GM: BEST OF..

it’s all in
the game, yo
THERE’S not much left to say
about THE WIRE, so let’s just
leave the best quotes of five
series to do the talking for
David Simon and Ed Burns’
masterpiece. BY PADDY HOEY

ULTIMATE (METAPHORIC) TRUISM

''What kind of people stand around watching a fire?
Shameful shit, right here. Where else would you
rather be, huh, kids?''
City Editor Gus Haynes

MOST HEARD REFRAIN (1)

‘What the fuck did I do?’
Det Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West, right)

MOST HEARD REFRAIN (2)

‘Sheeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiit’
Senator Clay Davis

JUNKIE SAVANT
‘Where in Leave It To Beaver land
are you taking me?’

‘Fine line between heaven and QUIXOTIC PROPHECY

here.’
‘No offense, son, but that's some
weak-ass thinking. You equivocating like a mother-
fucker.
Reginald ‘Bubbles’ Cousins (above left)
TRUISM (1)
‘Det Lester Freamon (left):
’Seems that Stringer Bell is worse
than a drug dealer . . .
Det Roland 'Prez'
Pryzbylewski: ‘He's a developer.
JOURNALISM IS...
‘All right people, it’s two
o’clock. I need budget lines, in
case anyone is in danger of
committing an act of daily jour-
nalism
GUS HAYNES
‘What do you have to do to get thrown off this
force?’
Det. Jimmy McNulty
POLITICAL TRUISMS (1)
‘I wish I was still on the newspaper
so I could write on this fucking mess.
It’s too good.’
Norman Wilson (left)
POLITICAL TRUISM (2)
‘Americans are a stupid people. By and large, we
pretty much believe whatever we're told.'
Det Ed Norris
THE CRUX
(Lawyer) Levy: You are amoral, feeding
off the violence and the despair of the drug
trade. [...]
Omar (left): Just like you, man. [...] I got
the shotgun. You got the briefcase. It's all in
the game, though, right?