55 Memorable Forrest Gump Quotes That Proves Life is a Box of Chocolates ·

05 Jan 2025, 00:00

Last Updated on February 23, 2024

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They say there are two kinds of people in the world: those who like Forrest Gump, and those who have not yet seen the film. Based on the 1986 novel by Winston Groom, the movie was released on July 6, 1994 – and has become a cult classic ever since.

The Story of Forrest Gump

Directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Eric Roth, the 1994 American comedy-drama was loosely based on a novel (of the same name) written by Winston Groom. The film stars Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump), Gary Sinise (Lieutenant Dan), Robin Wright (Jenny Curran), Mykelti Williamson (Bubba), and Sally Field (Mrs. Gump). The movie has won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and a Best Actor award for Hanks.

The film opens with a white feather floating down to reveal our protagonist sitting on a bench, waiting for a bus. A stranger soon sits beside him, and he offers her a box of chocolates. He introduces himself as Forrest Gump and goes on to tell her about his first pair of shoes. The story is told through Gump’s perspective.

Throughout the movie, we see Gump go through all kinds of highs and lows – from getting a football scholarship, being deployed in Vietnam, to his ping pong championship – and audiences can’t help but feel a deep connection to the slow-witted but kind-hearted man from Alabama.

Lessons from Forrest Gump

Gump’s character experienced so much and met so many interesting individuals that it’s difficult not to relate to at least one of them. Anyone who’s ever watched the film knows it has plenty of lessons to teach us.

The feather shown at the beginning and end of the film for instance, could be a metaphor for us. Just like the feather, we could all just be carried by the wind. Not knowing where we’ll end up, all we can do is go with the flow and see where life takes us.

Forrest Gump’s continuous running can be interpreted as turning pain into something productive. It could also be one of his ways of grieving. When Jenny left, he didn’t know what else to do – except go for a run. He became so engrossed in it, he didn’t realize it’s been 3 years, 2 months, and 14 days.

Gump shows us through his stories that life is indeed ‘like a box of chocolates’. He didn’t plan on going to Vietnam or becoming a ping pong champion. But because he was open to life’s surprises, life indulged him.

Forrest Gump Legacy

You could say that in a sense, Forrest Gump was half real and half fiction. Although most of the film was based on a book, the character of Gump in the screenplay as inspired by real people.

For example: Gump’s experience in Vietnam was partly based on the experiences of real-life veteran Sammy Lee Davis. Bubba’s love for shrimp on the other hand, was all thanks to one of Groom’s friends, Jimbo Meador, who owned river delta boat and worked for seafood processing.

Do we each have a destiny? Or are we just floating aimlessly in the wind? Accompany your daily reflections with these inspirational Forrest Gump quotes.

Classic Forrest Gump Quotes

“You have to do the best with what God gave you.” – Gump

“Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” – Forrest Gump

“When I got tired, I slept. When I got hungry, I ate. When I had to go, you know, I went.”- Forrest Gump

“Now you wouldn’t believe me if I told you, but I could run like the wind blows. From that day on, if I was goin’ somewhere, I was runnin’!” – Forrest Gump

“There’s an awful lot you can tell about a person by their shoes.” – Forrest Gump

“There’s only so much fortune a man really needs, and the rest is just for showin’ off.” – Forrest Gump

“You’ve got to put the past behind you, before you can move on.” – Forrest Gump

“Always be able to look back and say, at least I didn’t lead no humdrum life.” – Forrest Gump

“Mama always said, dying was a part of life. I sure wish it wasn’t.” – Forrest Gump

“Mama always had a way of explaining things so I could understand them.” – Forrest Gump

“Sometimes, I guess there just aren’t enough rocks.” – Forrest Gump

“Me and Jenny goes together like peas and carrots.” – Forrest Gump

“I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floatin’ around accidental-like on a breeze. But I, I think maybe it’s both.” – Forrest Gump

“Bubba was my best good friend. And even I know that ain’t something you can find just around the corner. Bubba was going to be a shrimping boat captain, but instead, he died right there by that river in Vietnam.” – Forrest Gump

“The best thing about visiting the President is the food! Now, since it was all free, and I wasn’t hungry but thirsty, I must’ve drank me fifteen Dr. Peppers.” – Forrest Gump

“If you do not like my family and friends, I do not want to hear anything about it. They may mean nothing to you, but they mean everything to me.” – Forrest Gump

“He was from a long great military tradition. Somebody from his family had fought and died in every single American war. I guess you could say he had a lot to live up to.” – Forrest Gump

“Some people don’t think miracles happen, well, they do.” – Forrest Gump

“I’d always let her know that I was OK. Then I’d sign each letter, ‘Love, Forrest Gump.’” – Forrest Gump

“I’d never named a boat before, but there was only one I could think of, the most beautiful name in the wide world.” – Forrest Gump

“Stupid is as stupid does.” – Forrest Gump

“You know it’s funny what a young man recollects? ‘Cause I don’t remember bein’ born. I don’t recall what I got for my first Christmas and I don’t know when I went on my first outdoor picnic. But I do remember the first time I heard the sweetest voice in the wide world.” – Forrest Gump

“Dear God, make me a bird. So I could fly far. Far far away from here.” – Young Jenny

“What’s normal anyways?” – Forrest Gump

“My name’s Forrest Gump. People call me Forrest Gump.” – Forrest Gump

“I’m pretty tired… I think I’ll go home now.” – Forrest Gump

“But you ain’t got no legs, Lieutenant Dan.” – Forrest Gump

“That’s all I have to say about that.” – Forrest Gump

“One day it started raining, and it didn’t quit for four months. We been through every kind of rain there is. Little bitty stingin’ rain… and big ol’ fat rain. Rain that flew in sideways. And sometimes rain even seemed to come straight up from underneath. Shoot, it even rained at night…” – Forrest Gump

“Listen, you promise me something, OK? Just if you’re ever in trouble, don’t be brave. You just run, OK? Just run away.” – Jenny

“I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floating around accidental, like on a breeze. But I think maybe it’s both. Maybe both are happening at the same time.” – Forrest Gump

“My mama always said you’ve got to put the past behind you before you can move on.” – Forrest Gump

“God can hear my prayers, so I pray.” – Forrest Gump

“I’m not the smart man. But I know what love is.” – Forrest Gump

“You can sit here if you want.” – Jenny

“Don’t ever let anybody tell you they’re better than you.” – Gump

“Well, now we ain’t strangers anymore.”- Dorothy Harris

“If there’s anything you need, I won’t be far away.” – Forrest Gump

“Why don’t you love me Jenny? I may not be a smart man, but I know what love is.” – Forrest Gump

“Momma said there’s only so much fortune a man really needs and the rest is just for showing off.” – Forrest Gump

“They said it was a million dollar wound, but the army must keep that money ’cause I still haven’t seen a nickel of that million dollars.” – Forrest Gump

“Anyway, like I was sayin’, shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. There’s shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There’s pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That, that’s about it.” – Bubba

“I never thanked you for saving my life.” – Lieutenant Dan

“My mama says they were magic shoes. They could take me anywhere.” – Forrest Gump

“Now you wouldn’t believe me if I told you, but I could run like the wind blows. From that day on, if I was goin’ somewhere, I was runnin’!” – Forrest Gump

“My mama always told me that miracles happen every day. Some people don’t think so, but they do.” – Forrest Gump

“Run, Forrest! Run!” – Jenny

“You can’t be doin’ this, Forrest. You can’t keep tryin’ to rescue me all the time.” – Jenny Curran

“Remember what I told you, Forrest. You’re the same as everybody else. Do you hear what I said, Forrest. You’re the same as everybody else. You are no different.” – Gump

“Sorry I ruined your New Year’s Eve party Lt. Dan. She tasted like cigarettes.” – Forrest Gump

51. “I just felt like running.” – Forrest Gump

52. “I’m not afraid to die anymore…I’ve done it already.” – Forrest Gump

53. “There are just times when people need to be told they’re being stupid.” – Forrest Gump

54. “My mama always said you can tell a lot about a person by their shoes, where they go, where they’ve been.” – Forrest Gump

55. “I’m not a smart man, but I know what I like.” – Forrest Gump

Posted by:Igor Ovsyannnykov

Igor is an SEO specialist, designer, photographer, writer and music producer. He believes that knowledge can change the world and be used to inspire and empower young people to build the life of their dreams. When he is not writing in his favorite coffee shop, Igor spends most of his time reading books, taking photos, producing house music, and learning about cinematography. He is a sucker for good coffee, Indian food, and video games.

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55 Memorable Forrest Gump Quotes That Proves Life is a Box of Chocolates

Last Updated on February 23, 2024 Table of Contents They say there are two kinds of people in the world: those who like Forrest Gump, and those who have not yet seen the film. Based on the 1986 novel by Winston Groom, the movie was released on July 6, 1994 and has become a

The Story of Forrest Gump

Lessons from Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump Legacy

Classic Forrest Gump Quotes

Posted by:Igor Ovsyannnykov

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