The Graduate Quotes

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Source: The Graduate

Speaker: Ben Braddock

Are you trying to seduce me, Mrs. Robinson?

Context

This misquoted line is spoken by Ben Braddock, played by Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate, directed by Mike Nichols (1967).

When Mrs. Robinson (played by Anne Bancroft) wants something, she gets it. And when she wants Ben Braddock, she goes for it. She's not subtle, posing seductively with her short, short skirt.

Most people must have been too busy ogling the gams—like Ben—in order to get the line right. He actually says, "Mrs. Robinson you're trying to seduce me. Aren't you?" not "Are you trying to seduce me, Mrs. Robinson?" But we can't blame people. We would be distracted too.

Where you've heard it

You've heard this if someone is trying to seduce you, even if that person isn't as glamorous as Anne Bancroft (i.e., everyone else on the planet).

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

This misquote is a little more pretentious than the original one, if only because it makes Ben sound a little more arrogant than the original, which is flirty and fun.