Chances are, you probably already know some famous Ferris Bueller quotes from the John Hughes film, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Ferris Bueller and his crew were full of insight, sarcasm, youth, and more. They made us laugh, they made us think, they even taught us how to play hooky from high school. Here are some of the best Ferris Bueller quotes that have made the 1986 film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off so timeless.
NERD NOTE: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off opened in theaters on June 15, 1986, and grossed $6,275,647 on its first weekend. The film’s budget was only $6,000,000. It went on to earn a cumulative worldwide gross of $70,136,369.
“Life Moves Pretty Fast” – The Most Famous Ferris Bueller Quote
Here’s the famous Ferris Bueller life quote that you probably didn’t know came from this movie. Ferris was very insightful when he dropped this bomb of wisdom on us. Hurry up and(Amazon link) stitch it on a pillow.
- Ferris: Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
“So THAT’s how it is in their family”
Ferris has big plans for his day off but first he needs to help his girlfriend Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara) escape from school.
- (Ferris kisses Sloan passionately while posing as her father)
- Ed Rooney: So THAT’s how it is in their family…
“What Aren’t We Going To Do?”
- Ferris Bueller: The question isn’t ‘What are we going to do,’ the question is ‘what aren’t we going to do.
“Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?” – Famous Ferris Bueller Quotes
Have you ever tried to talk to someone who just wasn’t listening? Then you found yourself asking, “Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?” in a monotone voice? You can thank Ferris Bueller’s economics teacher, played by comedian Ben Stein, for this famous quote. Stein had a degree in Economics and was instructed by director John Hughes to give an actual Economics lecture in his classroom scenes. While calling roll call in class, Stein’s attempts to locate Ferris Bueller in class resulted in the most famous roll-call moment in history.
- Economics Teacher: Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?
- Simone: Um, he’s sick. My best friend’s sister’s boyfriend’s brother’s girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who’s going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it’s pretty serious.
- Economics Teacher: Thank you, Simone.
- Simone: No problem whatsoever.
“Pucker Up Buttercup”
- Ed Rooney: Ed Rooney.
- Cameron: (Disguising voice as Cameron’s father, George Peterson) Ed. This is George Peterson.
- Ed Rooney: How are you today, sir?
- Cameron: (Voice disguised) Well, we’ve had a bit of bad luck this morning as you may have heard.
- Ed Rooney: Yeah I heard, and man, I’m all broken up, boy, what a blow.
- Cameron: (Disguised) Yeah. Yeah. Well, uh, it’s been a tough morning and we got a lot of family business to take care of, so if you wouldn’t mind excusing Sloane, I’d appreciate it.
- Ed Rooney: Uh, yeah, sure, no I’d be happy to, yeah you, uh, you just produce a corpse, and uh, I’ll release Sloane. I wanna see this dead grandmother first hand.
- Grace: Ed?
- Ed Rooney: It’s alright, Grace, it’s Ferris Bueller the little twerp. I’m gonna set a trap and let him fall right in it.
- Grace: Ooh!
- Cameron: (Disguised) I’m sorry, Ed, did you say you wanted to see a body?
- Ed Rooney: Yeah, that’s right, just, uh, roll her old bones on over here, and I’ll dig up your daughter. You know that’s school policy.
- Cameron: (Disguised) Oh.
- Ed Rooney: Was this your mother?
- Cameron: (Disguised) Uh, no my wife’s mother.
- Grace: (Picks up ringing phone) Ed Rooney’s office.
- Ferris: Hi this is Ferris Bueller, can I speak to Mr. Rooney, please? Thank you.
- Grace: (Caught off-guard) Uh… hold.
- Ed Rooney: Tell ya what, dipshit. If you don’t like my policies you can come on down here and smooch my big ole’ white butt.
- Grace: ED!
- Ed Rooney: Pucker up buttercup.
- Ed Rooney: What?
- Grace: Ferris Bueller is on line 2. (Ed is stunned speechless as he realizes his mistake)
“How can I possibly be expected to handle school on a day like this?”
Out of all of the famous Ferris Bueller quotes, this one is relatable to both kids and adults. Ferris pulls back the shades on his window, looks outside at the beautiful blue sky, and then says…
- Ferris Bueller: “How can I possibly be expected to handle school on a day like this?”
European Socialism & Fascism
- Ferris: I do have a test today… It’s on European socialism. I mean, really, what’s the point? I’m not European. I don’t plan on being European. So, who gives a crap if they’re socialists? They could be fascist anarchists. It still doesn’t change the fact that I don’t own a car.
“A person should not believe in an -ism, he should believe in himself.”
- Ferris: Not that I condone fascism or any -ism for that matter. -Ism’s in my opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an -ism, he should believe in himself. I quote John Lennon, “I don’t believe in Beatles, I just believe in me.” Good point there. After all, he was the walrus. I could be the walrus. I’d still have to bum rides off people.
“If you stuck a lump of coal up his ass, in two weeks, you’d have a diamond.”
Ferris knew how to describe his friends, well, lyrically. This quote is about his best friend Cameron Frye (Alan Ruck).
- Ferris: Pardon my French, but Cameron is so tight that if you stuck a lump of coal up his ass, in two weeks you’d have a diamond.
“It Is His Fault He Didn’t Lock The Garage”
For his big day off, Ferris doesn’t want to take the bus or bum rides. They need a car and not just any car. They need a car with style. Luckily Cameron’s dad has just the vehicle. And the best part, his dad forgot to lock the garage.
- Cameron: The 1961 Ferrari 250GT California. Less than a hundred were made. My father spent three years restoring this car. It is his love, it is his passion.
- Ferris: It’s his fault he didn’t lock the garage.
It’s a good point, but we bet Cameron’s dad, owner of the famous, red 1961 Ferrari 250GT California, wouldn’t agree with this rationalization on why they should be allowed to drive his fine automobile.
The 20 Best Ferris Bueller Quotes From Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Share on X“We’ll Drive Home Backward”
Maybe if Ferris would’ve attended a driver’s ed class or two, he wouldn’t have said the following lines to Cameron.
- Ferris: Look, it’s really simple. Whatever mileage we put on, we’ll take off.
- Cameron: How?
- Ferris: We’ll drive home backward.
That’s not how that works, Ferris. Ferris likes to cut class, but apparently he skipped driver’s education one too many times.
“Here’s where Cameron goes berserk.”
- (The guys just notice the “additional miles” on the car)
- Ferris: (To the audience) Here’s where Cameron goes berserk.
- Cameron: Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!
- (Cameron’s screams can be heard all across Chicago)
“It’s A Little Childish And Stupid, But Then, So Is High School.”
This whole movie happened because Ferris Bueller faked a stomach cramp, leaned over, and licked his hands — making them clammy. This simple ruse tricked his nervous mother into letting him stay home from high school, for the 9th time that semester.
- Ferris: (After his parents leave the house, thinking he is ill) They bought it. Incredible! One of the worst performances of my career and they never doubted it for a second. How could I possibly be expected to handle school on a day like this? This is my ninth sick day this semester. It’s getting pretty tough coming up with new illnesses. If I go for ten, I’m probably gonna have to barf up a lung, so I’d better make this one count. The key to faking out the parents is the clammy hands. It’s a good non-specific symptom. I’m a big believer in it. A lot of people will tell you that a good phony fever is a dead lock, but, uh, you get a nervous mother, you could wind up in a doctor’s office. That’s worse than school. You fake a stomach cramp, and when you’re bent over, moaning and wailing, you lick your palms. It’s a little childish and stupid, but then, so is high school.
“The Place Is Like A Museum” – Cameron’s House
If you’ve ever been to someone’s house that feels sterile and un-lived in, then this quote probably made you chuckle.
- Ferris: (Describing Cameron Frye’s house) The place is like a museum. It’s very beautiful and very cold, and you’re not allowed to touch anything.
“Oh, he’s very popular Ed. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads – they all adore him. They think he’s a righteous dude.”
- Ed Rooney: I don’t trust this kid any further than I can throw him.
- Grace: Well, with your bad knee Ed, you shouldn’t throw anybody… It’s true.
- Ed Rooney: What is so dangerous about a character like Ferris Bueller is he gives good kids bad ideas.
- Grace: Mmm-hmm.
- Ed Rooney: Last thing I need at this point in my career is fifteen hundred Ferris Bueller disciples running around these halls. He jeopardizes my ability to effectively govern this student body.
- Grace: Well, makes you look like an ass is what he does, Ed.
- Ed Rooney: Thank you, Grace. I think you’re wrong.
- Grace: Oh, he’s very popular Ed. The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads – they all adore him. They think he’s a righteous dude.
- Ed Rooney: That is why I have got to catch him this time – To show these kids the example he sets is a first-class ticket to nowhere! (He hands Grace some papers)
- Grace: Oh, Ed, you sounded like Dirty Harry just then.
- Ed Rooney: Really?
- Grace: Uh-huh
- Ed Rooney: (Scoffs lightly) Thanks, Grace.
“Your Ass Is Mine”
Principle Rooney knows Ferris Bueller is up to something, but he can’t prove it. In his quest to bust Ferris, he goes berserk and starts looking for him everywhere in town, including a local arcade.
- Ed Rooney: Les jeux sont faits. Translation: the game is up. Your ass is mine.
“You’re Not Dying, You Just Can’t Think Of Anything Good To Do.” – Tough Love For His Best Friend
Cameron didn’t exactly want to be a part of Ferris’ hooky adventure. But Ferris convinced him with such quotes as, “You’re not dying, you just can’t think of anything good to do.” And Ferris was probably right.
- Cameron: (Whispering to himself after hanging up from a phone call with Ferris) I’m dying.
- (Phone rings, and Cameron answers)
- Ferris: (Over the phone) You’re not dying, you just can’t think of anything good to do.
“You Can Never Go Too Far”
This quote is the type of ideal that got him and his comrades into their adventure in the first place. When Ferris tries to get a table for lunch at a posh restaurant, he pretends to be Abe Froman, the sausage king of Chicago.
- Cameron: Okay Ferris, can we just let it go, please?
- Sloane: Ferris, please. You’ve gone too far. We’re going to get busted.
- Ferris: A) You can never go too far. B) If I’m gonna get busted, it is not gonna be by a guy like that.
“Oh, You Know Him?”
Principle Rooney isn’t the only person in the movie after Ferris Bueller. His sister, Jeannie (Jennifer Grey) is also out to get him but her quest to bust Ferris gets her in trouble with the Police. It’s a great scene that features a cameo by Charlie Sheen. To help prepare for his role, Sheen stayed up for 2 days straight. That exhausted drugged-out look that he has in the scene is real.
- Boy In Police Station: You wear too much eye makeup. My sister wears too much. People think she’s a whore.
- Jeannie: (Gives him a dirty look)
- Boy In Police Station: You don’t want to talk about your problem?
- Jeannie: With you? Are you serious?
- Boy In Police Station: I’m serious.
- Jeannie: Blow yourself.
- Boy In Police Station: (Looks down at his crotch)
- Jeannie: Alright, you want to know what’s wrong?
- Boy In Police Station: I know what’s wrong. I just want to hear you say it.
- Jeannie: In a nutshell, I hate my brother. How’s that?
- Boy In Police Station: That’s cool. Did you blow him away or something?
- Jeannie: No, not yet. I went home to confirm that he was ditching school. And when I was there, a guy broke into the house. I called the cops. And they picked me up for making a phony phone call.
- Boy In Police Station: What do you care if your brother ditches school?
- Jeannie: Why should he get to ditch when everybody else has to go?
- Boy In Police Station: You could ditch.
- Jeannie: Yeah, I’d get caught.
- Boy In Police Station: I see. You’re pissed off because he ditches and doesn’t get caught? Is that it?
- Jeannie: Basically.
- Boy In Police Station: Basically… Then your problem is you.
- Jeannie: Excuse me?
- Boy In Police Station: Excuse you. You should spend a little more time dealing with yourself and a little less time worrying about what your brother does. That’s just an opinion.
- Jeannie: What are you, a psychiatrist?
- Boy In Police Station: No.
- Jeannie: Then why don’t you keep your opinions to yourself?
- Boy In Police Station: There’s somebody you should talk to.
- Jeannie: (Pauses) If you say “Ferris Bueller,” you lose a testicle.
- Boy In Police Station: Oh, you know him.
- Jeannie: (Makes a fist)
“You’re Still Here? It’s Over!”
It’s common nowadays for movies to have creative closing credit sequences or special content after the credits. But in 1986, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was one of the first movies ever to integrate content into the credits.
- Ferris: (After the end credits) … You’re still here? It’s over!
The Inspiration For Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Did you know that the script for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was written in only 6 days? Director John Hughes wrote it mid-writers-strike in the early 1980s and made sure to include lots of memorable Ferris Bueller quotes. His idea was simple, “I want to do this movie about a kid who takes a day off from school and… that’s all I know so far.” The result was this classic teen comedy that we all know and love. And of course, the story takes place in Hughes’ favorite fictional town of Shermer, Illinois.
NERD NOTE: Director John Hughes offered Bill Paxton the garage attendant role in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off after working with him on Weird Science (1985). However, Paxton thought that the role was too small and turned him down. Hughes didn’t take the news well and never offered Paxton another role in one of his projects. Paxton said it was one of the biggest regrets of his career.
Ferris Bueller 2 – The Controversial Sequel That Never Happened
Unfortunately, there won’t be a Ferris Bueller 2. The idea of a Ferris Bueller sequel had been discussed for years, but it was eventually dropped. Matthew Broderick was presented with ideas about Ferris in college, or on the job somewhere, but ultimately, he felt that the film didn’t need a sequel. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was about a specific time and place that we’d all like to revisit, but it didn’t need updating.
Matthew Broderick did, however, did do a Ferris Bueller Super Bowl commercial in 2012 for the Honda CR-V. That’s as close as we’ll ever get to Ferris Bueller 2.
Famous Quotes From Ferris Bueller
Were you surprised to discover that you already knew some of these Ferris Bueller quotes? This movie about three friends was loved and adored by millions of kids — and adults too. Decades after its release, it’s still getting quoted today. Whether you’re dropping a “Bueller?” on your friend or contemplating how life passes by in the blink of an eye, it’s fun to sneak in some Ferris Bueller quotes into daily conversation.
Thanks for reading our list of famous Ferris Bueller quotes! If we missed any of your favorite Ferris Bueller’s Day Off quotes, then please let us know in the comments.
The Best Ferris Bueller Quotes From Ferris Bueller's Day Off ... #FerrisBueller #FerrisBuellersDayOff #FerrisBuellerQuotes Share on XRelated Articles:
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Frank Wilson is a retired teacher with over 30 years of combined experience in the education, small business technology, and real estate business. He now blogs as a hobby and spends most days tinkering with old computers. Wilson is passionate about tech, enjoys fishing, and loves drinking beer.
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