Chinatown * Quotes

"Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown."

"'Course I'm respectable. I'm old. Politicians, ugly buildings, and whores all get respectable if they last long enough."

Yelburton: "My goodness, what happened to your nose?"
Jake Gittes: "I cut myself shaving."
Yelburton: "You ought to be more careful. That must really hurt."
Jake Gittes: "Only when I breathe."

Lt. Escobar: "How'd you get past the guard?"
Jake Gittes: "Well, to tell you the truth, I lied a little."

"Can you believe it? We're in the middle of a drought, and the water commissioner drowns. Only in L.A."

Loach: "What happened to your nose, Gittes? Somebody slammed a bedroom window on it?"
Jake Gittes: "Nope. Your wife got excited. She crossed her legs a little too quick. You understand what I mean, pal?"

"You've got a nasty reputation, Mr. Gittes. I like that."