“COBB: Our dreams feel real while we're in them. It's only when we wake we realize things were strange.Ariadne gestures around them-ARIADNE: But all the textures of real life-the stone, the fabric... cars... people... your mind can't create all this.COBB: It does. Every time you dream. Let me ask you a question: You never remember the beginning of your dreams, do you? You just turn up in the middle of what's going on.ARIADNE: I guess.COBB: So... how did we end up at this restaurant?”

“ARIADNE: Why are they looking at me?COBB: Because you're changing things. My subconscious feels that someone else is creating the world. The more you change things, the quicker the projections converge on you.ARIADNE: Converge?COBB: They feel the foreign nature of the dreamer, and attack-like white blood cells fighting an infection.ARIADNE: They're going to attack us?COBB: Just you, actually.”

“MAL: You killed me.Cobb looks at Mal. Whispers-COBB: I was trying to save you-I'm sorry.Mal comes in close to Cobb. Looks him over.MAL: You infected my mind. You betrayed me. But you can make amends. You can still keep your promise. We can still be together... right here. In our world. The world we built together.”

“ARTHUR: How do we get out once we've made the plant?(to Cobb)I hope you've got something a little more elegant than shooting me in the head like last time.Arthur tilts back in his chair. Yusuf turns to Cobb.COBB: A kick.ARIADNE: What's a kick?Eames slips his foot under Arthur's chair leg. TIPS it- Arthur's legs SHOOT UP INSTINCTIVELY for balance-EAMES: That, Ariadne, would be a kick.COBB: That feeling of falling which snaps you awake. We use that to jolt ourselves awake once we're done.”

“COBB: What do you want from us? SAITO: Inception. Arthur raises his eyebrows. Cobb is poker-faced. SAITO: Is it possible? ARTHUR: Of course not. SAITO: If you can steal an idea from someone's mind, why can't you plant one there instead? ARTHUR: Okay, here's planting an idea: I say to you, "Don't think about elephants." (Saito nods) What are you thinking about? SAITO: Elephants. ARTHUR: Right. But it's not your idea because you know I gave it to you. SAITO: You could plant it subconsciously- ARTHUR: The subject's mind can always trace the genesis of the idea. True inspiration is impossible to fake. COBB: No, it isn't. SAITO: Can you do it? COBB: I won't do it. SAITO: In exchange, I'll give you the information you were paid to steal. COBB: Are you giving me a choice? Because I can find my own way to square things with Cobol. SAITO: Then you do have a choice. COBB: And I choose to leave.”

“The thing you fail to grasp is that people are not basically good. We are basically selfish. We shove and clamour and cry for adoration, and beat down everyone else to get it. Life is a competition of prattling peacocks enraptured in inane mating rituals. But for all our effacing and self-importance, we are all slaves to what we fear most. You have so very much to learn. Here. Let me teach you.”

“SAITO: Care for a lift, Mr. Cobb?COBB: (jumping in) What brings you to Mombasa, Mr. Saito?SAITO: I have to protect my investment.Eames stands on pavement. The car pulls up. Cobb beckons from the rear window. Eames looks at Saito. Back to Cobb.EAMES: This your idea of losing a tail?COBB: (shrugs) Different tail.”