Timmy Burns Quotes in Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

Ron Kovic: When I was in the hospital, I thought, yeah - yeah, this makes sense.

Timmy Burns: What makes sense?

Ron Kovic: Because I failed, Timmy.

Timmy Burns: What are you talking about?

Ron Kovic: Because I - I killed some - people; I made some terrible - mistakes!

Timmy Burns: Oh, for Christ's sake, Ronnie, we all made mistakes. I mean, you - you had no choice. That's something that those goddamn pansy demonstrators ain't never gonna understand! Now, you don't even have to talk about it, Ronnie; I mean, it was insane over there! It was crazy!

Ron Kovic: Sometimes I wish, I wish I'd - The first time I got hit, I was shot in the foot. I could have laid down, I mean - who gives a fuck now if I was a hero or not? I was paralyzed, castrated that day; why? It was all so - stupid! I'd have my dick and my balls now, and some days, Timmy - some days I think I'd give everything I believe in - everything I got, all my values, just to have my body back again, just to be whole again. But I'm not whole; I never will be, and that's - that's the way it is, isn't it?

Timmy Burns: [after a slight pause] For Christ's sake, Ronnie, it's your birthday. You're alive. You made it! Smile.

Jim Burns: I can think of one memory. She was wearing a pink nightgown...

Timmy Burns: That was ME!

Joy Burns: [Joy is smoking marijuana in a convenience store bathroom] Honey, roll it tighter next time.

Timmy Burns: Sorry, mom.

Joy Burns: I'm giving you a choice. You can either let me study the map, or you can rely on my uncanny sense of direction. Which will it be?

Timmy Burns: Uncanny sense of direction!

Joy Burns: Okay.

[silence]

Joy Burns: Where are we?

Joy Burns: The thing about Smack Daddy is...

Grandma Dottie: Who?

Joy Burns: Smack Daddy.

Jim Burns: Have I ever heard of Smack Daddy?

Timmy Burns: He's a black singer, dad, you wouldn't know him.

Jim Burns: Oh, no! I never head of, uh, James Brown, or Barry White, or Puffy the Dog...