Released in 1994, the critically acclaimed and widely beloved film Forrest Gump remains one of the best films of the modern age of Hollywood and one of Tom Hanks’ most iconic roles. The film tells the story of the titular Forrest, who’s written off by many due to his low IQ, but he continually proves that he’s an extraordinary man through his key roles in major moments in history.
Forrest’s kindness and compassion are the defining traits of his character, as well as his desire to contribute to changing history. In addition, Forrest and those around him demonstrate an impressive level of wisdom about the world they live in. This means that the film is full of inspiring and memorable quotes.
Still, at its core, Forrest Gump is a tale of love, loss, and redemption made legendary as a result of some truly excellent writing. Were it not for these quotes, the movie likely wouldn’t be nearly as well-remembered as it is today.
“Lieutenant Dan Got Me Invested In Some Kind Of Fruit Company…”
Forrest Gump
Over the course of the sprawling epic film, the relationship between Forrest and his former superior Lieutenant Dan evolves significantly. Lieutenant Dan doesn’t seem to like Forrest when they first meet, but soon enough, the two realize that they’re all the other has, and that the universe keeps bringing them back together.
Later in their lives, Lieutenant Dan gives Forrest some sage financial advice - to invest in Apple stock. However, Forrest doesn’t understand that Apple is a tech company, not a fruit. “So then I got a call from him, saying we don’t have to worry about money no more. And I said, ‘That’s good!’ One less thing.” It’s a funny quote that demonstrates Forrest’s carefree nature.
“It Happens.”
During his amazing journey on foot across the country, Forrest winds up developing quite the following, including people who come to him looking for ideas and inspiration. One of those people is a man trying to find a slogan to put on bumper stickers. As it happens, at the exact moment the man is questioning Forrest, he runs right through a pile of dog feces.
Undeterred, he observes, “It happens.” The man is inspired to develop a new brand of bumper stickers that say, “s*** happens.”, which is an iconic quote in the pop culture zeitgeist and in general society. It’s yet another hugely significant pop culture moment that the movie managed to put its own unique spin on.
“I Don’t Know If We Have A Destiny…”
The entire film makes the case that, though Forrest may not be the smartest man in the world, he does have a level of understanding and wisdom that most people could only hope for.
In the film’s closing act, Forrest’s wisdom is perfectly encapsulated as he visits Jenny’s grave and tries to make sense of the way the world works. “I don’t know if we have a destiny, or if we’re all just floatin’ around accidental-like on a breeze, but I think maybe it’s both. Maybe both is happenin’ at the same time.” This concept is reflected in the film’s touching image of a feather floating away from young Forrest Jr.
“What’s Normal, Anyways?”
Mrs. Gump
Forrest’s mother is his staunchest advocate for the entire film, and there are truly no lengths to which she wouldn’t go in order to ensure a better life for her son. During her fiercest episodes of advocacy and protection, his mom makes a good point when she notes, “What’s normal, anyways?”
Forrest Gump continually demonstrates that underestimating people doesn’t get anyone anywhere. Forrest’s unbelievable journey supports this theory since everyone underestimates him his whole life. However, from the very beginning, his mother has known that normal isn’t what it’s always made out to be; normal is overrated.
“Jenny And Me Was Like Peas And Carrots.”
The relationship between Forrest Gump and Jenny Curran is one of the major storylines in the film. From childhood onward, Forrest is hopelessly in love with Jenny, the girl of his dreams and one of the only people to ever accept and understand him.
Though their journey takes many turns as they grow into young adulthood, their first meeting is as sweet and innocent as could be, when Jenny allows Forrest to sit next to her on the bus. As Forrest observes, “From that day on, we was always together. Jenny and me was like peas and carrots.” In the end, this proves to be true, which makes this one of the best romance movies of the ’90s.
“They Said It Was A Million Dollar Wound, But The Army Must Keep That Money…”
Forrest proved himself to be a valiant soldier during his time in Vietnam, having saved both his Lieutenant and his best friend from the deep jungle just before an airstrike bombardment. For his efforts, he received a gunshot wound, but it turned out to be enough to punch his ticket back home.
Of course, Forrest never quite got the irony behind the term “million dollar wound.” He never quite grasped just how lucky he was to escape the war the way he did, and he instead inadvertently took the opportunity to kickstart a new career in professional ping pong.
“I’m Not A Smart Man. But I Know What Love Is.”
Despite all the time they spend apart, Forrest never stops being in love with Jenny. Even after learning all that she has suffered from, and even after enduring countless hardships on his own, Forrest continues loving Jenny - even if she seems to refuse to acknowledge the fact that he’s capable of loving her.
“I’m not a smart man. But I know what love is,” he confesses to her. It’s a heartbreaking moment of clarity in the film. Jenny may have known and understood Forrest all along, but it’s at this moment that she really knows Forrest and all that he is capable of for the first time.
“Anyway, Like I Was Sayin’, Shrimp Is The Fruit Of The Sea…”
Bubba Blue
The friendship that forms between Forrest Gump and Bubba Blue is one of the most endearing aspects of the film. Before Bubba Blue’s tragic death, he makes it clear that he wants to go into business with Forrest.
Long before he makes an official proposal, Bubbe Blue delivers quite the monologue on shrimp, which is easily one of the most memorable quotes of the movie. He and Forrest make great friends, and it’s nice for viewers to see that there’s someone out there who can understand and appreciate Forrest as he is - and vice versa.
“Mama Says Stupid Is As Stupid Does.”
Both Forrest and his mom have very frank ways of saying things, and very keen understandings of the way the world works. When young Forrest first meets Jenny, she asks him if he’s stupid or something, to which Forrest answers, “Mama says stupid is as stupid does.”
It’s not really clear what that means, especially in the context of answering Jenny’s question. The quote may be intended as a moment of comedy, but there’s no denying the simple, fundamental truth of this observation. It also shows the trust and loyalty Forrest has for his mom, as he seems to live by this quote.
“Mama Always Said You Can Tell A Lot About A Person By Their Shoes.”
Running is a key motif throughout the film, so, naturally, so are shoes. Forrest is interested in shoes because his mother mentions that they’re a great tool to find out about the person wearing them. At the bench where he waits for the bus, Forrest makes sure to inspect each person’s shoes as they take a seat next to him.
Interestingly, the only thing viewers can really learn about Forrest by his shoes is that he’s come a long way. This isn’t because of the shoes themselves, which are likely part of a sponsorship deal, but because of their increased griminess over time. Still, it’s a worthy message and a nice touch to the movie, which is all about journeys.
“Mama Always Said Dying Was A Part Of Life. I Sure Wish It Wasn’t.”
Even though Forrest may not be the most relatable character in terms of his personality, he goes through a lot of experiences that many viewers can understand. Since the movie spans many years, viewers see Forrest deal with a number of deaths throughout his life.
One of the most relatable quotes of the film is Forrest’s plaintive wish that death wasn’t a part of life. Forrest is burdened with the death of his father, his best friend Bubba Blue, his beloved mother, his wife Jenny, and a number of soldiers Forrest meets during his time in the army. Though many believe that Forrest Gump is a movie without antagonists, the quote can be interpreted as a commentary on war and the needless violence it breeds.
“You Can’t Keep Tryin’ To Rescue Me All The Time.”
Jenny Curran
Though Forrest loves Jenny, she’s right to tell him that he can’t be swooping in to save her from every trouble in her life. Not only is this impractical, but it takes away all of her agency. She’s living her own life, and Forrest can’t always be there. She needs to learn her own lessons and make her own decisions because she’s her own person.
Forrest may be acting out of kindness, but he doesn’t realize this his attempts to solve all of her problems are only harming her. They also pain her, because, at this point in their story, Jenny believes that the two of them could never be in a romantic relationship. But even if they were, Jenny isn’t a damsel in distress, which is something Forrest needs to realize.
“My Mama Always Said You’ve Got To Put The Past Behind You Before You Can Move On.”
One of the most important lessons to be learned from Forrest Gump is Forrest’s decision to stop running. He tries repeatedly to run from everything, but nothing more than his past - specifically, Jenny’s rejection. However, this means that he’s never truly going to move forward in life, as he’s always preoccupied with the past.
Like most of the values Forrest lives by, this is something his mother teaches him. He recalls her words often, and the quote above is a valuable lesson to convey to the audience. Before he can get back in touch with Jenny, he needs to make peace with what they’ve already gone through.
“But You Ain’t Got No Legs, Lieutenant Dan.”
Forrest managed to change many lives, but the man he changed the most was arguably his former Vietnam commander, Dan Taylor. Lieutenant Dan believed that he was fated to die in battle, and, when the time came, he wasn’t afraid to call an airstrike on his own location. He then deeply resented Forrest for saving his life, but, after quite a while, he came to terms with it.
Having once sarcastically promised Forrest that he’d be his first mate if he were ever to become a shrimp boat captain, Lieutenant Dan eventually made good on that commitment. In the end, not only did Forrest save Lieutenant Dan’s life, but he restored his soul, as well.
“Aren’t I Going To Be Me?”
When Forrest meets Jenny in college, she takes him back to her dorm room, and the two have sex in front of her mortified roommate. That weird detail aside, it’s a relatively tender moment; Forrest’s innocence is obvious, and Jenny’s dreams of becoming a singer seem to be sending her into a kind of listlessness.
In that moment, she asks Forrest if he ever dreams of what he’s going to be, and Forrest naively replies “aren’t I going to be me?” It was an innocent response, but it highlighted a major difference between the two. Jenny was seemingly never comfortable with who she was, but Forrest never once considered changing.
“Run, Forrest, Run!”
Arguably one of the most quoted lines from the movie comes very early on in the film when young Jenny implores a young Forrest to run from a group of bullies. From a young age, Forrest is a gifted runner. This earns him respect and renown in his youth, in his college days on the football field, in service, and later in life, when he begins running just because he wants to.
Running seems to be one of the few things in life that provide Forrest with clarity, and it’s no wonder that this brief line from a fleeting moment has come to be one of the most memorable quotes from the entire movie. However, even more powerful is Forrest’s decision to stop running and face life, and this never would have happened if he hadn’t taken his first steps unassisted.
“That Day, For No Particular Reason, I Decided To Go For A Little Run.”
One of the most compelling parts of Forrest’s journey is his long run across America. “That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road. And when I got there, I thought maybe I’d run to the end of town. And when I got there, I thought maybe I’d just run across Greenbow County …”
Though he says that he doesn’t have a reason for running, it can be inferred that he does, but doesn’t want to confront it. After all, he’s a protagonist in a movie, and he has to drive the story. As the story goes, Forrest ends up running much further than Greenbow County, and his journey captures the entire nation’s attention - as well as the audience’s.
“My Mama Always Said Life Was Like A Box Of Chocolates.”
Given the significant role that Forrest’s mother plays in the film, it’s no wonder that one of the best quotes from Forrest Gump should be yet another one of her keen observations. “Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” Given Forrest’s own amazing life journey, that statement is more than accurate.
It’s also a clear inspiration for Forrest’s later conclusion that life is both fated and random, planned and mysterious. Forrest’s life is just about as random and destined as things could get, like a perfectly organized box of chocolates.
