"At a tough school, someone had to take a stand...and someone did. Together, one teacher and one class proved to America they could..."
Stand and Deliver - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
You're going to work harder here than you've ever worked anywhere else. And the only thing I ask from you is ganas. Desire.
— Jaime Escalante
Context:
Escalante says this while laying down the intense ground rules for his new Advanced Placement Calculus class.
Meaning:
This is the central thesis of the film, establishing that raw drive and motivation are more critical to success than innate talent or socioeconomic privilege.
Students will rise to the level of expectations, Señor Molina.
— Jaime Escalante
Context:
Escalante argues with the school administration, demanding the right to teach AP Calculus despite their belief that the students aren't ready.
Meaning:
Encapsulates the pedagogical philosophy that low standards breed low achievement, while demanding excellence fosters greatness.
You're already geeks, you just don't know it yet.
— Jaime Escalante
Context:
Escalante's witty response to Angel when the student expresses fear that taking calculus will ruin his tough reputation on the streets.
Meaning:
Reframes intelligence and academic focus as a positive trait rather than a social stigma to be feared.
Did you know that neither the Greeks nor the Romans were capable of using the concept of zero? It was your ancestors, the Mayans, who first contemplated the zero.
— Jaime Escalante
Context:
Escalante uses this historical fact early in the semester to capture the students' attention and prove that mathematics is naturally a part of their identity.
Meaning:
A crucial moment of instilling cultural pride, directly connecting the students' ancestral heritage to the subject they are struggling to learn.