 12 Angry Men, Juror 8 has managed to get five of the other jurors on his side, completely splitting the jury.

Why did Juror 11 vote not guilty?

Why did 11 change his vote? He voted "not guilty" after enough evidence was presented that the old man could not have walked to his door in 15 seconds and therefore couldn't have seen or heard what he said he did, which is a good reason for a "reasonable doubt".

Why did juror 8 vote not guilty?

In the first ballot, juror 8 votes not guilty because: he thinks the defendant was innocent; he believes the defendant has a hard life; he believes there should be discussion before the verdict; he thinks the jury should not appear too hasty.

Was 12 Angry Men scripted?

"12 Angry Men"'s brilliance doesn't lie in special effects or razzle dazzle. It is, by all accounts, a simple, straight-forward film that is beautifully scripted and perfectly acted in its portrayal of twelve male jurors deciding the fate of a Latino boy on trial for the murder of his father.

Who voted not guilty in Act 1?

The jurors take a preliminary vote. Eleven vote “guilty,” and the 8th Juror votes “not guilty.” Many of the jurors are angry about this. The 8th Juror says that he's unsure what he thinks, and because a man's life is at stake, he thinks they should take the time to discuss the case.