Context

This line is spoken by Itzhak Stern, played by Ben Kingsley, in the film Schindler's List, directed by Steven Spielberg (1993).

No jokes this time, because this line is seriously powerful. Oskar Schindler, a German businessman and Nazi party member, moves to Poland to run a factory during World War II. When he witnesses violence against the local Jewish population, his motivations change forever. He creates a plan to hire Jews to work in his factory, saving them from concentration camps. With the help of a local official, Itzhak Stern, Schindler makes a list of people to be saved before they're transported to Auschwitz.

Stern types the list and says, "The list is an absolute good. The list is life. All around its margins lies the gulf." He was right. This movie is based on a true story, and the real Schindler saved over a thousand Jewish refugees by hiring them to work in his factories. This movie earned plenty of Oscars, but the real Oskar deserved way more than that.

Bravo, Mr. Schindler.

Where you've heard it

You've heard this when someone makes a really good list. A grocery list. A bucket list. The list goes on and on.

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.

It's not pretentious when Itzhak says it, but if you're comparing yourself to a guy who liberated Jews from the Nazis, you need to check yourself.