When John Adams is annoyed that Jefferson hasn't written anything in a week & says to him "God created the world in 7 days!" and then Jefferson turns to Adams & says, "Someday... you must tell me how you did it".
Priceless!
Didn't see these gems:
When Mr. Hopkins is "visitin' the necessary" during the vote to debate Virginia's resolution on independence and Mr. Thompson says, "Rhode Island passes".
When Dr. Franklin says he has a date for lunch, and tells John, "I'd invite you along, but talking makes her nervous".
When John says Dr. Franklin's portrait "stinks"- in front of the man painting it- and adds that "the man's no Botticelli", to which Dr. Franklin replies, "And the subject's no Venus", holing his hand out, fingers up, like he was Venus herself, drying her nails.
And so on...
My hands-down favorite is when Neddy of S.C. is questioning Adams about calling black slaves Americans. And Adams replies quite calmly, " They are people and they're here. If there's any other requirement, I've never heard of it. "
I love so much more of the witty lines, but this one is my personal favorite for the feeling and delivery of it.
My favorite lines, well favorite scene, is when Adams and Franklin visit Jefferson to see if Jefferson has finished the Declaration of Independence yet. In the middle of the scene, Martha Jefferson arrives from Virginia. Jefferson is so happy to see her he drops everything to lead her into the bedroom. Adams says, "You mean, they're going to...in the middle of the afternoon?" and Franklin says, "Not everybody's from Boston, John." Best lines in the entire movie.
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"Club sandwiches not seals" - http://www.protectseals.org
jefferson is more than a foot taller then addams, he asks Addams how he is going to force him (jefferson) to write the declaration
Addms stands in front of him and says "by brute force if necessary!)
it is aa great visual!
I love the Abigail/John scenes, many of which are based on actual letters between them. But my favorite moment of these is the triumphant sending of saltpeter, with Abigail running through the Braintree fields, singing all the (women's) groups of multi-faith she managed to corral, "All for you, John!" With William Daniels grasping her love in his hand before marching into the chamber to order poor, long-suffering McNair to buy every pin in Philadelphia.
Franklin, of course, gets some of the very best lines, both witty and perceptive, including "If we don't hang together, we will most assuredly hand separately."
Jefferson's evil smile at Adams when refusing to back down about "inalienable".
"New York abstains. Courteously."
"The man could deprrrress a hyena."
I always felt Dickinson was particularly mean in his response to Reverend Witherspoon's bewildered observation about his aunt in New Brunswick. I would have had a good laugh if it were at Adams, who would fire back, or Franklin, who would have quipped, but Witherspoon is an innocent character who has done nothing to offend Dickinson.
Washington has transported 8 of Lewis Morris' children safely from his ruined estate and the 4 oldest boys are in the army. Unassuming Mr. Morris has at least 12 children. And of course, Mr. Livingston has been presented with a new son by the noble stork, and is going home to celebrate and pop a cork, with all the Livingstons together, back in Old New York.
I agree one my favorite exchanges is "A week. The entire world was created in a week." "Some day, you must tell me how you did it." Adams: "DISgusting." All the time knowing that Martha's on her way over.
Franklin: "John. You can dance!"
Adams: "We still do a few things in Boston."
Which was preceded by the sweet, hesitant and courtly preparation for the dance between him and Martha.
Oh, too many more...
The turkey?
shareLewis Morris's explnation as to why New York always abstains:
"Have you ever been present at a meetng of the New York legislature? Everyone talks very fast and very loud, and no one listens to anyone else, and as a result nothing ever gets done." (Partly paraphrased.) We New Yorkers know that this is still true today.
I intend to live forever, or die trying.
"I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is called a disgrace; that two are called a law firm, and that three or more become a Congress!"
A favorite line that hasn't come up yet is when Abagail asks John how Martha can get away and he answers "The Winters are gentler in Virginia."
Abagail then says "And there women?"
john says "pale puny things fit for virginans but nothing compared to New England girls" (or something like that.)
I like the charmingly blunt way he tells Abagail she's more than just another pretty face.
It is not our abilities that show who we truly are...it is our choices
Xo to all who recorded their favorite lines here
Many of my favorite lines have been mentioned, here are two more
At Jefferson's apartment, Franklin and Adams are cracking the whip trying to get him to work on the Declaration
A beautiful woman bursts in the room and Jefferson rushes to embrace and kiss her passionately.
Oh, John, says Franklin, Who is she?
Adams: His wife. (Pause) I hope,.
Franklin, What makes you think so?
The courier soldier sits in the empty chamber with the congressional custodians and one asks him,
Where you from, General?
He answers proudly, Watertown
Well... Where's that?
The courier is surprised, MASSACHUSETTS!!
Later the courier stops in his tracks stunned, when he confronts Mr. Adams in the chamber.
Adams snatches the dispatch out of his hand. It's a great moment.
You're too late, Neddy. Once I get 'em, they're got.
Is it done then?
Why, Certain-Lee!
The catch-phrase in our family, Hancock's says sarcastically,
Thank you very much.
There has been some grousing that this movie has the founding fathers dancing around singing.
As Ben Franklin says, we won't hear a thing, we'll be long dead.
Most of the great ones have already been mentioned, but one that always delights me is the frequent repetition of McNair's exasperated "Oh, sweet Jesus!"
The delivery is perfect.
Perhaps this quote has been offered before, but I'm not reading all the preceding posts to find out.
Dr. Franklin to Mr. Dickinson:
"We've spawned a new race here Mr. Dickinson; rougher, simpler, more violent, more enterprising, less refined. We're a new nationality. We require a new nation."
Mine isn't a line from the play, but two lines from the song SIT DOWN, JOHN!! One small group plaintively sings "OPEN UP A WINDOW", in counterpoint with another small group singing: "TOO MANY FLIES!!" "TOO MANY FLIES!!!"
That little exchange always got a rise of me, and out of my Dad, because we knew exactly what the singers meant.
The bite of a New Jersey HORSE FLY. One that hurts like H*LL, and usually bleeds. It also leaves a scar like a mini vaccination. I can well imagine how the Delegates felt, caught between stifling heat and biting flies...
I do hope he won't upset Henry...
No wonder they were so hot, wearing the clothes of the period. ☺
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it." - Yogi Berra
Adams; "Franklin, spare me your bawdy mind this early in the morning!"
But I agree with other posters on this thread; this film is full of great lines somewhat based on historical documentation and other citation.
One of my favorite films of all time. It truly is.
Most of my favorites come from Franklin, starting with his introductory scene preceding the "Lees of Old Virginia" number, when Franklin and Adams are talking near the fountain.
Franklin is explaining to Adams his idea of letting someone else in Congress propose the resolution of Independence. Adams decries "NEVER!", but after a moment's contemplation, he asks "Who did you have in mind?"
Franklin's sniffing a flower and says offhandedly "I don't know, I haven't given it much thought."
Then Lee comes charging in...
Adams: "I've got better things to do than listen to you quote yourself!"
Franklin: "Oh, that was a NEW one!"
Adams: "Jefferson, kindly introduce us to your wife! That IS your wife?"
Franklin: "Of course she is. Look at how well the fit!"
When Dr. Hall of GA is being introduced, Hopkins claims to be the oldest in Congress and McNair corrects him that Franklin's older by nearly two years. Later, as Hall's being introduced to Rutledge, Hopkins tells him that he's met the long and the short of it as "Neddy here is the youngest member of Congress" and Rutledge declares: "Except for Ben Franklin!"
--End Transmission: Code 350--