Pygmalion quotes

I sold flowers. I didn’t sell myself. Now you’ve made a lady of me I’m not fit to sell anything else.

— Liza · Act IV

If you can’t appreciate what you’ve got, you’d better get what you can appreciate.

— Higgins · Act V

Besides, do any of us understand what we are doing? If we did, would we ever do it?

— Higgins · Act II

You see, really and truly, apart from the things anyone can pick up (the dressing and the proper way of speaking, and so on), the difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she’s treated.

— Liza · Act V

HIGGINS [becoming excited as the idea grows on him] What is life but a series of inspired follies? The difficulty is to find them to do. Never lose a chance: it doesn’t come every day.

— Higgins · Act II

Remember that you are a human being with a soul and the divine gift of articulate speech: that your native language is the language of Shakespear and Milton and The Bible; and don’t sit there crooning like a bilious pigeon.

— The Note Taker · Act I

I shall always be a flower girl to Professor Higgins, because he always treats me as a flower girl, and always will; but I know I can be a lady to you, because you always treat me as a lady, and always will.

— Liza · Act V

Every girl has a right to be loved.

— Liza · Act V

THE FLOWER GIRL [still preoccupied with her wounded feelings] He’s no right to take away my character. My character is the same to me as any lady’s.

— The Flower Girl · Act I

I have never sneered in my life. Sneering doesn’t become either the human face or the human soul.

— Higgins · Act V

The weak may not be admired and hero-worshipped; but they are by no means disliked or shunned; and they never seem to have the least difficulty in marrying people who are too good for them.

— Higgins · Act V

LIZA [much troubled] I want a little kindness. I know I’m a common ignorant girl, and you a book-learned gentleman; but I’m not dirt under your feet.

— Liza · Act V