Ruth Gordon movie quotes

“I should like to change into a sunflower most of all. They're so tall and simple.”
Ruth Gordon - Maude

“Consistency is not really a human trait.”
Ruth Gordon - Maude

Dreyfus once wrote from Devil's Island that he would see the most glorious birds. Many years later in Brittany he realized they had only been seagulls. For me they will always be “glorious birds”.
Ruth Gordon - Maude

“- Harold: You sure have a way with people.
- Maude: Well, they're my species!”
Bud Cort - Harold
Ruth Gordon - Maude

“Vice, Virtue. It's best not to be too moral. You cheat yourself out of too much life. Aim above morality. If you apply that to life, then you're bound to live life fully.”
Ruth Gordon - Maude

“- Motorcycle Officer: License, lady?
- Maude: I don't have one. I don't believe in them.”
Tom Skerritt - Motorcycle Officer
Ruth Gordon - Maude

“Everybody should be able to make some music. That's the cosmic dance.”
Ruth Gordon - Maude

“A lot of people enjoy being dead. But they are not dead, really. They're just backing away from life. Reach out. Take a chance. Get hurt even. But play as well as you can. Go team, go! Give me an L. Give me an I. Give me a V. Give me an E. L-I-V-E. LIVE! Otherwise, you got nothing to talk about in the locker room.”
Ruth Gordon - Maude

- Maude: “The earth is my body, my head is in the stars”. Who said that, Harold?
- Harold: I don't know.
- Maude: Well, I suppose I did, then.
Ruth Gordon - Maude
Bud Cort - Harold

“Everyone has the right to make an ass out of themselves. You just can't let the world judge you too much.”
Ruth Gordon - Maude

“For a sailor's wife, war is just another storm.”
Ruth Gordon - Mrs. Sarah Jarvis

“- Harold: [referring to police officer] He's following us.
- Maude: Is he? Police always want to play games!”
Bud Cort - Harold
Ruth Gordon - Maude

“- Harold: Do you pray?
- Maude: Pray? No. I communicate.
- Harold: With God?
- Maude: With life.”
Bud Cort - Harold
Ruth Gordon - Maude

“- Harold: You hop in any car you want and just drive off?
- Maude: Well, not any car, I like to keep a variety. I'm always looking for the new experience.
- Harold: Maybe… Nevertheless, I think you're upsetting people. I don't know if that's right.
- Maude: Well, if some people get upset because they feel they have a hold on some things, I'm...” (continue)(continue reading)
Bud Cort - Harold
Ruth Gordon - Maude

“The kid shouldn't have been smoking in bed!”

Ruth Gordon - Bernice

“Who sends dead flowers to a funeral? It's absurd.”
Ruth Gordon - Maude

“You know, at one time, I used to break into pet shops to liberate the canaries. But I decided that was an idea way before its time. Zoos are full, prisons are overflowing. Oh my, how the world still dearly loves a cage.”
Ruth Gordon - Maude

“- Mary Todd Lincoln: Stephen Douglas has arrived. Listen to them cheering for him!
- Abe Lincoln: They ought to cheer. He paid them enough for it.”

Ruth Gordon - Mary Todd Lincoln
Raymond Massey - Abe Lincoln

“- Harold: What were you fighting for?
- Maude: Oh, big issues. Liberty. Rights. Justice. Kings died, kingdoms fell. I don't regret the kingdoms, what sense in borders and nations and patriotism? But I miss the kings.”
Bud Cort - Harold
Ruth Gordon - Maude