"You see, what stands out at a first reading is the lack of a central issue or a philosophical stance. That makes the film a chain of gratuitous episodes which may even be amusing in their ambivalent realism. You wonder, what is the director really trying to do? Make us think? Scare us? That ploy betrays a basic lack of poetic inspiration."

"It's better to destroy than create what's unnecessary."

"The truth is: I do not know... I seek... I have not yet found. Only with this in mind can I feel alive and look at you without shame."

"All the confusion of my life... has been a reflection of myself! Myself as I am, not as I'd like to be."

"My Dears... Happiness consists of being able to tell the truth without hurting anyone."

"I thought my ideas were so clear. I wanted to make an honest film. No lies whatsoever. I thought I had something so simple to say. Something useful to everybody. A film that could help bury forever all those dead things we carry within ourselves. Instead, I'm the one without the courage to bury anything at all. When did I go wrong? I really have nothing to say, but I want to say it all the same."

"Enough of symbolism and these escapist themes of purity and innocence."

"The story of the greatest moment in sports history."

"Scott Johnson - Steve Christoff"

"Kris Wilson - Phil Verchota"

"Nate Miller - John Harrington"

"Bobby Hanson - Dave Silk"

"Nathan West - Rob McClanahan"

"Michael Mantenuto - Jack O'Callahan"

"Patrick O'Brien Demsey as Mike Eruzione"

"Eddie Cahill - Jim Craig"

"Kenneth Welsh - Doc Nagobads"

"Sean McCann - Walter Bush"

"Patricia Clarkson - Patti Brooks"

"Noah Emmerich - Coach Craig Patrick"

"Kurt Russell - Coach Herb Brooks"

"Do you believe in miracles?"

"Their game made them winners. Their spirit made them heroes."

"If you believe in yourself, Miracles can happen."

"What America needed was a miracle. What it got was a hockey game."

"Johnson over to Ramsey! Bilyaletdinov gets checked by Ramsey! McClanahan is there! The puck is still loose! Eleven seconds-- [original audio broadcast] You've got ten seconds, the countdown going on right now! Morrow, up to Silk! Five seconds left in the game! Do you believe in miracles?! YES!!!"

"[Epilogue voiceover] Two days later, the miracle was made complete. My boys defeated Finland to win the gold medal, coming from behind once again. As I watched them out there, celebrating on the ice, I realized that Patti had been right. It was a lot more than a hockey game, not only for those who watched it, but for those who played in it. I've often been asked in the years since Lake Placid what was the best moment for me. Well, it was here - the sight of 20 young men of such differing backgrounds now standing as one. Young men willing to sacrifice so much of themselves, all for an unknown. A few years later, the U.S. began using professional athletes at the Games - "Dream Teams". I always found that term ironic because now that we have Dream Teams, we seldom ever get to dream. But on one weekend, as America and the world watched, a group of remarkable young men gave the nation what it needed most - a chance, for one night, not only to dream, but a chance, once again, to believe."

"[Speaking to team during the last intermission in the US-USSR game] Listen to 'em (the crowd chanting U-S-A!). That's what you've done. Now, we've come from behind in every game in this tournament so far and we can do it again. [team blankly stares] We can beat these guys! Everybody in!... Who do you play for?"

"[Addressing the team before the US-USSR game] Great moments...are born from great opportunity. And that's what you have here, tonight, boys. That's what you've earned here tonight. One game. If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game, not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them...and we shut them down because we can! Tonight, we... are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players. Every one of you. And you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time. Their time...is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Soviets have. Screw 'em! This... is your time! Now go out there and take it!"

"This cannot be a team of common men. Because common men go nowhere. You have to be uncommon. Again."

"You keep playing this way, you won't beat anyone that's good, let alone great! You want to make this team, then you better start playing at a level that's gonna FORCE ME TO KEEP YOU HERE! AGAIN!"

"You better think about something else, each and every one of you. When you pull on that jersey, you represent yourself and your teammates...and the name on the front is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back! GET THAT THROUGH YOUR HEAD! AGAIN!"

"You think you can win on talent alone? Gentlemen, you don't have enough talent to win on talent alone. Again!"

"[after discovering Mooney with a young woman] I'm warning you, Doolittle, I'd better not ever catch you with trash like that again! I mean it!"

"[to Loretta] I'll call you on Monday and we'll go shopping. Anything we can't buy, we'll make. Anything we can't make, we'll steal!"

"Lee Dollarhide: Doo, if you're born in the mountains, you got three choices, coal mine, moonshine or moving on down the line."

"Sissy Spacek - Loretta Lynn"

"Ernest Tubb - Himself"

"William Sanderson - Lee Dollarhide"

"Bob Hannah - Charlie Dick"