How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from The Dark Knight.
Quote #1
BRUCE WAYNE: We all know how much you like to say "I told you so."
ALFRED: On that day Master Wayne, even I won't want to.
Leave it to Alfred to add a little levity to the prospect of Gotham's midnight defender being brought down. There's a sense of acceptance to it that helps tinge the near-nihilism with a touch of Zen calm.
Quote #2
THE JOKER: Look, listen—I know why you choose to have your little "group therapy" sessions in broad daylight. I know why you're afraid to go out at night. The Batman.
Here's the Batman's effect on the other side, with the mob facing defeat instead of the heroes. Ironically, these guys are all still doomed: they're just going to get it from the clown instead of the bat.
Quote #3
BRUCE WAYNE: The bandit, in the forest in Burma. Did you catch him?
ALFRED PENNYWORTH: Yes.
BRUCE WAYNE: How?
ALFRED PENNYWORTH: We burned the forest down.
This is what they mean by destroying the village in order to save it. It also tells us something important about defeat. You have to define your terms before you can win or lose them. Is catching the bandit more important than keeping the forest safe? (And by extension, is catching the Joker more important than keeping Gotham safe?) That's going to have a huge impact on how you tackle the threat, and by extension, whether you can legitimately chalk one up to the win column when you're done.