The Unbearable Lightness of Being Quotes

  • Sabina: I've met another man. He's the best man I've ever met. He's bright, handsome and he's crazy about me. And, he's married. There's only one thing; he doesn't like my hat.

  • Tereza: I don't understand how someone can MAKE love without BEING in love.

  • [first lines]

    First Title Card: In Prague, in 1968, there lived a young doctor named Tomas...

    Tomas: Take off your clothes.

    [line recurs several times during film]

  • Tomas: I must go.

    Sabina: Don't you ever spend the night at the woman's place?

    Tomas: Never!

    Sabina: What about when the woman's at your place?

    Tomas: I tell her I have insomnia... anything. Besides, I have a very narrow bed.

    Sabina: Are you afraid of women, Doctor?

    Tomas: Of course.

  • [last lines]

    Tereza: Tomas, what are you thinking?

    Tomas: I'm thinking how happy I am.

  • Tereza: [referring to her dog] Karenin prefers Mephisto to dogs. She thinks other dogs are silly.

    Tomas: [Mephisto snorts and Tomas inhales the aroma of the food] Ha-ha.

    Pavel: Do you know why I love Mephisto? Because he's very bright, but, at the same time,

    [gesturing for emphasis]

    Pavel: he doesn't know anything! After all, he doesn't know that life is impossible here now. Nothing left here. The church is gone.

    [shrugging]

    Pavel: No place to drink beer now.

    [he drinks his bottle of beer very quickly]

    Pavel: It's good... very good.

    [slurping]

    Pavel: If you ever change your mind, it won't be easy to leave.

  • Tereza: I was forced to love my mother, but not this dog. You know, Tomas... maybe... maybe, I love her more than I love you. Not more. I mean in a better way. I'm not jealous of her. I don't want her to be different. I don't ask her for anything.

  • Sabina: Take off your clothes.

    Tereza: [taken aback] What?

    Sabina: [taking the camera] Now it's my turn.

    Tereza: [backing up] I don't like to be naked. I...

    Sabina: [insistent] Take off your clothes!

    Tereza: Wait!

    [she ducks behind the bed]

  • Sabina: I really like you, Tomas. You are the complete opposite of kitsch. In the kingdom of kitsch you would be a monster.

  • Tomas: You can sleep. Sleep in my arms. Like a baby bird. Like a broom among brooms... in a broom closet. Like a tiny parrot. Like a whistle. Like a little song. A song sung by a forest... within a forest... a thousand years ago.

  • Tereza: I know I'm supposed to help you, but I can't. Instead of being your support I'm your weight. Life is very heavy to me, but it is so light to you. I can't bear this lightness, this freedom... I'm not strong enough.

  • Tomas: Some people never change.Some people are always scoundrels.

  • Sabina: Maybe I am seeing you for the last time?

    Tomas: Maybe.