Being There quotes

View Quote As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden. In the garden, growth has it seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again. Yes! There will be growth in the spring! Chance [glancing up from television]: Good morning, Louise.
Louise: He's dead, Chance. The old man's dead.
Chance: I see. [continues watching television]

View Quote I like to watch.

View Quote This is just like television, only you can see much further.

View Quote Abraz: Bullshit. Who sent you here, boy? Did that chickenshit asshole Raphael send you, boy?
Chance: No. Mr. Thomas Franklin told me I must leave the old man's house. He's dead, you know.
Abraz: Dead, my ass. You tell that asshole, if he got somethin' to tell me, to get his ass down here himself! You got that, boy?
Chance: If I see Rafael, I will relay your message.

View Quote Dennis Watson: You know, I've never met anyone like you in Washington before.
Chance: Yes, I've been here all my life.
Dennis Watson: Really? And uh, where have you been all MY life? … Ah, tell me, Mr. Gardner... have you ever had sex with a man?
Chance: No... I don't think so.
Dennis Watson: We could go upstairs right now.
Chance: Is there a TV upstairs? I like to watch.
Dennis Watson: You like to uh, watch?
Chance: Yes.
Dennis Watson: You wait right here. I'll go get Warren!

View Quote Doctor Allenby [preparing a needle for a shot]: This won't hurt a bit.
Chance [impassively, after being injected]: It did hurt.

View Quote Morton Hull: Do you realize that more people will be watching you tonight, than all those who have seen theater plays in the last forty years?
Chance: Why?

View Quote President "Bobby": Mr. Gardner, do you agree with Ben, or do you think that we can stimulate growth through temporary incentives?
Chance: As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden.
President "Bobby": In the garden.
Chance: Yes. In the garden, growth has it seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again.
President "Bobby": Spring and summer.
Chance: Yes.
President "Bobby": Then fall and winter.
Chance: Yes.
Benjamin Rand: I think what our insightful young friend is saying is that we welcome the inevitable seasons of nature, but we're upset by the seasons of our economy.
Chance: Yes! There will be growth in the spring!
Benjamin Rand: Hmm!
Chance: Hmm!
President "Bobby": Hm. Well, Mr. Gardner, I must admit that is one of the most refreshing and optimistic statements I've heard in a very, very long time. … I admire your good, solid sense. That's precisely what we lack on Capitol Hill.

View Quote Ron Steigler: Mr. Gardner, uh, my editors and I have been wondering if you would consider writing a book for us, something about your um, political philosophy, what do you say?
Chance: I can't write.
Ron Steigler: Heh, heh, of course not, who can nowadays? Listen, I have trouble writing a postcard to my children. Look uhh, we can give you a six figure advance, I'll provide you with the very best ghost-writer, proof-readers...
Chance: I can't read.
Ron Steigler: Of course you can't! No one has the time! We, we glance at things, we watch television...
Chance: I like to watch TV.
Ron Steigler: Oh, oh, oh sure you do. No one reads!

View Quote Thomas Franklin: It's that gardener.
Johanna: Yes, Chauncey Gardiner.
Thomas Franklin: No, he's a real gardener.
Johanna: He does talk like one. I think he's brilliant.

View Quote [while watching Chance on television] It's for sure a white man's world in America. Look here: I raised that boy since he was the size of a piss-ant. And I'll say right now, he never learned to read and write. No, sir. Had no brains at all. Was stuffed with rice pudding between th' ears. Shortchanged by the Lord, and dumb as a jackass. Look at him now! Yes, sir, all you've gotta be is white in America, to get whatever you want. Gobbledy-gook! President "Bobby"

View Quote Repeated lines, initially referring simply to his lifelong habit of watching television.

View Quote Riding in a car for the first time.

View Quote Stepping out of an elevator.

View Quote That was a very small room.