How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Quote #1
FLOYD: I don't suppose you have any idea what the damn thing is.
HALVORSEN: I wish to hell we did. Nope, the only thing we're sure of is that it was buried 4 million years ago.
FLOYD: Well, I must say, you guys have certainly come up with something.
The scientists of Clavius base have uncovered the monolith, but this great discovery doesn't instantly reveal its nature or purpose to them. In true scientific fashion, they must continue to research and study it in the hopes of one day uncovering its secrets. As Fox Mulder said so many times, the truth is out there. Of course, he also said "Trust no one," so there's that.
Quote #2
HAL: Well, it's rather difficult to define. Perhaps I'm just projecting my own concern about it. I know I've never completely freed myself from the suspicion that there are some extremely odd things about this mission. I'm sure you'll agree there's some truth in what I say.
HAL has the truth, kept from the astronauts, stored in his data. Later Bowman will discover the video providing him the truth about the mission. For now, we're left to wonder: Is HAL conscious of the truth? Is his inability to share that truth corrupting him? Is lying ultimately the source of all the trouble on board the spacecraft?
Quote #3
HAL: Yes, I have a good track.
BOWMAN: Do you know what happened?
HAL: I'm sorry, Dave. I don't have enough information.
BOWMAN: Open the pod door, HAL.
Although HAL has been acting weird up until now, this is the first instance of his flat-out, unequivocally lying to a human being. Does being able to lie make him seem more human?