The Hurt Locker War Quotes

How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from The Hurt Locker.

Quote #1

"The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug"—Chris Hedges.

This is the quote that appears at the beginning of the film. The rest of the words end up fading away until just "war is a drug" remains. Hmm, how can someone get addicted to war? Guess we're about to find out...

Quote #2

SANBORN: Welcome to Bravo Company. Welcome to Camp Victory.

WILL: Camp Victory? I thought this was Camp Liberty.

SANBORN: Oh, no, they changed that about a week ago. Victory sounds better.

Hmm, wonder why the powers that be thought that victory was more important to emphasize than liberty in naming the camp? Sounds like there are some politics going on in the war zone.

Quote #3

WILL: That wasn't so bad, our first time working together. What do you think?

SANBORN: Huh. I think us working together means I talk to you, and you talk to me.

WILL: We going on a date, Sanborn?

SANBORN: No, we're going on a mission, and my job is to keep you safe so we can keep going on missions.

WILL: It's combat, buddy.

ELDRIDGE [aside, to Sanborn]: Hey, it's just 39 days.

SANBORN: Thirty-eight if we survive today.

Even though Sanborn and Eldridge try to be welcoming of the new guy, they don't love the way their first mission together goes. Will isn't exactly a safety first kind of guy, and Sanborn and Eldridge are already doubting his ability to lead them safely through dicey situations...and their job is basically all dicey situations.