10 Profound Movie Quotes About Life (2024)

Throughout cinematic history, there have been many famous quotes. These iconic lines remain with us years, even decades, after the credits roll, engraved into our minds. Their legendary words are woven into pop-culture, into our very being, and have become a part of our everyday lives.

Some of these lines are just plain, old fun to say aloud; they can be found on T-shirts and coffee mugs and can be whipped out during everyday conversations. Others inspire and teach us, offering wisdom and insight into the ways of life. Here are ten profound movie quotes that both encourage and warn us about the nature of life.

10 “Nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” - Rocky from Rocky Balboa (2006)

Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) from the Rocky franchise is known more for his brawn and perseverance than his brains. But after a few decades and a bunch of movies, Rocky has come to learn a thing or two about life. In Rocky Balboa, the famous boxer's son (Milo Ventimiglia) vents to his aging father about the unfairness of life. In response, Rocky unexpectedly hits us with this profound and accurate line: “Nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." It's a pertinent quote, especially from a man who's taken more than his share of hits.

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9 "The sun will come out tomorrow." - Annie from Annie (1982)

Does a song lyric count as a quote? We're ruling yes. Whether it's starring a white girl with curly, red hair or an African-American girl with curly, black hair, the premise of Annie remains the same: a sassy, young orphan is looking for a place to call home. And in both films, Annie belts out this iconic song. "The sun will come out tomorrow," she sings wistfully. This famous line encourages us to hold on just a bit longer; there's hope in the near future. Today might be a hard one, maybe even an impossible one. But tomorrow is another day and with it comes new possibilities.

8 "Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary." - John Keating from Dead Poets Society (1989)

For a comedy legend, Robin Williams has churned out some amazing dramatic performances. One of his most iconic roles is the unorthodox English teacher John Keating in Dead Poets Society. His most memorable quote uses the famous Latin aphorism that you might have learned when you were a student yourself. "Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys," Keating translates. "Make your lives extraordinary." This line encapsulates the entire film, as Keating urges both us and his high school students to pursue our passions and live our best lives.

7 "That's essentially how I feel about life. Full of loneliness and misery and suffering and unhappiness, and it's all over much too quickly." - Alvy from Annie Hall (1977)

Many of Woody Allen's movies feature deep, thought-provoking views about life. And most of the characters he plays can be described as self-deprecating, neurotic, and pessimistic. Annie Hall includes all of these elements. Arguably Allen's greatest film, Annie Hall opens with a monologue from Alvy (Allen) breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to the audience. In this monologue, he shares a joke that correlates to his perspective on life. "That's essentially how I feel about life," Alvy tell us. "Full of loneliness and misery and suffering and unhappiness, and it's all over much too quickly." It may not be the most uplifting quote, but there is a profoundness, and also some truth, to Alvy's words.

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6 "And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life.” - Mufasa from The Lion King (1994)

There are many great quotes in Disney's animated classic The Lion King. But one of its most profound lines comes from the king himself, Mufasa. While touring the Pride Lands with his cub Simba, Mufasa explains his perspective on life. "When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life." This famous quote reminds us that we're all a part of the same cycle, a lesson that's never been more crucial than it is today. Our actions affect those around us -- not just humans but the entire planet. Mufasa's quote stresses the importance of maintaining a healthy balance in order for life to thrive.

5 "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." - Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

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Albus Dumbledore was Harry Potter's headmaster and mentor throughout the film series, aiding him and imparting valuable life lessons along his journey. Known for his quirky personality, the mighty wizard would often say unusual things. But he would also frequently offer Harry, and the audience, sage-like advice. Perhaps Dumbledore's best and wisest quote comes in the first film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Here, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) stumbles upon a magical mirror that shows the viewer's deepest desires. In this case, it's Harry's deceased parents. And who should appear at this moment but Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris). Sensing Harry's obsession with the mirror's fantasies, Dumbledore cautions us with this profound life quote: "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."

4 "Every man dies. Not every man really lives." - William Wallace from Braveheart (1995)

Despite some inaccuracies, Mel Gibson's Braveheart is one of the greatest historical dramas ever made. Here, the actor turned director plays William Wallace, a late-13th century Scottish warrior who led a rebellion against the English monarchy. Wallace fights the good fight for most of the film, until he's captured by English forces. As he's imprisoned in chains, Princess Isabella of France (Sophie Marceau) begs him to submit to the king in order to spare his life. But Wallace refuses and then says this famous line: "Every man dies. Not every man really lives." It's a clever and powerful quote that reminds us not to waste the short time we're given. Since 1995, this line has become culturally significant and has popped up in other mediums, from fantastical novels to hip-hop songs.

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3 “Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” – Clarence the Angel from It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

You can't have a list of life quotes without including It's a Wonderful Life. Frank Capra's inspirational classic centers on George Bailey (James Stewart), a man with big dreams and an even bigger heart. But life, as it often does, has its own plans for George and derails many of his dreams. He ends up becoming a man he doesn't want to be, living a life he never wanted. In the midst of suicidal thoughts, George is visited by an angel named Clarence, who shows George how life would look if it didn't have him in it. And everyone in George's life is worse off. “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives," says Clarence, summing up the movie's message. "When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” It's a Wonderful Life shows us that life doesn't always go our way. But it also reminds us that our lives have an immeasurable impact on those around us.

2 "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”—Ferris Bueller from Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

Most teen comedies are comprised of mindless fun, raging hormones, and adolescent jokes. But every now and then, one comes along offering pearls of wisdom. John Hughes' classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off is such a movie. The fearless and overly confident Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) serves as the film's narrator, constantly breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to the audience. Much of his dialogue with us involves his thoughts, opinions, and views on life. It's during one of these pep talks that Ferris delivers one of the films, and cinema's, most iconic lines: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” At face value, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is about a kid playing hooky and ditching a day of school. But at a much deeper level, it's about seizing the day and making the most of your life.

1 "My mama always said, 'Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.'" - Forrest Gump from Forrest Gump (1994)

There is no movie quote about life that's more profound, or more famous, than this one from Forrest Gump. The film opens with a feather drifting through the air, going wherever the winds take it, which is a metaphor in itself for the randomness of life. It lands at the filthy shoes of the lovable but slow Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), who's waiting on a bus stop bench with a suitcase and a box of chocolates. He immediately starts chatting with the stranger beside him and offers her some chocolate. And then, Forrest casually drops one of the most iconic quotes in film history: "My mama always said, 'Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.'"

It's a good line but doesn't have much meaning yet, being that we're only a minute or so into the film. This quote gains significance as we journey through Forrest's life, going wherever the winds take him. It truly hits home, and breaks our hearts, when we hear Forrest's mother (Sally Field) repeat this line on her deathbed, encouraging her son to go out into the world and make his own destiny.

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