Stand and Deliver quotes

View Quote Guadalupe "Lupe" Escobar: Kemo, we're seniors. This is our year to slack off.

View Quote Angel Guzman: Hey, aren't you proud of me? I'm the first one here! [pause] What's calcoolus?

View Quote Angel Guzman: We're busted, why don't we just admit it?
Dr. Ramirez: How'd you do it?
Angel Guzman: I got the test ahead of time. I passed it out to all the others.
Dr. Pearson: How did you get the test?
Angel Guzman: The mailman [pause] I strangled him and his body's decomposing in my locker.
[The other students laugh]

View Quote Angel Guzman: Yeah, I have the same answer as gordita.
Guadalupe "Lupe" Escobar: Don't call me gordita, pendejo.

View Quote Claudia Camejo: You're worried that we'll screw up royally tomorrow, aren't you?
Jamie Escalante: Tomorrow's another day. I'm worried you're gonna screw up the rest of your lives.

View Quote Dr. Pearson: There are two kinds of racism, Mr Escalante. Judging a group because they are a minority, and not judging a group because they are a minority.
Jaime Escalante: (Shouting angry) My kids could teach you a thing or two, Johnny!

View Quote Jaime Escalante: [about Claudia] This girl's gotta do some work from the neck up. We're going to have to stay late again. Of course you know, we have pizza because they deliver. We can get fried chicken, hamburgers with cheese. We'll need donations. No, really, you owe me money anyway. You don't deserve the grades you're getting.
[Claudia gets up and leaves]
Jaime Escalante: Where are you going? Late for another date? She's got more boyfriends than Elizabeth Taylor.
Claudia Camenjo: I don't appreciate you using my personal life to entertain this class.

View Quote Jaime Escalante: [before confronting the ETS investigators] You know what kills me... it's that they lost the confidence in the system they're now finally qualified to be a part of. I don't know why I'm losing sleep over this. I don't need it. I could be making more money, with less hours, and have people treat me with respect.
Fabiola Escalante: Respect? Jaime, those kids love you.

View Quote Jaime Escalante: [to Chuco and Company] I am El Cyclone,... from Bolivia. One-man gang. This classroom is my domain. Don't give me no gas, or I'll jump on your face and tattoo you chromosomes... If the only thing you know how to do is add or subtract, you will only be prepared to do one thing: Pump gas.

View Quote Jaime Escalante: [to his students] There will be no free rides, no excuses. You already have two strikes against you: your name and your complexion. Because of these two strikes, there are some people in this world who will assume that you know less than you do. Math is the great equalizer... When you go for a job, the person giving you that job will not want to hear your problems; ergo, neither do I. You're going to work harder here than you've ever worked anywhere else. And the only thing I ask from you is ganas. Desire.
[Passing one boy, he ruffles up the students hair]
Jaime Escalante: And maybe a haircut.
[Everyone laughs]
Jaime Escalante: If you don't have the ganas, I will give it to you, because I'm an expert.

View Quote Jaime Escalante: Did you know that neither the Greeks nor the Romans were capable of using the concept of zero? It was your ancestors, the Mayans, who first contemplated the zero. The absence of value. True story. You burros have math in your blood...
Thug: Hey Kimo sabe todo ehh? The man knows everything. (Calling him) Hey Kimo Sabe
Jaime Escalante: (Approving) Órale. Now, a negative times a negative equals a positive. Why?
[The whole class looks at him blankly; he sighs deeply and shakes his head]
Jaime Escalante: We're gonna need a lot of Kleenexes - There's gonna be a lot of bloodshed.

View Quote Jaime Escalante: Do you think the students cheated?
Raquel: Mr. Escalante, you put these kids under an awful lot of pressure. They would have gone to any lengths to please you.
Jaime Escalante: You didn't answer my question.
Raquel: Well... every night when I go to bed, I watch the television news. I see a lot of people go on trial. They always deny everything, or their lawyers say they were insane at the time. A lot of them get off. But I believe that most people who get caught today are guilty. Don't you?
Jaime Escalante: [angrily] Yup. I know what you mean.

View Quote Jaime Escalante: Do you want me to do it for you?
Pancho: Yes.
Jaime Escalante: You're supposed to say no.

View Quote Jaime Escalante: Go to woodshop and make yourself a shoeshine box. You're gonna need it.
Angel Guzman: You're the man, you know? Why don't you put them in college, huh? So dumb taco venders like me can pick their vegetables for them, collect their garbage, clip their poodles' toenails. I may be a sinner, but I'm willing to pay for my sins.
Jaime Escalante: Right. See you at three.
Angel Guzman: I got more bad news for you, profe. I know this is really gonna trip you out, but... I forgot my pencil.
[Ana produces a pencil for him]

View Quote Jaime Escalante: If I teach you sex, I'll have to give you sex for homework.