It’s debatable, but it’s easy to argue that nobody has more golden Saw quotes than the main character of the franchise, Jigsaw. Every statement he makes is either witty or has some sort of hidden meaning to it. Jigsaw happens to be a former engineer who suffers from a terminal illness. After attempting suicide he came to appreciate life even more, and he sought to impart that same death-defying lesson to those whom he believed did not value their lives. Thus began a gruesome chain of events that has thus far spanned nine movies and nearly two decades. Saw 3D, released in 2010, looked to be the death knell for the iconic horror franchise.
The recipient of abysmal reviews of Saw 3D from critics and audiences alike almost made it the final Saw movie. The series would go on a seven-year hiatus before returning in 2017 with the half-prequel, half-sequel Jigsaw. Then, in 2021, Chris Rock would helm an unlikely spin-off entry titled Spiral: From the Book of Saw. The film was the first to move away from John Kramer entirely, but his ethos remains as pervasive as ever. The franchise is not finished yet, as Saw X in 2023 marks the 10th movie in the franchise — although its script will have to be A+ to top the best Jigsaw quotes from Saw for far.
18 “I’m Sick Of It All”
Saw (2004)
John Kramer revealed his motivations to the police early in the franchise in 2004’s Saw when he was close to being apprehended in his warehouse while one of his victims was close to his death in a trap of his creation. This prompted the officers to call Jigsaw sick, which makes him list the various things that make him sick. Though a slightly tropey bit of villain monologuing, the quote offered early insight into the psyche of the Saw franchises leading antagonist. These Saw quotes showed why John was doing this, to begin with.
“Yes, I’m Sick, Officer. Sick From The Disease Eating Away At Me Inside. Sick Of People Who Don’t Appreciate Their Blessings. Sick Of Those Who Scoff At The Suffering Of Others. I’m Sick Of It All!”
17 “When Faced With Death, Who Should Live Versus Who Will Live Are Two Entirely Separate Things.”
Saw VI (2009)
2009’s Saw VI introduced a new series of traps arranged by Jigsaw after his death and carried out by his latest successor that was designed to test William Easton, head of a major health insurance company that raked in incredible riches by denying medical claims based on their immoral policies. While many horror movie series lose steam after the first few entries, Saw VI was an unexpected break for Saw — a shot in the arm for the franchise and boldly served as something of an origin story that better fleshed out Kramer’s backstory and motivations. Though he’s technically been dead for some time during the events of the film, his words still sting from beyond the grave.
16 “I’ve Never Murdered Anyone In My Life. The Decisions Were Up To Them.”
Saw II (2005)
In Saw II, Jigsaw has seemingly allowed himself to be caught. However, when a police squadron led by Eric Matthews arrives at his hideout, they find the villain to be in the process of conducting a game — or so they believe. In exchange for freeing his captured son and Jigsaw’s other victims, he asks only that Matthews have patience and partake in conversation. Matthews, understandably, accuses him of murder, but Kramer responds by claiming that he’s never murdered anyone, as those who died in his traps chose to. These Saw quotes offer an odd rationale, but it’s central to Jigsaw’s concepts of sacrifice and redemption.
15 “How You Play The Cards You’re Dealt Is All That Matters.”
Saw IV (2007)
Jigsaw’s earliest victim was revealed in 2007’s Saw IV, a film that further explored the history of John Kramer when his ex-wife revealed how the miscarriage of his unborn daughter at the hands of a drug-addicted thief had driven him insane. That thief was put into one of John’s first traps, which he even managed to escape, though John gave him a final lesson on fate and good life decisions with these Saw quotes.
“Good doesn’t lead to good, nor bad to bad. People steal, don’t get caught. Live the good life. Others lie, cheat, and get elected. Some people stop to help a stranded motorist and get taken out by a speeding semi. There’s no accounting for it.”
14 “Once You Are In Hell, Only The Devil Can Help You Out.”
Saw II (2005)
Obi was one of Jigsaw’s assistants in 2005’s Saw II who helped kidnap the assembled victims of the sequel’s trap house. However, he was put through his own test to gather antidotes for the poison coursing through their bodies. He was forced to climb into a furnace, where Jigsaw’s clue gave him the answer to escaping after it ignited thanks to a painted devil pointing to his salvation if he dared to reach through the flames. Jigsaw’s recorded message featured motivational Saw quotes in different situations. “If you’re going through hell, keep going.”
13 “The Choice Is Not So Clear When You’re Face To Face With The People Whose Blood Will Stain Your Hands”
Saw VI (2009)
Another of the tests Easton was forced to undertake in Saw VI continued to test the policies of his company by making him choose between a young healthy male with no relatives or a middle-aged family woman with a history of diabetes in her family, showcasing Jigsaw’s typical game of high-stakes moral conundrums. Jigsaw’s Saw quotes remind Easton that, while it may be easy to make life-and-death decisions about people he’ll never meet, things are much direr when done face-to-face.
12 “Don’t Worry, You’re Sound Asleep And Can’t Feel A Thing.”
Saw II (2005)
Saw II opened with the cruelty fans have come to expect from the franchise. Police informant Michael had a spike-filled mask around his neck. Jigsaw informed him that, to free himself, he’d have to slice through his eye to get the key to set himself free. He didn’t manage it, so he died. The quote might somehow be Jigsaw’s way of implying that most people go through life without actually being alert. They don’t feel what’s coming until it’s too late. Jigsaw added more interesting Saw quotes on top of the one above, saying that “society would call you an informant, a rat, a snitch. I call you unworthy of the body you possess.”
11 “You’re Probably Wondering Where You Are. I’ll Tell You Where You Might Be. You Might Be In The Room You Die In.”
Saw (2004)
The very beginning of 2004’s Saw showcases one of Kramer’s most egregious errors. The bathtub in which Adam woke up contained a key intended to free him from his chains, but it was flushed down the drain immediately. This, of course, is lost on a panicked Adam, who, shortly after, plays a recording meant to clue him in on what exactly is going on. Of course, Jigsaw would never be so forthcoming as to tell his victims exactly what’s going on. Rather, he offers the sinister suggestion that the room in which he finds himself may turn into his grave should he fail to solve his captor’s riddles.
10 “Congratulations, You Are Still Alive. Most People Are So Ungrateful To Be Alive… But Not You, Not Anymore.”
Saw (2004)
Jigsaw’s games are meant to test how much people value their own lives. Will they do anything to stay alive, even if it means killing another person or mutilating themselves? This statement was said to Amanda after she survived her test. She did value her life, but she came out broken in the end. It seems that just about everyone subjected to Jigsaw’s traps ends up either totally warped or dead, and, most of the time, it’s the latter.
9 “Every Day Of Your Working Life You’ve Given People News That They’ll Die. Now, You Will Be The Cause Of Death.”
Saw (2004)
Jigsaw didn’t hesitate to explain to his victims what was at stake. Dr. Lawrence Gordon and Adam Faulkner were told what they had to do, but Dr. Gordon, who happens to be one of the most interesting characters in the Saw franchise, was given the most chilling breakdown of what lay ahead of him. Initially, neither of them don’t understand why are there. Jigsaw’s Saw quotes to Dr. Gordon were really meant to show him that he previously handled death very casually, but now he had to be serious with it.
8 “It Will Be Like Finding A Needle In A Haystack.”
Saw II (2005)
Jigsaw likes having fun with his victims, and no moment made this clearer than these Saw quotes in Saw II. Here, the killer gives his victims the hardest of tasks, partially inspired by the presence of a drug dealer called Xavier Chavez. He tells them that there is a key in a pit full of needles that’ll unlock a door and free them from the trap. All they have to do is dig through the hundreds of needles. The message? Survival isn’t easy — not in Jigsaw’s world, at least. This task triggers a couple of other events that leave some of the victims dead.
7 “Death Is A Surprise Party. Unless Of Course, You’re Already Dead On The Inside.”
Saw III (2006)
In Saw 3, Amanda, who is now working with Jigsaw, brings in Dr. Lynn Denlon to treat the killer and keep him from dying, so he can complete the tests and finish training her. John Kramer may have been dying, but he feels that, in a way, those around him are already dead. Jigsaw’s near-death experience gave him a new lease on life, and he views those who haven’t had the same enlightening experience as the walking dead. Lynn was, in Jigsaw’s mind, living an unfulfilling life while on autopilot, so he felt that it was his duty to wake her up in his typical, sadistic fashion.
6 “You Think It’s Over Just Because I Am Dead, But The Games Have Just Begun.”
Saw IV (2007)
Incredibly intelligent and with access to an almost unbelievable amount of lethal machinery and abandoned warehouses, Jigsaw had quite some time to test and plan out his traps. He had so much time that he managed to implement schemes that would be carried out long after his death. Of course, Jigsaw will always be around, as the franchise has to continue in some form. Another disciple can always take his place, but the movie won’t feel complete without him. It’s like having a Friday The 13th movie without Jason; simply not good enough.
5 “The Rules Of Our Game Have Been Made Very Clear. You Need To Abide By Those Rules.”
Saw III (2006)
John Kramer had plans to continue his sadistic scheming for years to come, but, to do that, he needed a faithful acolyte. He thought, for a time, that he’d found that in Amanda, but, in Saw III, she rebels against him. Unlike her mentor who always creates puzzles that have a way out, Amanda prefers making unbeatable traps in Saw. She wants to see even the most resilient captives dead. It’s a clear way to illustrate just how much people can change in such a short time. Eventually, Amanda’s over-enthusiasm with killing ends up being detrimental to them both.
4 “If You’re Good At Anticipating The Human Mind, It Leaves Nothing To Chance.”
Saw V (2008)
Saw V didn’t have as many good Saw quotes as the previous movies, but it at least had this one. In all the Saw movies in which he appeared, Jigsaw was always good at figuring out what people were thinking, and he carefully selected his victims based on his incredible insight into the human mind. He really did leave nothing to chance except when dealing with Amanda. He ought to have known that no one else will ever do things exactly the way he wants them to be done. But, where’s the fun in movies if the villains win all the time?
3 “Live Or Die. Make Your Choice.”
Saw (2004)
In 2004’s Saw, fans were first introduced to Amanda as one of Jigsaw’s victims. She was tied to a chair and attached to her jaw was a massive mechanical device that Jigsaw described as a”reverse bear trap,” meant to tear her mouth open if she went against her captive’s orders. His orders to her were to slice open her seemingly-dead chamber mate’s stomach and locate a key in his intestines. The key would then set her free from the mechanical device. However, she realized the seemingly-dead man was still breathing. Instead of aborting the task, she did what had to be done to save her own life, though it likely cost her sanity.
2 “I Want To Play A Game.”
Saw (2004)
One of Jigsaw’s most iconic Saw quotes, almost every trap he orchestrates is kicked off with this memorable phrase. While memorable, the terminology employed here is important; Jigsaw doesn’t view his challenges as deathtraps. Rather, he thinks of them as games meant to make his victims realize the value of their own lives. Unlike Amanda’s unwinnable killing machines, Kramer intended for every trap he made to be solvable. Unfortunately, hacking one’s eye out with a scalpel or raking through a pile of dirty needles could hardly be construed as anything resembling sport.
1 “Game Over.”
Saw (2004)
Also in 2004’s Saw, we get to see one of the best plot twists in horror movie history. Jigsaw clearly enjoys using puzzles, and he normally requires his victims to put the pieces together while he stays far away. But, in this movie, Adam Faulkner finds out that Jigsaw was in the cell all along. The two men had been imprisoned with what appeared to be a dead body. However, in the end, this dead body turned out to be the still-living John Kramer, who was helping to orchestrate the grizzly events from their very epicenter. It helped result in the best Saw quotes.
