Breaking Away (1979) - Quotes

The Potential of a High School Diploma

Taglines: The movie that tells you exactly what you can do with your high school diploma!

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

Navigating the Transition to Adulthood

Taglines: Somewhere between growing up and settling down...

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

Pride in Identity and Ambition

Dave: Hell, I don't want to go to college Dad. To hell with them. I'm proud of being a cutter.

Raymond: You're not a cutter. I'm a cutter.

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

Awareness of Cheating in Life

Dave: Everybody cheats. I just didn't know.

Raymond: Well, now you know.

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

Fear of Wasting Life Together

Mike: The only thing I'm afraid of is wastin the rest of my life with you guys!

Cyril: I thought that was the whole plan. That we were going to waste the rest of our lives together.

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

Conflict and Counsel in Rivalry

Mike: [after discovering that the college kids beat Cyril up] They want a fight, we'll give em a fight.

Cyril: We rednecks are few... college paleface students are many. I counsel peace.

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

A Conversation About Change and Identity

Dave: Hi, Kathy.

Katherine: [not realizing that Dave's not really the Italian guy he made himself out to be] Oh, God, what did you do to yourself?

Dave: I just, uh...

Katherine: Oh, I liked you better before. Oh, what happened to your cornicello?

Katherine: [Dave remains silent] Now you look like everybody else.

Dave: I am everybody else.

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

Family Dynamics and Surprising Revelations

Dave: You mean we might be a father?

Raymond: No. I might be a father. And your mom might be a mother. And YOU might be a brother. See, that way I keep it all in the family.

Moocher: Wow! Hey, I didn't think people your age...

Raymond: The next word may be your last, kid!

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

Metabolism and Eating Habits Discussion

Raymond: If you eat so much, Moocher, how come you're so damned small?

Moocher: Oh... It's my metabolism. I eat 3 times a day and my metabolism eats 5 times a day.

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

Reflection on Efforts and Outcomes

Raymond: You guys still go swimmin in the quarries?

Dave: Sure.

Raymond: So, the only thing you got to show for my 20 years of work is the holes we left behind?

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

Confession Experiences Between Friends

Dave: Moocher, you're Catholic, right?

Moocher: Yeah.

Dave: Did you ever go to confession?

Moocher: Twice.

Dave: Did it make you feel better?

Moocher: Once.

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

Cultural Food Preferences in Everyday Conversations

Raymond: What is this?

Evelyn: It's sauteed zucchini.

Raymond: It's I-tey food. I don't want no I-tey food.

Evelyn: It's not. I got it at the A&P. It's like... squash.

Raymond: I know I-tey food when I hear it! It's all them "eenie" foods... zucchini... and linguine... and fettuccine. I want some American food, damn it! I want French fries!

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

A Darkly Humorous Solution to a Problem

Raymond: [about Dave] What are we gonna do about him?

Evelyn: I don't know dear. We could always strangle him while he's asleep.

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

Reflections on Youth and Fatigue

Raymond: [about Dave] He's never tired. He's never miserable.

Evelyn: He's young.

Raymond: When I was young I was tired and miserable.

Disagreement Over Sauteed Zucchini

Raymond: What is this?

Evelyn: It's sauteed zucchini.

Raymond: It's I-ty food. I don't want no I-ty food.

Evelyn: It's not. I got it at the A&P. It's like... squash.

Raymond: I know I-ty food when I hear it! It's all them "eenie" foods... zucchini... and linguine... and fettuccine. I want some American food, dammit! I want French Fries!

Evelyn: [to the cat] Oh, get off the table, Fellini!

Raymond: [to the cat] Hey, that's my cat! His name's Jake, not Fellini! I won't have any "eenie" in this house! Your name's Jake, you understand?

The Burden of Unfulfilled Dreams

Mike: You know, I used to think I was a really great quarterback in high school. Still think so, too. Can't even bring myself to light a cigarette cause I keep thinkin I gotta stay in shape. You know what really gets me, though? I mean, here I am, I gotta live in this stinkin town, and I gotta read in the newspapers about some hot-shot kid, new star of the college team. Every year, it's gonna be a new one. Every year it's never gonna be me. I'm just gonna be Mike. Twenty year-old Mike. Thirty year-old Mike. Old, mean old man Mike. These college kids out here - they're never gonna get old or out of shape cause new ones come along every year. And they're gonna keep calling us Cutters'. To them, it's just a dirty word. To me, it's just somethin else I never got a chance to be.

Struggles with Expectations and Understanding

Cyril: I was sure I was going to get that scholarship. My dad of course was sure I wasn't. When I didn't, he was real understanding, you know. He loves to do that. He loves to be understanding when I fail.

The Unsettling Pride of Creation

Raymond Stoller: I was proud of my work. And the buildings went up. When they were finished the damnedest thing happened. It was like the buildings were too good for us. Nobody told us that. It just felt uncomfortable, that's all.

Seeking a Little Bit of Happiness

Raymond Stoller: [to Dave] What's the matter? What are you cryin for? I think you lost your wallet or something. I didn't want you to be this miserable. A little bit's all I asked for.