How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Independence Day.
Quote #1
COMMANDING OFFICER: SETI in New Mexico identified a signal. But they're even more confused than we are, sir.
Early on in the film, the aliens are broadcasting a signal, but no one seems to have any idea what it is about…at least at first.
Quote #2
STEVE: Look, I really don't think they flew 90 billion light years to come down here and start a fight…and get all rowdy.
Steve is trying to set Jasmine's mind at ease about the aliens' intentions in showing up on Earth. Whether he believes that or not, though, is anyone's guess. We don't really know what he's thinking, either.
Quote #3
DAVID: Marty, listen to this. I got a lock on the pattern of that signal, and so we can filter it out. But! If my calculations are right, it's going to be gone in like seven hours anyway. It's reducing itself every time it recycles, so eventually it's going to disappear...
Cable company employee David Levinson figures out that the signal is "reducing," but he doesn't really understand why yet.
Quote #4
DAVID: Did you hear me tell that the signal hidden in the satellite feed is slowly recycling down to extinction?
MARTY: Not really.
DAVID: Countdown.
MARTY: A countdown? Wait, a countdown to what, David?
DAVID: It's like in chess. First you strategically position your pieces. Then, when the timing's right, you strike. See? They're positioning themselves all over the world, using this one signal to synchronize their efforts, and in approximately six hours, the signal's going to disappear and the countdown's going to be over.
MARTY: And then what?
DAVID: Checkmate.
Finally, David figures it out: the signal is a kind of countdown that the aliens are using to time their movements around the globe as they get into position over major cities. They're counting down to a synchronized attack.
Quote #5
PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. My fellow Americans, a historic and unprecedented event has occurred. The question of whether or not we're alone in the universe has been answered.
Yes, Mr. President, the question of whether aliens exist has been answered. However, now we have the question of why they are here…
Quote #6
OKUN: As you can see from the repairs, we've been trying to put her back together since the late 1960's.
PRESIDENT: Don't tell me, you've had this for forty years and you don't know anything about them?
OKUN: Oh, hell, no. No, no, no, no. We know tons about them. But the neatest stuff—the neatest stuff has only happened in the last few days. See, we can't duplicate their type of power, so we've never been able to experiment. But since these guys started showing up, all the little gizmos inside turned on. The last twenty-four hours have been really exciting!
Doctor Okun means well, but his comments come off as super insensitive to the President (and us). Sure, the arrival of the aliens has enabled new discoveries for Okun, but it's also caused massive destruction and left many people dead. So, the President calling him out seems kinda legit.
Quote #7
OKUN: No vocal cords. We're assuming they communicate with each other through some other means.
DAVID: You're obviously not thinking about hand signals and body language.
OKUN: It's some kind of extrasensory perception. Telepathy.
Apparently, you literally have to be a mind reader to communicate with the aliens. Luckily, in an encounter with the alien Steve captured, the President is suddenly able to engage in telepathy and learns all the aliens' plans. That's convenient, isn't it?
Quote #8
STEVE: Do you think they have any clue what's about to happen to them?
DAVID: Oh, not a chance in hell. Good night!
STEVE: Peace!
At the end of the movie, the tables are turned, and Steve and David are about to wreak havoc on the blissfully unaware aliens. You see, they are preparing to blast their way out of the mother ship as forces around the Earth prepare for their big assault against the now defenseless alien ships.