Dawson's Creek (1998–2003)

James Van Der Beek: Dawson Leery

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Dawson : [describing heartbreak]  It's agony. Complete, excruciating agony. It's like your heart has been ripped out of your chest and stomped on, and you can't breathe... you don't want to eat... you can't function. It's the most intense pain that you'll ever feel, and the worst part is, there's no way to relieve it. It's unyielding, merciless torture, and you *know* that it's yours for life.

• Joey : Dawson, I'm sorry I don't have the same dreams I had when I was 15 years old, and I'm sorry that I moved on faster than you did, but you know what? Maybe not everything that happens to you is my fault! And maybe just because I want more from my life than...

  Dawson : More than what? More than us? You don't know, do you? You've never known. The entire time I've known you, all you've wanted to do is escape. From me, from Capeside. I mean, you say that I'm the dreamer. I'm the one who doesn't wanna live in the real world. Well, I'm doing it, Joey. Right now. I'm living in the real world. It's you who wants the fantasy

• Dawson : And the rest is pornographic history.

• Pacey : Gotta hand it to you Dawson, you make me look good.

  Dawson : Yeah? How?

  Pacey : You suck worse than I do.

• Joey : I was scared.

  Dawson : Of what?

  Joey : Of going backwards, of never growing up.

  Dawson : That's what I represent to you?

  Joey : No, not you. Us. I started this year thinking that I had to say good-bye to you, but I was wrong. Dawson, you're a huge part of my life - past, present, and future - and I have to start getting used to that because... you make my life better, not worse

• Dawson : How can you be friends with someone when every time you see them you think about how much more you really want?

• Dawson : I'm mad at the world, Joey, I'm a teenager.

• Arthur Brooks : And remember, you're still young enough to fall in and out of love a few more times before you get it right.

  Dawson : That doesn't sound very fun.

  Arthur Brooks : It isn't... And it is... And it isn't. But it's worth it. Every single time.

• Dawson : But what good is their love if it's not strong enough to overcome those circumstances?

  Joey : Because in spite of the circumstances... they never stop loving.

• Dawson : The night is young.

  Joey : So are we.

• Joey : So the friendship? You don't think we're friends anymore?

  Dawson : I don't know. Are we more? Are we less? All I know is it's just not the way it used to be. Nothing is anymore.

  Joey : It's called social evolution, Dawson. What's strong enough flourishes and what doesn't we look at behind glass cases in science museums.

  Dawson : You and I? Are we museum bound?

• Andie : You mean that you guys would rather watch a movie about something than actually doing it yourselves?

  Joey , Dawson : Correct.

• Dawson : I'm an artist, torture is a prerequisite.

• Dawson : Edge is fleeting, heart lasts forever.

• [Dawson insults and drives away a film critic] 

  Oliver Chirchuck : Apologize, kiss her ass, get down on your knees and beg, just do whatever it takes to get her back here.

  Dawson : Alright, alright. What are you going to do?

  Oliver Chirchuck : I'm gonna go and hit on your ex-girlfriend.

• Jen : Do you remember when you were ten and your Mom wouldn't get you that candy bar that you really, really wanted? Didn't you ever just... swipe it?

  Dawson : No.