Citizen Kane

"[I entered this campaign] with one purpose only, to point out and make public the dishonesty, the downright villainy of Boss Jim W. Gettys political machine, now in complete control of the government of this state. I made no campaign promises, because until a few weeks ago, I had no hope of being elected. Now however, I am something more than a hope. Jim Gettys, Jim Gettys has something less than a chance. Every straw vote, every independent poll shows that Ill be elected. Now I can afford to make some promises. The working man, the working man and the slum child know they can expect my best efforts in their interests. The nations ordinary citizens know that Ill do everything in my power to protect the underprivileged, the underpaid, and the underfed."

"A fellow will remember a lot of things you wouldnt think hed remember. You take me. One day, back in 1896, I was crossing over to Jersey on the ferry, and as we pulled out, there was another ferry pulling in, and on it there was a girl waiting to get off. A white dress she had on. She was carrying a white parasol. I only saw her for one second. She didnt see me at all, but Ill bet a month hasnt gone by since that I havent thought of that girl."

"[referring to Kanes Declaration of Principles] Id like to keep that particular piece of paper myself. I have a hunch it might turn out to be something pretty important, a document, like the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution, and my first report card at school."

"Legendary was Xanadu where Kubla Khan decreed his stately pleasure dome. Today, almost as legendary is Floridas Xanadu, worlds largest private pleasure ground. Here, on the deserts of the Gulf Coast, a private mountain was commissioned and successfully built. One hundred thousand trees, twenty thousand tons of marble are the ingredients of Xanadus mountain. Contents of Xanadus palace: paintings, pictures, statues, the very stones of many another palace — a collection of everything so big it can never be catalogued or appraised, enough for ten museums — the loot of the world. Xanadus livestock: the fowl of the air, the fish of the sea, the beast of the field and jungle. Two of each, the biggest private zoo since Noah. Like the pharaohs, Xanadus landlord leaves many stones to mark his grave. Since the pyramids, Xanadu is the costliest monument a man has built to himself. Here in Xanadu last week, Xanadus landlord was laid to rest: a potent figure of our century, Americas Kubla Khan, Charles Foster Kane."

"Alone in his never-finished, already decaying pleasure palace, aloof, seldom visited, never photographed, an emperor of new strength continued to direct his failing empire, varyingly attempted to sway as he once did the destinies of a nation that had ceased to listen to him, ceased to trust him. Then last week, as it must to all men, death came to Charles Foster Kane."

"A toast, Jedediah, to love on my terms. Those are the only terms anybody ever knows - his own."

"I always gagged on that silver spoon."

"The news goes on for 24 hours a day."

"Its my duty and — Ill let you in on a little secret — its also my pleasure to see to it that decent, hard-working people in this community arent robbed blind by a pack of money-mad pirates, just because they havent had anybody to look after their interests."

"If the headline is big enough, it makes the news big enough."

"As Charles Foster Kane who owns eighty-two thousand, six hundred and thirty-four shares of public transit - you see, I do have a general idea of my holdings - I sympathize with you. Charles Foster Kane is a scoundrel. His paper should be run out of town. A committee should be formed to boycott him. You may, if you can form such a committee, put me down for a contribution of one thousand dollars."

"I was on my way to the Western Manhattan Warehouse in search of my youth. You see, my mother died a long time ago and her things were put in storage out West. There wasnt any other place to put them. I thought Id send for them now. Tonight, I was going to take a look at them. You know, a sort of sentimental journey."