Summary

When charismatic English teacher John Keating arrives at a strict boys' academy, his unconventional teaching methods breathe new life into the curriculum steeped in tradition. With his wit and wisdom, Keating inspires his students to pursue individual passions and make their lives extaordinary.

Quotes

John Keating
Why do I stand up here?
Dalton
To feel taller.
John Keating
No. Ding! Thank you for playing. I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things in a different way. See, the world looks very different from up here. You don't believe me? Come see for yourselves. Come on. Just when you think you know something, you have to look at it in another way. Even though it may seem silly, or wrong, you must try. Now, when you read, don't just consider what the author thinks. Consider what you think. Boys, you must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all. Thoreau said: "Most men lead lives of quiet desperation." Don't be resigned by that. Break out. Now don't just walk off the edge like lemmings! Look around you! Dare to strike out and find new ground. Now, in addition to your essays, I would like you to compose a poem of your own, an original work.
Class
Ooh!
John Keating
Oef! La-ha-ha-ha-hum! That's right. You have to deliver it aloud, in front of the class on Monday.
Ooh! Bon chance, gentlemen. Mr. Anderson! Don't think that I don't know that this assignment scares the hell out of you, you mole.

John Keating
We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?

John Keating
A man is not 'very tired'. He's 'exhausted'. And don't use 'very sad', use--Come on, Mr. Overstreet, you twerp.
Todd
Morose?
John Keating
Exactly! Morose! Now, language was developed for one endeavor, and that is--Mr. Anderson. Come on, are you a man or an amoeba? Mr. Perry?
Neil
Uh... to communicate?
John Keating
No! To woo women. Today we're going to be talking about William Shakespeare. Oh, God. I know, a lot of you look forward to this about as much as you look forward to root canal work. We're gonna talk about Shakespeare as someone who writes something very interesting. Now, many of you have seen Shakespeare done very much like this: "O, Titus, bring your friend hither." But many of you have seen Marlon Brando... you know that Shakespeare can be different. "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears." You can also imagine maybe John Wayne as Macbeth going, "Waaall, is this a dagger I see before me?"

John Keating
Dogs, sir? Oh, not just now. I do enjoy a good dog once in a while, sir. You can have yourself a three-course meal from one dog. Start with a canine croquette. Go to your Fido flambe for main course. And for desert a Pekingese parfait. And you can pick your teeth with the little paw.