Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire (2009) - Quotes

Understanding Connection Through Conversation

Precious: You don't even like me.

Mrs. Weiss: Have we not been in this room together for like, a year discussing your life?

Precious: Does that mean we like each other because we discussing my life?

Mrs. Weiss: [smiling] Well, I can't speak for you. I can only speak for me, and I like you. I do.

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

The Complexity of Love and Worthlessness

Ms. Rain: If not for yourself, then for the people who love you.

Precious: [voice breaking] Nobody loves me.

Ms. Rain: People do love you, Precious.

Precious: [crying] Please don't lie to me, Ms. Rain. Love ain't done nothing for me, love beat me... raped me... called me an animal... make me so worthless and... make me sick.

Ms. Rain: [about to cry; tear falls; whispers; voice breaking] That wasn't love, Precious. Your baby loves you. I love you. Write.

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

A Playful Exchange of Insults

Tootsie: You got a nasty-ass mouth.

Joann: You got a nasty-ass hat.

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

Fatherhood and Its Absence in Precious' Life

Mrs. Weiss: Talk to me about the little you do know about your father. It is important, whether you know it or not.

Precious: He give me his baby and my one before it, but I don't never see him...

Mrs. Weiss: Wait, what did you say he gave you?

Precious: Nothing.

Mrs. Weiss: Wait, Claireece, you just said your father gave you something...

Precious: Nothing.

Mrs. Weiss: No, I heard you just say--

Precious: You didn't hear shit.

Mrs. Weiss: I heard you just say your father--

Precious: You didn't hear shit like it!

Mrs. Weiss: I don't care, honey! I need to know this!

Precious: [overlapping] I didn't say nothing like it! Let's move on!

Mrs. Weiss: I need this to help you--

Precious: Bitch, can we change the subject?

Mrs. Weiss: [tossing her file aside] Okay. Well, I'll see you next time then. Or maybe you'll see someone else. But you're going to have to talk to someone if you want your check, sweetie.

Precious: I see vampires, too.

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

Confrontation Between Mother and Daughter

Mary Jones: See, I think right now you think you becomin a grown woman. Cause that shit you pulled in the kitchen... I shoulda fucked you up. But I let you walk away. And I let you get yourself together. But, bitch, I'mma let you know, don't you ever pull that shit again. That'll be your last mothafuckin day stayin here. I promise you that. You gon send a white bitch to my mothafuckin buzzer? Talkin bout some higher education? You're a dummy, bitch! You will never know shit! Don't nobody want you, don't nobody need you! You done fucked around and fucked my mothafuckin man? And had two mothafuckin children? And one of ems a goddamn animal, runnin round lookin crazy as a mothafucka? Bitch, you know what? See, I think you... I think you tryin me. I think you tryin to fuck with me. You fuckin with my money... and you gon stand up there and look at me like you a mothafuckin woman? I'mma show you what real women do, bitch. See, you don't know what real mothafuckin women do. Real mothafuckin women sacrifice! I shoulda aborted your mothafuckin ass! Cause you ain't shit! I knew it when the doctor put you in my goddamn hand you wasn't a goddamn thing! You wear that smirk on your face, bitch?

Confronting the Past and Moving On

Claireece Precious Jones: [to her mother] You know, to this day, I never even knew who you was, not even after all them things you did. Maybe I was too stupid. Maybe I just didn't want to. You ain't gonna see me no more.

Embracing New Beginnings Despite Struggles

Claireece Precious Jones: The other day, I cried. I felt stupid. But you know what? Fuck that day. That's why God, or whoever, makes new days. Still hungry, though.

Determination to Overcome Barriers

Claireece Precious Jones: I'm gonna break through or somebody gonna break through to me.

Critique of Standardized Testing and Identity

Claireece Precious Jones: There's always something wrong with these tests. These tests paint a picture of me with no brain. These tests paint a picture of me and my mother, my whole family as less than dumb. Just ugly black grease, need to be wiped away, find a job for.

Desires and Aspirations of Claireece Precious Jones

Claireece Precious Jones: My name is Claireece Precious Jones. I wish I had a light-skinned boyfriend with real nice hair. And I wanna be on the cover of a magazine. But first I wanna be in one of them BET videos. Momma said I can't dance. Plus, she said who wants to see my big ass dancing, anyhow?