"[to the newly arrived recruits] I know why most of you are here; we weren't born yesterday. Before you get to join United Airlines and sell them what we teach, you gotta give the Navy six years of your life! Lots of things can happen in six years, including another war. And if any of you are too peace-loving to dump napalm on an enemy village where there MIGHT be women and children, that's what I'm here to discover...! I expect to lose half of you before I'm finished. I will use every means necessary — fair and unfair — to trip you up, to expose your weaknesses...as a potential aviator, and as a human being. The prize at the other end is a flight education worth $1 million! But first, you gotta get past ME."

"Ed Begley, Jr. - Altitude Chamber Instructor (voice)"

"Grace Zabriskie - Esther Pokrifki"

"Victor French - Joe Pokrifki"

"David Caruso - Topper Daniels"

"Harold Sylvester - Perryman"

"Tony Plana - Emiliano Della Serra"

"Louis Gossett, Jr. - GySgt. Emil Foley"

"Lisa Eilbacher - Casey Seegar"

"Lisa Blount - Lynette Pomeroy"

"Robert Loggia - Byron Mayo"

"David Keith - Sid Worley"

"Debra Winger - Paula Pokrifki"

"Richard Gere - Zack Mayo"

"It will lift you up where you belong."

"Life gave him nothing, except the courage to win... and a woman to love."

"[to the newly-arrived male recruits] Not all the obstacles that can trip you up are on this base. Let me tell you something about the local girls. Ever since there's been a base here, there's been what you'd call the Puget Sound Debs. The poor girls come across the sound on the ferry every weekend with just one thing in mind, and that's to marry themselves a naval aviator. A Puget Deb will tell you, "Don't you worry about contraceptives. I've got that all taken care of." Don't believe it, sweet pea. A Puget Deb will do anything and say anything to trap you. I know this sounds silly, especially in this so-called modern age, but you scuzzy college pukes should watch out, because they're out there, and you, sweet peas, are the answer to their dream!"

"Coach: [to Louden] Now, I remember the first time you walked in here and asked me to let you wrestle. You still had hay in your hair. What a surprise you turned out to be, darn near going the distance your first year."

"Madonna - Club singer"

"James Gammon - Mr. Kuchera"

"Roberts Blossom - Harry Swain"

"Forest Whitaker - Jean-Pierre "Balldozer" Baldosier"

"Raphael Sbarge - Kenny Schmoozler"

"R.H. Thomson - Kevin"

"Frank Jasper - Brian Shute"

"Daphne Zuniga - Margie Epstein"

"J.C. Quinn - Elmo"

"Charles Hallahan - Coach Ratta"

"Harold Sylvester - Gene Tanneran"

"Ronny Cox - Larry Swain"

"Michael Schoeffling - Kenny "Kuch" Kuchera"

"Linda Fiorentino - Carla"

"Matthew Modine - Louden Swain"

"What a blast to the First Amendment! The first thing they do is shut down the press and imprison the intellectuals. I LOVED YOUR PIECE ON THE CLITORIS! I SHOWED IT TO MY MOTHER!"

"[Just before Louden is set to wrestle Shute] Hey, Louden? [Louden glances up] Kick his ass."

"[to Louden] First time I've ever went to a wrestling match. It wasn't what I expected. I guess I expected some macho violence trip, but it was all right, you know? Guess I just didn't understand."

"[to Louden] Don't you ever try that again! I choose who I'm going to be with and what I'm going to do. I'll never be with any foulmouthed kid jock who thinks a stiff cock is the height of romance. Part of being a man, asshole, is knowing what a woman wants and respecting that."

"But all I ever settled for is that we're born to live and then to die, and... we got to do it alone, each in his own way. And I guess that's why we got to love those people who deserve it like there's no tomorrow. 'Cause when you get right down to it - there isn't."

"[about Carla] She's got all the best things I like in girls and all the best things I like in guys."

"My name's Louden, Louden Swain. Last week I turned 18. I wasn't ready for it. I haven't done anything yet. So I made this deal with myself. This is the year I make my mark."

"There's no access for you in this quadrant."

"Timothy Carhart - Roger Kovary"

"Tim Matheson - Al Donnelly"

"David Spade - Steve Dodds"

"Chris Farley - Mike Donnelly"

"[trying to pronounce "roads"] Row-ads. Roods."

"Are you or are you not the Black Angel of Death?"

"[on Drake Sabitch] This guy is like Leatherface, Chucky, and Jan Brady all rolled into one."