Context

This line is spoken by Rust Cohle, played by Matthew McConaughey, in season one of the TV show True Detective (2014).

Spoiler alert! This quote is the last line in the first season of the gritty, surreal crime show, True Detective. After busting the bad guy serial killer, Detective Rust Cohle and his partner Marty Hart start talking about the age-old battle of light versus dark. Cohle delivers the line in response to Hart's remark that, according to the night sky, it looks like the dark is winning since it has a lot more territory than the light.

It's kind of a big shock to hear Rust refute Marty's comment and reply that, to him, it seems like the light is winning after all, since throughout the rest of the season, his philosophical musings are all pretty bleak. Apparently, catching a serial killer is all it takes to cheer up old Rust.

Where you've heard it

Let's hope you saw it on True Detective. Other than that, the quote is too new to have picked up much steam, though you'll see it on tons of "Best Rust Cohle Quotes" lists like this one.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

You won't sound nearly as pretentious as you would quoting one of Rust's many quotes of doom, but still… maybe you should shy away from it, just to be safe.