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Henry Wilcox: Don't take a sentimental attitude toward the poor.
[...]
Henry Wilcox: The poor are the poor. One is sorry for them, but there it is.
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Aunt Juley: All the Schlegels are exceptional. They are British to the backbone, of course, but their father was German, which is why they care for literature and art.
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Margaret Schlegel: [speaking of Helen] She's got some sort of madness... as if she's mad!
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Helen Schlegel: Did you see the dawn?
Leonard Bast: Yes. It suddenly got light.
Helen Schlegel: And was it wonderful?
Leonard Bast: No.
[girls giggle]
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Margaret Schlegel: Unlike the Greek, England has no true mythology. All we have are witches and fairies.
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Helen Schlegel: We're not odd, we're just over-expressive.
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Margaret Schlegel: I deny it's madness.
Henry Wilcox: But you said yourself...
Margaret Schlegel: It's madness when I say it, but not when you say it.
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Margaret Schlegel: Will you forgive her as you yourself have been forgiven... you have had a mistress; I forgave you. My sister has a lover, you drive her from the house. Why can you not be honest for once in your life? Why can't you say what Helen has done, I have done!
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Dolly Wilcox: [on Ruth's handwritten bequest of her house to Margaret] It's only in pencil! Pencil never counts.
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Margaret Schlegel: [speaking of Helen] I think she may be a little... touched.
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Margaret Schlegel: Mr. Wilcox, I am demented!
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[last lines]
Margaret Schlegel: What did Dolly mean about Howards End?
Henry Wilcox: Mmmm? My poor Ruth, during her last days, scribbled your name on a piece of paper. Knowing her not to be herself, I set it aside. Didn't do wrong, did I?
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Ruth Wilcox: My idea has always been that if we could bring the mothers of the various nations together, then there would be no more war.
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Margaret Schlegel: I do wish you'd give us Howard's End.
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[first lines]
Margaret Schlegel: [reading letter] Dearest Meg, I'm having a glorious time. I like them all. They are the very happiest, jolliest family that you can imagine. The fun of it is that they think me a noodle, and say so - at least, Mr. Wilcox does. Oh Meg, should we ever learn to talk less.
[laughing]
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Helen Schlegel: [Leonard storms out after the Schlegel sisters try to warn him about his job] What was all that about?
Leonard Bast: I knew I shouldn't have come back. It was all right last time, but things like that always get spoiled.
Helen Schlegel: Things do, but people don't! Don't you understand? We really did want to warn you about the Porphyrion. We were worried about you!
Leonard Bast: ...why should you worry about me?
Helen Schlegel: Because we *like* you! That's why!... you absolute noodle.
Leonard Bast: [now awkward and ashamed] There's no need to call a person names...
Helen Schlegel: Oh yes there is, when a person is being tremendously stupid!
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Margaret Schlegel: Henry, look at me. You were that woman's lover?
Henry Wilcox: Since you put it with your usual delicacy, yes I was.
Margaret Schlegel: When?
[no answer]
Margaret Schlegel: When, please?
Henry Wilcox: [angry] Ten years ago!
[calmer]
Henry Wilcox: I'm sorry. Ten years ago.
Margaret Schlegel: Henry, dear... it's not going to trouble us.
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Henry Wilcox: You don't beat about the bush, do you?
Howards End Quotes
Extended Reading
