The House of Mirth (2000)

Eric Stoltz: Lawrence Selden

Photos 

Quotes 

• Lily Bart : They do fetch such fabulous prices, don't they?

  Lawrence Selden : Only the very rich can afford to buy them.

  Lily Bart : And you know that I am not rich. But life is very expensive.

  [Lawrence lights Lily's cigarette with his own cigarette, Lily breathes deep, exhales smoke onto Lawrence's face] 

  Lily Bart : Do you mind not being rich enough? And having to work? Do you mind that?

  Lawrence Selden : Well, the work itself is not so bad. I'm rather fond of the law.

  Lily Bart : But do you mind enough to have to marry to get out of it?

  Lawrence Selden : God forbid.

  Lily Bart : Ah, you see, there is the difference. A girl must, and a man if he chooses.

• Lily Bart : I have been about too long. People are getting tired of me. They are beginning to say that I ought to marry.

  Lawrence Selden : Isn't marriage your vocation. Isn't it what you're all brought up for?

  Lily Bart : I suppose so.

  Lawrence Selden : So why not take the plunge and have it over?

• Lily Bart : You never speak to me.

  Lawrence Selden : I'm never near you long enough.

• Lily Bart : Oh, how delicious to have a place like this all to oneself.

  Lawrence Selden : Even women have been known to enjoy the privileges of a flat.

  Lily Bart : Governesses, yes. But not poor, marriageable girls.

• Lily Bart : You must suppose me a dull kind of person if you think I never yield to an impulse.

  Lawrence Selden : But I don't suppose that. Your genius lies in converting impulses into intentions.

  Lily Bart : My genius? My genius would appear to be my ability to do the wrong thing at the right time.

  Lawrence Selden : Or vice versa.

• Lawrence Selden : How is life at Richfield?

  Grace : Quiet. Aunt Peniston sees very little company.

  Lawrence Selden : I'm sure your being there gave her much pleasure.

  Grace : Yes, I am as reliable as roast mutton.

• Lily Bart : There are men who dislike me - and others who are afraid of me. They think I want to marry them. But I don't think that you dislike me. And you can't possibly think that I want to marry you.

  Lawrence Selden : No, I absolve you from that.

• Lily Bart : Oh, if I could only do over my aunt's drawing room I know I should be a better woman.

  Lawrence Selden : Is it so very bad?

  Lily Bart : That shows how seldom you come there. Why don't you come oftener?

  Lawrence Selden : When I do come, it's not to look at Mrs Peniston's furniture.

  Lily Bart : Nonsense. You don't come at all. And yet we get on so well when we meet.

  Lawrence Selden : Cream or lemon?

  Lily Bart : Lemon.

• Lawrence Selden : I always like to see what you're doing. You're such a wonderful spectacle.

• Lawrence Selden : You see? I came after all.

• Lawrence Selden : You will marry someone very rich.

  Lily Bart : What a miserable future you foresee for me.

  Lawrence Selden : Haven't you seen it for yourself?

  Lily Bart : Of course. But it seems so much darker when you show it to me.

• Lawrence Selden : Waiting for me, I hope.

  Lily Bart : Waiting to see if you would come.

  Lawrence Selden : Weren't you sure that I would?

  Lily Bart : If I waited long enough. But I only had a limited time to give to the experience.

• Lawrence Selden : They met six weeks ago at Bertha Dorset's and have been devoted ever since. The engagement is to be announced next week. They say it will be *just* the nicest marriage possible. One dull fortune marrying another.

• Lily Bart : Why do we never see each other?

  Lawrence Selden : I have my law practice, and - you're always surrounded by admirers.

• Lily Bart : Well? What happened? What will happen?

  Lawrence Selden : Nothing, as yet. And nothing in the future, I think.

  Lily Bart : You're sure?

  Lawrence Selden : I'm not sure, but I'm a good deal surer.

• Lawrence Selden : Nothing I have said has really made the difference. The difference is in yourself.

• Lawrence Selden : That was undignified.

  Lily Bart : Where does dignity end and rectitude begin?