Key Quotes for The Wave
QUOTES FOR SETTING:
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‘Gordon High was considered one of the most innovative of Palo Alto’s high schools’
‘There was a whirlwind of student activism because it was the 60s’
‘They were the products of stable, middle-class families… they were surprisingly naïve and
sheltered’
CHARACTER QUOTES: Ben Ross
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‘Had a growing reputation as an outstanding young teacher’
‘There were some teachers whose classes you knew would be a drag, but most of the students
expected Ross’s history class to be pretty good’
‘Ben’s students spoke of his intensity, the way he got so involved in the topic’
‘ …Ben was the kind of person who got involved. Not just involved, but utterly absorbed…’
‘He even daydreamed about a story in the education section of Time magazine: Discipline
Returns To The Classroom: Teacher Makes Startling Discovery’
‘Where before he’d come to class in casual clothes, today he wore a blue suit, white shirt and
tie’
‘It was essential to the experiment that he maintain the image of the leader of The Wave.
Having a bodyguard could only enhance that image’
“Ben, you’ve got to end The Wave tomorrow”’ Christy
‘Before the experiment had gone bad he had enjoyed those fleeting moments of power…
students obeying his command, the Wave symbol he’d created posted all over the school, even a
bodyguard’
‘I became more of a leader than I intended to be’
‘He had read that power could be seductive, and now he had experienced it’
‘“… it could be argued that none of you are as at fault as I am for leading you into this”’ Ben
Ross
‘”Thank God”. He was relieved that it had ended well’.
CHARACTER QUOTES: Laurie Saunders
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‘She was a pretty girl with short, light brown hair and an almost perpetual smile’
“… it doesn’t sound like the right thing for you Laurie. Babe, we’ve raised you to be an
individual”’ Mrs Saunders
‘Laurie stood with them, but she didn’t feel the high energy and unity she’d felt the previous
day’
‘I think you and everyone else are taking this whole Wave thing a bit too seriously’
‘It was just that creepy feeling she’d begun to get, the feeling that maybe they should be
careful with the Wave’
‘”That’s crazy” she thought, “everything is getting out of control”’
‘Even her best friend, someone as smart as Amy, was turning against her because of The Wave’
‘Suddenly it was as if she was a stranger’
‘I will write and say anything I want to, and you can’t stop me’
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‘Laurie was certain that as soon as Amy learned about the boy who was beaten up, she would
come to her senses’
‘“Laurie Saunders is a threat,” Robert stated bluntly. “She must be stopped”’
“Laurie, is it possible that we’re wrong about The Wave?” David asked. “No, David, we’re right”,
Laurie answered’
‘In a way, I’m glad this happened’
‘I’m glad it worked out, and I think everyone learned a lot’
CHARACTER QUOTES: David Collins
 ‘A tall, good looking boy who was a running back on the football team’
 “I’m telling you Eric, this is just what the team needs’
 ‘You’re not taking this seriously enough’
 ‘Tonight I almost hurt Laurie because of the Wave’
 ‘I’m sorry I didn’t trust you Mr Ross’
CHARACTER QUOTES: Robert Billings
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‘He was a heavy boy with shirt tails perpetually hanging out and his hair was always a mess’
‘Being unable to compete with his brother’s achievements, Robert had apparently decided it
was easier not to try’
‘He was the class loser and no one liked him’
‘“No dummy” said Brad a boy who especially enjoyed tormenting him’
‘“Gordon High’s very own Untouchable”’
‘“He’s been pretty strange for as long as I can remember”’
‘As Robert sat down, both the girls stood up and took their trays to another table’
‘It was The Wave that had given Robert the courage to sit at the table with them’
‘Brad patted Robert on his back. “Hey I’m glad you joined us”’
‘“Did he stick anything on my back?” he asked. Everyone at the table laughed’
‘His mothers reaction – ‘“she told me Robert is a completely new person… she’s ecstatic about
this sudden change”’ Mrs Saunders
“It almost sounds like he’s joined a cult or something”’
‘Robert seemed like a new person’
‘The change in Robert was indeed remarkable. Not only had his appearance changed, but he was
starting to contribute’
‘“Mr Ross, I’m your bodyguard”’ Robert
“… I feel like I’m part of something special”’
‘“Robert is just a little over-enthusiastic sometimes. But you have to admit he has a point…”’
‘”These are all lies” he said angrily, “she can’t be allowed to say these things!”
‘Robert was the only one that really stood to lose in this whole thing’
‘He heard a sob and saw Robert leaning against one of the TV screens, tears running down his
face’
CHARACTER QUOTES: Brian Ammon (QB):
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‘Although he was the team’s quarterback, Brian was not very big’
“Don’t forget your Wave membership cards”
‘Just as long as she understands, we’re not playing around anymore’
‘The first time that linebacker broke through I should’ve known it was no good’
CHARACTER QUOTES: Amy Smith
 ‘A petite girl with thick, curly, goldilocks hair’
 ‘All I’ve ever done is compete with you, and now I feel I don’t have to’
 ‘I don’t understand, Amy’s so bright but she’s taking it so seriously’
 ‘When she looked up and saw Laurie after the rally, she burst into tears and ran to hug her
friend’
CHARACTER QUOTES: Mrs. Saunders (Laurie’s Mum)
 ‘Laurie’s mother had warned her that someday she would choke to death from chewing pens’
 ‘Oh Mum, you always take things the wrong way’
 ‘I don’t think I like it Laurie, it sounds too militaristic to me’
 ‘You don’t think it’s dangerous to allow a teacher to manipulate students like that?’
 ‘All right Laurie, at least I know you’re not involved’
QUOTES FOR THEME 1: We must learn from our history
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‘Only a couple of kids seemed to be disturbed by the film’
‘He said pretty soon people in The Wave wouldn’t want to be friends with people who weren’t in
it’
‘“Laurie Saunders is a threat… She must be stopped”’
‘“No one could understand how all the other Germans could have ignored what the Nazis were
doing and pretended they didn’t know”’
‘But Laurie, that boy was Jewish, could that have anything to do with it?’
‘“If history repeats itself, you will all want to deny what happened to you in The Wave. But, if
or experiment has been successful… you will have learned that we are all responsible for our
own actions”’
‘Yes, you would have all made good Nazis’
“Just tried to give his students a sampling, a taste of what life in Nazi Germany might have
been like”
‘“…let’s try not to forget it… but let’s forget it at the same time…”’
‘You must always question what you do, rather than follow a leader blindly’
QUOTES FOR THEME 2: We must learn to question and think for ourselves
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‘“I would have thought they’d all hate it, being ordered around… Instead they took to it like
they’d been waiting for something like this their whole lives”’
‘They sat stiffly in their chairs in the posture Ben had taught them the previous day’
‘It was like when we acted together, we were more than just a class, we were a unit’
‘“There’s no in-crowd anymore… That’s what’s so great about The Wave. You don’t have to worry
about how popular you are. Everyone is equal”’
‘The only reason you’re against it is because you’re not a princess anymore’
‘Ben noticed a marked improvement in preparation for class… but he also noticed there was less
thinking behind the preparation… there was no analysis, no questioning on their part’
‘They followed Mr. Ross without question’
‘There was something about the class, something about their single-mindedness and absolute
obedience to Mr. Ross that she would almost describe as creepy
‘It’s like Robert has joined a cult or something’
‘Several times over the last few days he had heard Wave members discussing ‘orders’ he had
given… Except the crazy thing was, he’d never given those orders’
‘C’mon Laurie, just give the salute and you can go up’
‘The Wave has become an obsession, no one is thinking for themselves any more
‘You know what Mr Ross said about reporting who breaks the rules’
‘The further you get involved in something, the more blinded you become’
‘David held her arm tightly.” Laurie you’ve got to stop” he said
‘Tonight I almost hurt Laurie because of the Wave’
‘You would have put on uniforms, turned your heads and allowed your friends and neighbours to
be persecuted and destroyed’
‘You accepted the group’s will over your own convictions’
‘You traded your freedom for what you said was equality’
You accepted the group’s will over your own convictions, no matter who you hurt to do it’
‘You must always question what you do, rather than follow a leader blindly’
QUOTES FOR THEME 3: It Could Happen Again
 ‘Sure, it’s something horrible that happened once, but that was a long time ago. To me it’s a
piece of history’
 ‘All I can say is, I would never let such a small minority of people rule the majority’
 ‘Some guys just used the Wave as an excuse to beat that kid up’
 ‘Laurie did not want to admit she was hiding, but it was true, that’s how crazy this thing had
become’
 ‘Anything that could make him do what he’d just done was wrong’
 ‘You say it could never happen again, but look how close you came’
 ‘Do you see where you were headed? How far would you have gone?’
 ‘If history repeats itself, you will all want to deny what happened to you in the Wave’
 ‘Let’s try and forget it. I mean, let’s try not to forget it, but lets forget it at the same time’
QUOTES FOR THEME 4: Power Corrupts
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‘Just tried to give his students a sampling, a taste of what life in Nazi Germany might have
been like’
‘He had enjoyed the class that day, though not told his wife that he himself had got caught up
in it’
‘The funny thing is, I feel myself getting caught up in it too. It’s contagious
‘Maybe you’re becoming a guinea pig in your own experiment’
‘Ben was confident he had control as their leader’
‘All right Robert, you can be my bodyguard’
‘Think of your original goals – are they the same ones you have now?’
‘Some guys just used the Wave as an excuse to beat that kid up’
‘He had read that power could be seductive, and now he had experienced it’
‘David walked down towards the stage where Mr Ross stood. His teacher looked very tired’