Although the most popular movie quotes can enter the common cultural lexicon, there are some lines that are just as powerful without being nearly as famous. The best movie quotes transcend the context of the stories that they come from, as the audience finds that they also apply in the real world.

Only a select few quotes from the biggest and most famous movies are widely discussed, but a great piece of dialogue can come from almost anywhere. Hidden gems and recent hits contain some of the most insightful movie quotes of all, even though they haven’t reached a big enough audience to breach containment.

10

“I Have So Often Shared The Day’s Glittering Discoveries With No One At All. But Always, Somewhere Along The Avenue Or The Boulevard There Was A Table Set For Me.” – The French Dispatch (2021)

Wes Anderson’s movies are known for their ᴅᴇᴀᴅpan style, but The French Dispatch‘s conceit of visualizing articles from different writers allows Anderson to toy with his dialogue a little more. This creates some of his most memorable lines, including Roebuck Wright’s opening to his food review, which turns into a citywide police chase.

Wright’s opening reveals that food has always been his pᴀssion and his sancтιтy, but one doesn’t need to share this particular love to relate to his feelings. In a broader sense, Wright is highlighting the beauty of everyday events, even in his loneliest moments. There’s disarming darkness throughout his article, but he has a resilient outlook.

9

“For All My Education, Accomplishments And So-Called Wisdom, I Can’t Fathom My Own Heart.” – Hannah & Her Sisters (1986)

Hannah and Her Sisters is a tangled romantic comedy revolving around three sisters. Michael Caine plays a well-respected New York City accountant who falls helplessly in love with his wife’s sister, despite his best attempts to fight or completely ignore his feelings.

Elliot’s best quote underlines the inescapable truth that some facets of the human experience will never be fully understood. Although people may try to plan their lives and continue with a sense of control over their surroundings, the heart can overrule the brain at any time. Elliot’s highbrow persona evaporates when he is struck by an unexpected love.

8

“Everything Is Temporary. That Don’t Excuse Nothin’.” – Moonstruck (1987)

Moonstruck is filled with great quotes, but the most famous ones come from Ronny’s poetic musings on fate or Loretta’s more blunt lines, like her iconic final quote, “Ma, I love him awful.” Loretta’s father, Cosmo, has some thought-provoking lines of his own, as he proves to be a deceptively wise father figure.

Loretta tries to brush off the fact that her engagement ring is only temporary, but Cosmo’s response highlights his true nature as a romantic. It’s exactly what Loretta needs to hear, although she doesn’t initially realize that her pragmatic approach to her love life is robbing her of real pᴀssion. Even out of context, Cosmo’s wise words ring true.

7

“When You’re 16, They Call It Sweet 16 And When You’re 18 You Get To Drink And Vote And See Dirty Movies. What The Hell Do You Get To Do When You’re 19?” – Breaking Away (1979)

Although it’s almost 50 years old, Breaking Away is a timeless coming-of-age movie that speaks to the universal experience of trying to find a place in the world. Cyril and his friends have lived in a college town all their lives, but they feel themselves being left behind as they leave high school and contemplate what the future holds for them.

Breaking Away revolves around Dave Stohler’s gradual journey toward maturity, but his friends also have some memorable quotes. Cyril’s disillusionment is clear from his cynical speech about birthdays, reflecting the entire group’s lack of direction. It applies to anyone who reaches adulthood and finds that it isn’t as free as it seems.

6

“My Father Once Told Me, “Always Carve With Compᴀssion.” He Was A F***ing Idiot, But It’s Not Bad Advice.” – Poor Things (2023)

Yorgos Lanthimos’ movies use a style of stilted, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpan dialogue, drenched in bathos. Poor Things is a great example of this, as many of its most sublime and lyrical moments are immediately followed by a sudden shift in tone toward the ridiculous. Dr. Godwin Baxter often sees himself as a great man of science, but he’s too wise to get lost in heady abstraction.

Even though Godwin follows his father’s advice with a crude punchline, he admits that there’s some truth to it. The simple phrase can apply to many different aspects of life, suggesting that people need to devote themselves to whatever is in front of them, and treat diligence and care as guiding principles.

5

“What I Came To Understand Is That Change Is Not A Choice. Not For A Species Of Plant And Not For Me. It Happens – And You Are Different.” – Adaptation (2002)

Adaptation follows a screenwriter’s struggles to adapt a book about orchids for the big screen, but it also focuses on the book’s author. Meryl Streep delivers a characteristically commanding performance as an author who gets too close to her subject, until her work starts to wreak havoc on her personal life.

Throughout Adaptation, Susan Orlean searches for deeper meaning in her book, even when this is a thin cover for her search for meaning within herself. In a moment of clarity, she delivers one of the movie’s most memorable quotes, as she suggests that real change isn’t something that can be forced or faked.

4

“There’s This Feeling, Once You Leave Where You’re From, Like, Where You Grew Up, That You Don’t Totally Belong There Again.” – Aftersun (2022)

Aftersun uses naturalistic dialogue, which means that the majority of its lines aren’t as poetically constructed as some other movies. This makes it even more powerful when the script delivers a blow to the gut, most of which come from Calum when he isn’t trying to be particularly profound or emotional.

The ending of Aftersun adds pathos to some of Calum’s most affecting quotes. When he says that he doesn’t belong back home anymore, it’s also a tragic realization that he can’t cling on to the comfort of his past. It applies to more than just a physical location, as Calum’s daughter, Sophie, soon finds out.

3

“I Like Things That Look Like Mistakes.” – Frances Ha (2012)

Greta Gerwig delivers one of her best performances in Frances Ha, and she also wrote the script with Noah Baumbach. Frances Ha has plenty of relatable quotes about trying to find a satisfying place in the world, adult friendships and maturing. “I like things that look like mistakes” sums up many of the movie’s themes.

Frances’ life is cobbled together with whatever she can muster, but it always looks like improv in some way or another. After her triumphant dance recital, she finally accepts herself, complete with her accidents and imperfections. It’s easy to be charmed by Frances’ quirky ethos, accepting mistakes as they come.

2

“If You Don’t Follow Through On Your Dreams, You Might As Well Be A Vegetable.” – The World’s Fastest Indian (2005)

The World’s Fastest Indian never had the biggest audience, even though it’s one of Anthony Hopkins’ best movies. He plays Burt Munro, the real-life New Zealand daredevil who traveled to the United States with his custom-made bike to break several speed records.

The World’s Fastest Indian is a heartwarming story about chasing one’s dreams, no matter how other people might react and no matter how difficult the process may be. Despite its heavyweight themes, the script always uses light humor to get its point across, which makes Burt seem much more lifelike.

1

“What Else Ought There Be?” – The Green Knight (2021)

The Green Knight is based on an epic poem from the 14th century, and David Lowery doesn’t always bring the style right up to date. There are remnants of a much older style of storytelling, which lacks the modern era’s obsession with morals and rigid character arcs. This more accurately reflects old folklore, but it’s also more applicable to real life.

When Gawain reaches the end of his journey, he questions the mysterious knight about to behead him, “Is this all there is?” He’s unable to accept that his strange odyssey served no greater purpose, but the Green Knight’s blunt response brings him back to reality. It’s a form of nihilism that could be seen as freeing in some ways.