Jack Bauer
Played by: Kiefer Sutherland
View: Quotes | Trivia | Videos | Wallpapers
Memorable Quotes
Jack Bauer: I'm Federal Agent Jack Bauer, and today is the longest day of my life. (Recurring episode introductions)
Tony Almeida: I don't know, Jack. If we start screening Palmer, they might think we're investigating him because he's black.
Jack Bauer: That's because we
are investigating him because he's black. That makes him the most likely target.
Jessie Hampton (Police Officer): CTU. What the hell is that?
Jack Bauer: Counter Terrorist Unit. Officer, this guy is not waiting around for me so you better shoot me or help me but decide now.
(testing the comms link)
Ira Gaines: Now say something.
Jack Bauer: If you hurt my daughter, I will kill you.
Ira Gaines: Good. There's a nice clear signal.
Jack Bauer: I used to be in the military. Used to do field work for the CIA. I've been to some horrible places. I've seen some pretty terrible things... I don't think I've ever been this scared in my whole life.
Jack Bauer: I have killed two people since midnight. I have not slept in over 24 hours. So maybe you should be a little more afraid of me than you are right now.
Jack Bauer: You don't believe me, do you? If I were you, I wouldn't believe me either.
(over the phone)
Eli: Who is this?
Jack Bauer: I'm the last thing you will ever see if you hurt my wife or daughter.
Jack Bauer: You ever heard of the Russian gulag?
Ted Cofell: What?
Jack Bauer: Strings of prisons in Northern Siberia. Russians didn't have much equipment up there, so they had to deal with what was around, sort of what I'm doing right now. You probably don't think I can thrust this towel down your throat, but trust me I can, all the way. Except I hold on to this tiny bit at the end. When your stomach starts to digest it, I pull it out, taking your stomach lining with it. Most people take about a week to die. It's very painful.
Ted Cofell: What kind of man are you?
Nina Myers: You want me to put together an interrogation profile in 15 minutes?
Jack Bauer: I'll give you about five.
Jack Bauer: We leak a story to the press that he was killed in the explosion.
Sherry Palmer: You've got to be kidding.
Jack Bauer: I've never been more serious in my life.
Teri Bauer: You're going to be a father. Again.
Jack Bauer: What are you saying, that you're pregnant?
Teri Bauer: Well, yes, that's generally how it works, Jack.
Jack Bauer: (to Teri) Sweetheart, I promise you that everything's going to be okay. It's just been a really, really long day.
Nina Myers: Jack, if you kill me, you won't know who I work for. You think I work for Drazen, but I don't.
Jack Bauer: I trusted you, Nina.
Nina Myers: I was just doing my job.
Jack Bauer: Your job? My wife and daughter almost died today. How many people that trusted you lost their life today because you were doing your job? Walsh, or Jamey, Ellis? How many others?
Nina Myers: How many died because of you, Jack?
George Mason: Jack...look at you. You look like a bum off the street. You're not talking to me. I just confiscated a witness outside of my authority based on your call. Now are you gonna tell me what you're doing?
Jack Bauer: No.
Jack Bauer: I'm gonna need a hacksaw.
Jack Bauer: He shouldn't have been playing with adults.
Jack Bauer: I'm doing my job. You people better start doing yours!
Nina Myers: He is going to put a bullet in my head before I say hello and then he's gonna turn the gun on himself.
Jack Bauer: We'll make sure he doesn't turn the gun on himself.
Jack Bauer: Sunday before you killed my wife, Teri and I were in town at a boardwalk in Venice, just watching all the rollerbladers, the musicians, laughing at the crazy people, spending time together. Teri sees this sno-cone stand, she giggles like a kid, she takes off to get in line, she wants one. I remember I was watching her, I just couldn't help myself. When I looked up, she was talking with this old lady behind her, and the two of them were laughing, and I'm thinking to myself, "How the hell does she do that? How does she strike up a conversation with an absolute stranger, and they just start laughing like they've been friends forever?" That's a gift. I remember thinking, "God, I wish I could do that." But I can't. That was Teri. My wife. That's what you took from this world. That's what you took from me and my daughter. I just wanted you to know that.
Nina Myers: I never meant it to be personal.
Jack Bauer: It felt pretty personal when you killed my wife.
Jack Bauer: Kim, I want you to point the gun at his chest and pull the trigger now.
(testing comms link)
Jack Bauer: Say something.
Sherry Palmer: I'm scared.
Jack Bauer: Okay, it's working.
Jack Bauer: It's been an honour working with you, Mr. President.
Jack Bauer: The only reason that you're conscious right now is because I don't want to carry you.
(trying to convince Jack to surrender himself to the subpoena)
Jack Bauer: We are talking about innocent children.
Frank Trammell: Whatever happens to them is all on you.
Jack Bauer: You would leave these children out on the street, knowing what you do about Juma? Damn it, Frank. They will be used as cannon fodder... or slaughtered in the soccer stadium for entertainment!
Frank Trammell: I am giving you the chance to make sure that doesn't happen! The choice is yours.
(Jack looks at Willie)
Jack Bauer: I don't have a choice, you son of a bitch. Open the gate!
(Jack's Senate hearing)
Senator Blaine Mayer: All right then. Let’s begin. Mr. Bauer, who is Ibrahim Haddad?
Jack Bauer: That information is classified.
Senator Blaine Mayer: We represent the people of the United States. And we have declassified those files on their behalf. Now, I’m going to ask you one more time. Who is Ibrahim Haddad?
Jack Bauer: He was a member of a terrorist sleeper cell CTU had under surveillance in 2002.
Senator Blaine Mayer: And isn't it true that you detained Mr. Haddad without due process? And that you used extreme interrogation methods on him... until he answered your questions?
Jack Bauer: Yes, sir.
Senator Blaine Mayer: Would you say that you broke procedure with this interrogation?
Jack Bauer: Probably.
Senator Blaine Mayer: Probably? Well, that's a very cavalier answer. You don't seem to care about the implications here.
(silence)
Senator Blaine Mayer: Well, Mr. Bauer?
Jack Bauer: I'm sorry, senator, I didn't hear a question.
Senator Blaine Mayer: All right, then. Did you torture Mr. Haddad?
Jack Bauer: According to the definition set forth by the Geneva Convention... yes, I did. Senator, why don't I save you some time? It's obvious that your agenda is to discredit CTU... and generate a series of indictments--
Senator Blaine Mayer: My only agenda is to get to the truth.
Jack Bauer: I don't think it is, sir.
Senator Blaine Mayer: Excuse me?
Jack Bauer: Ibraham Haddad had targeted a bus carrying 45 people, 10 of which were children. The truth, senator, is I stopped that attack from happening.
Senator Blaine Mayer: By torturing Mr. Haddad.
Jack Bauer: By doing what I deemed necessary to protect innocent lives.
Senator Blaine Mayer: So basically, what you're saying, Mr. Bauer, is that the ends justify the means, and that you are above the law.
Jack Bauer: When I am activated, when I am brought into a situation, there is a reason. And that reason is to complete the objectives of my mission at all costs.
Senator Blaine Mayer: Even if it means breaking the law?
Jack Bauer: For a combat soldier, the difference between success and failure is your ability to adapt to your enemy. The people that I deal with, they don't care about your rules. All they care about is a result. My job is to stop them from accomplishing their objectives. I simply adapted. In answer to your question, am I above the law? No, sir. I am more than willing to be judged by the people you claim to represent. I will let them decide what price I should pay. But please do not sit there with that smug look on your face and expect me to regret the decisions that I have made. Because, sir, the truth is, I don't.
Larry Moss: You're here because Agent Walker thinks you might be able to help us with an investigation. Now, personally, I have my doubts. But I'll be happy to be proven wrong.
Jack Bauer: Well, lucky for me, I'm not here to apply for a job, Agent Moss. Personally, I don't care what makes you happy, so let's just get this over with.
Agent Kilner: Mr Bauer?
Jack Bauer: Yeah?
Agent Kilner: I just wanted to tell you… what they're making you go through at that Senate hearing …it’s wrong.
(Jack smiles)
Jack Bauer: No, it’s not. It’s better that everything comes out into the open. We’ve done so many secret things over the years in the name of protecting this country, we've created two worlds; ours and the people we promised to protect. They deserve to know the truth, and they can decide how far they want to let us go.
Agent Kilner: Still, you don't deserve to be treated that way. Not after what you've done for our country. And I'm not the only one that thinks so.
Jack Bauer: Thank you.
Jack Bauer: (to Tony Almeida) What happened to you? What the hell happened to you?
(Jack states his case for interrogating Tony Almeida)
Jack Bauer: I can get you your CIP device. Just let me talk to him. I know him. I know how he thinks. We have a history. I can use it against him.
(regarding Tony Almeida)
Jack Bauer: You’re running out of time. You don’t have a better option.
(to Tony Almeida)
Jack Bauer: I watched you die in my arms. You wanna explain to me how you’re still alive?
Tony Almeida: Money is the only reason I have left for doing anything. The government took care of that.
Jack Bauer: The government didn’t kill Michelle. Charles Logan did.
Tony Almeida: Charles Logan is a product of his environment. The government poisons everything in its path. You know that better than me, Jack. Look what they did to you.
Jack Bauer: Damn it, Tony, we are not talking about me.
Tony Almeida: Oh, we're not? You're asking me why I'm doing this. I could ask you the same question. Here you are, working for the same people who wanna put you in prison. The same people who killed everything you loved and left you with nothing. Your daughter wants nothing to do with you. Teri's dead.
Jack Bauer: Shut up.
Tony Almeida: Audrey Raines--
Jack Bauer: (shouting) I said, shut up!
Tony Almeida: No, Jack, no! You need to hear this! You need to start living in the real world. Because every second you help the government, you're spitting on Teri's grave!
(Jack grabs hold of Tony and throws him up against the wall)
Jack Bauer: Get up! Tell me where the device is! So help me God, I will kill you, and you will stay dead this time. Where is the device?
(throttling Tony) This is your last chance. Where is it?
(shouting) Where is it!?
Tony Almeida: (whispers) Deep Sky.
Jack Bauer: What did you just say?
Tony Almeida: (slowly and quietly) Deep Sky.
(over the phone)
Disguised voice: Hello?
Jack Bauer: This is Jack Bauer.
Diguised voice: Yes?
Jack Bauer: I was told to call you.
Disguised voice: By whom?
Jack Bauer: Tony Almeida. He gave me this old CTU emergency phone code. Deep Sky.
(voice disguiser is removed)
Bill Buchanan: It's Bill, Jack.
Tony Almeida: Listen, Jack, I'm sorry about the stuff I said back there. I just... needed to get you close enough to give you Bill's code name.
Jack Bauer: Just glad I didn't break your neck.
Tony Almeida: Well, uh, you came close.
Jack Bauer: Yeah. Sorry about that.
(Tony chuckles)
(Before driving a car through the wall of the first floor of the parking lot)
Jack Bauer: This is gonna hurt.
President Taylor: You resigned from government service,
And the senate regards you as having been a renegade agent. How am I supposed to know where your loyalties really lie?
Jack Bauer: With all due respect, Madame President, ask around.
Jack Bauer: Listen, I've been thinking a lot about what we talked about. I've made up my mind. I wanna move back to Los Angeles with you.
Kim Bauer: Really?
Jack Bauer: Yeah. I've got a friend who's got a private security firm. Said he'd give me some consulting work. He's also got a place I can rent.
Kim Bauer: (smiling) Dad, I don't know what to say.
Jack Bauer: Come here.
(they hug eachother)
Jack Bauer: You don't have to say anything, just give me a ride to the airport tonight.
Kim Bauer: Wait, you're coming with us tonight?
Jack Bauer: If that's okay.
Jack Bauer: The best I can do for you, Victor, is get you an ambulance. I don't work for the government anymore. I'm out.
Victor Aruz: Oh, this you're gonna wanna hear.
Jack Bauer: Why?
Victor Aruz: Why? Because you're the guy who always does the right thing. There's a big hit going down.
Jack Bauer: On who?
Victor Aruz: President Hassan at the UN. He's getting taken out.
Jack Bauer: When?
Victor Aruz: Today. Before he can sign this thing with Taylor. You see? Told you you'd be interested.
Jack Bauer: You better not be screwing with me.
Victor Aruz: I'm not. I swear, I'm not.
Jack Bauer: Who's the hitter? What's his name?
(shouts) Who's the hitter?
Victor Aruz: I don't know his name. He's Russian or something.
Jack Bauer: Not good enough! Who is the hitter?
Victor Aruz: Look. I know how to find him and stop him before he makes the hit. But I'm not saying another word until I make my deal.
Jack Bauer: You're lucky I'm retired.
Jack Bauer: (about CTU) I hate this place.
Chloe O'Brian: You've come to me for help many times, and I've never let you down. You've asked me to do crazy things. And I've always taken your side. Please. Help me. I can't do this by myself.
Jack Bauer: I'm sorry. I... I can't. Not this time. Not me.
Jack Bauer: I'm sure President Taylor's gonna be very interested to find out what happened to my informant when I tried to deliver him to you.
Brian Hastings: Excuse me?
Jack Bauer: Paul tried to secure that landing zone with more men. But instead you sent a drone which failed to detect a missile that killed my informant and two of your men. Paul hasn't said anything about it. And neither will I. As long as you let me pursue this.
Brian Hastings: So now you're blackmailing me?
Jack Bauer: You forced my hand. Now I'm forcing yours.
Brian Hastings: You don't wanna be doing this, Bauer.
Jack Bauer: No, I don't. I wanna be on a plane to Los Angeles with my family, but you're not giving me another choice.
Brian Hastings: You wanna waste your time chasing ghosts, knock yourself out. I've gotta stop an assasination plot. Give him the bag.
Jack Bauer: I need Chloe to run Ops.
Brian Hastings: Fine, she's all yours.
Jack Bauer: Thank you.
Lugo Elson: No calls till we get to Vladimir.
Jack Bauer: (pointing gun at Lugo) Does this look like a situation where you get to make demands?
Trivia
The Bauer family, played by Kiefer Sutherland, Leslie Hope and Elisha Cuthbert were all either born or raised in Canada.
Jack Barrett was the initially the planned name for Kiefer Sutherland’s character.
Kiefer Sutherland signed on for three more seasons of 24 during season 5.
Jack Bauer was born on February 18, 1966.
Videos
Wallpapers
^ Back to top of page
