Quotes

Amarcord

Father Balosa: Do you commit impure acts? Do you touch yourself? Do you know Saint Louis weeps when you touch yourself?
Titta: [Speaking to himself] Let him cry. I'm not gonna tell you, because you'll only tell Dad. Don't tell me you don't touch yourself. How can you not, when you see the woman in the tobacco shop, as stacked as she is and she says... Export brand? And the math teacher who looks just like a lion? Mother of God! How can you avoid touching yourself when she looks at you that way?

Gradisca: I want one of those long encounters that last a lifetime. I want a family, children, a husband to chat with in the evenings over coffee, maybe, and to make love with now and then, because when you must, you must. But affection is even more important than love. I'm so full of affection. But who can I give it to? Who wants it?

Aurelio Biondi, Titta's Father: Tell me, who's the father of this piece of shit?

Giudizio: In our town, the puffballs and spring arrive hand in hand. These are the sort of puffballs that drift around, soaring over the cemetery, where all rest in peace, soaring over the beachfront and over the Germans, newly arrived, who don't feel the cold. Drifting, drifting... swirling... swirling... swirling... Drifting, drifting, drifting!

Titta: I didn't know people kissed like that. Did you? With their tongues going in and out?
Father Balosa: I'll ask the questions here.

Aurelio Biondi, Titta's Father: Look how many there are. Millions and millions and millions of stars. Jesus Christ! I wonder how they all stay in place up there. I mean, it's pretty simple for us. To build a house, we use so many bricks, so much lime. But up there, sweet Jesus! Where do you put the foundations? They aren't just confetti, you know.

Grandpa: [Standing outside in a fog] Where am I? I don't seem to be anywhere. If death is like this, I don't think much of it. Everything's gone. People, trees, birds, wine. Well, up yours!

[first lines]
Miranda: The puffballs.
Aurelio Biondi, Titta's Father: When the puffballs come, cold winter's almost gone.

Gradisca: But winter's dying and spring is on its way. I can feel it all over me already!

Grandpa: My father's father was known as "Big Meat." He lived to be 107 and he was still doing it!
[Bends his arm, makes a fist, moves it back and forth, as he whistles - tsoo-tsoo-tsoo-tsoo...]

Biscein: I was in Norway. Two women. Beautiful, huge Norwegians! Beans, olives, toasted melon seeds...

Construction Worker: Mortar, let the boss hear your poem.
Aurelio Biondi, Titta's Father: Let's hear it. What's it called?
Mortar: Bricks.
Aurelio Biondi, Titta's Father: Good title!
Mortar: My grandfather made bricks. My father made bricks. I make bricks too. But, where's my house?

Aurelio Biondi, Titta's Father: I can stare at an egg for hours, wondering how nature can make things so perfect.
Miranda: 'Cause it was God who made nature, not an ignoramus like you!

Tobacconist: Let's see.
Titta: I really can, you know
Tobacconist: Let's see.
[Titta lifts her up off the ground]
Tobacconist: Silly boy, put me down!
Titta: I did it!
Tobacconist: You're very strong.
Titta: See? I can do it again.
Tobacconist: I don't believe you.
[Titta lifts her up again]
Tobacconist: That's enough now. Put me down.
Titta: You drive me...
Tobacconist: I said that's enough.
[Titta lifts her up again]
Tobacconist: What are you doing? You'll drop me, you crazy boy! You're crazy, you know that. What's happening to me? Oh, my head.
Titta: See how many times I did it?
Tobacconist: [Pulls out her breasts] Yes, my little darling. Come here. You really are sweet. Drive me crazy - just a little.
Titta: What should I do?
Tobacconist: Suck. Come on. You can have this one too. Don't blow! Suck! Suck!
Titta: Is this right?
Tobacconist: You have to suck, you idiot! What are you doing?
Titta: I can't breathe!
Tobacconist: Stop it now. Go on now. I have to close up. What was it you wanted? A cigarette? It's on me. Now scram.

Father Balosa: What do you covet?
Titta: My pal Bragger's got a raincoat with a lot of metal buckles like the one the detective has in the William Powell-Myrna Loy films.

Aurelio Biondi, Titta's Father: I get up at 4:00 am and slave away all day like a mule, and when I come home for a crust of bread, I find a bunch of long faces!

Grandpa: My father's father used to say, "To be fit as a fiddle, you have to piddle. To be fit as a frog, pee like a dog."

Passeggiate #1: Volpina, have you made love today? How many men did you service? I bet you even dip a cock in your morning coffee.

Passeggiate #2: You're the greatest, Gradisca. Greta Garbo's got nothing on you!

Aurelio Biondi, Titta's Father: He's getting worse and worse! They're a pair of little hoodlums! You've brought them up wrong!
Miranda: Then you do it! Let's see how well you do! I can't stand any more! I'm going crazy! I'm going mad! I'll kill the whole lot of you! No? No? I'll put strychnine in your soup! That's what I'll do! But I'll kill myself first!
Aurelio Biondi, Titta's Father: Good.
Miranda: Right now!
Aurelio Biondi, Titta's Father: Go ahead.
Miranda: You'll see!
Aurelio Biondi, Titta's Father: I'll kill myself first!

Aurelio Biondi, Titta's Father: Why do these things happen to me? What have I done? Goddamn it all!

Aurelio Biondi, Titta's Father: Miranda. Miranda! Who locked the gate?
Miranda: I did.
Aurelio Biondi, Titta's Father: Why?
Miranda: You know why.
Aurelio Biondi, Titta's Father: Unlock it. You've heard what's been going on in the piazza all day. Open up. I have business to take care of.
Miranda: Nothing doing. You're staying at home. What's all this stuff? If I wanted to be a widow, I'd kill you myself. I'll strangle you with your neckerchief!
Aurelio Biondi, Titta's Father: Think I'm scared of those black-shirted lice? Give me the key. Give me the key! Miranda! Damn it all!