Who really said it
A Few Good Men (1992), Colonel Jessup (Jack Nicholson), answering Lieutenant Kaffee. The popular version combines different turns in an exchange instead of reproducing one speech.
Last verified 9 Nov 2026 · how we verify · spot an error?
For presentations
Disputed wording — copy with the correction
“You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!” — Aaron Sorkin · Verbatim: “You want answers? / I want the truth! / You can't handle the truth!”
Can you use it?
Still under copyright (rights held by Rights holders in the 1992 motion picture and any underlying work). A short, credited quote is generally fine for talks, teaching, and internal decks; for commercial, published, or large-scale reuse, get permission.
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In context
Evoking the world of Aaron Sorkin — Screenwriting credit. Theme: "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Minimalist
Minimalist editorial slide for the quote "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!". Clean background, a single muted accent color, generous negative space, subtle paper or linen texture, no literal illustration — let the words carry it. Reserve clear space for a serif quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
Provenance
You want answers?
A short excerpt from the linked source, not a replacement for the full quotation above.
Read the documented evidenceHow we verified this
This screen dialogue is from a 1992 film and remains copyrighted in the United States; quotation for identification does not grant broader reuse rights.
Rights status is our research, not legal advice — and copyright varies by country and edition. For commercial or published use, confirm with the rightsholder. See terms.
Fact-check
Kaffee demands the truth; Jessup’s setup question concerns answers. The combined popular quotation changes their exchange.
A Few Good Men (1992), Colonel Jessup (Jack Nicholson), answering Lieutenant Kaffee. The popular version combines different turns in an exchange instead of reproducing one speech. Check the evidence
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More provenance-checked quotes on the same theme, each with its reuse status.
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Read the evidence used here; the scope of the claim is stated in the provenance trail.
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The author
For writers & researchers
A Few Good Men. 1992. Evidence and bibliographical details reproduced in the linked source; no independent access to an original edition is claimed unless stated.
Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/you-want-the-truth-you-cant-handle-the-truth/