Dexter: There's no light in you. There's no light in me.

Dexter: Tonight's the night. And it's going to happen again, and again. It has to happen. It's not what I want. But what I want doesn't matter. This is the only way I know how to survive. I'm coiled and ready to strike.
[Dexter bowls]
Dexter: Although a spare will do.

Dexter: Two women are dead, the killer is selling mini-vans, and I have an opportunity to prove it. Even if I am laying low. Having a victim prepped and ready will take the edge off the weight. I hope.

Dexter: We have an elephant in the room, and its name is sex.
Rita: [laughs weakly] Tell me about it.
Dexter: Hey, as far as I'm concerned, it can just stay in the corner and mind its own damn business.
Rita: [softly] Easier said than done.
Dexter: Yeah, [gently brushes her hair back] but it needs to be right, for both of us. Or, it won't be right for either of us. I don't want that, do you?
Rita: No. [pause] You know, [hugs Dexter tightly] I can't believe I found the one good truly decent man left on the planet.

Dexter: What would Jesus have done? Seriously now. How do you reconcile your belief in a higher power, in a God, with what you've done?
Joe: What difference does it makes?
Dexter: I'm just curious.
Joe: So, what, I'm supposed to defend my beliefs to you?
Dexter: If you don't mind.
Joe: Look - I - I - I mean - everyone makes mistakes. Th-they do things they shouldn't do and - they're only human but God - God forgives us.
Dexter: Really, it's as simple as that? You kill someone, God forgives you for it? So I could kill you and God would forgive me.

Dexter: What's this? [chuckles] It's the dragon zombie. Cody likes to hide things in my bag.
Lila: He's trying to control you. By hiding toys in your bag, you have no choice but to return them to him.
Dexter: He's seven. He seldom has thoughts more complicated than the desire for candy.

Dexter: When'd you first notice it? This darkness inside the guy you fell for?
Rita: Well, I always knew it was there. I guess I just didn't think I deserved better � until I met you.
[Long pause]
Dexter: I have a dark side, too. [Rita laughs] What? I do.
Rita: Somehow, I doubt that. You have a good heart, Dexter. You're not like Paul; you don't hurt people.
Dexter: [another pause] Innocent people. I don't hurt innocent people.

Dexter: Why couldn't you just leave me to do my work in peace? Why'd you have to go and ruin everything?
Doakes: You're a killer. I catch killers.
Dexter: So do I. I caught you.
Doakes: I'm not a killer.
Dexter: [chuckles] You are. That's why you've always known what I am. That's why you have more officer-related shootings than anybody else. Only I don't fuck with you when you shoot somebody. Why couldn't you pay me the same professional courtesy?
Doakes: There's nothing professional about what you do. I kill when I have to, on the job.
Dexter: Oh, so it's okay to take a life as long as you get a paycheck for it?

Dexter: Why risk it all? Your career, reputation, freedom? You can just walk away.
Miguel: You didn't walk away from Ethan Turner, because you understand, Dexter, that we're living in, living in crucial times, crucial times that demand extraordinary measures.
Dexter: [voiceover] Miguel's convinced himself he wants this kill tonight for lofty and noble reasons. I'm not quite as high-minded.

Dexter: Wishbone. Hail Mary. Buttonhook. Nothing is what it seems.

Dexter: With a witness, Little Chino will never reach my "cutting court room".

Dexter: You do realize that I work with the police department.
Lila: If we get caught, you can flash your badge.
Dexter: I don't have a badge � I have a laminate.

Dexter: You ever drop a quart of milk? Watch it spread over the whole kitchen floor? The mess it makes?
Miguel: Yeah.
Dexter: There's six quarts of blood in the human body. This isn't going to be pretty. There's no shame in backing out.
Miguel: Dex, after 14 years of filing briefs, trying cases, and dealing with bullshit, this is all going to look nice and neat in comparison.

Dexter: You killed again. I told you, I warned you. Don't kill anyone who doesn't deserve to die. Why did you do it?
Jeremy Downs: To feel something different.
Dexter: Different than what? What do you normally feel?
Jeremy Downs: Nothing. Fucking nothing at all. I hate every fucking goddamn second of it. I can't stand it � living my life in my head.
Dexter: Does killing make it better?
Jeremy Downs: No. Worse. Fucking worse than ever.
Dexter: I'm a lot like you, you know.
Jeremy Downs: [scoffs] Yeah, right. You're a killer?
Dexter: [gives him a look] I'm empty. But I found a way to make it feel less ... bottomless.
Jeremy Downs: How?
Dexter: Pretend. You pretend the feelings are there, for the world, for the people around you. Who knows? Maybe one day they will be.

Dexter: You need something under the table, I'm your guy. [pause] That didn't come out right.