Backing Away From Life

"Harold and Maude" 1971

Harold (Bud Cort) and Maude (Ruth Gordon) talking about life and death:

Harold: I sure am picking up on vices.

Maude: Vice, virtue... It's best not to be too moral, you cheat yourself out of too much life. Aim above morality. If you apply that to life, then you're bound to live it fully.

Harold: I haven't lived. ...I've died a few times.

Maude: What was that?

Harold:

Well, the first time... was when I was a bording school. In the chemestry lab. I was in there cleaning it up... and I decided I'd do a little experiment. So I get all the stuff out, and begin mixing it up; it was very scientific. There was this massive explosion. It knocked me down; blew out a huge hole in the floor... there was boards and bricks and flames leapin' up. I figured... "Time to leave." My career in school was over. So, I went home. My mother was giving a party, so I just went right up the stairs into my room... turned out the light, and, I got this funny feelin'. The doorbell rang. I went out onto the banister. These two policeman were talking to my mother, and told her, that I was killed...in the fire. She put one hand up to her forehead. The other, she reached out as if groping for support, and with this long sigh... she collapsed in their arms.
(Harlod pauses and then burries his face in his hands-- weeping.)

I decided right then... that I enjoyed being dead.

Maude:

I understand. A lot of people enjoy being dead; but their not dead really. They're just backing away from life. Reach out! Take a chance!... Get hurt even; but olay as well as you can. Go team! Go! Gimmie an L! Gimmie an I! Gimmie a V! Gimmie an E! L.I.V.E. -- Live! Otherwise, you got nothin' to talk about in the locker room.