Person of Interest (TV Series)

2 Pi R (2013)

Michael Emerson: Harold Finch

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Quotes 

• Harold Finch : Pi. Can any of you tell me what it means?

  [There's no response from the class] 

  Harold Finch : I'll settle for an intelligent question here.

  Lily Williams : My friend has a question, Mr. Swift. "What is any of this good for, and when would we ever use it?"

  Harold Finch : Let me show you. Pi, the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, and this is just the beginning; it keeps on going, forever, without ever repeating. Which means that contained within this string of decimals, is every single other number. Your birthdate, combination to your locker, your social security number, it's all in there, somewhere. And if you convert these decimals into letters, you would have every word that ever existed in every possible combination; the first syllable you spoke as a baby, the name of your latest crush, your entire life story from beginning to end, everything we ever say or do; all of the world's infinite possibilities rest within this one simple circle. Now what you do with that information; what it's good for, well that would be up to you.

• Harold Finch : Maybe you and I are connected. Two reckless people.

  Caleb Phipps : Yeah? Then what's the use? We're just gonna keep breaking things Over and over. Why not save everyone the grief?

  Harold Finch : The thing about the world is that it doesn't have any extra pieces. It's like pi: it contains everything. You remove a single piece, no circle. Your recklessness, your mistakes, are the reason why when they say, "You can't change the world." you won't listen. The world is better off with both of us in it, Caleb, rather than the alternative.

  Caleb Phipps : Yeah? You sure about that?

  Harold Finch : Yes, and your mom is better off with you in it. If you think money can replace you, you haven't seen the whole equation. Take it from someone who thought leaving would make it easier on everyone and then learned otherwise.

• Harold Finch : You know, I used to do a little coding myself. That's an elegant string you have. But it occurs to me that if you want to implement multi-threading, you'd do better to use atomic variables. Just a thought.

  Caleb Phipps : Wait, that would work.

  Harold Finch : [Smiles]  I know, that's why I suggested it.

• Caleb Phipps : What are you doing here?

  Harold Finch : You're so smart, Caleb. Ask me something you don't know. The thing about being reckless - taking chances - is that you make a lot of mistakes, cause a lot of grief.

  Caleb Phipps : Gonna start lecturing me on mistakes? How I need to live and learn? Move on? That's really inspiring, Mr. Swift. I'd stand up on my desk and clap for you.

  Harold Finch : No. Your mistakes, like mine, are part of who you are now. You can't move on from that. Believe me. I've made a sizable number. But... sometimes your mistakes can surprise you. My biggest mistake, for instance... brought me here. At exactly this moment when you might need some help.

• Harold Finch : I see in Ms. Benthem's lesson plan that today we're doing... Addition. That can't be right.

  Lily Williams : It's busywork, punishment. We're supposed to add all the numbers from one to a hundred.

  Harold Finch : Math is NOT punishment!

• Harold Finch : I grew up during the Cold War When computer networks were just a gleam in the eye of the department of defense. Things seemed more black and white then. Arpanet was the new frontier. Till a kid with a homemade computer turned the whole thing inside out. All I'm saying is It's a new era now, and things are about to get really weird. So you should keep your code close to your vest. And pick your friends wisely.

  [Hands him a paper] 

  Harold Finch : Pi. The first 3,000 digits. My number's in there somewhere. You're smart, you'll figure it out.

  Caleb Phipps : Wait, uh, the hacker. The one who got away? How'd you know he did that with a homemade computer? I've read all that research. No one's ever mentioned that.

  Harold Finch : I must have heard it somewhere.

• Harold Finch : I hope you have your service weapon with you, Detective.

  Detective Lionel Fusco : [Rolls eyes]  Yeah, I got you a machine gun too.

• Harold Finch : May I remind you that of the many things I'm equipped to do, pursuit would not be chief among them.

• Harold Finch : We have more urgent matters to discuss. Our friend in Rikers.

  Joss Carter : I have the situation in hand.

  Harold Finch : I don't want you crossing some kind of line to do...

  Joss Carter : [Holds up Reese's finger print file]  This? Already deleted them from the network too. That line you're talking about, I crossed it a long time ago.

• Harold Finch : They never seem to stop texting. Beginning to feel like I'm on another planet.

  Detective Lionel Fusco : Get used to it. Their planet's gonna be running ours in about ten years. High schools are different nowadays. Gang fights, drug searches, and pregnancies. This kid could be into anything.

• Harold Finch : Caleb just got a message. He's supposed to meet his supplier at 2:00. We have to follow him.

  Detective Lionel Fusco : Tricky little bastard, keeping his identity a secret. He's better than most dealers twice his age.

  Harold Finch : I'll be sure and tell him how impressed you are with his criminal aptitude.