Brad Pitt credited as playing...
Mr. O'Brien
- Mr. O'Brien: Toscanini once recorded a piece sixty five times. You know what he said when he finished? "It could be better." Think about it. Think about it. Twenty-seven patents your father had. It means ownership, ownership of ideas. You gotta sew 'em up. Get them by the nuts if you pardon my French.
- Mr. O'Brien: Be rich. You make yourself what you are. You have control of your own destiny. Can't say I can't. You see I'm having trouble. I'm not done yet. Can't say I can't.
- Mr. O'Brien: Your mother's naive. It takes fierce will to get ahead in this world. If you're good, people take advantage of you.
- Mr. O'Brien: [voice over] I wanted to be loved cause I was great, a Big Man. Now I'm nothing. Look. The glory around... trees, birds... I dishonored it all and didn't notice the glory. A foolish man.
- [on camera]
- Mr. O'Brien: They're closing the plant. I was given this choice: no job or transfer to a job nobody wants.
- Mr. O'Brien: You are not to call me "Dad". You will only call me "Father".
- Young Jack: But...
- Mr. O'Brien: Don't interrupt!
- Young Jack: But you do...
- Mr. O'Brien: Don't interrupt!
- Young Jack: It's your house. You can kick me out whenever you want to. You'd like to kill me wouldn't you.
- Mr. O'Brien: You know Jack, all I ever wanted for you was to make you strong and grow up and be your own boss. Maybe I've been tough on you. I'm not proud of that.
- Young Jack: I'm as bad as you are. I'm more like you than her.
- Mr. O'Brien: It was about all I've done in life, otherwise I've drawn a zilch. You're all I have, you're all I want to have. My sweet boy.