Dean: Look. Broderick's friends are out of control.
Cory: Then tell them to leave.
Dean: But I-I-I can't tell them to leave. Then Broderick will get mad and they won't think I'm cool.
Cory: Dean, listen, man. You're already not cool. They're gonna find out sooner or later. Might as well be now.

Ernest: It just seems like another example of American imperialism, and guys like you are just pawns in a global chess game.
Kim: Uh, hold it right there. My brother is not a pawn. You have no idea the sacrifices he's made.
Adult Dean: Wow. I had never heard Kim defend Bruce like that before. I think Bruce was surprised, too.
Bruce: Look, there may be some truth to what you're saying, but y'all wasn't in the front lines. Trust me, doing this... [snaps fingers] ...doesn't stop bullets, and it doesn't save lives. But I apologize, man. I'm sorry. Um. [scoffs] I didn't mean for this to get so heated.
Ernest: Are you kidding? [chuckles] This has been a gas. You're a smart cat. And I meant no disrespect. You had every right to lay it on me. Next time, I'll keep it mellow.
Kim: Next time. Cool.

Bill: Everybody get the hell out of my house!
Franklin: Aren't you glad you're not the kid who lives here?
Dean: Just leave.
Bill: Let's go! Come on!

Lillian: Dean, I wish those things you said about me were accurate, but they're not. I am not always true to myself. Like at dinner tonight, for example.
Bill: You were great. They loved you. I-Is this still about the dress? Because that didn't matter at all.
Lillian: I wish it ended up being as simple as whether or not to wear this dress, but the truth is, I was afraid to speak my mind about the deal they're making with this client.
Bill: Really? I thought you were fully on board.
Lillian: It's a horrible idea. The client is too big and the firm is too small to pull it off, not even with my help.
Bill: Well, I definitely couldn't have gotten that second dessert if you'd have said all that.
Dean: So you didn't say anything either?
Lillian: No. 'Cause I was making justifications every step of the way. Just to have a place in the firm. And it may not be seventh-grade hard, but... tomorrow, I'm going to talk to the partners and tell them the deal is a bad idea. And moving forward, I'm going to dress the way I want... and speak my mind, whether they like it or not. And if they're so progressive, they can handle it.
Bill: Let's drink to that. Does somebody want to explain why my whiskey tastes like root beer?
Dean: [nervous chuckle] I'm so proud of you, Mom.

Dean: I'm sorry I embarrassed you in front of your friends, but the truth is, I-I wasn't having fun.
Broderick: [sighs] Man. I was so happy when your parents broke up that party.
Dean: You were?
Broderick: Yeah, everyone was telling me and Keisa to go to the make-out room. It wasn't cool. She's a nice girl.
Dean: But they're your friends. Why didn't you just tell them to stop?
Adult Dean: In that moment, I realized that Broderick was not that different from me. He had the same insecurities I did about fitting in. And let's face it, if one of us was gonna lose his cool cred, it was a much steeper fall for him.
Dean: There's a new Star Trek tonight if you want to come watch.
Broderick: I can dig it. Did you hear? Franklin got busted for having a beer. He's grounded until the ninth grade.
Dean: Franklin? [sighs] Ah, Franklin, Franklin. I'm drawing a blank on his face.

Adult Dean: I still think the advice to "just be yourself" is as cliché as it gets. But what my mom really taught me was to be the best version of myself that I could be.