On Golden Pond (1982) - Quotes

Life and Love at Their Best

Tagline: when life is at its finest...when love is at its fullest...

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

Celebrated Academy Award-Winning Film

Tagline: A TRIPLE ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER!

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

Facing Fear and Finding Comfort Together

Norman: You want to know why I came back so fast? I got to the end of our lane. I couldn't remember where the old town road was. I went a little ways in the woods. There was nothing familiar. Not one damn tree. Scared me half to death. That's why I came running back here to you. So I could see your pretty face and I could feel safe and that I was still me.

Ethel: You're safe, you old poop and you're definitely still you picking on poor old Charlie. After lunch, after we've gobbled up all those silly strawberries we'll take ourselves to the old town road. We've been there a thousand times. A thousand. And you'll remember it all. Listen to me, mister. You're my knight in shining armor. Don't you forget it. You're gonna get back up on that horse and I'm gonna be right behind you holding on tight and away we're gonna go, go, go.

Norman: I don't like horses. You are a pretty old dame aren't you? What are you doing with a dotty old son of a bitch like me?

Ethel: Well, I haven't the vaguest idea.

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

Misunderstandings in Family Relationships

Chelsea: It just seems like we've been mad at each other for so long...

Norman: I didn't think we were mad; I just thought we didn't like each other.

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

Bears and Local Legends in Conversation

Bill: [as he heads out to the lake to go skinny-dipping with Ethel and Chelsea] Are there any bears around here?

Norman: Oh, sure. Black bears, grizzlies. One of em came along here and ate an old lesbian just last month.

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

Canoes and Cultural References in Conversation

Billy Ray: A canoe! Just like the Indians used.

Norman: Actually, the Indians used a different grade of aluminum.

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

The Appeal of a Provocative Word

Norman: You like that word, don't you? Bullshit.

Billy Ray: Yeah

Norman: It's a good word.

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

Reflections on Age and Perspective

Billy Ray: So, I heard you turned 80 today.

Norman: Is that what you heard?

Billy Ray: Yeah. Man, that's really old.

Norman: You should meet my father.

Billy Ray: Your father's still alive?

Norman: No, but you should meet him.

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

Confrontation Over Friendship and Boundaries

Bill: You're having a good time, aren't you?

Norman: Huh?

Bill: Chelsea told me all about how you like to have a good time messing with people's heads. She does too, sometimes. Me, sometimes I can get into it. Sometimes not. You know, it's not imperative that you and I become friends. I thought it would be nice. I'm sure you're a fascinating person, and I thought it would be fascinating to get to know you, but that's obviously not an easy task. So you just go ahead and be as... poopy, to quote Chelsea, as you want to be, and I'll be as nice and as civil as I can be. But I think there's one thing you should know while you're jerking me around and making me feel like an asshole. I know precisely what you're up to. And I'll take just so much of it. Now what is the bottom line on this illicit sleeping together question?

Norman: Very good. That was a good speech. Bottom line, huh? You're a bottom line man? All right, here's the bottom line... O-kay.

Bill: Huh?

Norman: You seem like a nice man. A bit verbose, but nice...

Bill: Thank you.

Norman: ...and you're right about me. I am fascinating.

Bill: I'm sure you are.

Norman: But let's get back to the sex thing... anything you want to know, just ask me. Go ahead.

Bill: No, no... I just, uh, wanted to clear that up. Chelsea and I can sleep together.

Norman: [pauses, resumes reading] Sure, please do. Just don't let Ethel catch you.

Reflections on Aging and Friendship

Ethel Thayer: Chelsea, Norman is eighty years old. He has heart palpitations and trouble remembering things. Just when did you expect this friendship to begin?

Recognition of Unseen Kindness

Ethel Thayer: You know, Norman, you really are the sweetest man in the world, but I'm the only one who knows it.

Embracing Life Beyond Childhood Regrets

Ethel Thayer: Don't you think that everyone looks back on their childhood with a certain amount of bitterness and regret about something? You're a big girl now. Aren't you tired of it all? Bore, bore. It doesn't have to ruin your life, darling. Life marches by, Chels. I suggest you get on with it.