Summary

• Forbidden love between two cowboys unfolds in Brokeback Mountain, a groundbreaking LGBTQ+ film that remains unforgettable.
• Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal star in a stunning romance that defied societal norms in the 1960s Wyoming setting.
• Memorable quotes and heartbreaking moments highlight the tragic love story between Ennis and Jack in this Ang Lee masterpiece.

The most memorable Brokeback Mountain quotes center around Jack and Ennis' love for one another, a love made clear in a film ahead of its time. When released, Brokeback Mountain was one of 2005's most talked-about films. Almost two decades later, Ang Lee's epic romantic drama is viewed as a stunning achievement and a ground-breaking film in mainstream Hollywood. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal star as Ennis and Jack, two men falling in love while working as sheepherders during the 1960s.

The movie is a beautiful and moving story about a love deemed unacceptable in their society. The neo-Western romantic drama is an LGBTQ+ movie that changed cinema forever and has a breakout cast, starring not only Ledger and Gyllenhaal, but also Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, Linda Cardellini, Randy Quaid, and Anna Faris. Thanks to its beautiful and heart-wrenching story, the movie makes for an unforgettable movie to experience, with some memorable Brokeback Mountain quotes.

15 "It's Nobody's Business But Ours."

Jack To Ennis

After a lot of lead-up, Ennis and Jack finally have sex with each other. However, Ennis worries about what others will think and the need to keep it a secret. In one of the most memorable Brokeback Mountain quotes, Jack reassures him that no one will find out, but also insists that it is just their business.

This hints at the tragic divide between these two men and speaks to their characters. Ennis continues to live in fear of society, which informs what he believes should be the trajectory of their relationship. Jack encourages them to live together and be happy. He feels that other people have no right to judge them but it turns out not to be so easy.

14 "Friend, That's More Words Than You've Spoken In The Past Two Weeks."

Jack To Ennis

Some of the best Brokeback Mountain quotes come before Ennis and Jack get romantically involved. Before their romantic relationship begins, Ennis and Jack share great chemistry while alone on the mountain, getting to know each other. These early scenes are charming, and it is interesting to see the reserved character of Heath Ledger's Ennis open up to his new friend.

As the two share a quiet moment together, Ennis becomes more vulnerable and Jack jokes that he's spoken more words in that sentence than their entire time together. The moment helps both characters open up to one another, and with Ennis's guard down, it is easy to see how things progress.

Brokeback Mountain picked up eight Oscar nominations, including Best Actor for Heath Ledger and Best Supporting Actor for Jake Gyllenhaal.

13 "For As Long As We Can Ride It. There Ain't No Reins On This One."

Ennis To Jack

As their relationship goes through the years with occasional meet-ups, the difference in how Ennis and Jack view their love story — or lack thereof — develops into a greater divide. In Brokeback Mountain, Jack is under the impression that they will eventually be together. However, Ennis fears the public and what it would mean to leave his life behind, making it clear that Ennis never sees a happy and normal relationship as a possibility.

The true pain of Ennis's character is shown as he feels they have no control.

During an intense confrontation, Ennis delivers one of the most memorable Brokeback Mountain quotes that lets audiences understand his expectations. The true pain of Ennis's character is shown as he feels they have no control over where this relationship goes. They can continue sharing moments for as long as possible, but it will not last.

12 "You Didn't Go Up There To Fish."

Alma To Ennis

Michelle Williams portrays Alma, Ennis' wife. They have marital struggles, but things become worse when Alma accidentally spots Ennis and Jack kissing outside their house when they reunite. It's easy to forget that Brokeback Mountain is a movie about infidelity, but, like Ennis, Alma buries Ennis's shocking infidelity deep down inside herself — at first.

The two eventually get divorced, with Alma taking custody of the kids and marrying her store manager, Monroe. One time, when Ennis visits, Alma reveals she knows his fishing trips were a lie. Alma finally voices her anger, confirming Ennis' fears of people finding out.

11 "There Ain't Never Enough Time."

Jack To Ennis

Jack and Ennis' relationship grows more complicated because both men believe it can play out. For Ennis, stealing these moments with Jack keeps him going and offers him a small taste of happiness. In addition, he seems somewhat contented with these brief meetings. But over time, all Jack focuses on is the time they are losing together.

In one of the most memorable Brokeback Mountain quotes, Jack laments that these fishing trips are not enough and there is never enough time for them to be together. It is a heartbreaking sentiment made worse because it is also the last time they will see each other. One of Jake Gyllenhaal's best movie performances sells this moment even more.

10 "But What We Got Now Is Brokeback Mountain. It's All Built On That."

Jack To Ennis

The time Ennis and Jack had together on the mountain ignited their relationship, and it ended up being the happiest they would ever be together. Unfortunately, Jack and Ennis had different ideas of where they thought their relationship could go. Ennis was too afraid to let go of his life, but Jack believed they could've built a life. When they are older, Jack confronts Ennis about the life they could have had together.

They were able to be themselves on that mountain, but then returning to the real world robbed them of that freedom.

However, now all they have is trying to recapture that first summer together. It adds to the tragedy of the romance that they found happiness so early, and it then evaded them for the rest of their time together. They were able to be themselves on that mountain, but then returning to the real world robbed them of that freedom.

9 "You Boys Sure Found A Way To Make The Time Pass Up There."

Aguirre To Ennis & Jack

The two men at the center of the story, Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, fall in love while working together as sheepherders on the titular mountain. While it seems like a secluded paradise for them, they are unaware that their boss, Aguirre (Randy Quaid), is keeping an eye on them.

When Jack returns to Aguirre the next year, looking for work, Aguirre, not-so-subtly, hints that he knows what is happening between those men, and disapproves. Aguirre's character speaks to the generally bigoted attitude toward the LGBTQ+ community at the time. In addition, it's a reminder that no matter how secret they think their relationship is, prying eyes are always out there.

8 "Jack F**king Twist."

Ennis To Jack

"Jack f**king Twist," is a play on Jack's first and last name and a repeated line Ennis says to his companion throughout the film. Each time Ennis says it in a new context, it shows their relationship growing deeper.

In one instance, it is said as a greeting as Jack visits his house (when Alma catches them kissing outside), in another instance, it is said in amazement, and it is said in anger at a different moment. As time passes, Ennis' greeting spans the years of their relationship together, and it shows how much they go through together despite having to keep their distance.

7 "Brokeback Got Us Good, Don't It?"

Jack To Ennis

A few years after they first met, Jack takes a trip to visit Ennis, and they fall back into each other's arms immediately. Although Ennis is married to Alma (Michelle Williams), he cannot fight his feelings for Jack, and they spend the night together at a motel. It's one of several meetings after leaving Brokeback Mountain, but during this particular stolen moment, Jack delivers one of the more poignant Brokeback Mountain quotes.

Brokeback Mountain remains the pinnacle of their relationship as it was an escape from their separate realities.

As they reflect on being back together after so long, Jack says, "Brokeback got us good," referring to where they first met. Brokeback Mountain remains the pinnacle of their relationship as it was an escape from their separate realities. On Brokeback Mountain, they could freely be together without fear of repercussions. For the following decades, they chase that time they had together on Brokeback Mountain when it was just them.

6 "Ya Know It Could Be Like This, Just Like This, Always."

Jack To Ennis

One of the more memorable Brokeback Mountain quotes speaks to the great divide between Ennis and Jack's expectations for their relationship. When reuniting and seeing how good it feels to be back together, Ennis sees it as a happy return to something he missed. However, Jack sees it as an opportunity for them to have a happy future just like this.

Jack tells Ennis that this feeling doesn't need to be fleeting, and they can build a life together. It could be naïve on his part or that he is willing to find happiness despite what others might think. Either way, it falls on deaf ears as Ennis tragically refuses to throw caution to the wind and live out a secret relationship with his one true love.

5 "This Thing, It Grabs Hold Of Us Again At The Wrong Place, At The Wrong Time, And We're Dead."

Ennis To Jack

Ennis' biggest fear in Brokeback Mountain is that someone will find out about his and Jack's relationship, and for good reason. For Ennis, a threatening cloud hangs over his entire relationship with Jack. And it all comes from a memory he had as a young boy. His father showed him and his brothers the body of a man tortured and killed for being gay.

That memory still affects Ennis, and he knows it is too dangerous for them to. Ennis relays his fears about his feelings for Jack to Jack, and that if they were ever caught, the consequences could be dire. Despite his deep, painful love for Jack, he fears getting too close.

4 "Sometimes I Miss You So Much I Can Hardly Stand It."

Jack To Ennis

The true tragedy of Jack and Ennis' relationship in Brokeback Mountain unfolds as the movie plays on. As the two men get older, their visits to see each other get less frequent, but their longing and love for each other never diminish. While Ennis continues to bury his feelings as deeply as he can, Jack becomes more desperate for them to be together, highlighting the clear divide between their expectations and their ability to cope.

As older men, they meet for their usual camping trip and talk about their lives. Then, bringing about one of the best Brokeback Mountain quotes, Jack makes a personal and heartbreaking admission about how badly he misses Ennis. Jack makes it clear that he can no longer bottle it up and stand the pain.

3 "If You Can't Fix It, Jack, You Gotta Stand It."

Ennis To Jack

Heath Ledger gives such an amazing performance in the film, with so much of it being subtle and internalized. In Brokeback Mountain, Ennis denies himself happiness. He fears what might happen if he follows his heart. Therefore, he keeps his hopes and dreams tucked away, never to speak about them. In that way, he is the complete opposite of Jack, who genuinely believes the two can have a life together.

Every time Jack talks about having a life together or how painful it is to be apart, Ennis reaffirms they have to make the best of the situation and live with it. This becomes more and more heartbreaking as audiences see what these two are denying themselves because Ennis is afraid.

2 "Jack, I Swear."

Ennis To Himself

It may be short, but it's one of the saddest Brokeback Mountain quotes. At the movie's end, Ennis learns of Jack's death and visits his parents. In Jack's bedroom, he finds a shirt that Jack kept all these years after their initial brawl. While Jack's parents refuse to have his ashes spread on Brokeback Mountain, they allow him to take the shirt. Now divorced and living alone, Ennis hangs up the shirt with a photograph of Brokeback Mountain. Crying, he says, "Jack, I swear."

Ennis promises to do what Jack has been telling him for years and try to be happy.

It is an unspoken promise, but the audience understands what he means. Ennis promises to do what Jack has been telling him for years and try to be happy. It is also a reassurance that, though he couldn't show it, he still loved Jack after all these years and everything that happened.

1 "I Wish I Knew How To Quit You."

Jack To Ennis

This is by far the most memorable of all the Brokeback Mountain quotes and a line that has become iconic in film history and is well-known by people who haven't even seen the movie. It has been repeated and parodied many times, but in the film itself, it is a gut-wrenching final moment between Jack and Ennis.

During their last trip together before Jack tragically dies, Ennis and Jack fight over what they have lost throughout those years and how painful it has been, especially for Jack. As Jack says this line, it is a moment of realization that things would be easier for both of their lives if only they didn't love each other so much. However, one cannot choose who one loves. Unfortunately, Jack and Ennis never got the chance they deserved.