The main character of the 1978 film *The Deer Hunter* is **Michael "Mike" Vronsky**, portrayed by **Robert De Niro**.
Michael is the stoic, disciplined leader of a group of Russian-American steelworkers from Clairton, Pennsylvania. His character is defined by a rigid personal code, a deep sense of loyalty, and a "lone wolf" mentality that is tested and transformed by the horrors of the Vietnam War.
Here are Michael Vronsky's most memorable lines, along with the specific details and context that make them significant:
### 1. "One shot is what it's all about. A deer has to be taken with one shot."
* **Context:** Michael says this to his best friend, Nick (played by Christopher Walken), during their final deer hunting trip before deploying to Vietnam. When Nick asks if "two is pussy," Michael bluntly confirms, "Two is pussy."
* **Significance:** This is the central theme of the film. To Michael, hunting is not just a sport but a spiritual test of skill and character. This "one shot" philosophy later takes on a horrific literal meaning during the captive Russian roulette scenes in Vietnam and the film's tragic climax in Saigon.
### 2. "Stanley, see this? This is this. This ain't something else. This is this."
* **Context:** While preparing for the hunt, Michael's friend Stanley (played by John Cazale) realizes he has forgotten his boots and asks to borrow Michael’s extra pair. Michael, frustrated by Stanley’s lack of respect and preparation, refuses. He holds up a **single rifle bullet** and delivers this line.
* **Significance:** This line emphasizes Michael's uncompromising, literalist view of the world. He believes in being prepared and facing reality exactly as it is. It highlights the divide between Michael’s serious nature and the "asshole" behavior of his friends, who view the hunt as a mere social outing.
### 3. "It means a blessing on the hunter sent by the great wolf to his children."
* **Context:** Early in the film, the friends notice "sun dogs" (an atmospheric phenomenon where bright spots appear beside the sun). While the others are confused or dismissive, Michael offers this explanation, which he calls "an old Indian thing."
* **Significance:** This reveals a more mystical, spiritual side of Michael’s character. It shows that he views the wilderness with a sense of reverence and ancient tradition that his peers lack.
### 4. "I'll tell ya, Nick. You're the only guy I go huntin' with... I ain't gonna hunt with no assholes."
* **Context:** Michael says this to Nick while they are alone, expressing his deep bond with him. He explains that he only respects people who have "quick moves and speed."
* **Significance:** This line establishes that Michael considers Nick his only true equal. It sets the stage for the emotional weight of Michael’s later attempts to save Nick from the psychological trauma of the war.
### 5. "Nicky, I love you, you're my friend... Nicky, do you remember the trees? Remember all the different ways of the trees?"
* **Context:** This occurs during the film's climax in a crowded Saigon gambling den. Michael has tracked down a shell-shocked, heroin-addicted Nick to bring him home. He enters the Russian roulette game against Nick to reach him. He desperately tries to trigger Nick's memory of their home in Pennsylvania.
* **Significance:** In a devastating moment of clarity, Nick recognizes Michael, smiles, and says, "**One shot.**" He then pulls the trigger on a live round. It is the only time Michael truly expresses his love for his friend, and the "one shot" philosophy comes full circle as a tool of self-destruction.
### 6. "I feel a lot of distance and I feel far away."
* **Context:** Spoken to Linda (Meryl Streep) after Michael returns from the war.
* **Significance:** This line perfectly encapsulates the alienation and PTSD felt by returning veterans. Despite being physically back in his hometown, Michael is psychologically severed from his old life and the people in it.