Driving Miss Daisy Friendship Quotes

How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Driving Miss Daisy.

Quote #1

HOKE: You know, I think you're the best widow in the state of Georgia.

Hoke compliments Daisy for taking such good care of her husband's grave. There they are at the cemetery together, planting flowers and looking after Mr. Sig. Daisy returns the compliment by assuring Hoke that he can learn to read and giving him his first lesson. It's a friendly scene for sure, but Hoke's only there because he drove her there.

Quote #2

DAISY: I was thinking about the first time I went to Mobile. It was Walter's wedding. 1888.

HOKE: 1888! You were nothing but a little bitty thing.

DAISY: I was 12. We went on the train. Oh, I was so excited. I'd never been in a wedding party. And I'd never seen the ocean. Papa said it was the Gulf of Mexico, not the ocean, but it was all the same to me. I asked Papa if it was all right for me to dip my hand in the water. He laughed because I was so timid. And then I tasted the salt water on my fingers. Isn't that a silly thing to remember?

HOKE: No sillier than what most folks remember.

Another friendly exchange. Daisy confides a memory that we sense she might not have ever shared with anyone before. You can see their relationship deepening, at least from Daisy's side.

Quote #3

HOKE: Invitation to this here dinner come in the mail a month ago. Now, if did be you wanted me to go with you, how come you wait till we in the car and on the way before you asked me? […] Well, next time you want me to go somewhere, you ask me regular.

Even though Miss Daisy and Hoke are friendly, you can see the limits of the relationship. She's still not ready to cross that line of being seen with a black man in public as an equal, regardless of her warm feelings for him.