Of Human Bondage Quotes

Thorpe Athelny: I don't think women ought to sit down at table with men.

Philip Carey: Oh! Don't you? Why not?

Thorpe Athelny: It ruins conversation. I'm sure it's very bad for them. It puts ideas in their heads. And women are never at ease with themselves when they have ideas.

Philip Carey: You sound like the old voice of England.

Thorpe Athelny: I am, sir. And this is fine old Yorkshire pudding that gives me the strength to carry on.

Thorpe Athelny: I was married to a lady once. Good heavens! Never marry a lady, my boy.

Philip Carey: Oh really? Why?

Thorpe Athelny: Because a lady has a point of view, a personality and an individuality, all to devil you with!

Mildred Rogers: Anything you want?

Philip Carey: Yes, if you don't mind I'd like to talk to you. Um... filthy weather, isn't it?

Mildred Rogers: Makes no difference to me. I have to be here all day.

Philip Carey: Don't talk like that. I only wanted to say something pleasant.

Mildred Rogers: Well, say it.

Philip Carey: You know you have a lovely smile. You should try using it more often.

Mildred Rogers: Oh, don't go spoofing me. A girl who works hard all day like I do. I don't have much reason to smile.

Philip Carey: Perhaps I could find a reason. Would you let me try?

Philip Carey: I thought you were never coming.

Mildred Rogers: Ooh, like that. After keeping me waiting. I almost went home.

Philip Carey: I was in the second class waiting room. I thought you said you'd be there.

Mildred Rogers: No, I said "is it likely I would sit in the second class if I could sit in the first?" For a gentleman of brains you don't use them, do ya?

Philip Carey: Perhaps not. Anyway you're here, so it's alright, isn't it?

Mildred Rogers: You certainly do make a girl feel important to ya.

Philip Carey: Norah, I've got something strange to tell you. You've been so good to me, it only makes it harder.

Norah: Philip, what's wrong?

Philip Carey: I'm sorry, it... it's just over.

Norah: You mean you don't care for me anymore?

Philip Carey: I'm afraid so.

Norah: What have I done?

Philip Carey: Nothing. You've been wonderful to me. It's just that I...

[he puts his head in his hands]

Norah: 'Course I knew you never loved me as much as I love you.

Philip Carey: Yes, I'm afraid that's usually the case. There's usually one who loves, and one who *is* loved.

Norah: Oh, it's always the same. If you want a man to be nice to you, you have to be rotten to him. If you treat a man honestly, you... Philip, there's someone else.

Philip Carey: Yes.

Norah: Who is she?

Philip Carey: Mildred. She's come back.

Norah: After all she's done. How could you?

Philip Carey: That's what I'd like to know.

Norah: It's just as though you were bound to her in some way.

Philip Carey: Yes.

Norah: As I am to you. As she was to Miller.

Philip Carey: As every human being is, to something or other.

[last lines]

Sally Athelny: Philip, you're free.

Philip Carey: Yes, but suddenly... suddenly there's nowhere to go.

Cabbie at End: Taxi, sir?

Philip Carey: No thanks. No.

[to Sally]

Philip Carey: I had to be free to realize that. I had to be free to understand that all those years that I'd dreamed of escape, it was because I was limping through life.

Cabbie at End: Taxi, sir?

Philip Carey: No thank you!

[continuing]

Philip Carey: And because I was bound up with a person who was incredible to me. That's all over. I'm not limping anymore. My life's all right.

Sally Athelny: Then why don't you go?

Philip Carey: Because everything that's beautiful to me is... is right here. Won't you please marry me, Sally?

Sally Athelny: If you like.

Philip Carey: But don't you want to?

Sally Athelny: Well, there's no one else I'd marry.

[Philip goes to kiss her, but stops when a man on the street stares at them]

Cabbie at End: How about a taxi, sir?

Philip Carey: What?

Cabbie at End: How about a taxi?

Philip Carey: Yes!

[Philip and Sally get in the cab and kiss]