- Ethel Whitehead: Don't talk to me about self-respect. That's something you tell yourself you got when you got nothing else. What kind of self-respect is there living on aspirin tablets and chicken salad sandwiches?
- [beat]
- Ethel Whitehead: Look Marty, the only thing that counts is that stuff you take to the bank, that filthy buck that everybody sneers at, but slugs to get.
- [beat]
- Ethel Whitehead: I know how you feel. You're a nice guy. But the world isn't for nice guys. You've got to kick and punch and belt your way up because nobody's going to give you a lift. You've got to do it yourself, cuz nobody cares about us except ourselves.
- Ethel Whitehead: Don't talk to me about self-respect. That's something you tell yourself you got when you got nothing else.
- Martin Blackford: [when she wants to stop helping a gangster friend] This isn't a party you can leave when you get bored. We could have left, you and I, a long time ago. We were only guests then. But we stayed too late.
- Nick Prenta: [intercepting and examining the check she's offered for her gambling losses] Your check's no good, Mrs. Forbes.
- Ethel Whitehead: [coldly] My check's good anywhere.
- Nick Prenta: [tearing up the check] Except here.
- Ethel Whitehead: [looks annoyed]
- Nick Prenta: That's right. I'm fresh. But I'm also generous. Tonight, you're the guest of the house. Now tomorrow night, that's different. Tomorrow night you can lose your shirt.
- [looks her over and bends closer]
- Nick Prenta: I'll even pay to see that.
- Sandra: I'm gettin' myself a new partner!
- Ethel Whitehead: You should get yourself a couple of other new items, if you'll pardon the expression.
- Ethel Whitehead: The only thing that counts is that stuff you take to the bank, that filthy buck that everybody sneers at, but slugs to get.
- Patricia Longworth: [at the roulette table] What's happened to that system of yours, darling? I thought you always quit while you were still ahead.
- Ethel Whitehead: I've been experimenting with a new one: stay to the bitter end.
- [to croupier]
- Ethel Whitehead: If you'll write out the obituary, I'll give you a check.
- George Castleman: A well-dressed woman never wears anything that deflects a man's attention from her face
- [removes flowers from Ethel's hair]
- George Castleman: .
- [Ethel and George kiss]
- Ethel Whitehead: You're asking for trouble, aren't you?
- George Castleman: I never got anything yet worthwhile, without trouble. Only don't take this for anything more than it's worth.
- Ethel Whitehead: It might be worth more than you think.
- George Castleman: There must be a place in my organization for someone like you.
- Ethel Whitehead: I already have a place in your organization.
- George Castleman: I had a somewhat more prominent place in mind... although there's a LOT you'd have to learn.
- Ethel Whitehead: I could learn it.
- George Castleman: For example, lesson number 1 - it's an Etruscan vase, not a flower pot. To be able to own one is one thing. To appreciate it, another.
- George Castleman: Lesson number 2 - cheap perfume is cheap perfume, no matter who tells ya', Caveny or Castleman.
- George Castleman: And lesson number 3 - a well-dressed woman never wears anything that deflects a man's attention from her face.
- [removes a flowered hat from her head]
- George Castleman: [holding a gun on Nick Prenta] Don't move, Nick... I'm gonna' give you a lesson in political science. Revolutions are started by smart people. But they're always finished by smarter ones.
- George Castleman: [continues] You always liked being in the headlines, haven't you? Well, this time we're going to move you over to the Obituary column, aren't we!
- George Castleman: You got a brain, Marty. The best kind... the kind you don't have to go out and buy.
- Ethel Whitehead: You enjoy making a person look like two cents, don't you? Well, get this straight, I don't like being made to look like two cents.