LESTER: I had always heard your entire life flashes in front of your eyes the second before you die. First of all, that one second isn't a second at all, it stretches on forever, like an ocean of time... For me, it was lying on my back at Boy Scout camp, watching falling stars... And yellow leaves, from the maple trees, that lined my street... Or my grandmother's hands, and the way her skin seemed like paper... And the first time I saw my cousin Tony's brand new Firebird... And Janie... And... Carolyn.I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me... but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst......and then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life... You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. But don't worry... You will someday.
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Here lies Lester Moore, Four shots from a .44, No Les, no more.
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Carolyn: Your father and I were just discussing his day at work. Why don't you tell our daughter about it, honey? Lester: Janie, today I quit my job. And then I told my boss to go fuck himself, and then I blackmailed him for almost sixty thousand dollars. Pass the asparagus.
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The first mistake of Art is to assume that it's serious.
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It's hard to stay mad when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once and it's too much. My heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst, and then I remember to relax and stop trying to hold on to it and it flows through me like rain and I can feel nothing but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid, little life. You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure, but don't worry. You will someday.'
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Lester Burnham (Last line): I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me. But it's hard to stay mad when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once and it's too much. My heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst. And then I remember to relax, and not try to hold on to it. And then it flows through me like rain. And I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life. You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. Don't worry, you will someday.
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Lester goes through not only a spiritual and emotional reawakening, but he gets pumped up. I had to work with a trainer for about four months and then every day on the set, twice a day.
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Eating's going to be a whole new ball game. I may even have to buy a new pair of trousers.
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Carolyn Burnham: I see you're smoking pot now. I suppose you think smoking illegal psychotropic substances is a good example to set for our sixteen year-old daughter?! Lester Burnham: You're one to talk, you bloodless, money-grubbing freak.
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Carolyn Burnham: What are you doing? Lester Burnham: Nothing. Carolyn Burnham: You were masturbating! Lester Burnham: I was not. Carolyn Burnham: Yes you were! Lester Burnham: Oh, all right! So shoot me, I was whacking off! That's right, I was choking the bishop, chafing the carrot, you know, saying 'hi' to my monster!
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The only questions worth asking today are whether humans are going to have any emotions tomorrow, and what the quality of life will be if the answer is no.
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They wouldn't be heroes if they were infallible, in fact they wouldn't be heroes if they weren't miserable wretched dogs, the pariahs of the earth, besides which the only reason to build up an idol is to tear it down again.
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The only true currency we have in this bankrupt world is what we share with someone else when we are uncool.
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We have achieved the most amazing things, a few million people opening up half a continent. But we have not yet found a Canadian soul except in time of war. (On lack of national identity)
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I accept now with equanimity the question so constantly addressed to me, 'Are you an American' and merely return the accurate answer, 'Yes, I am a Canadian.'
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Has it ever occurred to you that friendship, at best, is a rather doubtful asset? I don't want friends. I shall have worshippers and followers...
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Lose it? I didn't lose it. It's not like, 'Whoops! Where'd my job go?' I QUIT. Someone pass me the asparagus.
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Sometimes in politics one must duel with skunks, but no one should be fool enough to allow the skunks to choose the weapons.
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The ultimate sin of any performer is contempt for the audience.
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This is the flag of the future, but it does not dishonor the past. (On his country's new Maple Leaf flag)
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Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
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Don't you see what my power does for me? I could sit in on the councils of kings and dictators. It makes me king. It makes me—Nemesis.
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The fact is that we prepare for war like giants, and for peace like pygmies.
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Good plans shape good decisions. That's why good planning helps to make elusive dreams come true.
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The Japanese say, 'If the flower is to be beautiful, it must be cultivated.'
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Honest businessmen should be protected from the unscrupulous consumer.
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Minds are like parachutes. They only function when they are open.
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There is no monument dedicated to the memory of a committee.
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