How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from The Graduate.
Quote #1
BENJAMIN: So you don't love him. You wouldn't say you –
MRS. ROBINSON: We've talked enough, Benjamin.
BENJAMIN: Wait a minute. So you wouldn't say you loved him.
MRS. ROBINSON: Not exactly.
BENJAMIN: But you don't hate him.
MRS. ROBINSON: No, Benjamin. I don't hate him. Unhook my blouse.
Mrs. Robinson's marriage lacks emotion, and is pretty short on sex, too. But she doesn't want a serious emotional relationship with Ben, either. It's completely about sex. She's in a pretty sad situation, really—devoid of love and not really all that interested in finding it. This is the kind of sterile life Benjamin dreads.
Quote #2
BENJAMIN: You're the first thing for so long that I like, the first person I could stand to be with.
Elaine shakes Ben out of his inertia. Suddenly, he realizes what he wants to do with his future—sort of. He wants to marry Elaine. Is he grabbing onto the first thing he likes and calling it love? Being "the first person I could stand to be with" sets the bar pretty low for a relationship, dontcha think?
Quote #3
BENJAMIN: Listen to me. What happened between Mrs. Robinson and me was nothing. It didn't mean anything. We might just as well have been shaking hands.
MR. ROBINSON: Shaking hands? Well, that's not saying much for my wife, is it?
BENJAMIN: The point is I don't love your wife, I love your daughter, sir.
This has to be the most awkward possible exchange between a possible future son-in-law and father-in-law. You have to feel bad for everyone involved in this somewhat sordid situation.
Quote #4
MRS. BRADDOCK: What makes you think she wants to marry you?
BENJAMIN: Oh, she doesn't. To be perfectly honest, she doesn't like me.
Oh, no big deal, then. Ben's smitten with Elaine and determined to marry her despite this minor obstacle. He loves her and he's convinced that this will win her over in the end. Is love really this powerful?
Quote #5
BENJAMIN [pounding on glass on second floor of church]: ELAINE!!! ELAINE!!!
ELAINE: … BEN!!!
This is the moment when Ben and Elaine really affirm their love for each other, in the uber-dramatic process of scuttling Elaine's wedding. On the other hand, can this really be love? Could it be just a need to rebel against their parents?
Quote #6
MRS. ROBINSON: Elaine—it's too late.
ELAINE: Not for me!
It's "too late" for Mrs. Robinson, because she lost her chance to find love and live the life she wanted to live. It's pretty tragic. But Elaine still has that opportunity available to her. Why would Mrs. Robinson want to deny her daughter happiness by making her marry Carl in the first place?