The Graduate quotes

View Quote Desk Clerk: Can I help you, sir?
Benjamin: What? Oh, no. I'm just...
Desk Clerk: Are you here for an affair, sir?
Benjamin: What?
Desk Clerk: The Singleman party, sir?
Benjamin: Oh, yes, the Singleman party.
Desk Clerk: It's in the main ballroom.
Benjamin: Ah, thank you.

View Quote Benjamin: Elaine, I like you. I like you so much. Do you believe that? [She nods] Do you?
Elaine: Yes.
Benjamin: You're the first thing for so long that I like, the first person I could stand to be with. My whole life is such a waste. There's just nothing. I'm sorry. I'll take you home now.

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 Elaine: What are you going to do?
Benjamin: I don't know.
Elaine: Are you going home?
Benjamin: No.
Elaine: Well, where are you going?
Benjamin: Elaine, you're going to have to stop asking me that.
Elaine: I don't want you to leave tomorrow.
Benjamin: I don't understand.
Elaine: I don't want you to go anywhere until you have a definite plan.

View Quote Elaine: Good night.
Benjamin: Are we getting married tomorrow?
Elaine: No...
Benjamin: Day after tomorrow?
Elaine: I don't know. Maybe we are, and maybe we're not.

View Quote Benjamin: Listen to me. What happened between Mrs. Robinson and me was nothing. It didn't mean anything. We might just as well have been shaking hands.
Mr. Robinson: Shaking hands? Well, that's not saying much for my wife, is it?
...
Benjamin: What happened between Mrs. Robinson and me was nothing. It didn't mean anything. We might just as well have been shaking hands...The point is I don't love your wife, I love your daughter, sir.

View Quote Benjamin: That older woman that I told you about?...The married woman. That wasn't just some woman...
Elaine: [realizing] Oh, no. Oh, my God. Get out!
Mrs. Robinson: Good-bye, Benjamin.

View Quote Benjamin: [offering her a coat-hanger] Wood?
Mrs. Robinson: What?
Benjamin: Wood or wire? They have both.

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 [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 Mrs. Robinson: [on the phone] Benjamin.
Benjamin: Yes?
Mrs. Robinson: Isn't there something you want to tell me?
Benjamin: Tell you?
Mrs. Robinson: Yes.
Benjamin: Well, I want you to know how much I appreciate this. Really.
Mrs. Robinson: The number.
Benjamin: What?
Mrs. Robinson: The room number, Benjamin. I think you ought to tell me that.
Benjamin: Oh, you're absolutely right. It's 568.
Mrs. Robinson: Thank you.
Benjamin: You're welcome. Well... I'll see you later, Mrs. Robinson.

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 Mr. Robinson: Do you ummm... do you want to tell my why you did it
Benjamin: Mr. Robinson!
Mr. Robinson: Do you have a special grudge against me? Do you feel a particularly strong resentment? Is there something I've said that's caused this contempt, or is it just things I stand for that you despise?

View Quote Mr. Robinson: [about Ben] Who's that guy? What's he doing? I'll take care of him.
Mrs. Robinson: He's too late.

View Quote Mrs. Braddock: What makes you think she wants to marry you?
Benjamin: Oh, she doesn't. To be perfectly honest she doesn't like me.