Context

This line is spoken by Harry Lime, played by Orson Welles, in the film The Third Man, directed by Carol Reed (1949).

Harry Lime is an all-around bad guy who spent his entire life swindling and cheating other people to make a buck. He tries to fake his own death, but his best friend, Holly Martins, finds him out. In one of the final scenes of the movie, Holly confronts Harry about all the terrible things he's done, but Harry's wicked heart isn't moved.

Harry doesn't care who he's hurt. After all, lots of governments and countries managed to hurt a whole lot of people while building up great societies around them. The Swiss, on the other hand, who were peace-loving and kind, only managed to come up with a cuckoo clock. Harry's a whole lot more impressed with the evil-doers so he'll throw his lot in with them. Wow.

Where you've heard it

This is a pretty cutthroat speech, so you won't hear it quoted often except by the worst of the worst. At least once they say this, you'll know to stop hanging out with them.

Additional Notable References:

• On Pinky and the Brain, Brain (whose voice is based on Orson Welles) re-imagines this speech as he swears never to take over the world again. It doesn't last long.
• In his autobiography, Orson Welles mentions that, after this movie came out, the Swiss pointed out that they didn't actually invent the cuckoo clock. That was the Germans, who weren't exactly peace-loving folks at the time.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Folks might not be able to argue with your logic, but you won't make any friends if you break into this little speech during your next get-together.