Good Will Hunting was a hugely acclaimed genre movie that earned Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Oscars for their screenplay thanks in large part to some great Good Will Hunting quotes. When Affleck and Damon were still up-and-coming actors, the two friends wrote the movie that changed their careers forever and earned a Best Supporting Actor trophy for Robin Williams. Though it is a fairly simple story of a genius from an unexpected background, Good Will Hunting is filled with intense, powerful, and funny scenes that highlight their excellent writing. It also features several memorable lines that stayed with audiences for a long time.
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s first collaboration was writing Good Will Hunting, which launched them as Hollywood stars. This was just the start for the duo. They went on to star together in several movies, including Kevin Smith’s religious satire Dogma. They also worked together later as writers, with The Last Duel. Sadly, despite solid reviews, that movie didn’t find the same success as their last screenplay together. They aren’t finished, though, as both men star in Affleck’s directorial Amazon Prime Video feature Air in 2023, the story of Air Jordan’s rise to prominence.
“My Boy’s Wicked Smart.”
Morgan Praises Will
Will’s friendship with his neighborhood buddies is very charming. While some think such people hold Will back, he is truly himself around these guys, and they treat him like he’s a normal guy. His friends see how brilliant he is, yet they don’t let it change how they see him. After Will embarrasses an arrogant Harvard student in a bar, his friend Morgan turns to the girls and delivers one of the great Good Will Hunting quotes – “My boy’s wicked smart” – showing pride in Will while still seeing him as their same old friend instead of some genius prodigy.
“Yeah, Maybe, But At Least I Won’t Be Unoriginal.”
Will Stands Up For Himself Against Harvard Bullies
Though Will is happy sticking to his more working-class life and hiding his amazing genius from the world, these Good Will Hunting quotes show just how extraordinary he is while sticking up for one of his friends. After calling out the Harvard student for quoting someone else’s work, the pompous young man attempts to insult Will by claiming he’ll be rich while Will likely will be serving fast food. Will takes that in stride, taking comfort in the fact that his thoughts will be his own.
“You Think I Know The First Thing About How Hard Your Life Has Been, How You Feel, Who You Are, Because I Read Oliver Twist?”
Sean Puts Will Hunting In His Place.
Will’s first meeting with Sean doesn’t go well as Will presumes too much about Sean’s wife which enrages him. However, Sean gives the boy another shot but still decides to put him in his place with these Good Will Hunting quotes. Sean points out how Will has read a lot about life in books, but there’s so much he doesn’t know about actual experiences. He reasons that, as Will is an orphan, Sean couldn’t understand what he went through just because he read Oliver Twist. It is a thought-provoking glimpse at the movie’s theme of what true intelligence is.
“You Don’t Know About Real Loss”
Sean Teaches Will About Loss
Sean is a bit of a tragic character himself as his life was torn apart when he lost his wife to cancer years ago. Will’s insensitive comment triggers those feelings again, but he then realizes that it is simply Will’s own ignorance that is the problem. Robin Williams’ Sean is able to turn Will’s insult around on him with these Good Will Hunting quotes and make him realize that the only reason he could possibly make a comment like that is that he hasn’t experienced loss in his life because he hasn’t experienced love. As Sean said in full, “it only occurs when you’ve loved something more than you love yourself.”
“He Pushes People Away Before They Get A Chance To Leave Him.”
Sean Breaks Down Will Hunting’s Personality
As part of Will Hunting’s work agreement, he is required to see a psychiatrist. However, it proves to be more difficult than it seems as Will insults and ridicules all the potential candidates who are brought in to see him. It finally takes a psychiatrist like Sean Maguire, who is from the same neighborhood as Will, to really see past all of his nonsense. Sean is able to recognize that Will doesn’t trust people and pushes them away to protect himself. By seeing this, Sean is able to gradually break through and reach Will when no one else could.
“Allegedly, Your Situation, For You, Would Be Concurrently Improved If I Had $200 In My Back Pocket Right Now.”
Chuckie Makes A Deal Pretending To Be Will Hunting
Though he doesn’t take a starring role alongside Will, Chuckie adds a nice comedic relief to the movie, especially in the scene where Will sends Chuckie in his place to do a job interview. Chuckie is completely unintimidated in the room of professionals while posing as Will and even works the situation to his advantage. In these Good Will Hunting quotes, he not so subtly hints that a bride would help to convince him to take the job on the table. Ben Affleck gives a terrific supporting performance as Will’s best friend.
“Well, You Found Me.”
Will On Skylar Finding Him
The romance between Will and Skylar is another interesting relationship in the movie. As they get to know each other and fall in love, they find that they share a connection neither of them seemed to expect. During one of their dates, Skylar laments that it had taken her so long to find Will, and he simply responds, “Well, you found me.” These Good Will Hunting quotes speak to how their relationship has its struggles, but that their being together is all that matters.
“Why Shouldn’t I Work For The NSA?”
Will Turns Down A Job
One of the most fascinating things about the character of Will is how his intelligence clashes with the way he was brought up. He has a brilliant mind, yet he also has all these defense mechanisms that cause him to push back. This makes for a hilarious sequence in which Will interviews for a job at the NSA. When told by the recruiter that it is a question of why he wouldn’t take the job, Will goes delivers some Good Will Hunting quotes about how his codebreaking could have various disastrous effects.
“People Call These Things Imperfections, But They’re Not.”
Sean Talks About True Love
Once Sean and Will become friends, their Good Will Hunting quotes become much more open. Sean opens up about his wife, including a story about how she farted in her sleep. After the two men share a laugh, Sean points out that those are the things he remembers. Something that might seem strange to others becomes endearing between couples. It is an important lesson for Will to learn as he tries to open his heart. The full Robin Williams quote is, “People call these things imperfections, but they’re not, that’s the good stuff. And then we get to choose who we let into our weird little worlds.”
“You’re Just A Kid, You Don’t Have The Faintest Idea What You’re Talkin’ About.”
Sean Sees Through Will
When it comes to being smart, Will seems to want to have it both ways. He wants to live his normal down-to-earth life with his friends, but he also carries an arrogance in knowing he’s smarter than everyone. However, Sean is the first person that really challenges Will on his view of himself. Though he might be intelligent in a lot of ways, in these Good Will Hunting quotes, Sean explains to Will that he is still just a young kid who has a lot to learn about the world.
“I Think, Maybe I’ll Knock On The Door, And You Won’t Be There.”
Chuckie’s Wish For Will
Though Ben Affleck’s Chuckie is a comedic character, he is also a constant source of support in Will’s life. The two men are inseparable and really care for each other. And Chuckie shows how much he cares for Will in this heartbreaking scene. After Will suggests he will stick around their neighborhood his whole life, Chuckie confronts him about it with these Good Will Hunting quotes. He admits that, as much as he loves Will, every day he hopes he will leave without saying goodbye in order to escape the life Chuckie and the others are unable to.
“You’re Not Perfect, Sport.”
Sean Advises Will On His Love Life
Love is a gamble and relationships aren’t perfect, which is enough for Will to shy away from even trying. If he gave someone a chance his life would have been so different, but instead his traumatic experiences as a child halt him from having any form of real attachment. Once Will Hunting met someone who gave him a chance, his defenses rose and he backed away. This is what Will is missing, the blind leap of faith of emotionally investing in a relationship that could become something beautiful. “You’re not perfect, sport, and let me save you the suspense: this girl you’ve met, she’s not perfect either.“
“I Have To Go See About A Girl.”
Will Hunting Makes His Decision
Much of the movie is about what is right for Will. Is staying where he is squandering his potential, or is his intelligence getting in the way of him being happy? Instead of choosing the life he knows or the path of success, Will chooses love. It is a touching moment when Will leaves a note for Sean indicating he is going to be with Skylar. Will allows himself to find love for the first time and makes a decision based on what he wants for himself. It is a message that stands out as a timeless aspect of Good Will Hunting.
“Son Of A B****… He Stole My Line.”
Will Leaves Sean A Letter
Robin Williams plays his role with such subtlety and charm while keeping his comedic energy grounded, something that surprised viewers at the time. But Williams’ amazing skills as an improviser were put to great use in the Good Will Hunting quotes. Sean finds a letter left for him by Will explaining that he “had to see about a girl,” calling back to Sean’s own memory of meeting his wife. His reserved happiness for Will along with jokingly complaining about his line being stolen is a lovely way to end the movie. What was most impressive about this line, was that Robin Williams ad-libbed in the moment
“How Do You Like Them Apples?”
Will Shows Off
In a movie with so many powerful Good Will Hunting quotes, it is strange how its silliest line gets the most attention. After Will embarrasses the Harvard student, he meets Skylar and hits it off with her. As Will and his friends are leaving, he spots the same arrogant student. He asks the man if he likes apples, then says “Well I got her number. How do you like them apples?” Again, it is goofy, but it is also hard not to laugh while also being satisfied by the small victory. The scene remained a popular meme and was even used later in a Kevin Smith movie with the actors reprising their roles.
“You’ll Have Bad Times.”
Sean Talks About Taking The Good And The Bad
Will focuses on the negative aspects of every relationship he’s been in, which is why he’s been alone all his life. Sean’s advice to him is everything, if Will would only give someone a chance he’ll realize all that he’s missing. This is one of those timeless Good Will Hunting quotes that apply to everyday life, relationships, and social situations. Bad stuff happens, but it’s in those moments where you realize what you did wrong and grow, or wallow in self-pity and remain the same. “You’ll have bad times, but it’ll always wake you up to the good stuff you weren’t paying attention to.” In his Oscar-winning role, Robin Williams shows why he’s an amazing actor.
“It’s Not Your Fault.”
Sean Helps Will Let Go
The bond between Sean and Will grows throughout the movie until Sean finally breaks through to Will with this simple phrase, repeated over and over until his self-loathing mind accepts the truth. Will detached himself from others because no one ever accepted and loved him. Instead of looking for help, he blamed himself and bottled it all up. By making a joke of it all he buried years of emotional trauma until it bursts out of him. It is one of the most powerful Good Will Hunting quotes that also feels like a relief.
