View Quote ... Philadelphia Story, The (1940) ... Movie Quotes Database

Tracy: Of course, inasmuch as you let us in for it in the first place.
Mr. Lord: Oh, do keep that note out of your voice, Tracy. It's very unattractive.
Tracy: Oh? How does your dancer friend talk? Or does she purr?
Margaret: Tracy!
Mr. Lord: Oh, it's quite all right, Margaret.
Tracy: Sweet and low, I suppose. Dulcet, very lady-like. You've got a heck of a nerve to come back here in your best-head-of-the-family manner and make stands and strike attitudes and criticize my fiancee and give orders and mess things up generally...
Margaret: Stop it instantly!
Tracy: I can't help it. It's sickening. As if he'd done nothing at all!
Mr. Lord: Which happens to be the truth.
Margaret: Anyway, it's not your affair, Tracy, if it concerns anyone. Well actually, I don't know whom it concerns except your father.
Mr. Lord: That's very wise of you, Margaret. What most wives fail to realize is that their husband's philandering has nothing whatever to do with them.
Tracy: Oh? Then, what has it to do with?
Mr. Lord: A reluctance to grow old, I think. I suppose the best mainstay a man can have as he gets along in years is a daughter - the right kind of daughter.
Tracy: How sweet!
Mr. Lord: No, no. I'm talking seriously about something I've thought over thoroughly. I've had to. I think a devoted young girl gives a man the illusion that youth is still his.
Tracy: Very important, I suppose.
Mr. Lord: Oh, very, very. Because without her, he might be inclined to go out in search of his youth. And that's just as important to him as it is to any woman. But with a girl of his own full of warmth for him, full of foolish, unquestioning, uncritical affection -
Tracy: None of which I've got -
Mr. Lord: None. You have a good mind, a pretty face, a disciplined body that does what you tell it to. You have everything it takes to make a lovely woman except the one essential - an understanding heart. And without that, you might just as well be made of bronze.
Tracy: That's an awful thing to say to anyone.
Mr. Lord: Yes, it is indeed.
Tracy: So, I'm to blame for Tina Mara, am I?
Mr. Lord: To a certain extent, I expect you are.
Tracy: You coward.
Mr. Lord: No. But better that than a prig or a perennial spinster, however many marriages.
Margaret: Seth, that's too much.
Mr. Lord: I'm afraid it's not enough, Margaret. I'm afraid nothing is.
Tracy: What, what did you say I was?
Mr. Lord: Do you want me to repeat it?
Tracy: 'A prig and a...' You mean, you think I think I'm some kind of a goddess or something?
Mr. Lord: If your ego wants it that way, yes. Also, you've been talking like a jealous woman.
Tracy: 'A...' What's the matter with everyone all at once, anyhow?

Tracy : Of course, inasmuch as you let us in for it in the first place. Mr. Lord : Oh, do keep that note out of your voice, Tracy. It's very unattractive. Tracy : Oh? How does your dancer friend talk? Or does she purr? Margaret : Tracy! Mr. Lord : Oh, it's quite all right, Margaret. Tracy : Sweet and low, I suppose. Dulcet, very lady-like. You've got a heck of a nerve to come back here in your best-head-of-the-family manner and make stands and strike attitudes and criticize my fiancee and give orders and mess things up generally... Margaret : Stop it instantly! Tracy : I can't help it. It's sickening. As if he'd done nothing at all! Mr. Lord : Which happens to be the truth. Margaret : Anyway, it's not your affair, Tracy, if it concerns anyone. Well actually, I don't know whom it concerns except your father. Mr. Lord : That's very wise of you, Margaret. What most wives fail to realize is that their husband's philandering has nothing whatever to do with them. Tracy : Oh? Then, what has it to do with? Mr. Lord : A reluctance to grow old, I think. I suppose the best mainstay a man can have as he gets along in years is a daughter - the right kind of daughter. Tracy : How sweet! Mr. Lord : No, no. I'm talking seriously about something I've thought over thoroughly. I've had to. I think a devoted young girl gives a man the illusion that youth is still his. Tracy : Very important, I suppose. Mr. Lord : Oh, very, very. Because without her, he might be inclined to go out in search of his youth. And that's just as important to him as it is to any woman. But with a girl of his own full of warmth for him, full of foolish, unquestioning, uncritical affection - Tracy : None of which I've got - Mr. Lord : None. You have a good mind, a pretty face, a disciplined body that does what you tell it to. You have everything it takes to make a lovely woman except the one essential - an understanding heart. And without that, you might just as well be made of bronze. Tracy : That's an awful thing to say to anyone. Mr. Lord : Yes, it is indeed. Tracy : So, I'm to blame for Tina Mara, am I? Mr. Lord : To a certain extent, I expect you are. Tracy : You coward. Mr. Lord : No. But better that than a prig or a perennial spinster, however many marriages. Margaret : Seth, that's too much. Mr. Lord : I'm afraid it's not enough, Margaret. I'm afraid nothing is. Tracy : What, what did you say I was? Mr. Lord : Do you want me to repeat it? Tracy : 'A prig and a...' You mean, you think I think I'm some kind of a goddess or something? Mr. Lord : If your ego wants it that way, yes. Also, you've been talking like a jealous woman. Tracy : 'A...' What's the matter with everyone all at once, anyhow?