Summary
- Jules Winnfield's iconic quotes make him the standout character in Pulp Fiction, showcasing a brilliant mix of Tarantino's writing and Samuel L. Jackson's performance.
- Samuel L. Jackson's role as Jules in Pulp Fiction made him a star and remains his most beloved character, despite his appearances in Star Wars and MCU movies.
- Jules' quotes highlight his unique personality as an articulate hitman with captivating monologues, adding to the long-lasting legacy of Pulp Fiction.
Pulp Fiction is filled with iconic lines but the Jules Winnfield quotes seem to stand out the most. The hit indie movie took the indie scene by storm as the defining movie of the decade. Though the movie features a star-studded ensemble of colorful characters, the profound hitman Jules was a true highlight with a brilliant mix of Quentin Tarantino's writing and Samuel L. Jackson's performance. The movie remains a hugely influential piece of cinema and the Samuel L. Jackson Pulp Fiction quotes add to the long-lasting legacy.
Though Samuel L. Jackson almost wasn't cast in Pulp Fiction, the role ended up making him a star, and though he has gone on to star in Star Wars and MCU movies, Jules remains likely his most beloved character. Jules was a truly unique character who was articulate, a guy who doesn’t watch his language, and is prone to captivating monologues all of which make for some brilliant Pulp Fiction quotes from the complex hitman.
16 "You Happen To Pull This S*** While I'm In A Transitional Period So I Don't Wanna Kill You."
This Samuel L. Jackson quote is part of the ending of Pulp Fiction and the culmination of everything that has happened since the now-infamous opening scene. The audience understands that the Pulp Fiction timeline has come full circle from where it all began when they were introduced to Pumpkin and Honey Bunny in the cafe. Though the two would-be robbers initially seemed to have the whole situation under control, now that it is clear Jules and Vincent are in this cafe, things change. However, Tarantino once again subverts expectations. Jules' talk of leaving the life of violence behind is now put to the test and he proves he is dedicated to a more peaceful life.
15 "They Speak English In What?"
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There is a wonderful juxtaposition between how Jules was in his introductory scene, discussing European fast food with Vincent, and how he is when he "gets into character" once they arrive at the job. To be fair to young Brett, Jules has just shot his friend and is now berating him with questions. The panic makes it hard for Brett to focus and he keeps asking "what?" in disbelief. Jules shows that he can have a sense of humor even in such a tense scenario and begins taunting Brett with how he cannot seem to grasp what Jules is saying. The quote is made even funnier when Brett still answers with a terrified "what?" and Jules retorts "English mother f***er, do you speak it?!"
13 “Say ‘What’ Again! I Dare You! I Double-Dare You, Motherf*****, Say ‘What’ One More Goddamn Time!”
Quentin Tarantino is brilliant at crafting suspenseful scenes such as the open scene of Inglourious Basterds or the Spahn Ranch scene Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. However, he is also able to blend humor into these moments with Jules's intense interrogation of Brett being filled with hilarious moments. Tarantino gets a lot of mileage out of Brett simply saying "what" too many times for Jules's liking. Jackson plays the scene wonderfully, showing Jules getting increasingly scarier but never losing touch of the humor of the moment.
12 “Mmm, This Is A Tasty Burger!”
One of the hallmarks of Quentin Tarantino’s movies is that he doesn’t take any product placement deals. So, instead of eating and drinking and smoking actual brands, his characters are linked together by the fictional brands they use. For example, everyone in the Tarantino-verse smokes Red Apple Cigarettes, so that the director doesn’t have to give any money to some big tobacco company. When Jules helps himself to Brett's burger, his enjoyment of it might sound like obvious product placement if not for the fact that Big Kahuna Burger isn't real. Instead, it just comes off as a chilling intimidation tactic as Jules eats the man's burger even as he plans to kill him.
11 “I’m The Foot F*****’ Master.”
Part of the reason Pulp Fiction influenced so many movies was the fresh approach Tarantino gave to the crime genre. Jules and Vincent may look like the kind of slick hitmen seen in many action movies, but the fact that the audience sees them carrying on mundane everyday conversations, like the ethical nature of foot massages, when they aren't killing people is so much fun. When Vincent starts telling Jules about massaging feet, Jules tells him that he is “the foot f**kin’ master.” Hearing Jules take so much pride in his massage skills suggests a life outside of being a hitman.
10 “I’m Trying, Ringo. I’m Trying Real Hard To Be The Shepherd.”
After delivering his Ezekiel 25:17 speech for the second time, Jules its to reassessing the meaning of the Biblical quote he’d recited to all of his victims. He tells Ringo that he used to think he was “the righteous man,” but now, he wants to be “the shepherd.” While the original Pulp Fiction end for Pumpkin and Honey Bunny was more violent, seeing Jules do this soul-searching and coming to a realization about the man he wants to be is a much more interesting way to conclude his arc.
9 “If My Answers Frighten You, Then You Should Cease Asking Scary Questions.”
This is one of the wisest Pulp Fiction quotes from Jules. He’s a pretty philosophically minded guy, all things considered. Jules and Vincent make an interesting pair, but they are very different men. This creates a lot of fun in their conversations with Jules willing to go a lot deeper and tackle some heavier subject matter. This often leads Vincent befuddled and annoyed. But Jules is confident in the way he views the world and won't apologize if his thoughts are too much to take.
8 “Check Out The Big Brain On Brett!”
When Jules enters Brett’s apartment, he takes the dominant position by having a bite of Brett’s burger. This reminds him of the “Royale with Cheese” conversation he had with Vincent in the car – perhaps the most iconic conversation in the movie – and then congratulates Brett on being able to guess why the name was changed. Again, it is a taunting and somewhat malicious approach for Jules to take. He knows that he is going to kill these men, but he still goes ahead with carrying on conversations with them and even complementing them to perhaps put them at ease only to turn the tables.
7 “From Here On In, You Can Consider My Ass Retired.”
After getting shot at and not being hit by a single bullet, Jules believes that he was saved by divine intervention and decides to leave behind his life as a killer. As wonderful as the Pulp Fiction ensemble of characters is, it is moments like this that suggest the whole movie could have been about Jules and it would have been fascinating. Despite being a cold-blooded killer just moments ago, this one moment causes him to abandon that life entirely, making him a truly complex character. Interestingly, it is that decision to retire that allows Jules to live while Vincent dies.
