Quotes

Others

Jean Farlow: [about Charlotte] She was a wonderful person, Humbert. She was always so gay, wasn't she, John? Jean Farlow: [to Humbert] Try to think of your poor little Lolita, all alone in the world. You must live for her sake. Miss Lebone: [to Humbert] Well I think I ought to tell you that the neighbors are beginning to get a little curious about you and your little girl...You know how people talk. Clare Quilty: [on the phone] Hello. Is this Professor Humbert?...How are you Professor?...I was just wondering if you've been enjoying your stay in our lovely little town...It doesn't matter what my name is. It's really obscure - an unremarkable name....my department, you see, is sorta concerned with the bizarre rumors that have been circulating about you and that lovely, remarkable girl you've been traveling around with...with all this traveling around you do, you don't get much time to see a psychiatrist regularly, is that right?...You are classified in our files, professor, you are class

Dialogue

Humbert: Quilty, Quilty. Quilty: Wha? Wha? What's that? Humbert: Are you Quilty? Quilty: No, I'm Spartacus. Have you come to free the slaves or somethin'? Humbert: Are you Quilty? Quilty: Yeah, I am Quilty. Yes, sure. Humbert: Shall we have a little chat before we start?

Dialogue

Quilty: [after Humbert ignores his ping pong serve] Roman ping...You're supposed to say Roman pong! OK, you serve. I don't mind. I don't - I just don't mind. Come on... [serves again] Roman ping-pong. Kinda tricky serve to handle, eh Captain? Kind of tricky. One of the champs taught me that. I'm not accusing you, Captain, but it's sort of absurd the way people invade this house without even knocking...They use the telephone.. Humbert: You really don't remember me, do you? Quilty: Have you ever noticed how the ...different champs use their bats? You know, some of 'em hold it like this and everything. Humbert: Do you recall a girl called Dolores Haze? Quilty: I remember the one guy, he didn't have a hand. He had a bat instead of a hand. He's... Humbert: [Bangs on the table loudly with the paddle] Lolita?! Quilty: Lo-li-tah. Yeah, yeah. I remember that name, all right. Maybe she made some telephone calls. Who cares? Quilty: Hey, you're a sort of bad loser, Captain. I never found a guy who

Dialogue

Charlotte: Yeah, this would be your room. It's what you might call a studio - well, you know, a semi-studio affair ... it's very male - [sigh] - and, uh, quiet. We're really very fortunate here in West Ramsdale. Culturally, we're a very advanced group with lots of good Anglo-Dutch and Anglo-Scotch stock. And, uh, we're very progressive - intellectually. Humbert: That is immediately apparent! Charlotte: Oh, I do hope you'll want to address our club. There's a nice view from this window - of the front lawn, and a good place for you to do your writing. [gesturing] Shelves for your books...I am Chairman of the Great Books Committee. As a matter of fact, uh, you know, one of the speakers that I had, um, last season, was, uh, Clare Quilty...The writer, TV, TV play - Humbert: No, no I wouldn't. Charlotte: Oh, he's a very stimulating type of man. He gave us a talk on, hmm, uh, Dr. Schweitzer and Doctor Zhivago.

Dialogue

Charlotte: ...The bathroom's back here, right next door. Well, we still have that good old-fashioned quaint plumbing. It should appeal to a European. [She flushes it to demonstrate] WOOSH! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. Oh, excuse the soiled sock! I see that you're interested in art. In that case, in that case, you really must see, uh, the collection of reproductions I have in my bedroom. Voila!...Du-fee, and there's my little Van Gock, Monet. Is Mme. Humbert, umm...? Humbert: There's no Madame. We are divorced... A happy divorce. Charlotte: When did all this happen? Humbert: About a year ago, in Paris. Charlotte: Oh, Paris, France...You know, Monsieur, I really believe that it's only in the romance languages that, uh, one is able to really relate in a mature fashion. In fact, I remember when the late Mr. Haze...yes, he's passed on. But, uh, when we were on our honeymoon abroad, I-I knew that I'd never felt married until I'd had myself addressed as seniora. Humbert: You're in Spain? Charlotte: No, Me

Dialogue

Charlotte: My yellow roses. My - daughter....I could offer you a comfortable home, a sunny garden, a congenial atmosphere, my cherry pies. Charlotte: What was the decisive factor? Uh, my garden? Humbert: I think it was your cherry pies!

Dialogue

John: [to Humbert, about Charlotte] Mind if I dance with your girl? We could, um, sort of swap partners. [they leave to dance] Jean: Did you know that you've had the most remarkable effect on her. Did you know that?...she's begun to radiate a certain glow. When you get to know me better, you'll find I'm extremely broad-minded...In fact, John and I, we're both broad-minded.

Dialogue

Charlotte: Oh, hello. Hello, again! Oh, it's certainly been a long time! Quilty: It certainly has, yes. Charlotte: Do you know that I've been the local authority on you ever since. Quilty: Is that so? Well, that's very sweet of you. Thank you so much. Charlotte: I'll never forget that intellectually stimulating talk that you gave to our club. Quilty: Yes, a magnificent club. Really magnificent. Tell me one thing - are you a columnist? Charlotte: No, no. Don't you remember? That afternoon changed my whole life. Quilty: Oh, well, how about that? [He chuckles] Charlotte: You remember it. [She whispers in his ear] Quilty: Did I do that? [She nods] Did I? Charlotte: And afterwards, you know, I showed you my garden. And I drove you to the airport. Quilty: Yes, really great fun. Listen, listen, din, din you have a dawda (daughter)? Din you have a dawda with a lovely name? Yeah, a lovely, what was it now, a lovely lyrical lilting name like, uh, uh... Charlotte: Lo-li-ta. Quilty: Lo-li-ta, that

Dialogue

Charlotte: I have a proposal. What say you I, uh, teach you some of the new steps, huh? Humbert: Oh Charlotte, I don't even know the old ones. And you do this so very well, I'd much rather sit down and watch you. Very good. Charlotte: Oh come on, Humbert. Ah, Humbert Humbert, what a thrillingly different name. Charlotte: A little more joie de vivre! You know, when you smile like that, you remind me of someone. Oh, ah, a college boy I had, uh, a date with. I went dancing with him. A young, blue-blooded Bostonian. Oh, my very first glamour date. And you know, in certain lights, you remind me of Harold..I adored Harold, I really did. I swore at the time I would never marry again. I don't think I will, but, uh, it wouldn't be fair to his memory, do you think? Humbert: No, one doesn't always find such loyalty these days. Charlotte: Shouldn't life be for the living? What think you? You see, I'm a strongly emotional woman. Very strongly emotional. Oh, don't be afraid of hurting me...Take me i

Dialogue

Lolita: Did you have a good time dancing with Clare Quilty? Charlotte: Of course. He's a very erudite gentleman. Lolita: Yeah, I know. All the girls are crazy about him, too. Charlotte: That's neither here nor there. Lolita: Since when?

Dialogue

Lolita: [about a secret she has with her friend Mona] You'll blab. Humbert: I will never give away any of your secrets. Lolita: Well, for that, you get a little reward. [She dangles a fried egg above his open mouth] You can have one little bite.

Dialogue

Charlotte: I have a surprise. Humbert: The Farlows have been arrested? Charlotte: Mona Farlow is leaving for summer camp tomorrow. Lolita is going with her....isolation from boys would be the best thing for both of the girls this crucial summer. Humbert: Do you think that the camp is the answer? Charlotte: Oh, frankly Hum, I do. And it's all arranged. The Farlows and I phoned the camp long distance, and I did all the shopping this ...Is something the matter with your face? Humbert: Toothache! Charlotte: Oh, you poor man.

Dialogue

Lolita: Well, I guess I won't be seeing you again, huh? Humbert: I shall be moving on. I must prepare for my work at Beardsley College in the fall. Lolita: Then I guess this is goodbye. Humbert: Yes. Lolita: [She half-winks at him and races off] Don't forget me.

Dialogue

Charlotte: [Humbert is locked in the bathroom] Dear, the door is locked. Sweetheart, I don't want any secrets between us. It makes me feel insecure. Humbert: Can't this wait 'til I come out of here? Charlotte: I suppose. Hum, what do you do in there so long? I want to talk to you. Humbert: I haven't been here long. In point of fact, I only just came in. Charlotte: Were there a lot of women in your life before me? Humbert: I've told you about them already. Charlotte: Well, you didn't tell me about all of them. Humbert: Charlotte, if it would make you any happier, I will sit right down and I will make out a complete list of every woman I have ever known. Will that satisfy you? Charlotte: Ohh, I'm lonesome...I think it's healthy for me to be jealous. It means that I love you. You know how happy I can make you.

Dialogue

Charlotte: Darling, I don't care about any other woman. I know that our love is sacred. The others were profane. Humbert: Yeah, sacred. That's right. That's what it is, hmmm. Charlotte: Oh Hum, hum-baby, you know, I love the way you smell. You do arouse the pagan in me. Hum, you just touch me, and I-I go as limp as a noodle. It scares me. Humbert: Yes, I know the feeling. Charlotte: Do you believe in God? Humbert: The question is, 'does God believe in me?' Charlotte: [pulling out a gun] But if I ever found out that you didn't believe in God, I think I would commit suicide. This is a Sacred Weapon, it's a tragic treasure. Mr. Haze purchased it when he found out he was ill. He wanted to spare me the sight of his suffering. Happily or unhappily, he, he was hospitalized before he could use it. Darling, you know, I have a most ambitious fantasy. Humbert: What's yours? Charlotte: I would love to get hold of a real French servant girl, you know...and have her come live in the house...We could

Dialogue

Humbert: You know, I've missed you terribly. Lolita: I haven't missed you. In fact, I've been revoltingly unfaithful to you. Humbert: Oh. Lolita: But it doesn't matter a bit, because you've stopped caring anyway. Humbert: What makes you say I've stopped caring for you? Lolita: Well, you haven't even kissed me yet, have you?

Dialogue

Quilty: She's a yellow belt. I'm a green belt. That's the way nature made it. What happens is, she throws me all over the place. Mr. Swine: She throws you all over the place? Quilty: Yes. What she does, she gets me in a, sort of, thing called a sweeping ankle throw. She sweeps my ankles away from under me. I go down with one helluva bang. Mr. Swine: Doesn't it hurt? Quilty: Well, I sort of lay there in pain, but I love it. I really love it. I lay there hovering between consciousness and unconsciousness. It's really the greatest.

Dialogue

Lolita: [entering the hotel room, which has only one bed] Is, uh, this it? Humbert: You mean, uh... Lolita: Yeah. Humbert: Well, yes. You see, I-I-I-I-I, I'm quite sure that they'll manage to find a cot for us. I asked them downstairs in the lobby to find a cot. Lolita: A cot? Humbert: Yes. Lolita: You're crazy. Humbert: Why, my darling? Lolita: Because, my darling, when my darling mother finds out, she's going to divorce you and strangle me. Humbert: Yes, now look, now. I have a great feeling of, um, tenderness for you. While your mother is ill, I'm responsible for your welfare. We're not rich, but while we travel, we should be obliged - we should be thrown a good deal together - two people sharing one room inevitably enter into a kind of, um, how should I say? A kind of, hmm... Lolita: Aren't you going to go down and see about the cot?

Dialogue

Quilty: Hello, heh-heh, heh-heh. Hello. Humbert: Oh, you're addressing me?...I thought there was perhaps someone with you. Quilty: No, I'm not really with someone. I'm with you, heh-heh. I didn't mean that as an insult. What I really meant was that, uh, I'm with the State Police, uh, here, and, uh, when I'm with them, I'm with someone, but right now, I'm on my own. I mean, I'm not with a lot of people, just you. Heh. Humbert: Well, I wouldn't like to disturb you. I'll leave you alone if you prefer it. Quilty: No, you don't really have to go at all. I like it, you know, because, uh, I don't know what it is. I sort of get the impression that you want to leave but you don't like to leave because maybe you think I'd think it'd look suspicious, me being a policeman...You don't have to think that, because, uh, I haven't really got a suspicious mind at all. I look suspicious myself. A lot of people think I'm suspicious, especially when I stand around on street corners. One of our own boys pic

Dialogue

Humbert: Of course I need a shave, because I've not shaved since yesterday morning and I'm a man who (needs) two shaves a day. Lolita: Hmm. Do you always have to shave twice a day? Humbert: Yes, of course. All the best people shave twice a day.

Dialogue

Lolita: ...I-I learned some real good games in camp. One in particular-ly was fun. Humbert: Well, why don't you describe this one in particular-ly - good game? Lolita: Well, I played it with Charlie...Charlie? He's that guy that you met in the office. Humbert: You mean that boy...? Lolita: Mmm, hmm. Humbert: You and he? Lolita: Yeah. You sure you can't guess what game I'm talking about? Humbert: No, I'm not a very good guesser. [She whispers in his ear and then giggles] I don't know what game you played. [She whispers a few more words] Lolita: You mean you never played that game when you were a kid? Humbert: Oh, no. Lolita: [smiling] All righty then...

Dialogue

Lolita: Hey, let's tell mother. Humbert: Tell mother what? Lolita: [she smiles knowingly] You know what. Humbert: No, I don't think that would be very funny. Lolita: [laughing] I wonder what she'd do? Hmm?

Dialogue

Lolita: Why? What difference does it make? I want to call her. Humbert: I just don't think it would be a very good idea. That's all. Lolita: Why can't I call my mother if I want to? Humbert: Because you can't! Lolita: Why? Humbert: Because - [long pause] your mother is dead. Lolita: [laughs] Come on, now, cut it out! Why can't I call her? Humbert: Your - mother - is - dead.

Dialogue

Humbert: Try to stop crying. Everything's going to be all right. Lolita: Nothing will ever be all right. Humbert: I'm sure that we're gonna be very happy - you and I. Lolita: But everything is changed all of a sudden. Everything was so, oh, I don't know, normal. Humbert: Lolita, please, please stop crying. We'll do things, we'll go places. Lolita: But there's no place to go back to. Humbert: We'll find a new home. Lolita: Where? Humbert: Beardsley. My lectureship. It starts in September. It's in Ohio, you'll like it there. Lolita: I'll hate it, I know I will. Humbert: No you won't. It's a wonderful place. Lolita: But what about all my things back in Ramsdale? And our house? Humbert: We'll take care of all those things. What things do you want specially? Lolita: My record player and my records. Humbert: We'll send for them and, in the meantime, I can buy you new ones... ...to take the place of the old ones. I'll buy you the best hi-fi set that you ever saw and all the new records. There

Dialogue

Humbert: I thought we understood. No dates! Lolita: What do you mean, no dates?... Humbert: I don't want you around them. They're nasty-minded boys. Lolita: Oh, you're a fine one to talk about someone else's mind. Humbert: Don't avoid the issue. I told you, 'No dates.' Lolita: It wasn't a date. Humbert: It was a date. Lolita: It wasn't a date. Humbert: It was a date, Lolita. Lolita: It was not a date. Humbert: IT WAS A DATE! Lolita: It wasn't a date. Humbert: Well, whatever it was that you had yesterday afternoon, I don't want you to have again. While we're on the subject, how did you come to be so late on Saturday afternoon? Lolita: Saturday I went to my piano lesson. Humbert: Your piano lesson? I thought that was on Wednesday. Lolita: No, it's changed to Saturday, remember? Between 2:00 and 4:00, Miss Starch, piano. Ask Michele. She was with me. Humbert: "Ask Michele," that's what you always say. Well, now for a change, I'm going to ask you something about Michele. Lolita: You can't

Dialogue

Lolita: You never let me have any fun. Humbert: No fun? You have all the fun in the world. We have fun together, don't we? Ay, whenever you want something, I buy it for you automatically. I take you to concerts, to museums, to movies. I do all the housework. Who does the-the tidying up? I do. Who does the cooking? I do. You and I have lots of fun - don't we Lolita? Lolita: [she smiles] Come here. [He kneels in front of her] Still love me? Humbert: Completely. You know that. Lolita: You know what I want more than anything else in the world? Humbert: What do you want? Lolita: I want you to be proud of me. Humbert: I am proud of you, Lolita. Lolita: No, I mean really proud of me. You see, they want me for the lead in the school play. Isn't that fantastic? And I have to have a letter from you, giving your permission. Humbert: Who wants you? Lolita: Well, Edusa Gold, the drama teacher, Clare Quilty, and Vivian Darkbloom. Humbert: And who might they be? Lolita: They're the authors. They're h

Dialogue

Humbert: All right, perhaps I was wrong in the attitude that I took about the school play. Dr. Zempf: Zat's very big of you to admit that. And whilst you're admitting zat, why don't you alzo loozen up a little bit more in the other two 'd's' yah? The dating and the dance? Humbert: You think that those are equally important? Dr. Zempf: Dr. Hombards, I'll tell you about the two things. I feel that you and I should do all in our power to stop that old Dr. Cutler and his quartet of psychologists from fiddling around in the home situation. Zat's what I feel. Don't you agree with me?

Dialogue

Humbert: It's partly my fault, I realize that. It's something that's happened on account of this horrible place. All these people poking their nose into our business. And I never see you anymore what with your soda-fountains and your extra-c...[she pops her gum] STOP DOING THAT! If we could leave this place perhaps. Yes, there's there's nothing to keep us here. We haven't any obligations here...We could just pack up our bags - TONIGHT! We could go now. I could take you for a wonderful trip around the country!...Don't you want to get back to where we were before we came to this horrible place? Don't you want to come away with me? Lolita: NO! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!...WHY DON'T YOU LEAVE ME ALONE?...DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO! YOU'RE A NAUSEATING CREEP! Humbert: You're not gonna see these filthy boys anymore, I can tell you that. Lolita: I'VE GOT NEWS FOR YOU. I'M GONNA DO ANYTHING I WANT TO, ANYTIME I WANT TO, WITH ANYBODY I WANT TO - AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME!

Dialogue

Lolita: You're gonna get us killed. What's the big fat hurry anyway? Humbert: [about the car following them] I think he's some kind of a cop. Humbert: He can't help us if he's stopping way back there like that. He can't be the police because if he were police, they'd just draw up beside us and start writing a ticket...Maybe it's a special kind of police who are just supposed to follow people. Lolita: Yeah, like the vice squad.

Dialogue

Lolita: Oh, there's no point in going into that! It's all over. Humbert: Lolita. I have to know. Lolita: Well, I'm sorry, but I can't tell you. Humbert: ...If you're a sensible girl, and if you want what I've come to give you, you'll tell me what I want to know. Lolita: Do you remember Dr. Zempf?...That German psychologist who came to see you at Beardsley. Humbert: Was it him? Lolita: Not exactly. Humbert: I didn't come here to play guessing games. Tell me who it was. Lolita: Well, give me a chance to explain...Do you remember that car that used to follow us around?...Do you remember mother's old flame at the school dance? No, you probably wouldn't remember him. Do you remember the guy that you talked to at that hotel on the way back from camp? He pretended that he was part of that police convention that was there...And do you remember that guy that called you at the hotel? Humbert: The night you disappeared? Yes, I remember him very well. Lolita: And yet you still haven't guessed. Hum

Dialogue

Humbert: This may be neither here nor there, but I've got to say it. Life is very short. Between here and that old car outside is twenty-five paces. Make them now, right now...Come away with me now, just as you are. Lolita: Oh, you mean you'll give us the money only if I go to a hotel with you. Humbert: No, you've got it all wrong. I want you to leave your husband and this awful house. I want you to live with me and die with me, and EVERYTHING with me. Lolita: You must be crazy! Humbert: I'm perfectly serious, Lo. I've never been less crazy in all my life. We'll start a-fresh. We can forget everything that has happened. Lolita: No, it's too late. Humbert: No, it's not too late...don't tell me that it's too late because it's not too late. If you want time to think it over, that's perfectly all right with me, because I've waited already for three years and I think I could wait for the rest of my life if necessary. You're not giving anything up. There's nothing here to keep you...You're n

Dialogue

Humbert: There are no strings attached. It's only money anyway. It comes from the rent of the house - that's four hundred dollars in cash...I made out a check here for two thousand, five hundred dollars. There's someone in Ramsdale who's prepared to take care of the mortgage of the house. There's the downpayment. That's the payment. Lolita: You mean we're getting thirteen thousand dollars? Wonderful. Oh, come on now, don't cry. I'm sorry. Try to understand. I'm really sorry that I cheated so much, but I guess that's just the way things are. Lolita: Hey, well listen, let's keep in touch, huh? I'll write to you when we get to Alaska.