Discover 20 powerful and memorable quotes from the classic film “The Elephant Man” (1980). Explore insightful and thought-provoking lines from this timeless movie that continues to inspire and resonate with audiences.
Under this terrible appearance of the elephant man, who is frightening in every way, what lies in his heart begins to spill over time.
The Elephant Man Quotes
1- “My life is full because I know I am loved.” –John Merrick, ‘The Elephant Man’.
2- “[haltingly] Hello… my name is… John Merrick.” –John Merrick, ‘The Elephant Man’.
3- “People are frightened by what they don’t understand.” –John Merrick, ‘The Elephant Man’.
4- “I am not an elephant! I am not an animal! I am a human being! I am a man!” –John Merrick, ‘The Elephant Man’.
5- “If you ask me, people are laughing at him all over again.” –Mothershead, ‘The Elephant Man’.
6- “[Bytes is lashing Joseph] Bytes! No!” –Bytes’ Boy, ‘The Elephant Man’.
7- “He’s the greatest Freak in the World…”-Bytes, ‘The Elephant Man’.
8- “Life!… is full of surprises. Consider the fate of this creature’s poor mother, struck down in the fourth month of her maternal condition by an elephant, a wild elephant. Struck down!… on an uncharted African isle. The result is plain to see… Ladies and gentlemen… The terrible… Elephant… Man…” –Bytes, ‘The Elephant Man’.
9- “Because of the extensive area covered by papillomatus growths, the patient has been called “The Elephant Man”.”-Dr. Frederick Treves, ‘The Elephant Man’.
10- “Abominable things these machines – you can’t reason with them,” –Dr. Frederick Treves, ‘The Elephant Man’.
11- “Am I a good man? Or a bad man? That’s all…”-Dr. Frederick Treves, ‘The Elephant Man’.
12- “[last lines] Never. Oh, never. Nothing will die. The stream flows, the wind blows, the cloud fleets, the heart beats. Nothing will die.” –Merrick’s Mother, ‘The Elephant Man’.
13- “Luck, my friend, luck. Who needs it more than we?” Plumed Dwarf,‘The Elephant Man’.
14- “-Mrs. Kendal: Why, Mr. Merrick, you’re not an elephant man at all.
-John Merrick: Oh no?
-Mrs. Kendal: Oh no… no… you’re a Romeo.” –‘The Elephant Man’.
15- “-Carr Gomm: Can you imagine the kind of life he must have had?
-Dr. Frederick Treves: Yes, I think I can.
-Carr Gomm: I don’t think so. No one could possibly imagine it! I don’t believe any of us can!” –‘The Elephant Man’.
16- “-Mothershead: Sir! I don’t quite… I don’t quite understand why it is you allow that sort of people in there.
-Dr. Frederick Treves: Why? Because he enjoys it, and I think it’s very good for him.
-Mothershead: Yes, but, sir, you saw the expression on their faces. They didn’t hide their disgust. They don’t care anything about John! They only want to impress their friends!
-Dr. Frederick Treves: I think you’re being rather harsh on them, don’t you, Mrs. Mothershead?
-Mothershead: I beg your pardon!
-Dr. Frederick Treves: You yourself hardly showed him much loving kindness when he first arrived, did you?
-Mothershead: I bathed him, I fed him, and I cleaned up after him, didn’t I? And I see that my nurses do the same. And if loving kindness can be called care and practical concern, then I did show him loving kindness, and I am not ashamed to admit it!”-‘The Elephant Man’.
17- “-John Merrick: There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you for some time now.
– Dr. Frederick Treves: What’s that?
-John Merrick: Can you cure me?
-Dr. Frederick Treves: No. We can care for you, but we can’t cure you.
-John Merrick: [matter-of-factly] No. I thought not.” –‘The Elephant Man’.
18- “Dr. Fox: Have you ever mentioned his mental state?
-Dr. Frederick Treves: Oh, he’s an imbecile, probably from birth. Man’s a complete idiot… Pray to God he’s an idiot.” –‘The Elephant Man’.
19- “[first lines] -Skeleton Man: Get rid of them! I don’t want to see them!
-Fat Lady: Darling, don’t be difficult! Let’s take our sweet lovely children on an outing.” –‘The Elephant Man’.
20- “-Mrs. Treves: I’m very pleased to meet you, Mr. Merrick.
-John Merrick: I’m very pleased… [John begins to cry]
-Dr. Frederick Treves: What is it, John? What’s the matter?
-John Merrick: It’s just that I-I’m not used to being treated so well by a beautiful woman…” –‘The Elephant Man’.
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