- [first lines]
- John Michael Hardesty: [narrating] Webster's International Dictionary defines murder as the unlawful taking of human life by another human being. On a November evening in 1955, the definition became obsolete. A mass murder was being planned.
- John Gilbert Graham: [after being arrested for murder] In case I get any mail, you can send it to Canon City Prison for the next month or so. After that you can send it to Hell!
- Firing range instructor: [Holding up an automatic weapon] Let me repeat again - get to know this weapon. Craftiness can solve many a criminal case, but with hoodlums you sometimes need a good conscientious, hard-working machine gun.
- John Michael Hardesty: On Sunday morning he left the house. He couldn't be going to work. Since he was a Communist, we knew he wasn't going to church.
- Lucy Ann Hardesty: Chip, you can't just get married like ordering a ham sandwich!
- John Michael Hardesty: You can if you're hungry!
- Sam Crandall: [Saying goodbye to John and Lucy as they leave on their honeymoon] Good luck! I hope the fish are biting.
- John Michael Hardesty: [With a knowing smile] I was kinda hopin' they wouldn't be.
- [last lines]
- John Michael Hardesty: I guess I'll never understand how one little family can collect so much junk.