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10 Memorable Quotes from Lee Daniels' The Butler

These quotes show the trajectories of the characters' stories throughout the film, explore the emotional landscape of their respective journeys and articulate the historical context of the film.
Compiled by Prasanna Ranganathan for OWNers
“I never dreamed I could work in a place like this."– Cecil Gaines
Illustration by Amelia Kieras
“You hear nothing. You see nothing. You only serve.” – Freddie Fallows (White House maitre d’)
Illustration by Amelia Kieras
“I’m working for the white man to make things better for us.” – Cecil Gaines
Illustration by Amelia Kieras
“If I can’t sit at any lunch counter I want, I might as well be dead.” – Louis Gaines (Cecil Gaines' son)
Illustration by Amelia Kieras
“The whole world was changing and I didn’t know how I fit in.” – Cecil Gaines
Illustration by Amelia Kieras
“Everything you are and everything you have is because of that butler.” – Gloria Gaines (Cecil Gaines' wife) to Louis
Illustration by Amelia Kieras
“Vietnam took my boy and I didn’t understand why we were there in the first place.” – Cecil Gaines
Illustration by Amelia Kieras
“I’m going to have to be paid the same as the white help or I’ll be moving on.” – Cecil Gaines
Illustration by Amelia Kieras
“I could see the two faces the butler wore to serve and I knew I lived my life by those two faces.” – Cecil Gaines (at a state dinner)
Illustration by Amelia Kieras
“I never thought I would see a black man as a real contender for President of the United States.” – Cecil Gaines
Illustration by Amelia Kieras
Published 08/20/2013
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