"It's the hottest day of the summer. You can do nothing, you can do something, or you can..."
Do the Right Thing - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
Always do the right thing.
— Da Mayor
Context:
Da Mayor stops Mookie on the street to give him this piece of advice early in the film.
Meaning:
The film's titular line, serving as a moral imperative that is deceptively simple. It hangs over the entire film, asking the audience to judge who, if anyone, actually follows this advice.
HATE! It was with this hand that Cane iced his brother. Love, Hate, it's the story of Right Hand, Left Hand. It's a tale of good and evil.
— Radio Raheem
Context:
Raheem speaks directly to the camera, showing off his brass knuckles.
Meaning:
A philosophical monologue explaining the duality of human nature. It foreshadows the conflict where love and hate battle for the soul of the neighborhood.
Burn it down! Burn it down!
— The Crowd / Mother Sister
Context:
Chanted by the mob after Mookie throws the trash can through the window.
Meaning:
Represents the breaking point of the community. Even the peaceful Mother Sister joins the chant, showing how deep the pain and rage runs after Raheem's death.
Fight the Power!
— Public Enemy (Lyrics)
Context:
Played during the opening credits dance sequence and throughout the film from Raheem's radio.
Meaning:
The anthem of the film. It is a call to resistance and action against systemic oppression, constantly playing from Raheem's boombox as a soundtrack to the community's struggle.
I'm just a struggling Black man trying to keep my dick hard in a cruel and harsh world.
— Buggin' Out
Context:
Buggin' Out explaining his frustrations to Mookie.
Meaning:
Highlights the emasculation and struggle for dignity that Black men face in a society that constantly undermines them.