My So-Called Life Quotes
Angela: [voiceover] The worst feeling is suddenly realizing that you don't measure up, and that, in the past, when you thought you did, you were a fool.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Angela: [voiceover] It had become the focus of everything. It was all I could feel, all I could think about. It blotted out the rest of my face, the rest of my life. Like the zit had become...the truth about me.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Patty: I would think that you would welcome the opportunity to dress up, to look your best.
Angela: Who am I looking my best for?
Patty: For you! Of course this is for you! I mean, I don't...
Angela: Mom, just face the facts, okay?
Patty: What facts, what?
Angela: That I'm ugly, okay? Just face it -- I have.
Patty: How can you say that-- how can you possibly --
Angela: By looking in the mirror, okay? By looking at you, with the way you look at me.
Patty: How do I look at you?
Angela: By the way you instruct me on how to wash my face so I don't get zits. Like you have to fix me, like you're ashamed of me.
Patty: Oh, no -- Angela, sweetheart, no!
Angela: You expect me to beautiful, because you're beautiful. Well, I'm sorry -- I'm not. I'm just not.
Angela: Who am I looking my best for?
Patty: For you! Of course this is for you! I mean, I don't...
Angela: Mom, just face the facts, okay?
Patty: What facts, what?
Angela: That I'm ugly, okay? Just face it -- I have.
Patty: How can you say that-- how can you possibly --
Angela: By looking in the mirror, okay? By looking at you, with the way you look at me.
Patty: How do I look at you?
Angela: By the way you instruct me on how to wash my face so I don't get zits. Like you have to fix me, like you're ashamed of me.
Patty: Oh, no -- Angela, sweetheart, no!
Angela: You expect me to beautiful, because you're beautiful. Well, I'm sorry -- I'm not. I'm just not.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Sharon: Why do girls have to tear each other down?
Angela: I guess 'cause they're jealous. I mean, I was. Of you. For having what you have.
Sharon: Do you know how many times this week I wished I had what you had?
Angela: But I don't have anything!
Sharon: Exactly.
Angela: Well, this really makes sense.
Sharon: I guess it just all boils down to what they used to drill into us at Girl Scouts.
Angela: What, sell more cookies?
Sharon: No! No, you know -- um...'What you are is' -- no, wait: 'What your gift is --'
Angela: Oh! No: 'What you have is God's gift to you, and what you do with what you have is your gift to God.'
Angela: I guess 'cause they're jealous. I mean, I was. Of you. For having what you have.
Sharon: Do you know how many times this week I wished I had what you had?
Angela: But I don't have anything!
Sharon: Exactly.
Angela: Well, this really makes sense.
Sharon: I guess it just all boils down to what they used to drill into us at Girl Scouts.
Angela: What, sell more cookies?
Sharon: No! No, you know -- um...'What you are is' -- no, wait: 'What your gift is --'
Angela: Oh! No: 'What you have is God's gift to you, and what you do with what you have is your gift to God.'
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Angela: [voiceover] Sometimes it seems like we're all living in some kind of prison, and the crime is how much we hate ourselves. It's good to get really dressed up once in a while, and admit the truth -- that when you really look closely, people are so strange and so complicated that they're actually...beautiful. Possibly even me.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Angela: [voiceover] Maybe teachers have a hidden life. Where they’re actually... like, human. Where they have, I don’t know... dignity. Or maybe not.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Student: So why are you here? You the new substitute?
Mr. Racine: Why am I here? Yeah, good question. I'm the new substitute, yes. I'm here quite simply to get paid. Assuming all of you can read and write, I don't perceive any emergency situation. That's all. Continue wasting your lives. [he pulls a folded newspaper out of his knapsack]
Sharon: So, um...are we like, dismissed?
Mr. Racine: Do you want to be dismissed?
Sharon: No, you just said that...you just said that was all you had to say, so...
Mr. Racine: I will be here for the next forty-seven minutes. Whether you will also be here for that time is, to be candid, your decision.
Jordan: What's the catch?
Mr. Racine: No catch. If you don't want to be here, go. I'm not gonna stop you. [Jordan immediately climbs out of his desk and heads for the door] Well, you know, there is just, you know, one catch. We will be discussing you in your absence, but you know, if you don't mind that...
Jordan: Yeah, right.
Mr. Racine: Oh, it's no joke. I have no lesson planned. Trashing you in your absence will help, uh, pass the time. Right? It could, uh, possibly be educational as well.
Angela: So what are we supposed to do?
[Jordan returns to his seat]
Mr. Racine: Ah, I've known you all of five minutes and you want me to tell you what you're supposed to do? Fine. Follow your hearts and veer away from heroin.
Angela: [laughs] No, I meant in the next forty-seven minutes.
Mr. Racine: I know what you meant, that was sarcasm.
Mr. Racine: Why am I here? Yeah, good question. I'm the new substitute, yes. I'm here quite simply to get paid. Assuming all of you can read and write, I don't perceive any emergency situation. That's all. Continue wasting your lives. [he pulls a folded newspaper out of his knapsack]
Sharon: So, um...are we like, dismissed?
Mr. Racine: Do you want to be dismissed?
Sharon: No, you just said that...you just said that was all you had to say, so...
Mr. Racine: I will be here for the next forty-seven minutes. Whether you will also be here for that time is, to be candid, your decision.
Jordan: What's the catch?
Mr. Racine: No catch. If you don't want to be here, go. I'm not gonna stop you. [Jordan immediately climbs out of his desk and heads for the door] Well, you know, there is just, you know, one catch. We will be discussing you in your absence, but you know, if you don't mind that...
Jordan: Yeah, right.
Mr. Racine: Oh, it's no joke. I have no lesson planned. Trashing you in your absence will help, uh, pass the time. Right? It could, uh, possibly be educational as well.
Angela: So what are we supposed to do?
[Jordan returns to his seat]
Mr. Racine: Ah, I've known you all of five minutes and you want me to tell you what you're supposed to do? Fine. Follow your hearts and veer away from heroin.
Angela: [laughs] No, I meant in the next forty-seven minutes.
Mr. Racine: I know what you meant, that was sarcasm.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Patty: My husband and I read the stuff that the kids wrote --
Mr. Racine: Hope it didn't give him a heart attack. He seemed a bit fragile.
Patty: Actually, it isn't my husband who had the problem.
[Mr. Racine smiles]
Patty: I just think...there's this one piece in particular that I just don't feel comfortable printing.
Mr. Racine: Oh! You're afraid that Angela wrote it.
Patty: This has nothing to do with whether Angela wrote it.
Mr. Racine: So, this is just censorship for censorship's sake?
Patty: What?
Mr. Racine: Hand them over. I'll type them myself, and I'll have them Xeroxed.
Patty: These are children! We are adults! This is not censorship! This is guiding adolescents who need...guidance!
Mr. Racine: That is a very reasonable opinion, and very clearly stated. Unfortunately, it's total manure.
Patty: Excuse me?
Mr. Racine: It's horse manure. I sense you're angry. Are you angry?
Patty: Yes!
Mr. Racine: Yes! I sensed that! [laughs]
Patty: Why is it manure?
Mr. Racine: Good question. It is manure because this journal should be about giving these students a voice, not about having their thoughts edited. If these kids aren't afraid to put their hearts on the page, why should we be afraid of them?
Patty: You should really teach full-time.
Mr. Racine: We have a difference of opinion. Fine. But do you think you should be in the position of deciding because you run a printing press and I don't?
Patty: Do you expect me to answer that question?
Mr. Racine: Yes.
Patty: [pause] No, I don't.
[He hands the papers back to her and starts to leave]
Patty: So. Did Angela write it?
[He smirks and wa
Mr. Racine: Hope it didn't give him a heart attack. He seemed a bit fragile.
Patty: Actually, it isn't my husband who had the problem.
[Mr. Racine smiles]
Patty: I just think...there's this one piece in particular that I just don't feel comfortable printing.
Mr. Racine: Oh! You're afraid that Angela wrote it.
Patty: This has nothing to do with whether Angela wrote it.
Mr. Racine: So, this is just censorship for censorship's sake?
Patty: What?
Mr. Racine: Hand them over. I'll type them myself, and I'll have them Xeroxed.
Patty: These are children! We are adults! This is not censorship! This is guiding adolescents who need...guidance!
Mr. Racine: That is a very reasonable opinion, and very clearly stated. Unfortunately, it's total manure.
Patty: Excuse me?
Mr. Racine: It's horse manure. I sense you're angry. Are you angry?
Patty: Yes!
Mr. Racine: Yes! I sensed that! [laughs]
Patty: Why is it manure?
Mr. Racine: Good question. It is manure because this journal should be about giving these students a voice, not about having their thoughts edited. If these kids aren't afraid to put their hearts on the page, why should we be afraid of them?
Patty: You should really teach full-time.
Mr. Racine: We have a difference of opinion. Fine. But do you think you should be in the position of deciding because you run a printing press and I don't?
Patty: Do you expect me to answer that question?
Mr. Racine: Yes.
Patty: [pause] No, I don't.
[He hands the papers back to her and starts to leave]
Patty: So. Did Angela write it?
[He smirks and wa
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Angela: I heard you left your family -- abandoned them.
Mr. Racine: I see.
Angela: So are you saying you didn't? I mean, what's the truth?
Mr. Racine: Well, there are a couple of truths. One truth is I left my family. The other truth is my wife is far better off without me. Yes. I got out. I escaped. I broke out of a prison of my own making, and many, many people want to punish me for that -- maybe even you.
Angela: I'm trying to --
Mr. Racine: 'To' what? To understand? Look, my struggle for freedom is mine. Get your own. Get out before it's too late, Amanda.
Angela: 'Get out'? Get out of what?
Mr. Racine: That mind-control factory -- that warehouse they store you in because they don't know what else to do with you.
Angela: You're telling me to drop out of high school?
Mr. Racine: Good question. Yes. Run for your life. Save your life. Let the walls of your gingerbread house come crashing down. Or not.
Angela: It's Angela. And I have to say I don't think leaving high school is the answer. I don't think leaving anything is. The thing is...is I kind of admired you.
Mr. Racine: I see.
Angela: So are you saying you didn't? I mean, what's the truth?
Mr. Racine: Well, there are a couple of truths. One truth is I left my family. The other truth is my wife is far better off without me. Yes. I got out. I escaped. I broke out of a prison of my own making, and many, many people want to punish me for that -- maybe even you.
Angela: I'm trying to --
Mr. Racine: 'To' what? To understand? Look, my struggle for freedom is mine. Get your own. Get out before it's too late, Amanda.
Angela: 'Get out'? Get out of what?
Mr. Racine: That mind-control factory -- that warehouse they store you in because they don't know what else to do with you.
Angela: You're telling me to drop out of high school?
Mr. Racine: Good question. Yes. Run for your life. Save your life. Let the walls of your gingerbread house come crashing down. Or not.
Angela: It's Angela. And I have to say I don't think leaving high school is the answer. I don't think leaving anything is. The thing is...is I kind of admired you.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Angela: [voiceover] Love is when you look into someone's eyes and suddenly you go all the way inside, to their soul, and you both know instantly. I always imagined I'd fall in love nursing a blind soldier who was wounded in battle. Or maybe while rescuing someone in the middle of a blizzard, seconds before the avalanche hits. I thought at least by the age of 15 I'd have a love life, but I don't even have a like life!
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Angela: [voiceover] Huge events take place on this earth every day. Earthquakes, hurricanes…even glaciers move. So why couldn't he just...look at me?
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Angela: I can go out on dates, right?
Patty: Yes, but we do have certain ground rules.
Anmgela: Like what?
Graham: Like what?
Patty: Well, you have a curfew, and we have to know where you're going and with whom, and you can't do any drinking, and you can't get in a car with a boy who's done any drinking, and your father and I have to meet him first, whoever he is. That's it.
Graham: Wow!
Angela: You have to meet him first?
Graham: Yes!
...
Angela: That is so humiliating. This person means something to me.
Graham: Is there a person who means something?
Angela: Yes, and I don't see why you can't just trust that. Why should I have to parade him around in front of you?
Patty: We just want to drag you down to our level.
Patty: Yes, but we do have certain ground rules.
Anmgela: Like what?
Graham: Like what?
Patty: Well, you have a curfew, and we have to know where you're going and with whom, and you can't do any drinking, and you can't get in a car with a boy who's done any drinking, and your father and I have to meet him first, whoever he is. That's it.
Graham: Wow!
Angela: You have to meet him first?
Graham: Yes!
...
Angela: That is so humiliating. This person means something to me.
Graham: Is there a person who means something?
Angela: Yes, and I don't see why you can't just trust that. Why should I have to parade him around in front of you?
Patty: We just want to drag you down to our level.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Angela: [voiceover] This life has been a test. If it had been an actual life, you would have received instructions on where to go and what to do.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Sharon: What.
Rayanne: So have you and Kyle gone all the way yet?
Sharon: That is. Completely. None of your business.
Rayanne: Duh. We aren't friends, due to the fact that neither of us can stand each other. And that's why I asked. Ask me me anything. Go ahead -- it's like, relaxing.
Sharon: You're so weird.
Rayanne: Duh squared.
Sharon: Okay. Look. I made a solemn promise to myself. That I would not go all the way until I was ready. And I'm, like. Sticking to that.
Rayanne: Well, it sure looks like you are reaching ecstasy when you and Kyle make out in the hall.
Sharon: Well, yeah! Well, I mean...well, you know how it is.
Rayanne: Well, yeah, in a way. I mean it's fun and all, but I don't always feel anything. Sometimes I feel numb, or something.
Sharon: Maybe you just…haven't found the right person.
Rayanne: I've tried every type of person. [Sharon stares at her] You don't have to look all worried or anything.
Rayanne: So have you and Kyle gone all the way yet?
Sharon: That is. Completely. None of your business.
Rayanne: Duh. We aren't friends, due to the fact that neither of us can stand each other. And that's why I asked. Ask me me anything. Go ahead -- it's like, relaxing.
Sharon: You're so weird.
Rayanne: Duh squared.
Sharon: Okay. Look. I made a solemn promise to myself. That I would not go all the way until I was ready. And I'm, like. Sticking to that.
Rayanne: Well, it sure looks like you are reaching ecstasy when you and Kyle make out in the hall.
Sharon: Well, yeah! Well, I mean...well, you know how it is.
Rayanne: Well, yeah, in a way. I mean it's fun and all, but I don't always feel anything. Sometimes I feel numb, or something.
Sharon: Maybe you just…haven't found the right person.
Rayanne: I've tried every type of person. [Sharon stares at her] You don't have to look all worried or anything.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Angela: [voiceover] There are so many different ways to be connected to people. There are the people you feel this unspoken connection to, even though there's not even a word for it. There's the people who you've known forever who know you in this way that other people can't because they've seen you change.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Angela: [Sharon's father has had a heartattack] I wanted to hug Sharon. But, I didn't have the right, because we weren't friends anymore.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Sharon: Why can't you even be nice to me?!
Angela: [shouting] Why do you need me to be nice to you, since everyone else in the world is?!
Sharon: It's not like that...You are the one person I needed it most from.
Angela: [shouting] Why do you need me to be nice to you, since everyone else in the world is?!
Sharon: It's not like that...You are the one person I needed it most from.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Angela: [voiceover] Does anybody know Jordan Catalano? That question, like, got to me. I mean, I'd had seven conversations with him, and one really bad kiss, and one amazing one. But did I, like, know him?
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Rayanne: [hold up tissues] Wanna stuff?
[Angela scoffs]
Rayanne: What?! Its how they did it in the old days!
[Angela scoffs]
Rayanne: What?! Its how they did it in the old days!
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Angela: [voiceover] When I was little I, like, worshipped Halloween. And truthfully, part of me still does. 'Cause it's your one chance all year to be someone else.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Angela: [voiceover] Walking into someone's house for the first time is like entering another country. Not that I've ever been to another country.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Angela: Sometimes I think if my mother wasn't so good at pretending to be happy, she'd be better at actually *being* happy.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Rayanne's mom: When I get back, we're gonna have a long talk, Rayanne Marie! But, tonight, you're too drunk! You're like a drunken old fool! I want this place cleaned up by the time I get home!!
[she leaves, and Rickie and Angela run to Rayanne. Rickie holds her]
Rayanne: [weakly] Why is it so cold, Rickie? Why is it so cold?...
[she leaves, and Rickie and Angela run to Rayanne. Rickie holds her]
Rayanne: [weakly] Why is it so cold, Rickie? Why is it so cold?...
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Patty: Rayanne reminds me a lot of a roommate I had in college.
Angela: Well, did you like her??
Patty: Yeah. But, one night something happened.
Angela: What happened?
Patty: Oh, the same thing that happened with Rayanne tonight. Except she died.
Angela: I'm sorry, Mom.
Patty: No. Honey, you did the right thing, calling me.
Angela: Well, did you like her??
Patty: Yeah. But, one night something happened.
Angela: What happened?
Patty: Oh, the same thing that happened with Rayanne tonight. Except she died.
Angela: I'm sorry, Mom.
Patty: No. Honey, you did the right thing, calling me.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Angela: Each card has a name: The Magician, The Empress, The Fool, The Wheel of Fortune, Strength. They represent challenges and tests, twists of fate. No card is all good or all bad. Cards can be positive or negative depending on where they fall. When you read someone's future, they must think of a question. They must hold it in their mind. The cards are read in sequence, each card leads to the next. We move from terror and loss to unexpected good fortune and out of darkness, hope is born.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Brian: [voiceover] My mother's a behavioral psychologist, and my father's a Freudian psychiatrist, which basically means they fundamentally disagree on, like, everything.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Brian: [voiceover] I became yearbook photographer because I liked the idea that I could sort of watch life without having to be part of it. But when you're yearbook photographer, you're, like, never in the picture.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Angela: Brian, this was all my fault..
Brian: '[voiceover] Her hair smelled incredible.
Angela: ...I mean, I ruined your night. And Delia's night. I should have just stayed out of it.
Brian: [voiceover] Like this orange grove we passed when I was eight on our way to see my grandmother.
Angela: And I can't really explain why I even got involved. But I'm sorry.
Brian: [voiceover] But I guess that's just like her shampoo, or whatever.
Brian: '[voiceover] Her hair smelled incredible.
Angela: ...I mean, I ruined your night. And Delia's night. I should have just stayed out of it.
Brian: [voiceover] Like this orange grove we passed when I was eight on our way to see my grandmother.
Angela: And I can't really explain why I even got involved. But I'm sorry.
Brian: [voiceover] But I guess that's just like her shampoo, or whatever.
TV Show: My So-Called Life
Angela: What'd you tell Rickie?
Brian: I told him not to come over here.
Angela: But, hes my friend!!
Brian: Yeah. I know, He's mine, too, but, just in case we wanted like privacy-
Angela: Why would we want privacy?!
Brian: Well, just in case.....
Angela: What do you think is going on here, Krakow?!
Brain: Well, uh....
Angela: What did you tell Delia?! I explained to you why I wanted a ride to the dance! And it wasn't to come with you! You don't understand people, Krakow! You're so heartless!
Brian: I told him not to come over here.
Angela: But, hes my friend!!
Brian: Yeah. I know, He's mine, too, but, just in case we wanted like privacy-
Angela: Why would we want privacy?!
Brian: Well, just in case.....
Angela: What do you think is going on here, Krakow?!
Brain: Well, uh....
Angela: What did you tell Delia?! I explained to you why I wanted a ride to the dance! And it wasn't to come with you! You don't understand people, Krakow! You're so heartless!
TV Show: My So-Called Life