Personal Meanings of Memorable Movie Quotes

Just about every movie at least has the potential for quotable lines which we share with our friends, use as email and forum signature "tag" lines, or even become part of our personal conduct and beliefs to some extent. Ours has become a society of quick-media and quick answers. It is a far cry today to find quoted text from books - but there are many good lines from movies which grab us and motivate us. Here, in no particular order, are some good movie quotes which have touched me in some way over my years of enjoying films:

Movie Quote: Jerry Maguire

"I love you. You... you complete me."

At the end of the movie, when Jerry returns to Dorothy after the climactic finish of the football game, he comes into the living room filled with the single/divorced women's group asking where she is. With all of his sports-agent salesmanship working for his contracts and cut of a player's salary, he stumbles through trying to explain his feelings. In the end, this simple phrase is what catches people most. And then Dorothy's response is probably the ultimate acceptance and admission of love and devotion:

"You had me at 'hello'."

Movie Quote: Dune

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when my fear is gone I will turn and face fear's path, and only I will remain."

As well as from the series of books by Frank and Brian Herbert, Dune, the Litany Against Fear has always been a good source of strength and inspiration during hard times. Paul uses this a few times within the movie, when facing the Reverend Mother's gom jabbar test, and later in the sands of Arrakis when he calls his first worm to ride. Fear is something we all much manage, and to remember that it is only a temporary part of our life, something for the moment, but not a lasting part, this is how courage gains strength. When we manage our fears, conquer them, we gain the fortitude to press on, and persevere in times of strife and trial.

Movie Quote: 13^th Warrior

"'Lo, there do I see my father. 'Lo, there do I see my mother, and my sisters and my brothers. 'Lo, there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning. 'Lo, they do call to me. They bid me take my place among them. In the halls of Valhalla, where the brave may live forever."

The vikings funeral dirge is a moving prayer, honoring their ancestors and gods as they lay a fallen comrade to rest. In the beginning of the movie this is said for the old king before the warriors travel north. At the final battle, it is a shared prayer amongst the warriors as they prepare to face the 'beast' army. Along with the prayer said by the lead character, Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan:

"Merciful Father, I have squandered my days with plans of many things. This was not among them. But at this moment, I beg only to live the next few minutes well. For all we ought to have thought, and have not thought; all we ought to have said, and have not said; all we ought to have done, and have not done; I pray thee God for forgiveness."

These are moving speeches within the movie which speak of faith, the deep-rooted foundations of belief in a higher power, an afterlife and perhaps even rebirth into this world again. Although each of these prayers is part of a different religious practice, they both resonate with the soul as truly heartfelt and pure; the honest belief and blind faith that the Divine is watching over them during their struggles in this life.

Movie Quote: Ferris Beuller's Day Off

"-Ism's in my opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an -ism, he should believe in himself."

As Ferris is preparing for his Grande Adventure in playing hooky, he talks about the test he is avoiding, and this fragment sticks out as one of the most simplest ideals to have. Society in general is getting increasingly stuck on labels - everything and everyone has to be some kind of specific type, belong to a certain group, based on whatever popular idea is in the mainstream at the time. But the truth is, in the end we can only be ourselves, and we need to believe in our own abilities to the betterment of our life.

Movie Quote: The Patriot

"I have long feared that my sins would return to visit me, and the cost would be more than I could bear."

This movie about the start of the American Revolution starts with the above line, to reflect how the main character is worried that events from his past would continue to haunt him and perhaps affect his family. This recurring theme of a father trying to do right for his family, protecting them from the brutalities he has already been witness to - and partaken in. This is a fear in every parent, that things they may have done wrong in their past will come back and haunt them - either directly within their life, or indirectly through actions their children take. Remembering this line helps maintain a moral compass; as we consider what it is we are about to do, we are reminded that there are always reactions and consequences to our actions.

Movie Quote: The Last Samurai

"Emperor: Tell me how he died.
Algren: I will tell you how he lived."

At the end of the movie, the American soldier approaches the Emperor of Japan to present the sword of his last faithful warrior, Katsumoto. Knowing that Algren was at the final battle between the new Japanese army and the remnants of Katsumoto's warrior clans, the Emperor accepts the gift of the sword and bends to ask the above, and Algren's reply follows. It is not enough to know that we have lived and died, and in what manner we have died, but rather more important to know that we did live, and what we lived for. In our actions, we leave a legacy for the generations that follow. It can be thought of as our duty to the rest of our race that we in fact do leave something behind for the next generation - whether it is knowledge we have taught others, or just as an example in how to live life, most every person wants to leave something more behind so they aren't easily forgotten as descendants continue on.

Movie Quote: Keeping the Faith

"May those who love us, love us. And those who don't love us - may God turn their hearts. And if He cannot turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles, so that we may know them by their limping."

As Brian finishes the beginning of his story-confession to the bartender, this line is said as a closing prayer. Although humorous in nature, it does give an honest approach to how one relates to others in their daily life. It is similar to the idea that PT Barnum is alleged to have said "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time." We might not have everyone friendly to us, but by knowing who has not "turned their hearts" to be open-minded, we might glean a way to a better understanding with them, if not attaining some level of friendship.

Movie Quote: Runaway Bride

"Look, I guarantee there'll be tough times. I guarantee that at some point, one or both of us is gonna want to get out of this thing. But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life, because I know, in my heart, you're the only one for me."

While investigating the stories about a woman who gets cold feet at the altar, Ike interviews Maggie by sharing questions. When he is asked about a perfect proposal, he offers the blunt truth. We all want to have that romantic love, the happily-ever-after that we feel we deserve. But the truth behind storybook romances is laid out in this quote. It gives us pause to think about how we will go through life - not only the joys, but the heartaches that will surely happen as well. And it is best kept in mind there will be hard times as we consider who we desire to spend the rest of our life with.

Movie Quote: Sleepless in Seattle

"it was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were suppose to be together... and I knew it. I knew it the very first time I touched her. It was like coming home... only to no home I'd ever known... I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car and I knew. It was like... magic."

After moving to Seattle to start over, the widower Sam is drawn into a late night radio talk show after his son calls in to talk to the doctor. When asked about his late wife, Sam rambles on about how they met, and how he just knew they were destined. Again, the romance and ideals behind this touch one's heart, awaking the desires that we want to have that "one true love" and remind us that there is hope out there for us to find that which we do desire and deserve. In many of the older movies when motion pictures were just starting to draw people out and entertain regularly, the ideals from the last century still showed the belief in that one, deep, "true" love, and that neither time nor distance could keep the lovers apart.

For various reasons, each of these quotes have spoken volumes to me over the years, given me pause to think as I go through my own daily routines as well as daydreams. Whether contemplating the depth and value of love within my life, or the finer points of morality and faith, movies have provided a form of entertainment while helping to define those aspects of my life which the underlying plot touched upon. Whether an action film, historical fiction, or a romantic comedy, each movie has left an impression to further define and refine thoughts and beliefs I have come to find in my life.

We don't live in a movie; this is the real world, and we have to remember there are no second chances, no retakes when something goes wrong. But by learning what we can from others, from the movies which entertain us, we can improve our lives and not make similar mistakes as those before us - as those on the silver screen who perform in that magical world of film, showing us the foibles of life before we endure them ourselves.

SOURCE:

www.imdb.com