John Nash There has to be a mathematical explanation for how bad your tie is.
Most-quoted character in A Beautiful Mind (2001): in 32 of its 40 quotes
Most scenes with: Charles (4), Alicia Nash (2)
Adam Smith said the best result comes from everyone in the group doing what's best for himself, right? Adam Smith was wrong! The message: Sometimes it is better to cooperate!
More lines from John Nash
19 quotes John Nash John Nash Classes will dull your mind, destroy the potential for authentic creativity.
John Nash Terrified, petrified, mortified, stupified...by you.
John Nash I don't exactly know what I am required to say in order for you to have intercourse with me, but could we assume that I said all that? I mean essentially we are talking about fluid exchange right? So could we go just straight to the sex?
John Nash I find you very attractive. Your assertiveness tells me that you feel the same way about me. But ritual remains that we must do a series of platonic actions before we can have intercourse. Now, I'm doing that. But all I really want to do is have sex with you as soon as possible.
John Nash I've made the most important discovery of my life. It's only in the mysterious equation of love that any logical reasons can be found. I'm only here tonight because of you. You're the only reason I am...you are all my reasons.
John Nash Perhaps it is good to have a beautiful mind, but an even greater gift is to discover a beautiful heart.
John Nash Despite my privileged upbringing, I'm actually quite well-balanced. I have a chip on both shoulders.
John Nash I don't have time for these classes and these books, memorizing the weak assumptions of lesser mortals.
John Nash Find the truly original idea - that's the only way I will ever distinguish myself - it's the only way I'll ever...matter.
John Nash Adam Smith... was wrong.
John Nash It's the same with your dreams and nightmares. You have to feed them to keep them alive.
John Nash Through the physical, the metaphysical, the delusional and back.
John Nash Your comfort comes second to my ability to hear my own voice.
John Nash You know, Hansen has just published another paper. I can't imply a topic for my doctorate.
John Nash I am here to work.
John Nash One more thing. Do you have a name or should I keep calling you "Miss"?
John Nash I find you very attractive. Your aggressive moves towards me indicates that you feel the same way. However, ritual requires that we engage in a number of platonic activities before we have sex. I am proceeding with those activities when, in point of actual fact, all I really want to do is have intercourse with you as soon as possible. You going to slap me now?
John Nash There's no point in being nuts if you can't have a little fun.
Scenes with John Nash
12 scenes
John You know Hansen's just published another paper? I can't even find a topic for my doctorate.
Well, on the bright side, you've invented window art.
John [points]
This is a group playing touch football. This is a cluster of pigeons fighting over bread crumbs. And this here is a woman who is chasing a man who stole her purse.
John, you watched a mugging. That's weird.
John In competitive behavior, someone always loses.
Well, my niece knows that, John, and she's about this high.
John See, if I derive an equilibrium where prevalence is a non-singular event where nobody loses, can you imagine the effect that would have on conflict scenarios, arm negotiations …
When did you last eat?
John … currency exchange?
When did you last eat? You know, food.
John You have no respect for cognitive reverie, you know that?
Yes. But pizza – now, pizza I have enormous respect for. And of course beer.
John [He leaves] [throws stuff down and follows]
I have respect for beer. [shouts] I have respect for beer!
John I can't fail. This is all I am.
Come on, let's go out. I got to get something done. John!
John - I can't keep staring into space.
-John, enough!
John Got to face the wall, follow their rules, read their books
You want to do some damage? Fine
Come on! Go on, bust your head! Kill yourself. Go do it. Don't mess around. Bust your head! Go on, bust that worthless head wide open.
John Goddamn it, Charles!
Hansen Recall the lessons of Adam Smith, the father of modern economics. "In competition …"
Everybody
"… individual ambition serves the common good."
John Adam Smith needs revision.
Hansen What are you talking about?
John Adam Smith said the best result comes from everyone in the group doing what's best for himself. Right? That's what he said, right?
Hansen Right.
John Incomplete. Incomplete, okay? Because the best result will come from everyone in the group doing what's best for himself … and the group.
Hansen Nash, if this is some way for you to get the blonde on your own, you can go to hell.
John Governing dynamics, gentlemen. Governing dynamics. Adam Smith...he was wrong.
John I can't fail. This is all I am.
Come on, let's go out.
John I got to get something done.
John!
John I can't keep staring into space.
John, that's enough!
John Got to face the wall, follow their rules, read their books …
You want to do some damage, fine! But don't mess around!
John … do their classes.
Come on! Go on, bust your head! Kill yourself. Don't do it. Don't mess around. Bust your head! Go on, bust that worthless head wide open!
John Goddamn it, Charles! What the hell is your problem?!
It's not my problem. And it's not your problem. It's their problem. Your answer isn't face the wall. It's out there, where you've been working.
John You knew Oppenheimer?
Parcher His project was under my supervision.
John Which project? … That project.
Parcher It's not that simple.
John Well, you ended the war.
Parcher We incinerated over a hundred thousand people.
John Well, great deeds come at great costs.
Parcher Well, conviction, it turns out, is a luxury of those on the sidelines, Mr. Nash.
John I'll try and keep that in mind.
Colonel
General, this is Wheeler team leader Dr. John Nash.
General
Glad you could come, Doctor.
John Nash Hello.
General
Right this way.
General
We've been intercepting radio transmissions from Moscow.
General
The computer can't detect a pattern, but I'm sure it's code.
John Nash Why is that, General?
General
Ever just know something, Dr. Nash?
John Nash Constantly.
God, that's wonderful! There's no accounting for taste, is there?
John Should I marry her?
Oh, Gosh.. Right.
John I mean, everything's going well. The job is fine, I have enough money
It all seems to add up, doesn't it John?
John ... but how do you know for sure?
Nothing's ever for sure, John. That's the only sure thing I do know.
How big is the universe?
John Infinite.
How do you know?
John I know because all the data indicates it's infinite.
But it hasn't been proven yet.
John No.
You haven't seen it.
John No.
How do you know for sure?
John I don't, I just believe it.
It's the same with love, I guess.
John Have you met Harvey? [points to the empty seat Sol is about to sit in]
Sol [startled, and worried]
John, there's no...
John Relax, it's okay. There's no point in being nuts if you can't have a little fun.
Sol Jesus Christ. I should have known...
You can't reason your way out of this!
John Why not? Why can't I?
Because your mind is where your problem is in the first place!
You want to know what's real? This. This. This. This is real. Maybe the part... that knows the waking from the dream, maybe it isn't here.
John Maybe it's here.
Parcher Is this what you are, soldier? Some useless ghoul? The local madman?
John I'm not a soldier.
Parcher You're gonna end up in a cell! Old, worthless, discarded.
John There's no mission.
Parcher And while you rock and drool, the world will burn to ashes!
John You are not real! You are not real!
Parcher You're still talking to me, soldier!
John There's no mission! I'm not a soldier!
Hansen [Hansen rushes to John's side]
John? John? John, John, John, John. Hey, hey, hey. John, John! It's okay. I just heard what happened, I'm sorry. John--
John I'm not a soldier.
Hansen John. Hey, Nash. Nash, hey. Hey, you're all right.
Parcher [John walks off]
Ladies and gentlemen, the great John Nash!
