Harry Bailey: A toast to my big brother George: The richest man in town!

Mickey: [Walks up to a disheartened Freddie Othello, dumped by Mary Hatch] What's the matter, Othello - jealous? Did you know there's a swimming pool under this floor? And did you know that button behind you causes this floor to open up? And did you further know that George Bailey is dancing right over that crack? [Othello turns to Mickey] And I've got the key!

Mr. Potter: [while on the Draft Board] 1A... 1A... 1A...

Peter Bailey (Pop): [about Potter] Oh, he's a sick man. Frustrated and sick. Sick in his mind, sick in his soul, if he has one. Hates everybody that has anything that he can't have. Hates us mostly, I guess.

Tommy Bailey: Can you sing, Daddy?

Uncle Billy : Nobody ever changes here, you know that.

Uncle Billy: Mary did it, George! Mary did it! She told a few people you were in trouble and they scattered all over town collecting money. They didn't ask any questions — just said: "If George is in trouble — count on me." You never saw anything like it.

Violet Bick: I'm glad I know you, George Bailey.

Young Mary Hatch: Is this the ear you can't hear on? [whispering into George's deaf ear] George Bailey - I'll love you till the day I die.

Bert: Hey George! George! You all right? Hey, what's the matter?
George: Now get outta here, Bert, or I'll hit you again! Get outta here!
Bert: What the sam hill you yelling for, George?
George: You...Bert, do you know me?
Bert: Know you? You kidding? I've been looking all over town trying to find you. I saw your car plowed into that tree down there and I thought maybe you--hey, your mouth's bleeding. Are you sure you're all right?
George: What the... [laughing] My mouth's bleeding, Bert! My mouth's bleeding! Zuzu's petals...Zuzu's petals! There they are! Bert, what do you know about that! Merry Christmas!!

Billy: [drunk] Oh, boy, oh boy, oh boy. I feel so good I could spit in Potter's eye. I think I will. What did you say, huh? Oh, maybe I'd better go home.Where's my hat? Where's my... [George takes the hat from Uncle Billy's head and hands it to him] Oh, thank you, George. Which one is mine?
George: The middle one.
Billy: Oh, thank you, George, old boy, old boy. Now, look –– if you'll point me in the right direction... would you do that? George?
George: Right down here.
Billy: Old Building and Loan pal, huh...
George: Now you just turn this way and go right straight down.
Billy: That way, huh? [begins singing, then a crash is heard] I'm all right. I'm all right. [singing] "...the sweetest flower that grows . . . "

Billy: [grabbing Potter's newspaper] Well, good morning, Mr. Potter. What's the news? Well, well, well, Harry Bailey wins Congressional Medal. That couldn't be one of the Bailey boys? You just can't keep those Baileys down, now, can you, Mr. Potter?
Potter: How does slacker George feel about that?
Billy: Very jealous, very jealous. He only lost three buttons off his vest. Of course, slacker George would have gotten two of those medals if he had gone.
Potter: Bad ear.
Billy: Yes. After all, Potter, some people like George had to stay home. Not every heel was in Germany and Japan!

Clarence: I didn't have time to get some stylish underwear. My wife gave me this on my last birthday. I passed away in it. Oh, Tom Sawyer's drying out, too. You should read the new book Mark Twain's writing now.
Tollkeeper: How'd you happen to fall in?
Clarence: I didn't fall in. I jumped in to save George.
George: You what? To save me?
Clarence: Well, I did, didn't I? You didn't go through with it, did you?
George: Go through with what?
Clarence: Suicide.
Tollkeeper: It's against the law to commit suicide around here.
Clarence: Yeah, it's against the law where I come from, too.
Tollkeeper: Where do you come from?
Clarence: Heaven. '[to George] I had to act quickly; that's why I jumped in. I knew if I were drowning you'd try to save me. And you see, you did, and that's how I saved you.

Clarence: So you still think killing yourself would make everyone feel happier, eh?
George: Oh, I don't know. I guess you're right. I suppose it would have been better if I'd never been born at all.
Clarence: What did you say?
George: I said "I'd wish I'd never been born!"
Clarence: Oh, you mustn't say things like that. You...wait a minute. Wait a minute. That's an idea. [glances up toward Heaven] What do you think? Yeah, that'll do it. All right. [to George] You've got your wish. You've never been born. [snow stops falling and a strong gust of wind blows open the door] You don't have to make all that fuss about it.

Clarence: What did you stop it for?
Joseph: I want you to take a good look at that face.
Clarence: Who is it?
Joseph: George Bailey.