La Strada Quotes

The Fool: Maybe he likes you?

Gelsomina: Zampanò... likes me?

The Fool: Why not? He's like a dog. Ever see those dogs who look like they want to speak, but all they do is bark?

The Fool: If you won't stay with him, who will? I'm an ignorant man, but I've read a book or two. You may not believe it, but everything in this world has a purpose. Even this pebble, for example.

Gelsomina: Which one?

The Fool: This one. Any one. But even this one has a purpose.

Gelsomina: What's its purpose?

The Fool: Its purpose is - how should I know? If I knew, I'd be...

Gelsomina: Who?

The Fool: The Almighty, who knows everything. When you're born. When you die. Who knows? No, I don't know what this pebble's purpose is, but it must have one, because if this pebble has no purpose, then everything is pointless. Even the stars! At least, I think so. And you too. You have a purpose too.

Zampanò: [reciting his act by rote before a crowd] Here we have a piece of chain that is a quarter of an inch thick. It is made of crude iron, stronger than steel. With the simple expansion of my pectoral muscles, or chest, that is, I'll break the hook.

[collecting money from the crowd]

Zampanò: Thank you, thank you. Now, to do this feat, I must fill myself up like a tire. If a blood vessel should break, I would spit blood. For instance, in Milan a man weighing 240 pounds lost his eyesight doing this trick. That is because the optical nerves take a beating, and once you lose your eyes, you are finished. If there's any delicate person in the audience, I would advise him to look away 'cause there could be blood.

[with seemingly great effort, he breaks the chain]

Gelsomina: Where are you from?

Zampanò: My hometown.

Gelsomina: You don't talk like us. Where were you born?

Zampanò: My father's house.

Prostitute: What line of work are you in?

Zampanò: I'm a traveling artist. This is my sidekick. I taught her everything. When I took her on, she couldn't even quack.

Zampanò: Get in.

Prostitute: Is this piece of junk your car?

Zampanò: Don't you like it?

Prostitute: Are you crazy?

Zampanò: It's American. Hasn't broken down once in seven years.

Gelsomina: You're one of those men who runs around with women.

Zampanò: What?

Gelsomina: Who runs around with women.

Zampanò: If you want to stay with me, you've got to learn one thing - to keep your mouth shut!

Zampanò: You always eat standing up like a horse?

Widow: I always eat on my feet. Who's going to keep the house going if not me?

Zampanò: Why don't you remarry?

Widow: What? Another husband? I'm the only one who gives orders around here.

Zampanò: Is that all a husband is good for? Giving orders?

Widow: Think I'm not made of flesh and blood? Everybody likes sweets after a good meal.

Nun: Do you like traveling from one place to the next all the time?

Gelsomina: That's how his work is.

Nun: We travel around too. We change convents every two years. This is my second.

Gelsomina: Why?

Nun: So we don't get too attached to the things of this world. You grow fond of where you live, even of a a plant. You risk forgetting your most important attachment, which is to God. So you see, we both travel. You follow your husband and I follow mine.