In this regular feature series on some of the most talked-about films, we examine the legacy of classics, re-evaluate modern blockbusters, and revisit some of the most memorable lines in film. We continue this week with the best quotes from 1996’s Trainspotting . 1. Renton (Ewan McGregor): “Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suit on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourselves. Choose your future. Choose life … But why would I want to do a thing like that?” 2. Diane (Kelly Macdonald): “Do you find that this approach usually works? Or let me guess, you’ve never tried it before. In fact, you don’t normally approach girls – am I right? The truth is that you’re a quiet sensitive type but, if I’m prepared to take a chance, I might just get to know the inner you: witty, adventurous, passionate, loving, loyal. Taxi! A little bit crazy, a little bit bad. But hey – don’t us girls just love that?” 3. Renton: “It’s shite being Scottish! We’re the lowest of the low. The scum of the fucking Earth! The most wretched, miserable, servile, pathetic trash that was ever shat into civilisation. Some hate the English. I don’t. They’re just wankers. We, on the other hand, are colonised by wankers.” 4. Allison (Susan Vidler): “It beats any meat injection. That beats any f***ing c*** in the world.” 5. Renton: “The downside of coming off junk was I knew I would need to mix with my friends again in a state of full consciousness. It was awful.” 6. Gail (Shirley Henderson) and Lizzy (Pauline Lynch): “What are you two talking about?” Spud (Ewen Bremner) and Tommy (Kevin McKidd): “Football! What are you talking about?” Gail and Lizzie: “Shopping!” 7. Renton: “Well, he [Sick Boy] has always been lacking in moral fibre.” Swanney (Peter Mullan): “He knows a lot about Sean Connery.” Renton: “That’s hardly a substitute.” 8. Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller): “For a vegetarian, Rents, you’re a fuckin’ evil shot!” 9. Renton: “People think it’s all about misery and desperation and death and all that shit which is not to be ignored, but what they forget is the pleasure of it. Otherwise we wouldn’t do it. After all, we’re not fucking stupid. At least, we’re not that fucking stupid.” 10. Renton: “I’m no longer constipated.” Matt Glasby is the author of Britpop Cinema: From Trainspotting To This Is England , a new book exploring the Trainspotting phenomenon, out on June 15 from Intellect Want more articles like this? Follow SCMP Film on Facebook