Yes, quite a canon indeed. Thinking about it...one thing I love about Altman is that his movies aren't easily quotable. They're not movies with the memorable punchlines or dialogue that you'll find with other directors. Maybe that's a credit to Altman's ability to let his actors improvise. Maybe it's that his relaxed approach lets the scene flow more naturally, more "lifelike'. I don't know exactly, but it is another reason why I enjoy Altman so much. His films aren't there to simply entertain the viewer; you as the viewer have to work a little bit, but it's certainly worth it.