Am I the only person out there who thinks Ethan Hawke (besides having the coolest "superhero" name in Hollywood) had the most interesting role in 1989's Dead Poet's Society?

In just his third movie, Hawke played the role of "Todd" (aka "Mr. Anderson! Don't think that I don't know that this assignment scares the hell out of you most!") He's the shy guy. The one who tries to write poetry but gives up to tackle chemistry homework. The one who won't read during the Dead Poet meetings. (The one most likely be become a software entrepreneur, serial killer or porn magazine publisher by today's standards.)

But his "sweaty-toothed mad-man" rant is just an epic breakthrough: "Y-You push it, stretch it, it'll never be enough. You kick at it, beat it, it will never cover any of us. From the moment we enter crying to the moment we leave dying, it will cover just your head as you wail and cry and scream!"

Then Robin Williams, as "John Keating," congratulates him, smiling and saying only: "Don't you forget this."

Chills! Chills, I'm telling you.

Hawke turns 37 years old today. And I'm sure Ethan would agree with me that...

Everything You Need To Know, You Can Learn From Dead Poet's Society:

• "No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world."
• "Seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary."
• "Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for."
• "Sucking all the marrow out of life doesn't mean choking on the bone."
• "There is a time for daring and a time for caution, and a wise man knows which is called for."
• "You must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all."