Jack Nicholson's 84th birthday: Celebrate with great movie lines from his legendary career

Nicholson's mobster Frank Costello explains his philosophy to Billy (Leo DiCaprio) in "The Departed" (2006): "I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me."

Jack Nicholson's Joker in Tim Burton's "Batman" gave an odd line before killing people (and shooting Bruce Wayne): "Tell me something, my friend, have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight? I ask that of all my prey. I just like the sound of it."

Nicholson's Randle P. McMurphy finds out that the other mental patients can leave the institution in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975): "You guys complain how much you hate it here, and then don't even have the guts to leave! You're all crazy!"

Nicholson's Col. Nathan R. Jessup gives one of the great speeches in movies under cross examination by Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) in a 1992's "Few Good Men." The whole thing: "You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know – that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives; and my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall – you need me on that wall. We use words like 'honor,' 'code,' 'loyalty.' We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather that you just said 'thank you' and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand the post. Either way, I don't give a DAMN what you think you're entitled to!"

His Dr. Buddy Rydell works with Adam Sandler's Dave Buznik in 2003's "Anger Management": "Now then, we need to go over some ground rules. You are to refrain from any acts of violence including verbal assault and vulgar hand gestures. You may not use rage-enhancing substances, such as caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, crack cocaine, slippy-flippy's, jelly stingers, trick sticks, bing bangs or flying willards."

Jack Nicholson won his third Oscar playing misanthropic author Melvin Udall in 1997's "As Good As It Gets." There are not many Udall lines suitable for a family publication, but this Udall-ism comes under the wire. "People who talk in metaphors oughta shampoo my crotch." Likewise, there's a Udall line to Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt) that shows his turnaround: "You make me want to be a better man."

Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman portrayed terminally ill men completing their life missions in "The Bucket List." Nicholson's Edward speaks on life: "We live, we die, and the wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round."

Jack Nicholson's Harry Sanborn in a happy moment with Erica Barry (Diane Keaton) in 2003 romantic comedy "Something's Gotta Give." In an argument he blurts, "I have never lied to you, I have always told you some version of the truth."

Nicholson's private eye J.J. Gittes, with Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway), gets in over his head in 1974's "Chinatown." But he gives the immortal wise-guy noir line: "You're even dumber than you think I think you are."

In "Terms of Endearment," Nicholson (with Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger) played commitment-fearing former astronaut Garrett Breedlove, who becomes involved with MacLaine's Aurora Greenway. After Greenway says "I love you" the first time, Breedlove hugs her and walks away. Aurora Greenway: "Do you have any reaction at all to my telling you I love you?" Garrett Breedlove: "I was just inches from a clean getaway.”