Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the film Everything Everywhere All at Once.
The recently released A24 film Everything Everywhere All at Once has already left its mark on the movie industry. With its wild take on the multiverse, compelling characters, and tear-jerking story, there’s more than one reason to fall in love with the comedy-drama flick.
Thanks to its well-written narrative, there’s no shortage of profound lines in the film, all of which come from the dysfunctional Wang family. The most thought-provoking quotes often reflect the lessons the characters learn throughout the course of their wacky journeys through the multiverse.
Waymond Wang:
“The Only Thing I Do Know Is That We Have To Be Kind.”
Waymond sets himself apart as a likable character when he gets between the now-evil Evelyn and Gong Gong’s group, itting that he doesn’t “know what the heck is going on, but somehow” he “feels like it’s all” his fault. He reminds everyone to “be kind.”
The simple but meaningful line underscores Waymond’s countless kind actions throughout the film, with the most important one happening when the IRS was about to shut down their laundromat. He knows that kindness can go a long way not just in one’s own life, but in others like Evelyn’s as well.
Joy Wang:
“‘Right’ Is A Small Box Invented By People Who Are Afraid.”
After Jobu Tupaki explains how “every version of Joy is Jobu Tupaki,” Evelyn tries to persuade her that as her mom, she would “only do the right thing for her.” This only results in a scoff and a witty response about how the “right” thing is just an imaginary box, and Jobu is familiar with “what it feels like to be trapped inside that box.”
Since she has seen all of the possibilities for Joy across the multiverse, Jobu understands the pain and heartache that comes with people’s unfair expectations and disapproval of her choices. It’s hard to imagine just in how many universes Joy is unhappy, thinking she can never get things right.
Alpha Waymond Wang:
“Every Rejection, Every Disappointment Has Led You To This Moment.”
Alpha Waymond is intrigued by Evelyn’s ordinary variant not just because she’s so ordinary, but because she’s living the worst version of her. His inspiring quote about how “every rejection” and “every disappointment” has led the protagonist to a critical moment in the multiverse proves that it wasn’t all for nothing, which is what appeals to Evelyn.
Because every successful variant has branched off into their own universes, the worst Evelyn has the unique proximity to so many of them, making it easy to access their skills. It’s the central concept in the dizzying explanation about “verse-jumping,” which she quickly learns.
Evelyn Wang:
“You Are Not Unlovable, There Is Always Something To Love – Even In A Stupid, Stupid Universe Where We Have Hot Dogs For Fingers, We Get Very Good With Our Feet.”
After Deirdre reveals details about her messy divorce, she tells Evelyn that it’s “unlovable b***hes like” them that “make the world go 'round.” The protagonist snaps out of her nihilistic rampage soon after, reminding her that “there is always something to love.”
The heartfelt scene is made even better by the absurd example Evelyn uses, which perfectly captures what she’s trying to say. Even with “hot dogs for fingers,” somewhere out there, two people can fall in love – it’s certainly easier to find aspects of oneself that are worth loving in the version of the world where people have regular fingers.
Joy Wang (As Jobu Tupaki):
“Just Be A Rock.”
One of the deepest and best quotes from Everything Everywhere All at Once also happens to be a straightforward one – “just be a rock.” It comes from the comical but moving conversation Joy and Evelyn have in a world where the conditions weren’t right for life to form, so they just become rocks.
After the stressful sequence leading up to that moment, Evelyn understandably tries to apologize, but Joy interrupts her and says she doesn’t “have to worry about that” where they are. It’s a great reminder that it’s okay to take a breather and just be a rock sometimes, sitting and appreciating the simplicity and silence.
Evelyn Wang:
“How Can We Get Back?”
There’s a chilling scene where Waymond tries to help Evelyn understand how Jobu’s “black hole” is affecting everything in the multiverse. He starts by saying that “something is off” anywhere he goes, initially giving simple examples like how one’s “clothes never wear as well the next day” before the more alarming ones like how “institutions are crumbling” and “nobody trusts their neighbor anymore.”
His entire monologue likely rings true for most viewers, as it does for Evelyn who finishes Waymond’s sentence asking how they can “get back” to how it used to be. It’s likely a question older audiences find themselves asking in real life every now and then.
Joy Wang (As Jobu Tupaki):
“You're Still Hung Up On The Fact That I Like Girls In This World? The Universe Is So Much Bigger Than You Realize.”
Jobu is disappointed to meet the protagonist, especially when Evelyn starts to blame her for “why” Joy “thinks she is gay.” It’s a hurtful line that barely affects Jobu, as she understands how foolish it is to be “hung up” on something like that.
She knows that there are countless iterations of sexualities, identities, and relationships in the multiverse, a fact that Evelyn will soon see as well. There’s no reason to reject someone because of their gender identity, which is a lesson the protagonist thankfully learns in the end.
Evelyn Wang:
“Here, All We Get Are A Few Specks Of Time Where Any Of This Actually Makes Any Sense, Then I Will Cherish These Few Specks Of Time.”
The multiverse in Everything Everywhere All at Once is a dizzying concept that implies infinite possibilities, which means Evelyn can “be anything, anywhere.” During an emotional exchange outside the laundromat, Joy asks her mother why she wouldn’t “go somewhere where” her “daughter
is more than just this.”
Evelyn’s brilliant response is the total opposite of everything Jobu believes, as she understands that the “few specks of time” matter more than the endless what-ifs throughout the multiverse. That speck of a moment with Joy is the most important one in the world, because it’s the moment that’s happening right in front of her.
CEO Waymond Wang:
“You Think Because I'm Kind That It Means I'm Naive, And Maybe I Am. It's Strategic And Necessary. This Is How I Fight.”
One of the most intense moments in the movie happens when Waymond teaches Evelyn an important lesson that contradicts her nihilistic rage. The CEO variant of Waymond reveals that he’s actually a remarkably smart person when he tells Evelyn that kindness is a strength, too, calling it “strategic and necessary.”
The thought-provoking line is more relevant than ever before, as audiences are reminded that it’s possible to be “a fighter” through kindness. Choosing the kind path isn’t always easy, but that’s how people like Waymond fight and survive through the toughest moments in life.
Evelyn Wang:
“We Can Do Whatever We Want. Nothing Matters.”
When Joy and Evelyn officially declare that their tear-jerking conversation outside the laundromat is getting “so awkward,” Joy wonders if her mother still wants “to do” her “party.” The protagonist replies with her deepest quote in the film, saying they can do whatever they want because “nothing matters.” This flips Jobu’s nihilistic belief about how nothing matters because there are infinite possibilities.
While Evelyn thinks the same way at first, Waymond’s actions help her realize that because everyone’s experiences are just a tiny blip in the multiverse, they have the freedom to do whatever they want. Whether it’s choosing to be better people or being more open, “nothing matters” means that what really matters are those tiny things that makeup someone’s life and happiness.
