1980s

Explore 532 quotes from the 1980s

Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!

Ronald Reagan

Read this speech at the American Rhetoric website

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Topic

Berlin Wall Cold War Communism

Speaker

Ronald Reagan

Source

Address at the Brandenburg Gate

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Statement Type

Orders and commands

Language

English

Time

1987 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Reagan, Ronald. "Tear Down This Wall!" 12 June 1987, Brandenburg Gate, West Berlin, Germany.

Everybody has plans until they get hit for the first time.

Mike Tyson

Commonly (and more satisfyingly) rendered as "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."

More information about this quote

Topic

Making plans

Speaker

Mike Tyson

Language

English

Time

1987 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Tyson, Mike. "Tall Man Tyrell Biggs Thinks His Height will Add New Dimension to Oct. 16 Fight." Interviewed by Rick Warner. The Times and Democrat, 19 Aug. 1987.

I am your father.

Darth Vader

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

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Topic

Fathers and sons

Speaker

Darth Vader

Actor

David Prowse

Source

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Medium

Film

Genre

Epic (film) Science fiction (film) Epic Science fiction

Language

English

Time

1980 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back. Directed by Irvin Kershner, Lucasfilm Ltd., 1980.

Love is or it ain't. Thin love ain't love at all.

Toni Morrison

Beloved

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Topic

Nature of love Love

Speaker

Sethe

Author

Toni Morrison

Source

Beloved

Medium

Novel

Language

English

Time

1987 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Morrison, Toni. Beloved. Alfred A. Knopf, 1987.

No. Try not. Do...or do not. There is no try.

Yoda

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

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Topic

Taking action

Speaker

Yoda

Actor

Frank Oz

Source

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Medium

Film

Genre

Epic (film) Science fiction (film) Epic Science fiction

Language

English

Time

1980 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back. Directed by Irvin Kershner, Lucasfilm Ltd., 1980.

It's classified. I could tell ya, but then I'd have to kill ya.

Top Gun

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Topic

Government secrets

Speaker

Maverick

Actor

Tom Cruise

Source

Top Gun

Medium

Film

Genre

Action (film) Drama (film) Action Drama

Language

English

Time

1986 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Top Gun. Directed by Tony Scott, Paramount Pictures/Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films, 1986.

Okay. You wanna play rough? Okay. Say hello to my little friend!

Tony Montana

Scarface

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Topic

Guns

Speaker

Tony Montana

Actor

Al Pacino

Source

Scarface

Medium

Film

Genre

Crime (film) Drama (film) Crime Drama

Statement Type

Threat

Language

English

Time

1983 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Scarface. Directed by Brian De Palma, Universal Pictures, 1983.

Wax on, wax off.

Mr. Miyagi

The Karate Kid

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Speaker

Mr. Miyagi

Actor

Pat Morita

Source

The Karate Kid

Medium

Film

Genre

Martial arts (film) Drama (film) Martial arts Drama

Statement Type

Advice

Language

English

Time

1984 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Karate Kid. Directed by John G. Avildsen, Delphi II Productions/Jerry Weintraub Productions, 1984.

In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.

Ronald Reagan

First Inaugural Address of Ronald Reagan

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Read this speech at UVA's Miller Center website

More information about this quote

Topic

Limited government Political theory American politics

Speaker

Ronald Reagan

Source

First Inaugural Address of Ronald Reagan Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1981 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Reagan, Ronald. "First Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 1981, West Front, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.

Dead Poets Society

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Topic

Carpe diem Living life to the fullest

Speaker

John Keating

Actor

Robin Williams

Source

Dead Poets Society

Medium

Film

Genre

Teen (film) Drama (film) Teen Drama

Statement Type

Advice

Language

English

Time

1989 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Dead Poets Society. Directed by Peter Weir, Touchstone Pictures/Silver Screen Partners IV, 1989.

Go ahead, make my day.

Sudden Impact

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Topic

Calling someone's bluff

Speaker

Harry Callahan

Actor

Clint Eastwood

Source

Sudden Impact

Medium

Film

Genre

Action (film) Thriller (film) Action Thriller

Language

English

Time

1983 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Sudden Impact. Directed by Clint Eastwood. Warner Bros., 1983.

An evil empire.

Ronald Reagan

On the Soviet Union.

More information about this quote

Topic

Soviet Union Cold War

Speaker

Ronald Reagan

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1983 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Reagan, Ronald. "The Evil Empire." National Association of Evangelicals. 8 Mar. 1983, Sheraton Twin Towers Hotel, Orlando, FL, USA.

Hello. My name is Iñigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

Iñigo Montoya

The Princess Bride

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More information about this quote

Topic

Revenge

Speaker

Iñigo Montoya

Actor

Mandy Patinkin

Source

The Princess Bride

Medium

Film

Genre

Comedy (film) Fantasy (film) Comedy Fantasy

Statement Type

Introduction Threat

Language

English

Time

1987 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

The Princess Bride. Directed by Rob Reiner, Act III Communications/Buttercup Films/The Princess Bride Ltd., 1987.

Everything want to be loved. Us sing and dance make faces and give flower bouquets, trying to be loved.

Alice Walker

The Color Purple

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Topic

Need for love Feeling loved

Speaker

Shug

Author

Alice Walker

Source

The Color Purple

Medium

Novel

Genre

Epistolary novel

Language

English

Time

1982 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Walker, Alice. The Color Purple. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1982.

I'm too old for this shit!

Lethal Weapon

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Topic

Old age Over it

Speaker

Roger Murtaugh

Actor

Danny Glover

Source

Lethal Weapon

Medium

Film

Genre

Buddy movie Action (film) Action

Language

English

Time

1987 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Lethal Weapon. Directed by Richard Donner, Warner Bros. Pictures/Silver Pictures, 1987.

Son, your ego is writing checks your body can't cash.

Top Gun

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Topic

Ego

Speaker

Stinger

Actor

James Tolkan

Source

Top Gun

Medium

Film

Genre

Action (film) Drama (film) Action Drama

Language

English

Time

1986 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Top Gun. Directed by Tony Scott, Paramount Pictures/Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films, 1986.

We have listened to the wisdom in an old Russian maxim. And I'm sure you're familiar with it, Mr. General Secretary…The maxim is…trust, but verify.

Ronald Reagan

More information about this quote

Topic

Nuclear disarmament Nuclear weapons Cold War American politics

Speaker

Ronald Reagan

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1987 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Reagan, Ronald. Remarks at the Signing of the INF Treaty with Soviet Premier Gorbachev. 8 Dec. 1987, Washington, DC, USA.

When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

When Harry Met Sally…

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Topic

Finding the one The one

Speaker

Harry Burns

Actor

Billy Crystal

Source

When Harry Met Sally…

Medium

Film

Genre

Romantic comedy (film) Comedy (film) Romantic comedy Comedy

Language

English

Time

1989 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

When Harry Met Sally... Directed by Rob Reiner, Nelson Entertainment/Castle Rock Entertainment, 1989.

You'll shoot your eye out.

A Christmas Story

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Topic

Guns Danger

Speaker

Mother Parker

Actor

Melinda Dillon

Source

A Christmas Story

Medium

Film

Genre

Christmas movie Comedy (film) Christmas Comedy

Language

English

Time

1983 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

A Christmas Story. Directed by Bob Clark, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1983.

Boys, you must strive to find your own voice, because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all.

Dead Poets Society

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Topic

Finding oneself Being oneself

Speaker

John Keating

Actor

Robin Williams

Source

Dead Poets Society

Medium

Film

Genre

Teen (film) Drama (film) Teen Drama

Language

English

Time

1989 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Dead Poets Society. Directed by Peter Weir, Touchstone Pictures/Silver Screen Partners IV, 1989.