Jaime Escalante quotes from Stand and Deliver (1988)

If I teach you sex, I'll have to give you sex for homework.

There will be no free rides, no excuses. You already have two strikes against you: your name and your complexion. Because of these two strikes, there are some people in this world who will assume that you know less than you do. Math is the great equalizer... When you go for a job, the person giving you that job will not want to hear your problems; ergo, neither do I. You're going to work harder here than you've ever worked anywhere else. And the only thing I ask from you is ganas. Desire.

And maybe a haircut.

If you don't have the ganas, I will give it to you, because I'm an expert.

Did you know that neither the Greeks nor the Romans were capable of using the concept of zero? It was your ancestors, the Mayans, who first contemplated the zero. The absence of value. True story. You burros have math in your blood...

Hey Kimo sabe todo ehh? The man knows everything. (Calling him) Hey Kimo Sabe

Órale. Now, a negative times a negative equals a positive. Why?

We're gonna need a lot of Kleenexes - There's gonna be a lot of bloodshed.

Tito

I dreamed I was swimming with dolphins whispering imaginary numbers and searching for the fourth dimension.

Good! Go back to sleep.

Go to woodshop and make yourself a shoeshine box. You're gonna need it.

Angel Guzman

You're the man, you know? Why don't you put them in college, huh? So dumb taco venders like me can pick their vegetables for them, collect their garbage, clip their poodles' toenails. I may be a sinner, but I'm willing to pay for my sins.

Right. See you at three.

Angel Guzman

I got more bad news for you, profe. I know this is really gonna trip you out, but... I forgot my pencil.
[Ana produces a pencil for him]

She'll just be a fat winch, waste her life away in your restaurant. You have to understand - she's top student.

Mr. Delgado

I started washing dishes for a nickel an hour. Now I own this place. Did I waste my life?

I washed dishes, too, when I first came to this country.

Mr. Delgado

Good! Why don't you put on an apron and give us a hand?

Ana could go to college, come back, and teach you how to run this place.

Mr. Delgado

Professor Escalante, I don't want your money. And I don't need your business.

Tip, for Ana. By the way, I notice you put hot chillies in your dip to sell extra beer - don't you?

That's right. Tough guys don't do math; tough guys deep fry chicken for a living.

Are your friends auditing?

I audited them to come with me.

Wouldn't want anyone thinking you're intelligent, would you?

Can you have negative girlfriends?

No, only negative boyfriends. Forgive them, for they not know what they do.

Do you want me to do it for you?

Yes.

You're supposed to say no.

My kids could teach you a thing or two, Johnny!

You're like a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat there isn't there.

You only see the turn, you don't see the road ahead.

This girl's gotta do some work from the neck up. We're going to have to stay late again. Of course you know, we have pizza because they deliver. We can get fried chicken, hamburgers with cheese. We'll need donations. No, really, you owe me money anyway. You don't deserve the grades you're getting.

Where are you going? Late for another date? She's got more boyfriends than Elizabeth Taylor.

I don't appreciate you using my personal life to entertain this class.

What you got?

I got a core.

You owe me a hundred percent. And I'll see you in the People's Court.

You think you got it, Johnny? Think you have the answer?

Juan is X, Carlos is Y, Pedro is X + Y. Is Pedro bisexual or straight.

Sometimes I worry about you.

It's not that they're stupid, it's just that they don't know anything.

You know what kills me... it's that they lost the confidence in the system they're now finally qualified to be a part of. I don't know why I'm losing sleep over this. I don't need it. I could be making more money, with less hours, and have people treat me with respect.

Respect? Jaime, those kids love you.

There's something going on that nobody is talking about! And you know what that is!

Dr. Ramirez

No one has the right to accuse me of racism. [shouting] No one has the right to accuse me of racism!

Those scores would have never been questioned if my kids did not have Spanish surnames and come from barrio schools. You know that!

Do you think the students cheated?

Mr. Escalante, you put these kids under an awful lot of pressure. They would have gone to any lengths to please you.

You didn't answer my question.

Well... every night when I go to bed, I watch the television news. I see a lot of people go on trial. They always deny everything, or their lawyers say they were insane at the time. A lot of them get off. But I believe that most people who get caught today are guilty. Don't you?

Yup. I know what you mean.

I wouldn't do that if I was you. Might lose a finger and won't be able to count to ten.

I am El Cyclone,... from Bolivia. One-man gang. This classroom is my domain. Don't give me no gas, or I'll jump on your face and tattoo you chromosomes... If the only thing you know how to do is add or subtract, you will only be prepared to do one thing: Pump gas.

Now you got a ticket to watch the show.

Students will rise to the level of expectation, Senor Molina.

There are two kinds of racism, Mr Escalante. Judging a group because they are a minority, and not judging a group because they are a minority.

My kids could teach you a thing or two, Johnny!

You know the times tables?

I know the ones, the twos...the threes (shows him The Finger)

Ahhh The Fingerman ehh?. I am The Fingerman too; you know what I can do? I can multiply by nine. Three times nine? (starts counting with his fingers) one..two..three, what do you got? (shows fingers) twenty seven; six times nine, one..two..three..four..five..six, what do you got? (shows fingers again) fifty four; how about something more difficult? How about eight times nine? one..two..three..four..five..six..seven..eight, what do you got? (shows fingers a third time) seventy two.

It'll be harder. You can count on that. Just go step-by-step and play defense. Don't bring anything. No pencils, no erasers, nothing. Don't wear clothes with too many pockets. Don't let your eyes wander. No spacing out. Don't give them any opportunity to call you cheaters. You are the true dreamers. And dreams accomplish wonderful things. You're the best. Tomorrow you'll prove that you're the champs. Start with Chapter 1.

Jesse Molina

Yes, uh, this is Mr. Molina calling again. I speak to Dr...Yes, I did. Oh you do? Yes! Uh, yes! I-I'd like that very much, uh. Uh, one moment. Yes, um, yes I'm aware of the scoring. Three is uh, uh a passing grade, five is a perfect grade. Yes, I'm ready. Go ahead. Diaz, Maria, four. Sinfuentes, Mark, five. Narvarra, Jose, four.

I want the original scores reinstated.

Jesse Molina

Santos, Daniel, four. Escobar, Guadalupe, five. Camejo, Claudia, four. Ana Delgado, four. Garcia, Francisco, three. Fuentes, Rafaela, four. Javier Perales, five. Guitaro, Armando, four. Angel Guzman...five. Estelle, tell them to hold the meeting. We coming with great news. Um, Pernajas, Juliana, five. Hernandez, Alejandro, four. Castro, Monica, four.