Memorable Quotes from Jermaine Hopkins
3 quotesA Stinky Surprise Awaits Inside
Joe Clark
Let's see what you got in here.
Thomas Sams
You don't want to go in there, Mr. Clark, it stinks!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation Over Authority and Respect
Thomas Sams
Hey, Mr. Clark, what did they get you for?
Ms. Levias
What's the charge? What's this all about?
Leona Barrett
It's about someone finally standing up to this man instead of taking his orders like a maid.
Ms. Levias
How dare you speak about people like that? Who do you think you are?
Joe Clark
Mrs. Barrett, if you think you can-
Leonna Barrett
SHUT UP! You're finished! The school board's gonna hear this at 7:00, and we're gonna vote your black ass out.
[holds up the tape recorder]
Thomas Sams
Yo, bitch! Vote on THIS!
[''calling after Barrett''; grabs his crotch at her]
Joe Clark
Sams, you go to class! Ms. Levias, you're acting principal now. I expect you to perform as I would.
[''turning back to Joan'']
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Teenagers and the Illusion of Knowledge
Joe Clark
Now, let me tell you something: The trouble with being a teenager is you don't know nothin'. The problem with teenagers is you think you're smarter than people who've already been down the road you're traveling. You know what I'm tryin to say to you, boy? DO YOU?!
Thomas Sams
Yes, sir.
Joe Clark
Did you tell your father I threw you out of school? Look at me, DAMN IT!
[Sams shakes his head without making eye contact; Clark picks Sam's head up, yells]
Thomas Sams
No, sir.
[sobs]
Joe Clark
Why not? No guts, huh? Afraid of what he's gonna say to you, aren't ya?
Thomas Sams
My father doesn't live with us anymore, sir.
Joe Clark
Oh, is that what you're doing now? Go around feeling sorry for yourself, boy? Huh? Go on. Get outta here! You're wasting my time!
Thomas Sams
Please let me back, sir. I have to get back in school. I can't go home and tell my mom I got kicked out of school.
[crying]
Joe Clark
Now why should I let you back into my school, Sams?
Thomas Sams
Cause I'm gonna do better, sir.
Joe Clark
How?
Thomas Sams
By doin my work.
Joe Clark
What else?
Thomas Sams
And stayin out of trouble.
Joe Clark
What have you been thinking about all this time? Why should I believe you now?
Thomas Sams
Cause I changed my ways.
Joe Clark
I don't believe you, Sams. I don't think you could reform if you wanted to. Go on, jump!
Thomas Sams
No, I don't wanna jump!
[sobs]
Joe Clark
Yes, you do! You smoke crack, don't ya? YOU SMOKE CRACK, DON'T YA?! LOOK AT ME, BOY! DON'T YOU SMOKE CRACK?!
[Sams hangs his head in shame; Clark picks up Sam's head up again]
Thomas Sams
Yes, sir.
Joe Clark
You know what that does to you? Huh?
Thomas Sams
No, sir.
Joe Clark
It kill your brain cells, son. It kills your brain cells! Now when you're destroying your brain cells, you're doing the same thing as killing yourself. You're just doing it slower! Now, I say if you wanna kill yourself, don't fuck around with it! Go on and do it expeditiously! Now go on and jump! JUMP!
[taps Sam's head with his finger]
Thomas Sams
No! I don't wanna kill myself, sir!
[sobbing in tears]
Joe Clark
You're quite sure about this, are you?
Thomas Sams
Yes, sir.
Joe Clark
All right, Sams, I'll tell you what I'm gonna do: I'm gonna go back on my own word just this once and let you back into my school -- cause you still don't know nothing about nothing. But you understand this, boy: You're not gonna get a moment's rest. I'm gonna be on your case every minute; waiting for you to mess up just this much, so I can throw you right back out again. Now, you understand me? Do you understand me?
Thomas Sams
Yes, sir.
Joe Clark
Alright, I'll see you downstairs.
[calms down]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.