What is the greatest line of all time?

The Most Memorable Line in Film History

Some lines in cinema slip effortlessly into the fabric of culture, echoing far beyond the screen. One such line, etched permanently into Hollywood lore, is “Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.” Delivered by Clark Gable as the roguish Rhett Butler in Victor Fleming’s 1939 epic Gone with the Wind, it’s a moment of cold finality that still resonates over eight decades later.

It wasn’t just the drama of Scarlett O’Hara begging Rhett to stay that made the line powerful—it was the delivery. Gable’s weary defiance, paired with the weight of a crumbling world around them, turned a simple breakup into a cultural milestone. The line capped not only a tempestuous relationship but symbolized the end of an era, both on screen and off.

In 2005, the American Film Institute gathered a jury of 1,500 film artists, critics, and historians to determine the most memorable movie quote in American cinema. After much deliberation, that single sentence emerged at the top—a testament to its enduring impact. It was bold for its time, too. Using the word “damn” in a mainstream film was still considered risqué in 1939, pushing against the boundaries of the Hays Code censorship rules.

What makes this line so unforgettable isn’t just its defiance, but its truth. It’s the moment when charm gives way to honesty, when love finally loses to pride. In three short clauses, Gable captured disillusionment, heartbreak, and liberation—all in one breath. That’s why, decades later, we still remember exactly what he didn’t give.