True Detective Quotes
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Source: True Detective
Speaker: Rust Cohle
The world needs bad men. We keep the other bad men from the door.
Context
This line is spoken by Rust Cohle, played by Matthew McConaughey, in the TV show True Detective (2014).
What do you get if you take Matthew McConaughey's Lincoln commercial, add a murder, and throw in Woody from Cheers? You get True Detective. It's just as dramatic as the iconic car commercial, but even more confusing.
In the show, two (true) detectives drive around and talk about philosophical issues while trying to solve a murder. It has so much gravitas, we're surprised the car can even move. In one memorable discussion, the two (true) detectives discuss if they are bad men. McConaughey's character, Rust Cohle, who is a self-proclaimed bad man, then says: "The world needs bad men. We keep the other bad men from the door."
Where you've heard it
You've heard this from that tough guy who always needs to brag about how "bad" he is. One writer also hears echoes of Shakespeare in this quote. (But maybe he should get his ears checked.)
Pretentious Factor
If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.
You're acting like a "bad" guy who does good. Make up your mind; you can't have it both ways.