39 'Before Sunrise' Quotes that Explore Life's Grand Mysteries

Exploring life's mysteries and seeking answers is a common pursuit, yet finding quick answers remains elusive for many. The film "Before Sunrise" beautifully encapsulates these existential dilemmas. Discover these 39 thought-provoking quotes.

"Before Sunrise" is a captivating romantic drama directed by Richard Linklater. The classic movie, released in 1995, follows the story of Jesse, an American traveler, and Celine, a French student.

Fate intertwines their paths on a European train, leading them to impulsively share a single night in Vienna before Jesse's departure. They fearlessly delve into life's biggest quandaries: love, mortality, and the intricacies of relationships.

Their conversations become profound and explore themes of fragility, vulnerability, and the passage of time. In this whirlwind encounter, their connection transcends time, leaving an indelible mark on both lives. Here are their pearls of wisdom.

Céline's quote: "It fascinates me how a single place can join so much pain and happiness for so many generations." | Source: AmoDays

Best Quotes in 'Before Sunrise'

"Life's hard. It's supposed to be. If we didn't suffer, we'd never learn anything." — "Before Sunrise"

"Happiness is in doing, not in getting what you want." — "Before Sunrise"

"Isn't everything we do in life a way to be loved a little more?" — "Before Sunrise"

"Like sunlight, sunset, we appear, we disappear. We are so important to some, but we are just passing through." — "Before Sunrise"

Jesse's quote: "People have these romantic projections they put on everything. That's not based on any kind of reality." | Source: AmoDays

"I feel really alive when I want something more than just basic survival needs." — "Before Sunrise"

"We all see the world through our own tiny keyhole." — "Before Sunrise"

"Not knowing is not so bad. I mean, the point is to be looking, searching, to stay hungry, right?" — "Before Sunrise"

"I believe if there's any kind of god, it wouldn't be in any of us, not you or me, but just this little space in between." — "Before Sunrise"

Jesse's quote: "I can never get very excited about other people's ambitions for my life." | Source: AmoDays

"It's like our time together is just ours. It's our own creation. It must be like I'm in your dream, and you're in mine or something." — "Before Sunrise"

"You can never replace anyone because everyone is made up of such beautiful specific details." — "Before Sunrise"

"There's gotta be something more to love than commitment." — "Before Sunrise"

"You're just like the little girls and everybody else. You wanna live inside some fairytale." — "Before Sunrise"

"Before Sunrise" quote: "We all see the world through our own tiny keyhole." | Source: AmoDays

"If you want true love, then this is it. This is real life. It's not perfect, but it's real." — "Before Sunrise"

"I hate that the medias, ya know, they are trying to control minds." — "Before Sunrise"

Céline's Quotes in 'Before Sunrise' That Inspire Deep Thinking

"If there's any kind of magic in this world it must be in the attempt of understanding someone sharing something. I know, it's almost impossible to succeed but who cares really? The answer must be in the attempt." — Céline

"I always feel this pressure of being a strong and independent icon of womanhood, and without making it look my whole life is revolving around some guy." — Céline

"I feel really alive when I want something more than just basic survival needs." | Source: AmoDays

"When you talked earlier about after a few years how a couple would begin to hate each other by anticipating their reactions or getting tired of their mannerisms-I think it would be the opposite for me." — Céline

"You know, I have this awful paranoid thought that feminism was mostly invented by men so that they could like, fool around a little more." — Céline

"I used to think that if none of your family or friends knew you were dead, it was like not really being dead. People can invent the best and the worst for you." — Céline

"Even though I reject most of the religious things, I can't help but feeling for all those people that come here lost or in pain, guilt, looking for some kind of answers." — Céline

"Before Sunrise" quote: "You're just like the little girls and everybody else. You wanna live inside some fairytale." | Source: AmoDays

"It fascinates me how a single place can join so much pain and happiness for so many generations." — Céline

"Each time I wear black, or like, lose my temper, or say anything about anything, you know, they always go, 'Oh it's so French. It's so cute.' Ugh! I hate that!" — Céline

"It's just... it's depressing, no? That the...the only thing we're gonna think of is when we're gonna have to say goodbye tomorrow." — Céline

Jesse's Impactful Quotes from 'Before Sunrise'

"Listen, if somebody gave me the choice right now, of to never see you again or to marry you, alright, I would marry you, alright. And maybe that's a lot of romantic bullshit, but people have gotten married for a lot less." — Jesse

"Before Sunrise" quote: "There's gotta be something more to love than commitment." | Source: AmoDays

"Sometimes I dream about being a good father and a good husband. And sometimes, it feels really close. But then other times it seems silly like it would ruin my whole life." — Jesse

"I know what you mean about wishing somebody wasn't there, though. It's just usually it's myself that I wish I could get away from." — Jesse

"I can never get very excited about other people's ambitions for my life." — Jesse

"You know what drives me crazy? It's all these people talking about how great technology is, and how it saves all this time." — Jesse

"Before Sunrise" quote: "I hate that the medias, ya know, they are trying to control minds." | Source: AmoDays

"I want to keep talking to you, y'know. I have no idea what your situation is, but, uh, but I feel like we have some kind of, uh, connection." — Jesse

"People have these romantic projections they put on everything. That's not based on any kind of reality." — Jesse

"Before Sunrise" quote: "Happiness is in doing, not in getting what you want." | Source: AmoDays

"I kind of see this all love as this, escape for two people who don't know how to be alone." — Jesse

"People always talk about how love is this totally unselfish, giving thing, but if you think about it, there's nothing more selfish." — Jesse

"Before Sunrise" quote: "If you want true love, then this is it. This is real life. It's not perfect, but it's real." | Source: AmoDays

"Before Sunrise" reminds people to take a moment to ponder the profound intricacies of our existence as human beings, cherish the deep connections we forge with others, and acknowledge how they shape our lives in meaningful ways.

By embracing flaws and complexities, one can eventually unlock the potential for personal growth and gain a genuine appreciation for the multifaceted tapestry of our human experience.

Actors Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy played Jesse and Céline in the romantic flick, respectively. To give you another dose of deep thinking, here are quotes from "Blade Runner," starring Ryan Gosling, that will make you ponder even further.