The Tree of Life (2011) quotes
Director
Terrence Malick.
The story of a family in Waco, Texas in 1956. The eldest son witnesses the loss of innocence and struggles with his parents’ conflicting teachings.
He is in God’s hands, now.
– Father Haynes
He was in God’s hands the whole time. Wasn’t he?
– Mrs. O’Brien
That’s where God lives!
– Mrs. O’Brien
The world lives by a trigger. If you want to succeed, you can’t be too good!
– Mr. O’Brien
[voice over] Help each other. Love everyone. Every leaf. Every ray of light. Forgive.
– Mrs. O’Brien
What are we to you?
– Mrs. O’Brien
Toscanini once recorded a piece sixty five times. You know what he said when he finished? “It could be better.” Think about it. Think about it. Twenty-seven patents your father had. It means ownership, ownership of ideas. You gotta sew ’em up. Get them by the nuts if you pardon my French.
– Mr. O’Brien
Father… Mother… Always you wrestle inside me. Always you will.
– Young Jack
Your mother’s naive. It takes fierce will to get ahead in this world. If you’re good, people take advantage of you.
– Mr. O’Brien
How did I lose you? Wandered. Forgot you.
– Jack
[voice over] Where were You? You let a boy die. You let anything happen. Why should I be good ? When You aren’t.
– Young Jack
How did you come to me? In what shape? What disguise? I see the child I was. I see my brother. True. Kind.
– Jack
Be rich. You make yourself what you are. You have control of your own destiny. Can’t say I can’t. You see I’m having trouble. I’m not done yet. Can’t say I can’t.
– Mr. O’Brien
Is there some fraud in the scheme of the universe? Is there nothing which is deathless? Nothing, which does not pass away? We cannot stay where we are. We must journey forth. We must find that which is greater than fortune or fate. Nothing can bring us peace, but that.
– Father Haynes
[voice over] I didn’t know how to name You then. But I see it was You. Always You were calling me.
– Young Jack
I am sorry. You are my brother.
– Young Jack
You’ll be grown before that tree is tall.
– Mrs. O’Brien
Light of my life. I search for you.
– Mrs. O’Brien
My hope. My child.
– Mrs. O’Brien
Tell us a story from before we can remember.
– R.L
Come here!
– Mrs. O’Brien
NO! I’m gonna do what I want to do, and you let him walk all over you.
– Young Jack
[voice over] What I want to do, I can’t do. I do what I hate.
– Young Jack
She only loves ME!
– Young Jack