15 Best Don Draper Quotes in 'Mad Men,' Ranked

Running for seven seasons, Mad Men stands as a crowning glory of modern television and one of the medium's greatest-ever series. Following Don Draper (Jon Hamm), the creative director of an advertising agency, it focuses on his personal life and career changes throughout the rapid societal evolution of the 1960s. The series is still celebrated over a decade after its conclusion for its powerful and layered storytelling, exceptional performances, and mesmerizing dialogue.

As the protagonist, Don Draper gets plenty of Mad Men's best lines. His greatest quotes cover everything from his pessimistic outlook on society to his simple approach to the foundations of advertising and even to expressing his acidic, sarcastic wit. Don is one of the most iconic characters in television history, and these unforgettable lines played a huge role in cementing that distinguished title.

15 "One great idea can win someone over."

"The Crash" (Season 6, Episode 8)

One of the few episodes to be met with negative reviews upon airing, “The Crash” was initially contentious for its peculiar premise, but it has since become an underrated gem of Mad Men. Working on the Chevvy account after more initial pitches are turned down, Don Draper and the creative department embark on a wild, drug-fueled weekend of ideation, one that yields interesting and unexpected results as Don wrestles with relationships in his personal life.

With all the team under the influence of the stimulant, yet struggling to channel their energy into anything productive, Don addresses his colleagues with a frenzied yet uplifting speech, closing with “one great idea can win someone over.” Proving himself to be a gifted wordsmith, even when drugged up and scatterbrained, Don’s quote is both motivational and comical, becoming a famous line from the series even if it doesn’t exactly inspire greatness among his peers.

14 "You can’t."

"The Hobo Code" (Season 1, Episode 8)

One of the more popular episodes from Season 1, “The Hobo Code” is famous for flaunting Don’s swagger as he parties – and argues – with a group of beatniks in Midge’s (Rosemarie DeWitt) apartment. Among the most brilliant achievements of the episode is how it depicts the differences in social perspectives of people like Don Draper, with his success and prestige, and groups like the shaggy and unkempt, yet no less contemplative vagabonds.

Having debated all manner of things, Don realizes that he has outstayed his welcome and recognizes that Midge is in love with one of her guests. However, that doesn’t prevent him from getting a damning last laugh. With police lights flashing outside, the beatniks protest as a stoned Don Draper heads for the door, telling him that he can’t leave because of the police presence. As cool as ever, Don specifies “You can’t” before exiting.

13 "Did you enjoy ze Fuhrer’s birthday?"

"Christmas Comes But Once a Year" (Season 4, Episode 2)

Wry comedy and gallows humor was how many in Sterling Cooper got their laughs throughout the series, with Don and Roger’s friendship in the series in particular built off their razor-sharp wit and their callous gags. One of their best quips comes in the Season 4 episode “Christmas Comes But Once a Year”, which sees a casual office Christmas party scaled up exponentially to appease a Lucky Strike representative who invites himself and behaves unpleasantly, humiliating Roger in the process.

The following morning, as they trek through the office in shambles, Don comically asks Roger “did you enjoy ze Führer’s birthday?”. Roger’s mimicking of the German accent as he responds “may he live for a thousand years” before the duo chuckle to themselves with no small amount of pity makes for a memorable showing of the lighter side of both characters.

12 "That’s what the money is for!"

"The Suitcase" (Season 4, Episode 7)

When Peggy confronts Don about the nature of the workflow in the celebrated Season 4 episode “The Suitcase,” the resulting exchange is one of the most famous in the series, and possibly in television history. Working overtime, and missing a birthday dinner as a result, Peggy’s frustrations boil over as she feels pressured to stay and curtly addresses Don about him using her idea on the Glo-Coat campaign without giving her any credit.

The brief yet intense argument is a highlight of Mad Men’s awe-inspiring writing, with Peggy’s desire for recognition clashing with Don’s attitude of “I give you money, you give me ideas.” Driven to tears, Peggy berates Don for never thanking her for what she presents, to which Don famously shouts, “that’s what the money is for!” It is an unforgettable exchange that still stands as one of the most powerfully succinct moments in Mad Men and a testament to the excellence of “The Suitcase.”

11 "This never happened. It will shock you how much it never happened."

"The New Girl" (Season 5, Episode 2)

With Season 2 making a significant leap forward in time from the Season 1 finale, questions lingered concerning several main characters and what exactly had transpired in their lives in the interim. No character raised as many queries as Peggy Olson, who had recovered from her surprise pregnancy with no baby in sight, and was back at work as though nothing had ever happened. The truth was revealed in the season’s fifth episode, “The New Girl”.

In a flashback, Don visits Peggy in a ward after she gave the baby up for adoption and suffers a mental episode. While he doesn’t break his cool and composed style, Don does show a more compassionate and caring side as he encourages Peggy to work her way out of the rut and move on with her life. His assurance that she will grow beyond the current situation is exemplary of the series’ astute writing, with the line now one of the most iconic Mad Men quotes.

10 "There is no big lie. There is no system. The universe is indifferent."

"The Hobo Code" (Season 1, Episode 8)

One of the better episodes of Season 1, "The Hobo Code," sees Don Draper pursue Rosemarie DeWitt's Midge only to fall in with her hippie friends, with Don soon realizing she is in love with one of them. Unsurprisingly, Don and the Beatniks have clashing philosophies, and the advertising man finds himself verbally sparring about the nature of what it is he does.

The episode's defining moment comes with Draper's poignant quote, which he delivers as he dons his jacket and readies himself to leave Midge's flat. While it works in seeing Don win the squabble, it points to an even darker truth. Mad Men, for all its glamour, never shied away from the fact that the world can be a cruel and hostile place. Don's quote is a bleak revelation that there is no grand scheme behind it all, and everyone is merely in a chaotic rat race. With even the Don Drapers of the world thrust amid the chaos, this hectic race can end at any time, and anyone can win so long as they play the game and never by the rules.

9 "I'm glad this is an environment where you feel free to fail."

"The Suitcase" (Season 4, Episode 7)

In another series, spoken by another character, this line may have been a warm and embracing line about a progressive workplace that acknowledges employees will make mistakes and accepts that. In Mad Men, uttered by Don Draper, the line is a barbed quip aimed, perhaps unfairly, at Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) as she and Don work late to meet a deadline on a Samsonite ad.

The episode is the highlight of Mad Men's spectacular fourth season, and it's loaded with plenty of moments that add depth to the complicated relationship between Draper and Peggy and their different approach to work. While "The Suitcase" may be more famous for the duo's "That's what the money is for!" exchange, this sarcastic quote exemplifies Don at his callous and sarcastic best and is a terrific one-liner to drop in real-world situations as well.

8 "You want some respect? Go out there and get it for yourself."

"The Summer Man" (Season 4, Episode 8)

The Season 4 episode "The Summer Man" is quite possibly the best episode of Mad Men for great Don Draper quotes, and that is a high bar. It follows Don in the wake of Anne Draper's (Melinda Page Hamilton) death, with the advertising man experimenting with journaling as a means of self-reflection and betterment. At the office, Joan (Christina Hendricks) clashes with a misogynistic employee, placing Peggy in a precarious position.

When Peggy is encouraged by Don to fire the sexist employee, he bluntly assures her that firing Joey (Matt Long) will garner her respect in the company. Given the series' focus on the societal changes of the 60s, with attitudes towards women being central within that, the line is oddly empowering as Don nonchalantly hands responsibility to Peggy. It's also a reminder of his all-or-nothing attitude in both business and life, which leads him to become the man he is at the start of the show.

7 "What is happiness? It's a moment before you need more happiness."

"Commissions and Fees" (Season 5, Episode 12)

Much of Don Draper's journey throughout Mad Men revolves around the constant imbalance in his life. Professional success, something he is restless with, and a peaceful and secure personal life, something he is self-destructive over, constantly clash. As such, his pursuit of happiness is unending and only ever momentarily satisfied, always quickly squandered. By nature, Don channels his joy into his advertising, while his workplace achievements almost always come at a cost.

As pessimistic and downtrodden as it is, this quote serves as a reflection on that insatiable trait and the cost Don's ambition and obsession with his career exacts on his happiness. It could even be argued that the quote, along with his destructive tendencies, explains the overall series finale, where Don appears to find inner peace before turning it into a famous marketing campaign for Coca-Cola. Could Don ever be truly happy permanently? By his rationale, can anyone? All that is sure is the line makes for one hell of a great quote.

6 "You are the product. You feeling something. That's what sells."

"For Those Who Think Young" (Season 2, Episode 1)

For all his complexity and enigmatic ambiguity, a huge reason why Don Draper is so thrilling to hear is his decisive clarity on how the advertising industry thrives. In the Season 2 premiere, "For Those Who Think Young," Peggy Olson approaches Don with a pitch for Mohawk Airlines, but he takes issue with her simplified advertising philosophy that sex sells and pushes her to conjure up something more personal. He emphasizes his point with a Valentine's Day card that his daughter Kiernan Shipka's Sally made for him.

Don effectively expresses that, in advertising, garnering an emotional response from customers is what truly makes campaigns successful. It holds a similar weight as another of Draper's famous quotes related to how advertising is based on selling happiness. Don uses his outlook to manipulate potential buyers; of that much, there is no doubt. Still, his understanding of what people truly want always made him compelling and surprisingly honest in that pursuit.