"Woody Allen's New Comedy Hit"
Manhattan - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
You have to have a little faith in people.
— Tracy
Context:
Spoken by Tracy in the doorway of her apartment as she prepares to leave for London, while Isaac begs her to stay.
Meaning:
The film's final and most crucial line. It shatters Isaac's cynicism and serves as the ultimate moral lesson of the story: that trust is essential for connection, even if it carries the risk of being hurt.
I think people should mate for life, like pigeons or Catholics.
— Isaac Davis
Context:
Isaac discussing relationships and fidelity, showcasing his humorous but conservative view on love.
Meaning:
Encapsulates Isaac's rigid, often absurd romantic idealism. It highlights his desire for old-fashioned permanence in a modern world of fleeting relationships.
Chapter One. He adored New York City. He idolized it all out of proportion.
— Isaac Davis (Voiceover)
Context:
The opening monologue of the film, as Isaac dictates the draft of his novel while Gershwin's music plays over shots of the city.
Meaning:
Sets the tone of the film immediately. It establishes the unreliable narrator and the film's primary subject: the city itself as seen through Isaac's romanticized lens.
You're God's answer to Job, you know? You would have ended all the argument between them. He would have pointed to you and said, 'I do a lot of terrible things, but I can also make one of these.'
— Isaac Davis
Context:
Isaac talking to Tracy in bed, appreciating her beauty and innocence.
Meaning:
A rare moment of genuine, poetic compliment from Isaac to Tracy, acknowledging her purity and perfection amidst a flawed world.
Talent is luck. The important thing in life is courage.
— Isaac Davis
Context:
Isaac discussing the nature of success and art with his friends.
Meaning:
Reflects Isaac's philosophy that moral character and bravery are more significant than inherent gifts, a standard he often fails to live up to himself.