American Beauty Quotes

Carolyn Burnham: Uh, whose car is that out front?
Lester Burnham: Mine. 1970 Pontiac Firebird. The car I've always wanted and now I have it. I rule!
 • Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

Carolyn Burnham: Lester, you're going to spill beer on the couch.
Lester Burnham: Relax, it's just a couch!
Carolyn Burnham: This is a $4,000 sofa, upholstered in Italian silk. It is not just a couch.
Lester Burnham: [screaming] It's just a couch!
 • Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

Lester Burnham: Smile! You're at Mr. Smiley's.
Carolyn Burnham: [stunned] Uh, Buddy, this is my...
Lester Burnham: Her husband. We've met before, but something tells me you're going to remember me this time.
 • Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

Brad: [reading Lester's job assessment] "My job consists of basically masking my contempt for the assholes in charge, and, at least once a day, retiring to the men's room so I can jerk off while I fantasize about a life that doesn't so closely resemble Hell." Well, you have absolutely no interest in saving yourself.
Lester Burnham: Brad, for 14 years I've been a whore for the advertising industry. The only way I could save myself now is if I start firebombing.
 • Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

Lester Burnham: Look at me, jerking off in the shower... This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.
 • Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

Buddy Kane: You like getting f**ked by the King?
Carolyn Burnham: F**k me, your majesty!
 • Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

Ricky Fitts: Excuse me for speaking so bluntly sir. But those fags make me want to puke my f**king guts out.
Colonel Frank Fitts: [pauses] Well, me too son. Me too.
 • Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

Ricky Fitts: It was one of those days when it's a minute away from snowing and there's this electricity in the air, you can almost hear it. And this bag was, like, dancing with me. Like a little kid begging me to play with it. For fifteen minutes. And that's the day I knew there was this entire life behind things, and... this incredibly benevolent force, that wanted me to know there was no reason to be afraid, ever. Video's a poor excuse, I know. But it helps me remember... and I need to remember... Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in.
 • Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

Caterer: I'm not paying you to do... whatever it is you're doing out here.
Ricky Fitts: Fine. So don't pay me.
Caterer: Excuse me?
Ricky Fitts: I quit. So you don't have to pay me. Now leave me alone.
Caterer: ...asshole.
Lester Burnham: I think you just became my personal hero!
 • Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

Angela Hayes: If people I don't even know look at me and want to f**k me, it means I really have a shot at being a model.
 • Rating: 5.0 / 5.0