Randle McMurphy

You know, that's the first thing that got me about this place, that there wasn't anybody laughing. I haven't heard a real laugh since I came through that door, do you know that? Man, when you lose your laugh you lose your footing.

I’ve seen a thousand of 'em, <...> people who try to make you weak so they can get you to toe the line, to follow their rules, to live like they want you to. <...> want to win by making you weaker instead of making himself stronger...

If I'm bound to be a loony, then I'm bound to be a stompdown dadgum good one.

Which one of you claims to be the craziest? Which one is the biggest loony? It's my first day, and what I like to do is make a good impression straight off on the right man.

Nobody's gonna convince me I can't do something till I try it.

"Ya know, ma'am," he says, "ya know — that is the ex-act thing somebody always tells me about the rules... just when they figure I'm about to do the dead opposite."

The secret of being a top-notch con man is being able to know what the mark wants, and how to make him think he’s getting it.

They are in contact on a high-voltage wavelength of hate.

The flock gets sight of a spot of blood on some chicken and they all go to peckin' at it, see, till they rip the chicken to shreds, blood and bones and feathers. But usually a couple of the flock gets spotted in the fracas, then it's their turn. And a few more gets spots and gets pecked to death, and more and more. Oh, a peckin' party can wipe out the whole flock in a matter of a few hours, buddy, I seen it. A mighty awesome sight.