“To Be Or Not To Be...” quotes from Dawson's Creek

Jack

[His Poem] Today. Today was a day. The world got smaller, darker. I grew more afraid. Not of what I am but of what... I grew more afraid. Not of what I am but of what I could be. I loosen my collar to take a breath. My eyes fade. And I see... Him. The image of perfection. His frame strong. His lips smooth. And I keep thinking. What am I so scared of... I wish I could escape the pain, but these thoughts invade my head. Bound to my memory, they're like shackles of guilt. Oh God, please set me free...

Pacey

[To Mr. Peterson] What is it about you that gets off on tormenting your students? Because let me tell you, they may all live in fear of you, but I don't. I see you and your miserable scare tactics for what they really are; the misguided lashings of a bitter, lonely old man who only feels good when someone else in the room feels worse.

Pacey

This isn't fair.

Fairness is overrated.

Pacey

I want to say that I am more ashamed of what I did in that classroom yesterday than I have ever done in my life. It was flat wrong and I have no case here. And I'm sorry, for the event. But not now, not ever, will I ever be apologetic for its intention. Every day, we, the students of Capeside, come to a place where you guys are in charge. You tell us when to arrive, when to leave, when to move rooms, when to eat. You tell us when we're doing well, when we need to be doing better and we never ever question it because we're afraid to. To question it is to go against the belief that the entire system is built upon, the belief that you guys know what's right, and I'm not afraid to tell you that what happened in that classroom yesterday was not right. To make a student cry, to embarrass him, to strip him of his dignity in front of the entire class is not right. While I do respect the system I do not respect men like you, Mr. Peterson. I don't, I can't, and I never will.