Edward Bloom quotes from Big Fish (2003)

There are some fish that cannot be caught. It's not that they're faster or stronger than other fish. They're just touched by something extra. Call it luck. Call it grace. One such fish was "The Beast".

Sometimes, the only way to catch an uncatchable woman is to offer her a wedding ring.

I was trying to find a cure to my gigantificationism...

Now, it's common knowledge that most towns of a certain size have a witch, if only to eat misbehaving children and the occasional puppy who wanders into her yard. Witches use those bones to cast spells and curses that make the land infertile... Yet of the all the witches in Alabama, there was one who was the most feared. For she had one glass eye, which was said to contain mystical powers.

I was thinking about death and all. About seeing how you're gonna die. I mean, on one hand, if dying was all you thought about, it could kind of screw you up. But it could kind of help you, couldn't it? Because you'd know that everything else you can survive.

I was never much for being at home, Will. It's too confining. And this, here... being stuck in bed. Dying is the worst thing that ever happened to me.

Armed with the foreknowledge of my own death, I knew the giant couldn't kill me. All the same, I preferred to keep my bones unbroken.

Oh, come on. I can't go back, I'm a human sacrifice. If I go back they'll think I'm a coward. I'd rather be dinner than a coward.

The biggest fish in the river gets that way by never being caught.

There were two roads out of Ashton, a new one which was paved, and an older one that wasn't. People didn't use the old road anymore, and it had developed the reputation of being haunted. Well, Since I had no intention of ever returning to Ashton, this seemed as good a time as any to find out what lay down that old road.

Now, there comes a point where a reasonable man will swallow his pride and admit that he's made a terrible mistake. The truth is, I was never a reasonable man.

What I recalled of Sunday School was that the more difficult something became, the more rewarding it was in the end.

I agreed to spend the afternoon, if only to understand the mystery of how a place could feel so strange, and yet so familiar.

This town is more than any man could ask for. And if I were to end up here, I'd consider myself lucky. But the truth is, I'm not ready to end up anywhere.

As difficult as it was to reach Spectre, I was fated to get there eventually. After all, no man can avoid reaching the end of his life.

This isn't how I die.

We didn't have a proper wedding. Your mother-in-law was never supposed to marry me. She was engaged to somebody else.

It was on that night Karl met his destiny. And I met mine. Almost.

They say when you meet the love of your life, time stops. And that's true. What they don't tell you, is that once time starts again, it moves extra fast to catch up.

It was that night I discovered that most things you consider evil or wicked are simply lonely, and lacking in social niceties.

Sandra Templeton! I love you! And I will marry you!

While I took the beating of a lifetime, it was Don Price who was ultimately defeated.

Truth is, I've been thirsty my whole life. Never really known why.

Y'see, most men, they'll tell a story straight through— it won't be complicated, but it won't be interesting either.

Kept in a small bowl, they will remain small. With more space, the fish can double, triple or quadruple its size.

You will never know its Girth!

Having a kid changes everything. I mean, there's the diapers and the burping and the midnight feedings...

Will

Did you do any of that?

No, but I hear it's terrible. Then you spend years trying to corrupt and mislead this child, fill its head with nonsense and still it turns out perfectly fine.

Norther Winslow

I've been working on this poem for 12 years.

Really.

Norther Winslow

There's a lot of expectation. I don't want to disappoint my fans...The grass so green, Skies so blue, Spectre is really great!

It's only three lines long.

Norther Winslow

This is why you should never show a work in progress.

Beamen

You won't find a better place!

I don't expect to.

Jenny

Promise me you'll come back.

I promise. Someday. When I'm really supposed to.

Son that creature could crush you without trying.

Oh trust me— he'll have to try.

Will never told you?... Ah, Probably just as well. He would have told it wrong anyway. All the facts and none of the flavor.

Josephine

Oh... so this is a tall tale?

Well, it's not a short one.

Karl

I don't want to eat anybody. I just get so hungry. I'm just too big.

Did you ever think maybe you're not too big— but, maybe this town's just too small?

I just saw the woman I'm going to marry, I know it. But I lost her.

Amos

Oh, Tough break. Well, most men have to get married before they lose their wives.

I'm going to spend the rest of my life looking for her. That or die alone.

Amos

Damn, Kid!

Amos

Forget it Kid. Don't waste your time. She's out of your league.

What do you mean? You don't even know me.

Amos

Sure I do. You were hot shit back in Hickville, but here in the real world, you got squat. You don't have a plan. You don't have a job. You don't have anything except the clothes on your back... You were a big fish in a small pond, but this here is the ocean, and you're drowning. Take my advice and go back to Puddleville. You'll be happy there.

You don't know me, but my name is Edward Bloom and I love you. I've spent the last three years working to find out who you are. I've been shot and stabbed and trampled a few times— I broke my ribs twice— but it's all been worth it to see you here, now, and to finally get to talk to you. Because I'm destined to marry you. I knew it the first moment I saw you at the circus. And I know it now more than ever.

Sandra

I'm sorry.

You don't have to apologize to me. I'm the luckiest person you'll find today.

Sandra

No, I'm sorry. I'm engaged to be married. But you're wrong. I do know you. At least by reputation. Edward Bloom from Ashton. See, I'm actually engaged to a boy from Ashton. Don Price. He was a few years older than you.

Well... congratulations. I'm sorry to have bothered you...

What do you want, Will? Who do you want me to be?

Will

Yourself. Good, bad, everything. Just show me who you are for once.

I have been nothing but myself since the day I was born. And if you can't see that, it's your failing, not mine.

Will

As we get closer to the river, we see that everybody's already there. And I mean everyone. It's unbelievable.

The story of my life.

Will

You become what you always were. A very big fish. And that's how it happens.

Yeah. Exactly.

Will

As we get-as we get close to the river, we see that everybody is already there.

Will

And I mean everyone...it's-it's unbelievable.

The story...of my life.

Will

And the strange thing is,there's not a sad face to be found,everyone is just so glad to see you.And send you off right.

Will

You become what you always were...a very big fish...and that's how it happens.

Exactly.