Smiley's People (TV miniseries)

"(re an antique book on his desk) Oliver, would you mind leaving that alone? It's not mine, and it's worth half the gross national product."

"(on Guillam's Porsche) What a perfectly revolting little car! How ever will we all fit in?"

"You remember the first rule of retirement, George? No moonlighting, no fooling with loose ends, no private enterprise, ever. You remember who preaches this rule, at Sarratt, in the corridors? George Smiley did. Quote, "When it's over, it's over. Pull down the shutters, go home," unquote. We're over, George. We've got no license. They don't want us anymore."

"Grigorieva got herself a driving license two months ago. And she's terrible! Terrible, like lousy. You know what Pauli Skordeno says to me? He says, "Toby, I need danger money just to follow that woman.""

"He's so conspicuous he's embarrassing."

"Well, they like the guy, George. You know how watchers are, it's like or hate all the time. They like him."

"(on Karla's defection) George, all your life! Fantastic!"

"Saul Enderby: (reading) "Karla's signal referred me to several émigré families who might be persuaded by pressure to adopt such an agent as their own child, since blackmail is considered preferable to bribery." Damn right it is. Cheers. At the present rate of inflation, blackmail's about the only thing that keeps its value."

"Villem Craven: I ask him, "Vladimir, who knows I do this for you?" "Only Mikhel, a very little," he said. "Mikhel is my friend. But even to friends, we cannot trust." "Enemies I do not fear," he said, "but friends, I fear greatly.""

"Alec Guinness - George Smiley"

"Michael Byrne - Peter Guillam"

"Curd Jurgens - Vladimir"

"Vladek Sheybal - Otto Leipzig"

"Eileen Atkins - Maria Ostrakova"

"Anthony Bate - Oliver Lacon"

"Barry Foster - Saul Enderby"

"Sian Phillips - Ann Smiley"

"Bill Paterson - Lauder Strickland"

"Bernard Hepton - Toby Esterhase"

"Beryl Reid - Connie Sachs"

"Michael Lonsdale - Grigoriev"

"Patrick Stewart - Karla"