john
keating
Why do I stand up here?
mr. dawson
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 in 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 in quiet desperation.
Don't be resigned by that. Break out. Don't walk just 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, gentleman. 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. Medicine, law, business, engeneering, these are all noble pursuits, and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are where we stay alive for.
To quote from Whitman: "O me, O life of the questions of these recuring,of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities filled with the foolish What good amid these: O me, O life?"
The 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 would 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.
mr. anderson
Morose?
john keating
Exactly! Morose! Now, language was developed for one endeavour,
and that is--Mr. Anderson. Come on, are you a man or an
amoeba? Mr. Perry?
mr. perry
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 McBeth going, "Well, 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.
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