The Graduate quotes

View Quote Mr. McCleery: Are you a student?
Benjamin: Not exactly.
Mr. McCleery: What's that?
Benjamin: I said 'Not exactly.' No.
Mr. McCleery: What are ya then?
Benjamin: Oh, I'm just sorta travelin' through.
Mr. McCleery: I like to know who's living in my house. Like to know what my boys are up to.
Benjamin: I'm not up to much, actually. I'm just visiting. I mean, I've always wanted to see Berkeley.
Mr. McCleery: You're not one of those agitators?
Benjamin: What?
Mr. McCleery: One of those outside agitators?
Ben: Oh no.
Mr. McCleery: I hate that. I won't stand for it. I won't stand for that.

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 Benjamin: Will you wait a minute, please? Mrs. Robinson, do you think we could say a few words to each other first this time?
Mrs. Robinson: I don't think we have much to say to each other.
Benjamin: Look, for months, all we've done is come up here and leap into bed together.
Mrs. Robinson: Are you tired of it?
Benjamin: I'm not. No. But do you think we could liven it up with a little conversation for a change?...Now look, we're going to do this thing. We're going to have a conversation. Tell me what you did today?
Mrs. Robinson: I got up. I fixed breakfast for my husband.
Benjamin: There. There's something we could have a conversation about. Your husband.
Mrs. Robinson: Ohh, him.

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.

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 Benjamin: A room. I'd like a room please.
Desk Clerk: A single room or a double room?
Benjamin: A single just for myself, please.
Desk Clerk: Will you sign the register, please? Anything wrong, sir?
Benjamin: What? No, nothing.
Desk Clerk: Do you have any luggage, Mr. Gladstone?
Benjamin: Luggage? Yes, yes, I do.
Desk Clerk: Where is it?
Benjamin: What?
Desk Clerk: Where is your luggage?
Benjamin: Well, it's in the car. It's out there in the car.
Desk Clerk: Very good sir, I'll have a porter bring it in. [rings the desk bell]
Benjamin: Oh no. [covers the bell with his hand] I mean, I, I'd rather not go to all the trouble of bringing it all in, I just have a toothbrush. I can get it myself, if that's all right?
Desk Clerk: Of course. I'll have a porter show you the room.
Benjamin: Oh, well, actually I'd just as soon find it myself and, just have a toothbrush to carry up and I can handle it myself.
Desk Clerk: Whatever you say, sir.
Benjamin: Thank you.

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 Benjamin: What kind of car was it?
Mrs. Robinson: What?
Benjamin: Do you remember the make of the car?
Mrs. Robinson: Oh my God.
Benjamin: Really, I want to know.
Mrs. Robinson: It was a Ford, Benjamin.
Benjamin: A Ford! A Ford! God-damn-it, that's great, a Ford!
Mrs. Robinson: That's enough.
Benjamin: So old Elaine Robinson got started in a Ford.
Mrs. Robinson: Don't talk about Elaine.

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 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 Elaine: I just don't think it would work.
Benjamin: Why wouldn't it?
...
Ben: Why wouldn't it?
Elaine: I just don't think it would.
...
Benjamin: Tomorrow? Can we get our blood tests tomorrow morning?
Elaine: Why don't you drag me off if you want to marry me so much?
Benjamin: Why don't I just drag you off? All right, I will. Right after we get the blood tests...

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 Mr. Braddock: Ben, what are you doing?
Benjamin: Well, I would say that I'm just drifting. Here in the pool.
Mr. Braddock: Why?
Benjamin: Well, it's very comfortable just to drift here.
Mr. Braddock: Have you thought about graduate school?
Benjamin: No.
Mr. Braddock: Would you mind telling me then what those four years of college were for? What was the point of all that hard work?
Benjamin: You got me.

View Quote Mrs. Robinson: Benjamin, would this be easier for you in the dark?
Benjamin: Mrs. Robinson. I can't do this.
Mrs. Robinson: You what?
Benjamin: This is all terribly wrong.
Mrs. Robinson: Do you find me undesirable?
Benjamin: Oh, no, Mrs. Robinson. I think, I think you're the most attractive of all my parents' friends. I mean that. I find you desirable, but I, for God's sake, can you imagine my parents? Can you imagine what they would say if they just saw us in this room here right now?
Mrs. Robinson: What would they say?
Benjamin: I have no idea Mrs. Robinson, but for god's sake, they brought me up, they made a good life for me and I think they deserve better than this. I think they deserve a little better than jumping into bed with the partner's wife.
Mrs. Robinson: Are you afraid of me?
Benjamin: Oh, no. You're missing the point. Look. Maybe we could do something else together. Mrs. Robinson, would you like to go to a movie?
Mrs. Robinson: [After a long pause] Can I ask you a personal question?
Benjamin: Ask me anything you want?
Mrs. Robinson: Is this your first time?
Benjamin: Is this what?
Mrs. Robinson: It is, isn't it? It is your first time.
Benjamin: That's a laugh Mrs. Robinson. That's really a laugh. Ha, ha.
Mrs. Robinson: Well, you can admit that, can't you?
Benjamin: Are you kidding?
Mrs. Robinson: It's nothing to be ashamed of.
Benjamin: Wait a minute.
Mrs. Robinson: On your first time if you're afraid of being inadequate.
Benjamin: Who said it was my first time? Wait a minute.
Mrs. Robinson: Just because you happen to be inadequate in one way...
Benjamin: INADEQUATE! Don't move!

View Quote Benjamin: Well, I guess I'll have to ask her out on a date and find out what the big deal is.
Mrs. Robinson: Benjamin. Don't you ever take that girl out. Do you understand that?
Benjamin: Well, why shouldn't I?
Mrs. Robinson: I have my reasons.
Benjamin: Well let's hear 'em.
Mrs. Robinson: No.
Benjamin: Let's hear them, Mrs. Robinson, because I think I know what they are. I'm not good enough for her to associate with, am I? I'm not good enough to even talk about her, am I?
Mrs. Robinson: Let's drop it.
Benjamin: We're not dropping it. I'm good enough for you, but I'm not good enough to associate with your daughter. That's it, isn't it?
Mrs. Robinson: Benjamin.
Benjamin: Isn't it?
Mrs. Robinson: Yes.
Benjamin: You go to hell. You go straight to hell, Mrs. Robinson.