G.I. Jane

Unexpected Success in Challenging Circumstances

Senator Lillian DeHaven Truthfully, I never expected you to do so damn well! I figured you'd ring out in two weeks, bing bang it's over, and we're popular.

[on why she started Lt. O'Neil on the SEAL program in the first place]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Home for the Holidays

Thankfulness Amid Holiday Challenges

Adele Larson I'm giving thanks that we don't have to go through this for another year. Except we do, because those bastards went and put Christmas right in the middle, just to punish us.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Graduate

A Personal Question Between Two Characters

Mrs. Robinson Can I ask you a personal question?

Benjamin Ask me anything you want.

Mrs. Robinson Is this your first time?

Benjamin Is this what?

Mrs. Robinson It is, isn't it? It is your first time.

Benjamin That's a laugh Mrs. Robinson. That's really a laugh. Ha, ha.

Mrs. Robinson Well, you can admit that, can't you?

Benjamin Are you kidding?

Mrs. Robinson It's nothing to be ashamed of.

Benjamin Wait a minute.

Mrs. Robinson On your first time if you're afraid of being inadequate.

Benjamin Who said it was my first time? Wait a minute.

Mrs. Robinson Just because you happen to be inadequate in one way.

Benjamin INADEQUATE?! Don't move!

[Mrs. Robinson starts to dress]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Graduate

An Unexpected Confession Between Two Characters

Benjamin Mrs. Robinson, if you don't mind my saying so, this conversation is getting a little strange. Now, I'm sure that Mr. Robinson will be here any minute now and -

Mrs. Robinson No.

Benjamin What?

Mrs. Robinson My husband will be back quite late. He should be gone for several hours.

Benjamin Oh my God.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Agnes of God

Questioning Sanity and Clarity of Mind

Mother Miriam Ruth Is she totally bananas or just slightly off-center?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Graduate

Fear and Avoidance in Relationships

Mrs. Robinson What are you so scared of?

Benjamin I'm not scared, Mrs. Robinson.

Mrs. Robinson Then why do you keep running away?

Benjamin Because you're going to bed. I don't think I should be up here.

Mrs. Robinson Haven't you ever seen anybody in a slip before?

Benjamin Yes, I have, but I just...Look, what if Mr. Robinson walked in right now?

Mrs. Robinson What if he did?

Benjamin Well, it would look pretty funny, wouldn't it?

Mrs. Robinson Don't you think he trusts us together?

Benjamin Of course he does, but he might get the wrong idea. Anyone might.

Mrs. Robinson I don't see why? I'm twice as old as you are. How could anyone think that...

Benjamin But they would! Don't you see?

Mrs. Robinson Benjamin. I am not trying to seduce you!

Benjamin I know that, but please, Mrs. Robinson. This is difficult..

Mrs. Robinson Would you like me to seduce you?

Benjamin What?

Mrs. Robinson Is that what you're trying to tell me?

Benjamin I'm going home now. I apologize for what I said. I hope you can forget it. But I'm going home right now.

[A long pause]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

To Be or Not to Be

Shifting Focus in Conversation

Anna Bronski Oh, but that's enough talk about me. Let's talk about you. How'd you like me in the first act?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Graduate

A Conversation About Elaine

Mrs. Robinson Don't talk about Elaine.

Benjamin Don't talk about Elaine?

Mrs. Robinson No.

Benjamin Well, why not?

Mrs. Robinson Because I don't want you to.

Benjamin Well, why don't you? I wish you'd tell me.

Mrs. Robinson There's nothing to tell.

Benjamin Well, why is she a big taboo subject all of a sudden? Well, I guess I'll have to ask her out on a date and find out what the big deal is.

Mrs. Robinson Benjamin. Don't you ever take that girl out. Do you understand that?

[Pulling his hair]

Benjamin Well, why shouldn't I?

Mrs. Robinson I have my reasons.

Benjamin Well let's hear em.

Mrs. Robinson No.

Benjamin Let's hear them Mrs. Robinson, because I think I know what they are. I'm not good enough for her to associate with, am I? I'm not good enough to even talk about her, am I?

Mrs. Robinson Let's drop it.

Benjamin We're not dropping it. I'm good enough for you, but I'm not good enough to associate with your daughter. That's it, isn't it?

Mrs. Robinson Benjamin.

Benjamin Isn't it?

[Ripping the sheet off her]

Mrs. Robinson Yes.

[Covering up]

Benjamin You go to hell. You go straight to hell, Mrs. Robinson. Do you think I'm proud of myself? Do you think I'm proud of this?

Mrs. Robinson I wouldn't know.

Benjamin Well, I am not! No sir, I am not proud that I spend my time with a broken-down alcoholic!

Mrs. Robinson I see.

Benjamin And if you think I come here for any reason besides pure boredom, then you're all wrong; because Mrs. Robinson, this is the sickest, most perverted thing in the world that ever happened to me! And you do what you want, but I'm getting the hell out!

Mrs. Robinson Are you?

Benjamin Goddam right I am!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Home for the Holidays

Urgency in Family Gatherings

Adele Larson Into the house! Everyone! Before we're in the evening news!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Home for the Holidays

Unexpected Phone Call Response

Adele Larson Hello... who?... I never heard of him, consult your directory.

[''answers the phone''; ''hangs up'']

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Home for the Holidays

Concern for Global Issues Amidst Personal Struggles

Adele Larson Come on. Where is everybody? People are starving in the former Yugoslavia.

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Agnes of God

Mother Miriam Ruth Invites Questions

Mother Miriam Ruth So, you have questions. Fire away!

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Graduate

Confronting Moral Ambiguity in Relationships

Mrs. Robinson Benjamin, would this be easier for you in the dark?

Benjamin Mrs. Robinson. I can't do this.

Mrs. Robinson You what?

Benjamin This is all terribly wrong.

Mrs. Robinson Do you find me undesirable?

Benjamin Oh, no, Mrs. Robinson. I think, I think you're the most attractive of all my parents friends. I mean that. I find you desirable, but I, for God's sake, can you imagine my parents? Can you imagine what they would say if they just saw us in this room here right now?

Mrs. Robinson What would they say?

Benjamin I have no idea Mrs. Robinson, but for god's sake, they brought me up, they made a good life for me and I think they deserve better than this. I think they deserve a little better than jumping into bed with the partner's wife.

Mrs. Robinson Are you afraid of me?

Benjamin Oh, no. You're missing the point. Look. Maybe we could do something else together. Mrs. Robinson, would you like to go to a movie?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Great Expectations

The Inevitable Pain of Love

Ms. Dinsmoor She'll only break your heart, it's a fact. And even though I warn you, even though I guarantee you that the girl will only hurt you terribly, you'll still pursue her. Ain't love grand?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

The Graduate

Seduction and Confusion in The Graduate

Benjamin For God's sake, Mrs. Robinson, here we are, you've got me into your house. You give me a drink. You put on music, now you start opening up your personal life to me and tell me your husband won't be home for hours.

Mrs. Robinson So?

Benjamin Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me...

Benjamin ...aren't you?

Mrs. Robinson Well, no. I hadn't thought of it. I feel very flattered.

Benjamin Mrs. Robinson. Will you forgive me for what I just said?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

To Be or Not to Be

Fame and Recognition in Poland

Anna Bronski He's world famous in Poland.

[about Frederick]

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

G.I. Jane

Questioning the Definition of Progress

Senator Lillian DeHaven Whoa, whoa, whoa, Mr. Hayes. If a cannibal used a knife and fork, would you call that progress too?

Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.

Agnes of God

Conflict Over a Woman's Happiness and Choices

Mother Miriam Ruth I am saying that you have a beautifully simple woman here.

[about Sister Agnes]

Martha Livingston An unhappy woman.

Mother Miriam Ruth She's happy with us, and she could go on being happy if she were left alone.

Martha Livingston Then why did you call the police in the first place, Mother, huh? Why didn't you just throw the baby into the incinerator and be done with it?

Mother Miriam Ruth Because I am a moral person.

Martha Livingston Bullshit.

Mother Miriam Ruth Bullshit yourself.

Martha Livingston The Catholic Church doesn't have a corner on morality.

Mother Miriam Ruth Who said anything about the Catholic Church?

Martha Livingston You just did.

Mother Miriam Ruth What the hell does the Catholic Church got to do with you?

Martha Livingston Nothing.

Mother Miriam Ruth What have we done to hurt you? And don't deny it, I can smell an ex-Catholic a mile away. What did we do? Burn a few heretics, sell some indulgences? That was in the days when the Church was a ruling body, we let Governments do those things today. So what did we do to you, hey?...

Agnes of God

Imagining Saints in Modern Habits

Martha Livingston Suppose the saints would have smoked if tobacco'd been popular back then.

Mother Miriam Ruth Undoubtedly. Not the ascetics, of course, but, well, St. Thomas More.

Martha Livingston Long, thin, and filtered!

Mother Miriam Ruth St. Ignatius would smoke cigars and then stub them out on the soles of his bare feet. And of course all of the apostles?

Martha Livingston Hand rolled.

Mother Miriam Ruth Even Christ would partake socially.

Martha Livingston St. Peter?

Mother Miriam Ruth Pipe!

Martha Livingston Right!

Mother Miriam Ruth Mary Magdalene?

Martha Livingston Ohhh! You've come a long way, baby!

Mother Miriam Ruth And St. Joan would chew tobacco!

Martha Livingston All right! What do you suppose today's saints are smoking?

Home for the Holidays

Concern for Family Safety in Crisis

Adele Larson Henry! A car full of Larsons almost died there!

The Graduate

Conflict Between Desire and Authority

Mrs. Robinson Drive down the block.

[gets into Benjamin's car]

Benjamin Mrs. Robinson, Elaine and I have a date, we're going for a drive.

Mrs. Robinson Do exactly as I say!

[angrily]

Benjamin Now, it seems to me...

[Ben drives down the block]

Mrs. Robinson Listen very carefully to me, Benjamin: You are not to see Elaine again, ever! Those are my orders, is that clear?

Benjamin Mrs. Robinson, do you think...

Mrs. Robinson I can make things quite unpleasant.

Benjamin How?

Mrs. Robinson In order to keep Elaine away from you, I'm prepared to tell her everything.

Benjamin I don't believe you.

[Ben stops the car]

Mrs. Robinson Then you better start believing me.

Benjamin I just don't believe you would do that.

Mrs. Robinson Try me.

The Graduate

Tension in a Confrontational Encounter

Mrs. Robinson Don't be nervous.

[now naked]

Benjamin Get away from that door.

Mrs. Robinson I want to say something first.

Benjamin Dear God.

Mrs. Robinson Benjamin. I want you to know that I'm available to you, and if you won't sleep with me this time...

Benjamin Oh, my God.

Mrs. Robinson ...if you won't sleep with me this time I want you to know that you can call me up anytime you want and we'll make some kind of an arrangement. Do you understand what I...?

Benjamin Let me out.

Mrs. Robinson Benjamin. Did you understand what I said?

[Screeching car tires are heard outside in the driveway]

Benjamin Yes, yes, let me out.

Mrs. Robinson Because I find you very attractive. Now, anytime you want, you just...

Benjamin Oh Jesus, that's him.

Anne Bancroft Quotes

Memorable Quotes from Anne Bancroft

find it. watch it.