- George Smiley: [on Grigoriev] So, how conscious is he?
- Toby Esterhase: George, he's Russian, OK? The Russians think the butterflies are spying on them.
- Ann Smiley: I'm all you've got, George. I'm all there is; there isn't anything else. I want to stop looking. I want you to do the same. Oh, for God's sake, let's pull down the shutters and be a boring married couple.
- George Smiley: I came to tell you that, while I am away - well, it's widely known within the intelligence fraternity - on all sides - that you used to be dear to me. So you and I are both at risk while I'm away.
- Ann Smiley: And afterwards?
- [long pause]
- George Smiley: Goodbye.
- Lady Ann Smiley: You used to say they were the people who ruined England.
- George Smiley: Did I? Who were THEY in those days? I forget.
- Lady Ann Smiley: Most of my family, even Uncle Harry. What did they do wrong?
- George Smiley: Stayed the same, I guess.
- Saul Enderby: It isn't some wicked Bolshie plot, is it, George, to lure us to our ultimate destruction?
- George Smiley: I'm afraid that we're no longer worth the candle, Saul.
- Saul Enderby: The point is, I suppose, having set up his apparatus, trained it to accept his iron rule, Karla didn't dare use it for this deal, that's your point?
- George Smiley: That's my point.
- Saul Enderby: Ergo, we're dealing with a bunch of ninnies, not red-toothed hoods.
- George Smiley: Not ninnies, just ordinary people.
- Saul Enderby: You mean hoods aren't?
- George Smiley: Karla was under stress. He had to take risks.
- Saul Enderby: Like bumping chaps off.
- George Smiley: That was more recent.
- Saul Enderby: You're bloody forgiving these days, aren't you, George?
- George Smiley: Am I? If you say so.
- Saul Enderby: Bloody meek, too!
- Oliver Lacon: We're birds of a feather, George. We're both patriots. Givers, not takers. Trained to our Services, our country... We must pay the price. You know, if Ann had been your agent instead of your wife, you'd probably have run her pretty well.