It’s one of the most famous lines in cinema, and 30 years later it continues to inspire us.

From William Wallace’s rousing speech to the Battle of Stirling with Brave Heart, Rocky Balboa’s moving life lessons, Robin Williams’ philosophical principles in Dead Poets’ Circle or Gandalf’s stimulating tirades in The Lord of the Rings. Cinema is full of inspirational lines that, many years after we heard them resonate in cinemas, still motivate us today.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis in 1994 and voted the best feature film of all time by AlloCiné viewers, Forrest Gump is a veritable gold mine in the field. This unforgettable American mural, which depicts the recent history of the United States from the point of view of its extraordinary hero, spoken in dozens of small fragments by Tom Hanks throughout the film, is especially memorable thanks to his lines.

“only stupidity is stupidity”, “The best thing about meeting the President of the United States is the food”, “You have to leave the past behind if you want to move forward.”etc.

Deep, funny or poignant, often inspired by the words of Forrest Gump’s mother, the lines of dialogue in the film are among those quotes that still make us smile and that sometimes even help us get up in the morning.

But the most famous line happens at the very beginning of the film. At exactly 3 minutes and 40 seconds, while he is sitting on a bench waiting for the bus and chatting with his neighbor, Forrest tells him:

“Mother always said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.’

“Life is like a box of chocolates.”

This simple but very powerful little phrase, parodied and referred to many times in the future, has established itself over time as one of the most famous quotes in cinema.

In addition to its great effectiveness and pleasant sound, which allows it to leave an indelible mark in the memory of the audience, its popularity probably stems from the fact that it perfectly reflects Forrest’s personality: its apparent simplicity actually hides an incredible depth.

Indeed, behind these few naïve and childish words, there is a sadness against expulsion, against the breaking of routine, against believing in the future again and against all hope.

Only in the last part of the film, in a flashback scenario where Forrest is at the bedside of his sick mother, do we really understand the meaning and context of this famous sentence.

Fortune and chocolates

“I believe that each of us creates our own destiny. We must do the best we can with what God has given us.”– says Forrest’s mother to her son.

“What is my fate?”– the latter asks him. At this point, his mother responds by declaring the line:

“You’ll have to find out for yourself. Life is a box of chocolates, Forrest. You never know what you’re going to get.”

With these few words, which gave him the strength and courage to move forward without looking back, Forrest was able to participate in the founding of the Apple company, found his beloved Jenny, crossed the length and breadth of the United States for three years. Getting married and raising a child without stopping.

(Re)discover all the hidden details of ‘Forrest Gump’…