20 quotes
Read with Your Own Perspective
John Keating
When you read, don't just consider what the author thinks, consider what you think.
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The Value of Encouraging Freethinkers
McAllister
You take a big risk by encouraging them to be artists, John. When they realize they're not ]s, ]s or ]s, they'll hate you for it.
[[Rembrandt; [Shakespeare; [Mozart]
Keating
We're not talking artists, George, we're talking freethinkers.
McAllister
Freethinkers at seventeen?
Keating
Funny — I never pegged you as a cynic.
McAllister
Not a cynic, a realist. "Show me the heart unfettered by foolish dreams, and I'll show you a happy man.
Keating
But only in their dreams can men be truly free. Twas always thus, and always thus will be.
McAllister
]?
[[Tennyson]
Keating
No, Keating.
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Living Deliberately and Embracing Life
Neil
I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately, I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, To put to rout all that was not life and not when I had come to die discover that I had not lived.
Dalton
I'll second that.
Neil
To put to rout all that was not life; and not, when I had come to die, discover that I had not lived.
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Exploring Perceptions of Madness and Creativity
Keating
The picture of Uncle Walt up there. What does he remind you of? Don't think. Answer. Go on.
Todd
A m-m-madman.
Keating
What kind of madman? Don't think about it. Just answer again.
Todd
A c-crazy madman.
Keating
No, you can do better than that. Free up your mind. Use your imagination. Say the first thing that pops into your head, even if it's total gibberish. Go on, go on.
Todd
Uh, uh, a sweaty-toothed madman.
Keating
Good God, boy, there's a poet in you, after all. There, close your eyes. Close your eyes. Close em. Now, describe what you see.
Todd
Uh, I-I close my eyes.
Keating
Yes?
Keating
A sweaty-toothed madman?
Todd
A sweaty-toothed madman with a stare that pounds my brain.
Keating
Oh, that's excellent. Now, give him action. Make him do something.
Todd
H-His hands reach out and choke me.
Keating
That's it. Wonderful. Wonderful.
Todd
And, and all the time he's mumbling.
Keating
What's he mumbling?
Todd
M-Mumbling, "Truth. Truth is like, like a blanket that always leaves your feet cold.
Keating
Forget them, forget them. Stay with the blanket. Tell me about that blanket.
Todd
Y-Y-Y-You push it, stretch it, it'll never be enough. You kick at it, beat it, it'll never cover any of us. From the moment we enter crying to the moment we leave dying, it will just cover your face as you wail and cry and scream.
Keating
Don't you forget this.
[whispering to Todd]
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Betrayal Among Friends in a Secret Club
Cameron
What's going on, guys?
Charlie
You finked, didn't you, Cameron?
Cameron
Finked? I don't know what the hell you're talking about.
Charlie
You told Nolan about everything about that club is what I'm talking about!
Cameron
Look, in case you hadn't heard, Dalton, there's something called an honor code at this school, alright?! If a teacher asks you a question, you tell the truth, or you're expelled.
Charlie
He's a rat! He's in it up to his eyes, so he rattled to save himself!
Knox
Don't touch him, Charlie. You do, and you're out.
Charlie
I'm out anyway!
Knox
You don't know that, not yet.
Cameron
He's right there, Charlie. And if you guys are smart, you will do EXACTLY what I did and cooperate! They're not after us! We're the victims! Us and Neil.
Charlie
What's that mean? Who are they after?
Cameron
Why, Mr. Keating, of course! The "Captain" himself! I mean, you guys didn't really think he could avoid responsibility, did you?
Charlie
Mr. Keating responsible for Neil? Is that what they're saying?
Cameron
Well, who else do you think, dumbass?! The administration?! Mr. Perry?! I mean, Mr. Keating put us up to all this crap, didn't he?! If it wasn't for Mr. Keating, Neil would be cozying up in his room right now, studying his chemistry, and dreaming of being called doctor!
Todd
That is not true, Cameron! You know that! He didn't put us up to anything! And Neil loved acting!
Cameron
Believe what you want, but I say let Keating fry! I mean, why ruin our lives?!
Cameron
You've just signed your expulsion papers, "Nuwanda"! And if the rest of you were smart, you'll do exactly what I did! They know everything anyway. You can't save Keating, but you can save yourselves.
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Conflict Between Dreams and Parental Expectations
Mr. Perry
We're trying very hard to understand why it is that you insist on defying us. Whatever the reason, we're not gonna let you ruin your life. Tomorrow I'm withdrawing you from Welton and enrolling you in Braighton Military School. You're going to Harvard, and you're gonna be a doctor.
Neil
But, that's ten more years! Father, that's a lifetime!
Mr. Perry
Oh, stop it! Don't be so dramatic! You make it sound like a prison term! You don't understand, Neil! You have opportunities that I never even dreamt of, and I am not going to let you waste them!
Neil
I've got to tell you what I feel!
Mrs. Perry
We've been so worried about you!
Mr. Perry
What? What? Tell me what you feel! What is it? Is it more of this, this acting business? Because you can forget that! What?
Neil
Nothing.
[pauses]
Mr. Perry
Nothing? Well, then, let's go to bed.
[pauses]
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Encouragement to Discover Your Own Voice
John Keating
Boys, you must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all. Thoreau said, "Most men lead lives of quiet desperation." Don't be resigned to that. Break out! Break out! Now is the time!
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Seize the Day and Make Life Extraordinary
John Keating
They're not that different from you, are they? Same haircuts. Full of hormones, just like you. Invincible, just like you feel. The world is their oyster. They believe they're destined for great things, just like many of you, their eyes are full of hope, just like you. Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable? Because, you see gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? - - Carpe - - hear it? - - Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.
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Embracing Mortality and the Urgency of Life
Keating
Seize the day. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may." Why does the writer use these lines?
Charlie
Because he's in a hurry.
Keating
No. Ding! Thank you for playing anyway. Because we are food for ], lads. Because, believe it or not, each and every one of us in this room is one day going to stop breathing, turn cold and die.
[[worms]
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The Power of Words and Ideas
John Keating
No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.
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Expression of Gratitude from John Keating
John Keating
Thank you, boys. Thank you.
[Last words of film]
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Embrace the beauty of individual thought
John Keating
*Note: bolded portion is ranked #95 in the ] in American cinema.
[[w:AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes|American Film Institute's list of the top 100 movie quotations]
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The Balance of Daring and Caution
John Keating
There's a time for daring and there's a time for caution, and a wise man understands which is called for.
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The Purpose of Education and Communication
Keating
] was developed for one endeavor, and that is… Mr. Anderson? Come on, are you a man or an amoeba? Mr. Perry?
[[Language; pause]
Neil
To communicate.
Keating
No! To woo women!
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The Importance of Poetry in Life
John Keating
We don't read and write ] because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with ]. And ], ], ], engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain ]. But poetry, ], ], ], these are what we stay alive for. To quote from ], "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill'd with the foolish…what good amid these, O me, O life? Answer. That you are here—that life exists, and identity, that the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse." That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?
[[poetry; [passion; [medicine; [law; [business; [life; [beauty; [romance; [love; [Walt Whitman|Whitman]
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A Humorous Take on Tradition and Change
Charlie Dalton
Welton Academy. Hello? Yes, he is. Just a moment. Mr. Nolan, it's for you. It's ]. He says we should have girls at Welton.
[[God]
Keating
Phone call from God. If it had been collect, that would have been daring!
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Struggle Between Passion and Parental Expectations
Neil Perry
I just talked to my father. He's making me quit the play at Henley Hall. Acting's everything to me. I- But he doesn't know! He- I can see his point; we're not a rich family, like Charlie's. We- But he's planning the rest of my life for me, and I- He's never asked me what I want!
John Keating
Have you ever told your father what you just told me? About your passion for acting? You ever showed him that?
Neil Perry
I can't.
John Keating
Why not?
Neil Perry
I can't talk to him this way.
John Keating
Then you're acting for him, too. You're playing the part of the dutiful son. Now, I know this sounds impossible, but you have to talk to him. You have to show him who you are, what your heart is.
Neil Perry
I know what he'll say. He'll tell me that acting's a whim and I should forget it. They're counting on me; he'll just tell me to put it out of my mind for my own good.
John Keating
You are not an indentured servant. It's not a whim for you. You prove it to him by your conviction and your passion. You show that to him, and if he still doesn't believe you - well, by then, you'll be out of school and can do anything you want.
Neil Perry
No. What about the play? The show's tomorrow night!
John Keating
Then you have to talk to him before tomorrow night.
Neil Perry
Isn't there an easier way?
John Keating
No.
Neil Perry
I'm trapped!
[laughs]
John Keating
No you're not.
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Perspective Through a Different Lens
Keating
Why do I stand up here? Anybody?
Charlie
To feel taller!
Keating
No! Thank you for playing, Mr. Dalton. I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things in a different way.
[Dings a bell with his foot]
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Inspiration for Extraordinary Lives
Taglines
He was their inspiration. He made their lives extraordinary.
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Headmaster Addresses Tragic Death of Student
Headmaster Dean Nolan
The death of Neil Perry is a tragedy. He was a fine student. One of Welton's best. And he will be missed. We've contacted each of your parents to explain the situation. Naturally, they're all quite concerned. At the request of Neil's family, I intend to conduct a thorough inquiry into this matter. Your complete cooperation is expected.
[at Neil's ceremony]
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