Six Feet Under Quotes

Rico: I think we're all in shock. Three years ago we prayed for Nate's life, and we thought our prayers were answered. Now we have to pray for help making sense of this loss. Because … we've lost a lot. A son, a father, a brother, a husband, a colleague … to me, an inspiration. He had a natural sense. He had a natural sense of what to say to people when they were grieving. And I just think he'd know what to say to help us if only he were here.

TV Show: Six Feet Under
David: I'm David Fisher, and Nate was my big brother. When we were kids, I used to get picked on at school. I'd come home with my face or my pride bruised, and Nate would make me tell him who did it, and he'd go talk to whoever was tormenting me, and I'd be fine … until it happened again. So Nate came up with another strategy. He said, "When they start in on you, just laugh, laugh at them. Even if they hit you, laugh." Well, I could never pull that off. But that was Nate. He could laugh at anything, and people were always drawn to him because he could make the best of the worst situation. Even when life hit him, it couldn't ki– [chokes]

TV Show: Six Feet Under
George: This is a hard day, and we're all very upset. The loss of a young person is always a terrible blow. But in this case, it's even more cruel because Nate was an idealist, and he struggled, all through his life, to be a good man. He wasn't perfect; but then, who among us is? And he never gave up on himself, the people he loved, or even love itself, in all its vexing, beautiful forms.

TV Show: Six Feet Under
Nate: [as imagined by Brenda] I'm just saying you only get one life. There's no God, no rules, no judgments, except for those you accept or create for yourself. And once it's over, it's over. Dreamless sleep forever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here. Really. Why not?

TV Show: Six Feet Under
David: I have a fucking husband, Rico, and I have two children! When are you going to realize that I'm a human being just like you? When? When?

TV Show: Six Feet Under
Claire: Dozens of fucking Iraqis are still dying every day, the whole world hates us for going in there in the first place, and terrorists are still gonna be blowing shit up in this country for the next hundred years! And the best thing she could think of to do about it is put that sticker on that enormous shitbox!
David: [to Ted] Take her inside!
Rico: [to Mrs. Duncan while ushering her to the SUV away from Claire] There has been a death in the family recently. I am so, so sorry.
Claire: [running up to Mrs. Duncan's daughter] You know, they still bring the wounded soldiers back at night, so the press can't even film it and nobody sees. American soldiers are still getting fucked up every day, and they don't even tell us. [Mrs. Duncan's daughter runs in the car to get away.] So it's all so you could put gas in this enormous fucking car of yours to keep everybody feeling really fucking American! Such a bunch of shit!
Rico: Claire, shut the hell up! Her brother just died, damn it!
Claire: [quietly] I'm sorry.

TV Show: Six Feet Under
[David is putting stitches on the corpse of Paul Duncan, a triple amputee Iraq war vet, in the embalming room.]
Paul Duncan: You're gonna die, David. Just like Nate, just like your dad, just like everybody.
David: I am aware of the reality of death. I work with it every day.
Paul Duncan: You're scared. You're more scared now than you've ever been in your life. You thought you knew what fear was when Jake poured gas all over your head, but this? This simple, unavoidable fact that you're alive and alone and you'll be dead, gone.
David Stop it.
Paul Duncan: You'll never see Keith after that, you'll never see your boys.
David: Shut up!

TV Show: Six Feet Under
Claire: Why did you have to die? It really sucks. Everything's unraveling since you're gone.
Nate: That's not true.
Claire: It feels that way. I miss you. I miss you so fucking much!
Nate: I miss you, too.
Claire: You know how I always used to tell you you weren't Dad, after Dad died? It was such a waste of time thinking that way.
Nate: No, it's just part of how you dealt with it. It kept you from missing Dad so much.
Claire: No, it kept me from ever knowing you as much as I really could have, and now you are so completely fucking gone! It's just …
Nate: Claire –
Claire: What? It sucks!
Nate: Stop listening to the static.
Claire: What the fuck does that mean?
Nate: Nothing. It just means that everything in the world is like this transmission, making its way across the dark. But everything – death, life, everything – it's all completely suffused with static. [makes static sounds] You know? But if you listen to the static too much, it fucks you up.
Claire: Are you high?
Nate: I am actually, yeah, quite high.

TV Show: Six Feet Under
David: We've been clutching so desperately to the past, and for what?
Ruth: Because that's when there was hope.

TV Show: Six Feet Under
Margaret: Ruth, it isn't the '50s any more. No matter how you dress.

TV Show: Six Feet Under
Man: Claire? Hi, this is Gavin at New Image. And I hate to be the one to tell you this, but New Image has been bought by stock options and they're consolidating their operations, and … well, they're in Chicago, so I hope you haven't headed out here yet. Sorry.
Nate: Aw, who cares? Go anyway.
Claire: What, are you crazy? I'm gonna move to New York City without a job?
Nate: Mom gave you the money. You're gonna land somewhere. You'll be fine. You're talented, you're smart. You're ready.
Claire: What if I'm not?
Nate: Claire, you want to know a secret? I spent my whole life being scared. Scared of not being ready, of not being right of not being who I should be. And where did it get me?
Claire: What should I tell everyone tonight?
Nate: Nothing! You can't stay here!

TV Show: Six Feet Under
Claire: Mom.
Ruth: My sweet baby girl … don't let them work you too hard at your new job.
Claire: I won't. Mom, I really hope you can come and visit.
Ruth: I'll try. Oh, Claire. I pray you'll be filled with hope for as long as you possibly can.
Claire: Thank you for everything and thank you for giving me life.
Ruth: You gave me life.
Claire: Oh, my God, I don't wanna go.

TV Show: Six Feet Under
Claire: Oh, I wanna take a picture of everyone.
Nate: You can't take a picture of this. It's already gone.

TV Show: Six Feet Under