A Beautiful Mind (2002) - Quotes

The Logic Behind Love's Mysterious Equation

Taglines: It is only in the mysterious equation of love that any logical reasons can be found.

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The Possibility of Extraordinary Beliefs

Taglines: I need to believe that something extraordinary is possible …

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Unique Perception of Reality

Taglines: He Saw the World in a Way No One Could Have Imagined.

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Courage of the Heart Exceeds Mind's Power

Taglines: The Only Thing Greater Than the Power of the Mind Is the Courage of the Heart

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Questioning Identity and Purpose

Parcher: Is this what you are, soldier? Some useless ghoul? The local madman?

John: I'm not a soldier.

Parcher: You're gonna end up in a cell! Old, worthless, discarded.

John: There's no mission.

Parcher: And while you rock and drool, the world will burn to ashes!

John: You are not real! You are not real!

Parcher: You're still talking to me, soldier!

John: There's no mission! I'm not a soldier!

Hansen: John? John? John, John, John, John. Hey, hey, hey. John, John! It's okay. I just heard what happened, I'm sorry. John--

John: I'm not a soldier.

Hansen: John. Hey, Nash. Nash, hey. Hey, you're all right.

Parcher: Ladies and gentlemen, the great John Nash!

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Exploring the Nature of Reality

Alicia: You want to know what's real? This. This. This. This is real. Maybe the part... that knows the waking from the dream, maybe it isn't here.

John: Maybe it's here.

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The Limits of Reason in Mental Struggles

Dr. Rosen: You can't reason your way out of this!

John: Why not? Why can't I?

Dr. Rosen: Because your mind is where your problem is in the first place!

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Embracing Fun Amidst Uncertainty

John: [points to the empty seat Sol is about to sit in] Have you met Harvey?

Sol: [startled, and worried] John, there's no...

John: Relax, it's okay. There's no point in being nuts if you can't have a little fun.

Sol: [[Jesus; [Christ] ] ]. I should have known...

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Understanding the Infinite Universe

Alicia: How big is the universe?

John: Infinite.

Alicia: How do you know?

John: I know because all the data indicates it's infinite.

Alicia: But it hasn't been proven yet.

John: No.

Alicia: You haven't seen it.

John: No.

Alicia: How do you know for sure?

John: I don't, I just believe it.

Alicia: It's the same with love, I guess.

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Contemplating Marriage Amidst Life's Uncertainties

Charles: God, that's wonderful! There's no accounting for taste, is there?

John: Should I marry her?

Charles: Oh, Gosh.. Right.

John: I mean, everything's going well. The job is fine, I have enough money

Charles: It all seems to add up, doesn't it John?

John: ... but how do you know for sure?

Charles: Nothing's ever for sure, John. That's the only sure thing I do know.

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Introduction of Dr. John Nash to Leaders

Colonel: General, this is Wheeler team leader Dr. John Nash.

General: Glad you could come, Doctor.

John Nash: Hello.

General: Right this way.

General: [[Moscow] We've been intercepting radio transmissions from ].

General: The computer can't detect a pattern, but I'm sure it's code.

John Nash: Why is that, General?

General: Ever just know something, Dr. Nash?

John Nash: Constantly.

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Complexities of Supervision and Projects

John: [[Robert Oppenheimer|Oppenheimer] You knew ]?

Parcher: [[w:Manhattan Project|His project] ] was under my supervision.

John: Which project? … That project.

Parcher: It's not that simple.

John: Well, you ended the war.

Parcher: We incinerated over a hundred thousand people.

John: Well, great deeds come at great costs.

Parcher: Well, conviction, it turns out, is a luxury of those on the sidelines, Mr. Nash.

John: I'll try and keep that in mind.

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Struggling with Identity and Expectation

Charles: Jesus Christ, John.

John: I can't fail. This is all I am.

Charles: Come on, let's go out.

John: I got to get something done.

Charles: John!

John: I can't keep staring into space.

Charles: John, that's enough!

John: Got to face the wall, follow their rules, read their books …

Charles: You want to do some damage, fine! But don't mess around!

John: … do their classes.

Charles: Come on! Go on, bust your head! Kill yourself. Don't do it. Don't mess around. Bust your head! Go on, bust that worthless head wide open!

John: Goddamn it, Charles! What the hell is your problem?!

Charles: It's not my problem. And it's not your problem. It's their problem. Your answer isn't face the wall. It's out there, where you've been working.

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Revising Economic Theories in Competition

Hansen: [[Adam Smith; [modern economics] Recall the lessons of ], the father of ]. "In competition …

Everybody: [[ambition; [good.] … individual ] serves the common ]

John: Adam Smith needs revision.

Hansen: What are you talking about?

John: Adam Smith said the best result comes from everyone in the group doing what's best for himself. Right? That's what he said, right?

Hansen: Right.

John: Incomplete. Incomplete, okay? Because the best result will come from everyone in the group doing what's best for himself … and the group.

Hansen: Nash, if this is some way for you to get the blonde on your own, you can go to hell.

John: Governing dynamics, gentlemen. Governing dynamics. Adam Smith...he was wrong.

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Struggling with Identity and Expectations

John: I can't fail. This is all I am.

Charles: Come on, let's go out. I got to get something done. John!

John: - I can't keep staring into space.

Charles: -John, enough!

John: Got to face the wall, follow their rules, read their books

Charles: You want to do some damage? Fine

Charles: Come on! Go on, bust your head! Kill yourself. Go do it. Don't mess around. Bust your head! Go on, bust that worthless head wide open.

John: Goddamn it, Charles!

Creative Distractions Amid Academic Pressure

Charles: You've been in here for two days.

John: You know Hansen's just published another paper? I can't even find a topic for my doctorate.

Charles: Well, on the bright side, you've invented window art.

John: [points] This is a group playing touch football. This is a cluster of pigeons fighting over bread crumbs. And this here is a woman who is chasing a man who stole her purse.

Charles: John, you watched a mugging. That's weird.

John: In competitive behavior, someone always loses.

Charles: Well, my niece knows that, John, and she's about this high.

John: See, if I derive an equilibrium where prevalence is a non-singular event where nobody loses, can you imagine the effect that would have on conflict scenarios, arm negotiations …

Charles: When did you last eat?

John: … currency exchange?

Charles: When did you last eat? You know, food.

John: You have no respect for cognitive reverie, you know that?

Charles: Yes. But pizza – now, pizza I have enormous respect for. And of course beer.

John: [throws stuff down and follows; shouts] I have respect for beer. I have respect for beer!

Direct Approach to Intimacy and Communication

Woman: Maybe you want to buy me a drink.

John: I don't exactly know what I'm required to say in order for you to have intercourse with me, but could we assume that I said all that? I mean, essentially we're talking about fluid exchange, right? So, could we just go straight to the sex?

The Burden of Genius and Reality

Helinger: Mathematicians won the war. Mathematicians broke the Japanese codes, and built the A-bomb. Mathematicians … like you. The stated goal of the Soviets is global Communism. In medicine or economics, in technology or space, battle lines are being drawn. To triumph, we need results. Publishable, applicable results. Now, who among you will be the next Morse? The next Einstein? Who among you will be the vanguard of democracy, freedom, and discovery? Today, we bequeath America's future into your able hands. Welcome to Princeton, gentlemen.

Dr. Rosen: Imagine if you suddenly learned that the people, the places, the moments most important to you were not gone, not dead, but worse, had never been. What kind of hell would that be?

Dr. Rosen: [to Alicia] John has schizophrenia, people with this disease are often paranoid.

The Value of a Beautiful Heart

John Nash: Perhaps it is good to have a beautiful mind, but an even greater gift is to discover a beautiful heart.

The Logic of Love and Reason

John Nash: [In his Nobel acceptance speech; Looking at Alicia] I've always believed in numbers and the equations and logics that lead to reason. But after a lifetime of such pursuits, I ask: What truly is logic? Who decides reason? My quest has taken me through the physical, the metaphysical, the delusional…and back. And I have made the most important discovery of my career, the most important discovery of my life: It is only in the mysterious equations of love that any logic or reasons can be found. I'm only here tonight because of you. You're the only reason I am…you are all my reasons.

Finding Joy in Madness

John Nash: There's no point in being nuts if you can't have a little fun.

Desire and Ritual in Attraction

John Nash: I find you very attractive. Your aggressive moves towards me indicates that you feel the same way. However, ritual requires that we engage in a number of platonic activities before we have sex. I am proceeding with those activities when, in point of actual fact, all I really want to do is have intercourse with you as soon as possible. You going to slap me now?