Quotes from The State Dinner


C.J.: Man alive, do I love it when In Style magazine is issued press credentials. Mirabella needed to know which wine was being served with the fish course so it's a good thing I went to school for twenty-two years.
Josh: What wine are we...?
C.J.: It's wine, you'll drink it.

Toby: Don't say friends.
Sam: It's a state dinner.
Toby: Fine, but I don't think we should remind people how friendly we were with dictators who oppressed their people while stealing their money.
Sam: How else are you gonna steal their money?
Toby: See, that's good, write that in the toast.

Bartlet: I can't decide if that man is boring or rude, but he's one or the other.
Leo: I'm sorry to hear that.
Bartlet: I'm sitting out there trying to figure out how this guy can campaign for something and win, then I remember, we usually rig the elections.

Sam: Do you really think it's a good idea to invite people to dinner and then tell them exactly what they're doing wrong with their lives?
Toby: Absolutely, otherwise it's just a waste of food.

Josh: I don't think it's unreasonably macho for the White House to be aggressive in preserving democracy.

Mandy: You think it's a good sign?
Josh: I really don't know.
Mandy: I'm asking what you think.
Josh: I don't have any thoughts on it one way or the other.
Mandy: Well, what's happening with the teamsters?
Josh: I don't know.
Mandy: Any news on the hurricane?
Josh: Not that I'm aware of.
Mandy: What is it you do here, exactly?
Josh: It's never really been made clear to me.

C.J.: Good evening, Mrs. Bartlet.
Abbey: Nice threads, girl.

Bartlet: What do I do now?
Leo: Go back to the party.

Sam to Laurie: I'll give you ten-thousand dollars not to go home with that guy tonight.

Abbey: One of the things that happens when I stay away too long is that you forget that you don't have the power to fix everything. You have a big brain and a good heart and an ego the size of Montana. You do, Jed. You don't have the power to fix everything... but I do like watching you try.

Bartlet: Well, if this isn't a metaphor for powerlessness, I don't know what is.


Back to episode info