‘The Dead Poets Society’ is a coming-of-age film that’s perfect for the dreamers, the lovers of literature, and, just as important, the people who want to remember Robin Williams in one of his most iconic roles ever. This film champions art, authenticity, and living every day to its fullest, urging viewers to forge their own path to enlightenment instead of following the well-trodden road so many others have taken before them. Maybe that’s what makes so many quotes from this movie so iconic—they make you think about your life, your calling, and ultimately, your ability to seize the day—carpe diem.

Here are the 15 most iconic quotes from The Dead Poets Society:

1.

McAllister (Leon Pownall): “Show me the heart unfettered by foolish dreams and I’ll show you a happy man.”

John Keating (Robin Williams): “But only in their dreams can men be truly free. ‘Twas always thus, and always thus will be.”

McAllister: Tennyson?

Keating: No, Keating.

2.

John Keating (Robin Williams): 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. Thoreau said, “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Don’t be resigned to that. Break out!

3.

Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke): I close my eyes.

John Keating (Robin Williams): Yes.

Todd: Uh, and this image floats beside me.

Keating: A sweaty-toothed madman.

Todd: A sweaty-toothed madman with a stare that pounds my brain.

Keating: Oh, that’s excellent. Now, give him action—make him do something!

Todd: His hand reaches out to choke me.

Keating: That’s it! Wonderful, wonderful.

Todd: And all the time he’s mumbling.

Keating: What’s he mumbling?

Todd: Mumbling truth.

Keating: Yeah, yes.

Todd: Truth like a blanket that always leaves your feet cold.

Keating: Forget them, forget them! Stay with the blanket. Tell me about that blanket.

Todd: You push it, stretch it, it’ll never be enough. You kick at it, beat it, it’ll never cover any of us. From the moment we enter crying t-to the moment we leave dying, it’ll just cover your face as you wail and cry and scream.

Keating: Don’t you forget this.

4.

John Keating (Robin Williams): There’s a time for daring and there’s a time for caution, and a wise man understands which is called for.

5.

John Keating (Robin Williams): This is a battle, a war, and the casualties could be your hearts and souls.

6.

John Keating (Robin Williams): Have you ever told your father what you just told me? About your passion for acting? You ever showed him that?

Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard): I can’t.

Keating: Why not?

Neil: I can’t talk to him this way.

Keating: Then you’re acting for him, too. You’re playing the part of the dutiful son.

7.

John Keating (Robin Williams): They’re not that different from you, are they? Same haircuts. Full of hormones, just like you. Invincible, just like you feel. The world is their oyster. They believe they’re destined for great things, just like many of you. Their eyes are full of hope, just like you. Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable? Because you see, gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen. You hear it?… Carpe… Hear it?… Carpe. Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.

8.

Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard): “I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life.”

Charlie Dalton (Gale Hansen): I’ll second that.

9.

John Keating (Robin Williams): We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, “O me! O life!… of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless… of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?” Answer. That you are here—that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?

10.

Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard): For the first time in my whole life, I know what I wanna do. And for the first time, I’m gonna do it. Whether my father wants me to or not. Carpe diem!

11.

John Keating (Robin Williams): Why do I stand up here? Anybody?

Charlie Dalton (Gale Hansen): To feel taller!

Keating: No! Thank you for playing, Mr. Dalton. I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things in a different way.

12.

John Keating (Robin Williams): Sucking the marrow out of life doesn’t mean choking on the bone.

13.

John Keating (Robin Williams):  No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.

14.

Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard):  I was good. I was really good.

15.

Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke): O Captain! My Captain!