How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Casablanca.
Quote #1
UGARTE: You know, Rick, I have many friends in Casablanca, but somehow, just because you despise me you're the only one I trust.
All right, so sounds like a bit of a backhanded compliment. But really, this is Ugarte's way of saying that everyone in Casablanca is totally fake, greeting you with a smile when they're actually ready to either rob you blind or throw you in prison. Because Rick openly hates on him, he figures he's got to be a good guy.
Quote #2
RENAULT: Because, my dear Ricky, I suspect that under that cynical shell you're at heart a sentimentalist.
Here's another instance where a line could be perceived as not exactly a compliment. Renault doesn't strike us as the biggest sentimentalist, so calling someone else that may not be the highest form of praise. But when Strasser's killed and Renault immediately changes his stripes, we realize he might actually have been expressing his admiration for Rick after all.