The Best Quotes From 'The Pianist,' Ranked

Movie and TV Quotes

Updated October 27, 2023 15 items

Ranked By

316 votes

144 voters

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Upvote your favorite Pianist quotes

Here are the best quotes from The Pianist, with movie clips, ranked by fans. This list of great movie quotes from The Pianist collects all of the most famous lines from the film in one place, allowing you to pick the top quotes and move them up the list. Lines from movies are repeated all the time in other movies and on television and the most memorable quotes from The Pianist are no exception and could even be considered among the most quotable movies ever.

Consistently named one of the best movies of all time, The Pianist follows a Jewish musician as he attempts to stay alive during the construction of the Warsaw ghetto in Poland during the Nazi occupation of WWII. Using his gifts as a pianist, the young man hides in the ruins of the city and eludes deportment to death camps by utilizing his musical talent. The film won Oscars for star Adrien Brody (the youngest winner of the Best Actor Academy Award at 29) and director Roman Polanski, who could not accept the award in person as he is still wanted for prosecution in the US for statutory rape.

This list includes all the best Pianist lines and moments, just as they appeared in the actual movie script. Whether they are funny quotes, sad quotes, quotes about love or death, all the most famous Pianist quotes are here.

1
33 VOTES
Food Is More Important
- Photo:
  Metaweb
  GNU Free Documentation License
Wladyslaw Szpilman: Here, sell this. Food is more important than time.
33 votes
2
24 VOTES
Not Going Anywhere
- Photo:
  Metaweb
  CC-BY
Wladyslaw Szpilman: I'm not going anywhere.
Halina: Good. I'm not going anywhere either.
Mother: Don't be ridiculous, we've got to keep together.
Wladyslaw Szpilman: Look, look... If I'm going to die, I prefer to die in my own home. I'm staying put.
24 votes
3
14 VOTES
You're Too Musical
- Photo:
  Metaweb
  GNU Free Documentation License
Wladyslaw Szpilman: You've got to give me something to do.
Yehuda: You're an artist, Wladek. You do enough.
Wladyslaw Szpilman: I want to help. I want to do something.
Yehuda: You're too well known, Wladek. And you know what? You musicians don't make good conspirators. You're too... too... musical!
14 votes
4
26 VOTES
No Jews Allowed
- Photo:
  YouTube
Wladyslaw Szpilman: It's an official decree, no Jews allowed in the parks.
Dorota: What, are you joking?
Wladyslaw Szpilman: No, I'm not. I would suggest we sit down on a bench, but that's also an official decree, no Jews allowed on benches.
Dorota: This is absurd.
Wladyslaw Szpilman: So, we should just stand here and talk, I don't think we're not allowed to do that.
26 votes
5
17 VOTES
Getting On Her Nerves
- Photo:
  YouTube
Wailing Woman: Why did I do it? Why did I do it? Why did I do it?
Halina: She's getting on my nerves. What did she do, for God's sake?
Father: She smothered her baby.
17 votes
6
16 VOTES
The Greatest Pianist
- Photo:
  YouTube
Yehuda: Majorek, this is the greatest pianist in Poland, maybe the whole world.
16 votes
7
26 VOTES
Something Wonderful
- Photo:
  Metaweb
  CC-BY
Wladyslaw Szpilman: So, you play the cello, Dorota. That's nice. And who's your favorite composer? Chopin? Really? Well, you'll have to learn to play his cello sonata, won't you? And what about you, Wladek? Well, perhaps I can accompany? Me on the piano, you on the cello?
Dorota: Mr. Szpilman, you are quite, quite wonderful.
Wladyslaw Szpilman: Call me Wladek. Please.
26 votes
8
8 VOTES
Why Do I Come Here
- Photo:
  Wikimedia Commons
  CC-BY
Man Waiting to Cross: And the Germans claim to be intelligent! You know what I think, I think they are totally stupid. I have a family to feed. I spend half my time here, waiting for them to let us through. Why do they think I come here, to listen to the music?
8 votes
9
8 VOTES
What To Do
- Photo:
  Wikimedia Commons
  CC-BY
Wladyslaw Szpilman: What... what do you think you'll do while you're setting up your new line of defense? Wander around luggin' your suitcases?
8 votes
10
13 VOTES
Have You Seen My Husband
- Photo:
  Metaweb
  GNU Free Documentation License
Feather Woman: Excuse me, have you seen my husband, Izaak Szerman? A tall, a tall handsome man, with a little grey beard. No? Oh, excuse me. Goodbye, sleep well. But if you see him, write to me, yes? Izaak Szerman!
13 votes

11
11 VOTES
Where Were You?
- Photo:
  Metaweb
  CC-BY
Jurek: Come on Dorota, you can write him a fan letter later, this isn't the best time. Come on.
Wladyslaw Szpilman: Jurek! Where have you been hiding her?
11 votes
12
10 VOTES
Nothing To Worry
- Photo:
  Wikimedia Commons
  CC-BY
Henryk Szpilman: I told her not to worry, you had your papers on you. If you'd been hit by a bomb, they'd have known where to take you.
10 votes
13
8 VOTES
Take It Or Not
- Photo:
  Metaweb
  GNU Free Documentation License
Father: What do you think? Should I, should I take Uncle Szymon's portrait?
Mother: Take it, don't take it, take what you like!
Mother: Can't you see I'm worried sick?
8 votes
14
5 VOTES
Unforgettable Meeting
- Photo:
  Wikimedia Commons
  CC-BY
Dorota: I nagged Jurek for weeks and weeks, and at last he gave in and said, "Allright, come with me tomorrow." So I came and... they bombed the station!
Wladyslaw Szpilman: Meeting you like that was absolutely wonderful.
Dorota: Really?
Wladyslaw Szpilman: Yes. It was... it was unforgettable.
5 votes
15
5 VOTES
Please Keep Quiet
- Photo:
  flickr
  CC0
Regina: Quiet please. Quiet. Order, order! Please!
Halina: She's a lawyer, she likes order.
Regina: Listen, just listen. The watch we put under the flower pots and the money we stuff in the violin.
Father: Will I still be able to play?
Wladyslaw Szpilman: Well... you'll find out.
5 votes