Andy Dufresne
- Andy: Well. [pause]
Andy Dufresne: You don't read so *well*. Uh, we'll get to that. - Corrects people in the prison a lot and shows his knowledge and how he is a smart guy but he just was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
- [in letter to Red] Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. - Shows how he is a good guy and was a good friend with Red and enjoyed his presence.
"Red"
- "Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane." - Being stuck in the prison for so long "Red" has learned some valuable life lessons that he shares with everyone that listens.
- Well, if it was a toothbrush I wouldn't ask questions, I'd just quote a price, but then a toothbrush is a non-lethal object, isn't it? - Although Red has been in this prison for so long and he will be for life he still has humor in him and that shows that he hasn't given up hope which is the key thing you need when you're in prison.
Warden Samuel Norton
- I believe in two things: discipline and the Bible. Here you'll receive both. Put your trust in the Lord; your ass belongs to me. Welcome to Shawshank.- Shows how he has grown to be dehumanized and doesn't care about the prisoners or what they think of him. He just is there to do his job.
- Lord! It's a miracle! Man up and vanished like a fart in the wind! - The only time where you see a hint of humor in the warden's voice.