Summary
- Jules Winnfield's iconic quotes make him the standout character in Pulp Fiction, showcasing a brilliant mix of Tarantino's writing and Samuel L. Jackson's performance.
- Samuel L. Jackson's role as Jules in Pulp Fiction made him a star and remains his most beloved character, despite his appearances in Star Wars and MCU movies.
- Jules' quotes highlight his unique personality as an articulate hitman with captivating monologues, adding to the long-lasting legacy of Pulp Fiction.
Pulp Fiction is filled with iconic lines but the Jules Winnfield quotes seem to stand out the most. The hit indie movie took the indie scene by storm as the defining movie of the decade. Though the movie features a star-studded ensemble of colorful characters, the profound hitman Jules was a true highlight with a brilliant mix of Quentin Tarantino's writing and Samuel L. Jackson's performance. The movie remains a hugely influential piece of cinema and the Samuel L. Jackson Pulp Fiction quotes add to the long-lasting legacy.
Though Samuel L. Jackson almost wasn't cast in Pulp Fiction, the role ended up making him a star, and though he has gone on to star in Star Wars and MCU movies, Jules remains likely his most beloved character. Jules was a truly unique character who was articulate, a guy who doesn’t watch his language, and is prone to captivating monologues all of which make for some brilliant Pulp Fiction quotes from the complex hitman.
RELATED: Pulp Fiction In Chronological Order
16 "You Happen To Pull This S*** While I'm In A Transitional Period So I Don't Wanna Kill You."
This Samuel L. Jackson quote is part of the ending of Pulp Fiction and the culmination of everything that has happened since the now-infamous opening scene. The audience understands that the Pulp Fiction timeline has come full circle from where it all began when they were introduced to Pumpkin and Honey Bunny in the cafe. Though the two would-be robbers initially seemed to have the whole situation under control, now that it is clear Jules and Vincent are in this cafe, things change. However, Tarantino once again subverts expectations. Jules' talk of leaving the life of violence behind is now put to the test and he proves he is dedicated to a more peaceful life.
15 "They Speak English In What?"
14 
There is a wonderful juxtaposition between how Jules was in his introductory scene, discussing European fast food with Vincent, and how he is when he "gets into character" once they arrive at the job. To be fair to young Brett, Jules has just shot his friend and is now berating him with questions. The panic makes it hard for Brett to focus and he keeps asking "what?" in disbelief. Jules shows that he can have a sense of humor even in such a tense scenario and begins taunting Brett with how he cannot seem to grasp what Jules is saying. The quote is made even funnier when Brett still answers with a terrified "what?" and Jules retorts "English mother f***er, do you speak it?!"
13 “Say ‘What’ Again! I Dare You! I Double-Dare You, Motherf*****, Say ‘What’ One More Goddamn Time!”
Quentin Tarantino is brilliant at crafting suspenseful scenes such as the open scene of Inglourious Basterds or the Spahn Ranch scene Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. However, he is also able to blend humor into these moments with Jules's intense interrogation of Brett being filled with hilarious moments. Tarantino gets a lot of mileage out of Brett simply saying "what" too many times for Jules's liking. Jackson plays the scene wonderfully, showing Jules getting increasingly scarier but never losing touch of the humor of the moment.
12 “Mmm, This Is A Tasty Burger!”
One of the hallmarks of Quentin Tarantino’s movies is that he doesn’t take any product placement deals. So, instead of eating and drinking and smoking actual brands, his characters are linked together by the fictional brands they use. For example, everyone in the Tarantino-verse smokes Red Apple Cigarettes, so that the director doesn’t have to give any money to some big tobacco company. When Jules helps himself to Brett's burger, his enjoyment of it might sound like obvious product placement if not for the fact that Big Kahuna Burger isn't real. Instead, it just comes off as a chilling intimidation tactic as Jules eats the man's burger even as he plans to kill him.
Part of the reason Pulp Fiction influenced so many movies was the fresh approach Tarantino gave to the crime genre. Jules and Vincent may look like the kind of slick hitmen seen in many action movies, but the fact that the audience sees them carrying on mundane everyday conversations, like the ethical nature of foot massages, when they aren't killing people is so much fun. When Vincent starts telling Jules about massaging feet, Jules tells him that he is “the foot f**kin’ master.” Hearing Jules take so much pride in his massage skills suggests a life outside of being a hitman.
10 “I’m Trying, Ringo. I’m Trying Real Hard To Be The Shepherd.”
After delivering his Ezekiel 25:17 speech for the second time, Jules admits to reassessing the meaning of the Biblical quote he’d recited to all of his victims. He tells Ringo that he used to think he was “the righteous man,” but now, he wants to be “the shepherd.” While the original Pulp Fiction end for Pumpkin and Honey Bunny was more violent, seeing Jules do this soul-searching and coming to a realization about the man he wants to be is a much more interesting way to conclude his arc.
9 “If My Answers Frighten You, Then You Should Cease Asking Scary Questions.”
This is one of the wisest Pulp Fiction quotes from Jules. He’s a pretty philosophically minded guy, all things considered. Jules and Vincent make an interesting pair, but they are very different men. This creates a lot of fun in their conversations with Jules willing to go a lot deeper and tackle some heavier subject matter. This often leads Vincent befuddled and annoyed. But Jules is confident in the way he views the world and won't apologize if his thoughts are too much to take.
8 “Check Out The Big Brain On Brett!”
When Jules enters Brett’s apartment, he takes the dominant position by having a bite of Brett’s burger. This reminds him of the “Royale with Cheese” conversation he had with Vincent in the car – perhaps the most iconic conversation in the movie – and then congratulates Brett on being able to guess why the name was changed. Again, it is a taunting and somewhat malicious approach for Jules to take. He knows that he is going to kill these men, but he still goes ahead with carrying on conversations with them and even complementing them to perhaps put them at ease only to turn the tables.
RELATED: 6 Fan Theories That Completely Change Quentin Tarantino Movies
7 “From Here On In, You Can Consider My Ass Retired.”
After getting shot at and not being hit by a single bullet, Jules believes that he was saved by divine intervention and decides to leave behind his life as a killer. As wonderful as the Pulp Fiction ensemble of characters is, it is moments like this that suggest the whole movie could have been about Jules and it would have been fascinating. Despite being a cold-blooded killer just moments ago, this one moment causes him to abandon that life entirely, making him a truly complex character. Interestingly, it is that decision to retire that allows Jules to live while Vincent dies.
6 "Basically, I'm Just Going To Walk The Earth."
As captivating as Jules is at the beginning of the movie, he is even more interesting at the end of Pulp Fiction. The change he undertakes following the supposed miracle is totally unexpected and a great direction to take the story in. After contemplating the event he just survived and deciding to retire, Jules makes plans for the future and decides that he's just going to "walk the earth." While there is never any need for a Pulp Fiction sequel and Quentin Tarantino's final movie is already lined up, a movie that follows Jules as he journeys from town to town, offering his wisdom and helping spread his teachings sounds like a great time.
5 "It's The One That Says Bad Motherf*****."
To further emphasize the fact that he is a changed man, Jules is not only willing to let Pumpkin and Honey Bunny leave the cafe with their lives, but he also gives them his phone. After already putting his wallet into their bag of stolen goods, Jules wants to display his generosity by pointing out which one is his and gives them the cash from it. The tense moment is broken up with Jules hilariously explaining that his wallet is the one that says "Bad Mother F***er." further highlighting to Pumpkin that he picked the wrong guy to rob. The Samuel L. Jackson Pulp Fiction quote is so iconic that Jackson's Star Wars lightsaber is inscribed with the same thing in reference.
4 “I’m Sorry, Did I Break Your Concentration?”
This Pulp Fiction quote from Jules says to Brett right after killing his friend on the couch. It is one of the most underrated and simple moments in Jackson's performance as he is able to be so funny and so menacing all at once. It is wild to see that this man who was just joking about burgers and foot massages is suddenly so chilling. He once again is playing with Brett before inevitably killing him. The moment sucks the air from the audience and changes the whole scene on a dime. The tension in the sequence is no longer about whether Jules and Vincent are going to kill these men but rather when they are going to kill them.
3 “The Motherf***** That Said That S*** Never Had To Pick Up Itty-Bitty Pieces Of Skull On Account Of Your Dumb Ass.”
Marvin's death in Pulp Fiction was one of the most shocking and darkly hilarious moments in the movie. This leads into the third of the three anthology stories in the movie, “The Bonnie Situation,” in which Jules and Vincent have to clean Marvin’s blood and brains out of the backseat of the car. Vincent tells Jules that an old philosophy goes that if someone admits to their wrongdoing, they’re immediately absolved of that wrongdoing. Jules then counters that the person who came up with that never had to clean up shattered skull shards on someone else’s behalf. It is another moment of these two being a hilarious pair, acting like siblings arguing like children but in this bloody scenario.
2 "I Hate To Shatter Your Ego, But This Is Not The First Time I've Had A Gun Pointed At Me."
Jules tried to be nice, and give Pumpkin a chance with this Pulp Fiction quote that comes as a warning. The audience knows something important that he doesn't and it's a tense moment. The brilliance of Pulp Fiction's timeline is that, despite the fact that Pumpkin is the one pointing a gun at Jules and being all threatening, Jules is the more dangerous man in this scenario. The calm and collected way he hands over his wallet but refuses to hand over Marsellus's briefcase should have been proof enough that Pumpkin should cut his losses and move along.
1 “The Path Of The Righteous Man...”
Full quote:
“The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and goodwill, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper, and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee!”
Not only the most iconic of the Jules Winnfield quotes in Pulp Fiction but one of the most iconic movie quotes of all time. It is another great testament to Quentin Taratino's writing that there are plenty of people Ezikel's Bible verse in Pulp Fiction is real. It is also Jackson's standout moment in the movie, delivering a towering performance as he recites this epic and terrifying proclamation. Even though Jules later admits that he didn't really know what it means, it ends up being a quote that happens to speak to Pulp Fiction's story as a whole.
