"It's a wonderful laugh! It's a wonderful love!"
It's a Wonderful Life - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.
— George Bailey
Context:
Spoken during a walk home with Mary after a high school dance. They have just shared a moment throwing rocks at the old Granville house, making wishes. This line is George's passionate, slightly hyperbolic declaration of his feelings for her.
Meaning:
This quote captures George's youthful idealism and romantic nature. It shows his big dreams and the grand promises he makes, symbolizing his desire to achieve the impossible for the woman he loves, long before life forces him into a more pragmatic existence.
Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?
— Clarence Odbody
Context:
Clarence says this to George during the alternate reality sequence. They have just visited George's mother, who, without him, is a bitter, cold woman who doesn't recognize him. This is one of the first moments George begins to grasp the devastating consequences of his absence.
Meaning:
This line explicitly states the film's central theme: the interconnectedness of human lives and the idea that every person has a significant, often unseen, impact on the world. It is the core lesson Clarence is trying to teach George.
Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.
— Clarence Odbody
Context:
This is the final message of the film, written by Clarence in a copy of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" that he leaves for George. George reads it at the end, surrounded by the friends and townspeople who have come to bail him out of his financial trouble.
Meaning:
This quote serves as the film's ultimate moral, redefining success. It posits that true wealth is not monetary but is found in the love and loyalty of friends and family. It directly refutes George's belief that his financial ruin has made him a failure.
Teacher says, every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.
— Zuzu Bailey
Context:
In the final scene, as George celebrates with his family and friends, a bell on the Christmas tree rings. His youngest daughter, Zuzu, says this line. George looks up with a knowing smile and says, "Atta boy, Clarence," affirming his newfound faith and gratitude.
Meaning:
This innocent, heartwarming line provides a moment of magical closure. It confirms for George (and the audience) that Clarence has succeeded in his mission, tying George's earthly redemption to a celestial reward and reinforcing the film's fantasy elements.
In the whole vast configuration of things, I'd say you were nothing but a scurvy little spider!
— George Bailey
Context:
George says this to Mr. Potter in his office after Potter has refused him a loan and insulted him. It's a moment of righteous anger before George's complete descent into despair.
Meaning:
This outburst reveals George's deep-seated contempt for Mr. Potter's greed and soullessness. It's a moment where George, despite his own troubles, stands up to the film's embodiment of evil, asserting a moral framework where Potter's wealth means nothing in the grand scheme of things.