These ‘Perks Of Being A Wallflower’ Quotes Are Infinite

In 2012, author Stephen Chbosky proved that the way to make a movie adaptation of a book is to do it yourself. His coming-of-age novel read, and sometimes banned, in high schools across America became his mainstream directorial debut and was lauded by critics and fans of the book for its ability to stay true to the source material while adapting some things after years of hindsight. Critics referred to the film as a modern day The Breakfast Club for the hipster generation. The comparison might seem sacrilegious to John Hughes purists, but every angsty teenager should have a ragtag group of misfits to clutch to during their most troubled years. Starring newcomers Logan Lerman and Ezra Miller (the future Flash and a birthday boy today) as well as the universally loved Emma Watson, the film gave us some new classic quotable moments, as well as some killer tunes.

“Oh my god they’re playing good music.” — Sam
“Holy sh*t. Holy sh*t! They are! They’re playing good music!” — Patrick

Anyone who doesn’t subscribe to the Billboard charts knows this feeling at any dance. Or club. Or any event where there’s music. Thank god for hipsters, amiright? But overall this moment is a small faction of all the incredible music that brings this whole story together. Featuring the music of Cocteau Twins, David Bowie, Sonic Youth, Cracker, and, of course, The Smiths, the soundtrack is definitely worth checking out. They even released it on vinyl…if you’re into that.

“You could write about us.” — Sam
“Yeah! Call it ‘Slut and the Falcon’! Make us solve crimes!” — Patrick

I would read the hell out of something called, “The Adventures of Slut and The Falcon,” although, after watching Ezra Miller in Trainwreck I’m not sure who’s who.

“Dad, can I have $30?” — Charlie
“$20? What do you need $10 for?” — Mr. Kelmeckis

Dylan McDermott basically just showed up for this movie so he could be every dad ever. But that aside, the supporting cast of this film is actually astounding. Between Nina Dobrev playing Charlie’s sister, Kate Walsh as his mother, Paul Rudd as his teacher, and Joan Cusack as his doctor, it’s enough to make you forget that John Malkovich is an executive producer.

“This collection of presents is so gay that I think I must have given it to myself.” — Patrick

Patrick is nothing if not self-aware. Ezra Miller’s performance was one of the most critically acclaimed in the film as the happy go lucky, out of the closet Patrick (aka “Nothing”) who always managed to crack a joke even at the darkest times. After shocking audiences with his turn as the homicidal Kevin Khatchadourian in 2011’s We Need to Talk About Kevin, it was nice to see him in a less sociopathic light.


“Mary Elizabeth, why are you trying to eat Christmas?” — Patrick

Because there are rules to Secret Santa, damn it. Perhaps a better question would be why are you trying to eat the rules, Patrick?


“Sam, do you think if people knew how crazy you really were, no one would ever talk to you?” — Charlie
“All the time.” — Sam

The fear we all have. Then again, at least once you find crazy people to be crazy with, who needs to worry about that, anyway? It’s one of the strongest messages this movie and the book before it tries to convey. It doesn’t matter if you’re an outcast, gay, a stoner, a Buddhist punk, or someone who steals blue jeans from the mall. As long as you surround yourself with people that allow you to be truly you, everyone else is irrelevant.


“How’s your first relationship going?” — Patrick
“It’s so bad that I keep fantasizing that one of us is dying of cancer, so that I don’t have to break up with her.” –Charlie

We’ve all been there and don’t tell me you haven’t. When a relationship goes sour but you don’t want to hurt his/her feelings so you come up with incredibly elaborate scenarios just so you don’t have to deal with it. It can’t be just me. Charlie gets it. Why date someone who wants to eat Christmas?


“Touch my friends again and I’ll blind you.” — Charlie

Whoever doesn’t get chills while watching this scene is heartless. Charlie, who up until this moment has been content to stay in the background and lay as low as he possibly can, finally leaps into action in a frightening and powerful way. But it just goes to show how much he cares for his friends, even when they’re not speaking to him.


“We accept the love we think we deserve.” — Mr. Anderson

Alright, it’s time to get serious. Paul Rudd did not get enough screen time in this movie. Mr. Anderson was one of the most important parts of the book and when Charlie “gets bad again” his English teacher is there to help put the pieces back together. And who in their high school pubescent struggle did not read this line and suddenly think that they had all of their romance woes solved immediately?


“And in this moment, I swear we are infinite.” — Charlie

Despite becoming a clichéd “white girl” tattoo over the years, there is a reason why the most classic line from the book and film is the most classic. We all want to achieve the feeling of euphoria that Charlie, Sam and Patrick have at the end of the film, standing in the back of a pickup truck listening to David Bowie. And okay fine, I also wanted that tattoo for a good portion of my life.

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