How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from American Beauty.
Quote #7
CAROLYN: Now listen to me. This is an important business function. As you know, my business is selling an image, and part of my job is to live that image…
Here, Carolyn and Lester are walking into one of her work functions, and she's trying to get him on board with playing the perfect couple. She claims "image" is a big part of her business, so she expects him to play ball. When she later scolds him for being "weird," he sarcastically says he'll just be whatever she wants him to be.
Quote #8
ANGELA: Well, your mom's the one who's embarrassing. What a phony.
Jane is embarrassed by her dad's clear interest in Angela, but Angela helpfully points out that Carolyn is actually pretty mortifying, too, since she's aggressively superficial and fake. Not a very nice thing to say to a friend who's already upset, but Angela isn't wrong…
Quote #9
BUDDY: Well, call me crazy, but it is my philosophy that in order to be successful, one must project an image of success at all times.
Looks like Carolyn has finally found her spirit animal in Buddy, who spouts off the same philosophy of "fake it 'til you make it" that Carolyn has been trying to use in her own life. Once he says that, you can tell Carolyn is completely smitten.