How we cite our quotes: All quotes are from The Sixth Sense.
Quote #1
VINCENT: Do you know why you're afraid when you're alone? I do. I do.
This is as close as Vincent gets to telling Malcolm what's really wrong with him. Is the film saying that if you don't express your deepest fears, it can eventually kill you? Hint: yes.
Quote #2
VINCENT: I was afraid! You told me I was having trouble coping with my parents' divorce. You were wrong. You were wrong. Now look at me! I don't want to be afraid no more.
Vincent decides that killing himself is the only way out of his misery. That motivates Malcolm to get Cole to talk about his fears so he won't meet the same fate. Cole already hates himself, so that's a realistic concern. Plus, Malcolm has seen the scratches on Cole's arms and probably suspects they're self-inflicted.
Quote #3
COLE: We were supposed to draw a picture. Anything we wanted. I drew a man. He got hurt in the neck by another man with a screwdriver.
MALCOLM: You saw that on TV, Cole?
COLE: Everyone got upset. They had a meeting. Mom started crying. I don't draw like that anymore.
MALCOLM: How do you draw now?
COLE: I draw people smiling, dogs running, rainbows. They don't have meetings about rainbows.
Cole's experience is scaring the heck out of everyone in his life because they don't know what's going on. Although they might be even more scared if he does tell them.
Quote #4
MR. CUNNINGHAM: This whole building was full of lawyers, lawmakers.
COLE: They were the ones that hanged everybody.
MR. CUNNINGHAM: I don't know which one of these guys told you that, but they were just trying to scare you.
Mr. Cunningham assumes Cole got this story from the bullies at school. Little does he know that Cole's schoolmates are the least of his scary problems. Living with these terrifying images is Cole's "normal."
Quote #5
COLE: If you're not very mad, can I sleep in your bed tonight?
LYNN: Look at my face. I'm not very mad. Baby, why are you shaking? Cole, what's wrong? Oh, God, please tell me! Oh, please.
Who's more scared here?
Quote #6
MALCOLM: What do you think these ghosts want when they talk to you? I want you to think about it, Cole. I want you to think about it really carefully. What do you think they want?
COLE: Just help.
MALCOLM: That's right. That's what I think too. They just want help, even the scary ones. I think I might know a way to make them go away.
Turns out, maybe all they need is someone to listen? Malcolm's pushing the idea that you only fear what you can't understand.
Quote #7
LYNN: Cole, you're scaring me.
COLE: They scare me too sometimes.
LYNN: They?
COLE: Ghosts.
LYNN: You see ghosts, Cole?
Admitting this to his mom is the bravest thing Cole has done so far, even more than facing his dead pals. His biggest fear has been losing her love, and he finally finds the courage to tell her his secrets.