The Magnificent Ambersons quotes

View Quote Narrator: There were people, grown people they were, who expressed themselves longingly. They did hope to live to see the day, they said, when that boy would get his come-uppance.
Wife: His what?
Husband: His come-uppance! Something's bound to take him down someday. I only want to be there.

View Quote Lucy: Do you think George is terribly arrogant and domineering?
Eugene: Oh, he's still only a boy. Plenty of fine stuff in him. Can't help but be. He's Isabel Amberson's son.
Lucy: You liked her pretty well once, I guess, Papa.
Eugene: Yep. Do still.

View Quote Wilbur? Wilbur Minafer? I never thought he'd get her. Well, what do ya know? Well, Wilbur may not be any Apollo, as it were, but he's a steady young business man.

View Quote Isabel: [about Wilbur] It seems to me he looks so badly...He's been worried about some investments he made last year. I think the worry's affected his health.
George: What investments? He isn't going into Morgan's automobile concern, is he?

View Quote On a summer night, young men would bring an orchestra under a pretty girl's window, and flute, harp, fiddle, cello, cornet, bass viol would presently release their melodies to the dulcet stars.

View Quote [to Eugene] My mother will have no interest in knowing that you came here today or any other day...You're not wanted in this house, Mr. Morgan, now or at any other time. Perhaps you'll understand this. [He slams the door]

View Quote The magnificence of the Ambersons began in 1873. Their splendor lasted throughout all the years that saw their Midland town spread and darken into a city. In that town in those days, all the women who wore silk or velvet knew all the other women who wore silk or velvet and everybody knew everybody else's family horse and carriage. The only public conveyance was the streetcar. A lady could whistle to it from an upstairs window, and the car would halt at once, and wait for her, while she shut the window, ... put on her hat and coat, ... went downstairs, ... found an umbrella, ... told the 'girl' what to have for dinner...and came forth from the house. Too slow for us nowadays, because the faster we're carried, the less time we have to spare.

View Quote Wilbur Minafer. A quiet man. The town will hardly know he's gone.

View Quote Isabel: You must promise me never to use those bad words again.
George: I promise not to... [pause] unless I get mad at somebody.