The Exorcist is widely regarded as one of the greatest horror movies of all time. The reasons for that distinction are several. Of course, it is a wonderfully effective horror film, and it remains a terrifying experience even to this day. When released in 1973, the scares and inappropriate content shocked audiences the world over, allegedly causing some people to faint in their seats. Today, while certainly a little dated, the scary sequences remain incredibly effective.

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But it's also a touching story about re-discovering faith, making sacrifices, and the lengths that parents will go to to protect their children. The result is a slew of fantastic quotes.

Scariest: "Is There Someone Inside You?"

WhileThe Exorcist is mostly known for its exorcism scenes, those only encompass about ten minutes of screen time. And even then it's the last ten minutes of the movie. Most of the movie is concerned aboutChris MacNeil's desperate search to find a cure for her increasingly out-of-control daughter.

This includes lots of visits to the psychiatrist. In one horrifying sequence, the psychiatrist asks, "Is there someone inside you?" It's certainly a haunting question for a certified professional to ask someone - especially a little kid.

Most Profound: "It Would Bring Us Together."

There's a reasonThe Exorcist is calledThe Exorcist and not something likeThe Exorcism. The movie, while certainly containing its fair share of scary sequences, is mainly about Father Karras's search for faith. Just as Chris searches for a cure,Father Karras searches for God.

This leads to one of the movie's most spectacular bits of dialogue, spoken between Karras and the Demon. "What an excellent day for an exorcism." "You would like that?" "Intensely." "But wouldn't that drive you out of Regan?" "It would bring us together." "You and Regan?" "You and us."

Scariest: "So Don't Listen To Him. Remember That - Do Not Listen."

Father Merrin is a smart man, and he has far more experience with Pazuzu - and exorcisms in general - than Father Karras.Before conducting the exorcism, Merrin is quick to give Karras a piece of advice:

"The demon is a liar. He will lie to confuse us. But he will also mix lies with the truth to attack us. The attack is psychological, Damien, and powerful. So don't listen to him. Remember that - do not listen." Of course, Karras can't help but listen to him - especially when he brings up his deceased mother.

Most Profound: "I Think The Point Is To Make Us Despair..."

During the exorcism,Karras and Merrin share a wonderful bit of dialogue in which they question the targeting of Regan. Karras asks, "Why her? Why this girl?" To which the more experienced Karras gives a fantastically profound answer:

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"I think the point is to make us despair. To see ourselves as... animal and ugly. To make us reject the possibility that God could love us." It sums up the primary theme ofThe Exorcist, and it is brilliant.

Scariest: "That's Much Too Vulgar A Display Of Power, Karras."

The demon and Father Karras share a great bit of dialogue upon their first meeting. Karras introduces himself, stating, "Then let's introduce ourselves. I'm Damien Karras." The demon promptly responds, "And I'm the Devil. Now kindly undo these straps," almost as ifbeing the Devil is no big thing.

Karras isn't convinced, asking, "If you're the Devil, why not make the straps disappear?" And the devil has a fantastic response: "That's much too vulgar a display of power, Karras."

Most Profound: "It Has Worked, In Fact, Although Not For The Reason They Think."

The Exorcist was quite controversial when released in the more conservative year of 1973. The language depicted throughout the movie is incredibly crude, even by today's standards, and the movie displays a very anti-religion sentiment throughout much of its screen time.

This is represented through Chris's conversation with Dr. Barringer, who strikes down the concept of exorcism. "It's pretty much discarded these days, except by the Catholics who keep it in the closet as a sort of embarrassment. It has worked, in fact, although not for the reason they think, of course. It was purely the force of suggestion. The victim's belief in possession helped cause it. And just in the same way, this belief in the power of exorcism can make it disappear."

Scariest: "You're Going To Die Up There."

The Exorcist doesn't take long in getting to the creepy stuff. Chris hosts a party at her house, and one of her guests isan astronaut named Captain Billy Cutshaw. Regan, in her early stage of possession, wanders downstairs in a haze, stares at Cutshaw, and simply states, "You're going to die up there."

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It's a very eerie line, especially when uttered with such a lack of emotion. Regan then urinates on the carpet, further solidifying the fact that something isvery wrong with her.

Most Profound: "You Probably Know As Much About Possession Than Most Priests."

Throughout much ofThe Exorcist, the concept of exorcism is treated as an out-of-date practice without any basis in reality, something practiced hundreds of years ago when religion was taken more seriously.

Karras states as much to Chris when she comes to him for help: "There are no experts. You probably know as much about possession than most priests." Exorcism is so out-of-date that even most modern priests don't know a thing about it.

Scariest: "Your Mother's In Here, Karras."

The Exorcist does a tricky thing. It displays exorcism as an outdated and nonsensical practice, but it also contradicts that theme late in the movie by displaying a genuine exorcism.

Karras begins to break down after meeting the demon, especially when it utters one of the movie's most famous lines: "Your mother's in here, Karras. Would you like to leave a message? I'll see that she gets it." That is something no one wants to hear.

Most Profound: "There Isn't A Day In My Life When I Haven't Felt Like A Fraud."

Perhaps the most profound quote in the entire movie is uttered by Father Karras: "There isn't a day in my life when I haven't felt like a fraud. I mean priests, doctors, I've talked to them all. I don't know anyone who hasn't felt that."

It's perfectly in keeping with his character, as Karras has lost his faith. But it's also a quote that speaks to the universal human condition, and that's exactly what makesThe Exorcist such a masterpiece of cinema.

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