The Graduate quotes

View Quote [to Elaine, at a burlesque show] You're missing a great effect here. How'd you like that? Could you do it?

View Quote Mr. Braddock: What's the matter? The guests are all downstairs, Ben, waiting to see you.
Benjamin: Look, Dad, could you explain to them that I have to be alone for a while?
Mr. Braddock: These are all our good friends, Ben. Most of them have known you since, well, practically since you were born. What is it, Ben?
Benjamin: I'm just...
Mr. Braddock: ...worried?
Benjamin: Well...
Mr. Braddock: About what?
Benjamin: I guess about my future.
Mr. Braddock: What about it?
Benjamin: I don't know. I want it to be...
Mr. Braddock: ...to be what?
Benjamin: ...Different.

View Quote Mrs. Robinson: Would you mind walking ahead of me to the sun porch. I feel funny about coming into a dark house.
Benjamin: But it's light in there.
Mrs. Robinson: Please...What do you drink? Bourbon?
Benjamin: Look, uh, Mrs. Robinson, I drove you home. I was glad to do it. But I have some things on my mind. Can you understand that?
Mrs. Robinson: Yes.
Benjamin: All right.
Mrs. Robinson: What do you drink? Benjamin. I'm sorry to be this way, but I don't want to be left alone in this house.
Benjamin: Why not?
Mrs. Robinson: Please wait till my husband gets home.
Benjamin: When is he coming back?
Mrs. Robinson: I don't know. Drink?
Benjamin: No. Are you always this much afraid of being alone?
Mrs. Robinson: Yes.
Benjamin: Well, why can't you just lock the doors and go to bed?
Mrs. Robinson: I'm very neurotic. May I ask you a question? What do you think of me?
Benjamin: What do you mean?
Mrs. Robinson: You've known me nearly all your life. You must have formed some opinion of me.
Benjamin: Well, I always thought that you were a very...nice...person.
Mrs. Robinson: Did you know I was an alcoholic?
Benjamin: What?
Mrs. Robinson: Did you know that?
Benjamin: Look, I think I should be going.
Mrs. Robinson: Sit down, Benjamin.
Benjamin: Mrs. Robinson, if you don't mind my saying so, this conversation is getting a little strange. Now, I'm sure that Mr. Robinson will be here any minute now and -
Mrs. Robinson: No.
Benjamin: What?
Mrs. Robinson: My husband will be back quite late. He should be gone for several hours.
Benjamin: Oh my God.
Mrs. Robinson: Pardon?
Ben: Oh no, Mrs. Robinson, oh no.
Mrs. Robinson: What's wrong?
Benjamin: Mrs. Robinson, you didn't - I mean, you didn't expect -
Mrs. Robinson: What?
Benjamin: I mean, you didn't really think that I would do something like that.
Mrs. Robinson: Like what?
Benjamin: What do you think?
Mrs. Robinson: Well, I don't know.
Benjamin: For God's sake, Mrs. Robinson, here we are, you've got me into your house. You give me a drink. You put on music, now you start opening up your personal life to me and tell me your husband won't be home for hours.
Mrs. Robinson: So?
Benjamin: Mrs. Robinson - you are trying to seduce me .... Aren't you?
Mrs. Robinson: Well, no. I hadn't thought of it. I feel very flattered.
Benjamin: Mrs. Robinson. Will you forgive me for what I just said?
Note: the bolded line is ranked #63 in the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 movie quotations in American cinema.

View Quote Mrs. Robinson: Don't be nervous.
Benjamin: Get away from that door.
Mrs. Robinson: I want to say something first.
Benjamin: Dear God.
Mrs. Robinson: Benjamin. I want you to know that I'm available to you, and if you won't sleep with me this time...
Benjamin: Oh, my God.
Mrs. Robinson: ...if you won't sleep with me this time I want you to know that you can call me up anytime you want and we'll make some kind of an arrangement. Do you understand what I...?
Benjamin: Let me out.
Mrs. Robinson: Benjamin. Did you understand what I said?
Benjamin: Yes, yes, let me out.
Mrs. Robinson: Because I find you very attractive. Now, anytime you want, you just...
Ben: Oh Jesus, that's him.

View Quote Elaine: Benjamin...Will you kiss me? [they kiss]
Benjamin: Will you marry me? [She shakes her head no] You won't?
Elaine: I don't know.
Benjamin: But you might?
Elaine: I might.
Benjamin: Is that so? You might marry me?
Elaine: Yes.
Benjamin: When?
Elaine: I don't know.
Benjamin: What about tomorrow? I don't mean to be pushy but...
Elaine: I don't know. I don't know what's happening.
Benjamin: You mean you're confused? Look. Don't be confused. We're getting married.
Elaine: I don't see how we can.
Benjamin: We just can.
Elaine: I have to go now.
Benjamin: Elaine. Are you serious about this?
Elaine: I'll think about it.
Benjamin: You really will?
Elaine: Yes.
Benjamin: [After Elaine leaves] Good God!

View Quote Mrs. Robinson, this is the sickest, most perverted thing that ever happened to me.

View Quote [to Mrs. Robinson] Look, I like you. I wouldn't keep coming here if I didn't like you...I enjoy it. I look forward to it. It's the one thing I have to look forward to...All right, I promise, for Christ's sake, I promise never to take out Elaine Robinson...Let's not talk about it. Let's not talk at all.

View Quote [to Elaine] That's why I've been acting this way. I'm not like this. I hate myself like this. Listen, could you just stop crying, please?...I've had this feeling ever since I graduated. This kind of compulsion that I have to be rude all the time...It's like I was playing some kind of game, but the rules don't make any sense to me. They're being made up by all the wrong people. I mean no one makes them up. They seem to make themselves up.

View Quote Elaine, would you just tell me where he proposed to you? [shouting after her as she leaves the library] Oh God, it wasn't in his car, was it?

View Quote [in a letter] Dear Benjamin. Please forgive me, because I know what I'm doing is the best thing for you. My father is so upset you've got to understand. I love you but it would never work out.

View Quote Guests: We're all so proud of you, proud, proud, proud, proud, proud, proud, proud. What are you going to do now?
Benjamin: I was going to go upstairs for a minute.
Guests: I meant with your future, your life.
Benjamin: Well, that's a little hard to say.

View Quote Mr. McGuire: I want to say one word to you. Just one word.
Benjamin: Yes, sir.
Mr. McGuire: Are you listening?
Benjamin: Yes, I am.
Mr. McGuire: Plastics.
Benjamin: Exactly how do you mean?
Mr. McGuire: There's a great future in plastics. Think about it. Will you think about it?
Benjamin: Yes I will.
Mr. McGuire: Shh! Enough said. That's a deal. Note: the bolded line is ranked #42 in the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 movie quotations in American cinema.

View Quote Mrs. Robinson: Will you unzip my dress? I think I'll go to bed.
Benjamin: Oh well, good night.
Mrs. Robinson: Won't you unzip my dress?
Benjamin: I'd rather not, Mrs. Robinson.
Mrs. Robinson: If you still think I'm trying to seduce you...?
Benjamin: No, I don't, but I just feel a little funny.
Mrs. Robinson: Benjamin. You've known me all your life.
Benjamin: I know that but I'm...
Mrs. Robinson: Come on. It's hard for me to reach. Thank you.
Benjamin: Right.
Mrs. Robinson: What are you so scared of?
Benjamin: I'm not scared, Mrs. Robinson.
Mrs. Robinson: Then why do you keep running away?
Benjamin: Because you're going to bed. I don't think I should be up here.
Mrs. Robinson: Haven't you ever seen anybody in a slip before?
Benjamin: Yes, I have, but I just...Look, what if Mr. Robinson walked in right now?
Mrs. Robinson: What if he did?
Benjamin: Well, it would look pretty funny, wouldn't it?
Mrs. Robinson: Don't you think he trusts us together?
Benjamin: Of course he does, but he might get the wrong idea. Anyone might.
Mrs. Robinson: I don't see why? I'm twice as old as you are. How could anyone think that...
Benjamin: But they would! Don't you see?
Mrs. Robinson: Benjamin. I am not trying to seduce you!
Benjamin: I know that, but please, Mrs. Robinson. This is difficult..
Mrs. Robinson: Would you like me to seduce you?
Benjamin: What?
Mrs. Robinson: Is that what you're trying to tell me?
Benjamin: [A long pause] I'm going home now. I apologize for what I said. I hope you can forget it. But I'm going home right now.

View Quote Mr. Robinson: Ben, are you all right?
Benjamin: I'm just a little worried about my future. I'm a little upset about my future.
Mr. Robinson: I wish I was that age again because Ben...you'll never be young again...Ben, can I say something to you?...uh, how long have we known each other now? How long have you and I known each other? How long have your dad and I been partners?...I watched you grow up, Ben...In many ways, I feel as though you were my own son...So I hope you won't mind my giving you a friendly piece of advice... I think you ought to be taking it a little easier right now than you seem to be...Sow a few wild oats, take things as they come, have a good time with the girls and so forth...You have yourself a few flings this summer. I'll bet you're, you're quite a ladies man...You look to me like the kind of guy who has to fight 'em off. [To Mrs. Robinson] Now doesn't he look to you like the kind of guy who has to fight 'em off?

View Quote Benjamin: [on the phone] Look, I was thinking about that time after the party.
Mrs. Robinson: Where are you?
Benjamin: And I was wondering if I could buy you a drink or something?
Mrs. Robinson: Where are you?
Benjamin: Uh, the Taft Hotel.
Mrs. Robinson: Did you get a room?
Benjamin: No. Now I know it's pretty late and if you'd rather...
Mrs. Robinson: Give me an hour.
Benjamin: What?
Mrs. Robinson: I'll be there in an hour.