It’s A Wonderful Life is a 1946’s American Christmas-themed fantasy film written and directed by Frank Capra, based on the short story and the booklet The Greatest Gift, which Philip Van Doren Stern self-published in 1943. It is loosely modelled on his novella of 1843 by Charles Dickens, “A Christmas Carol”.
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Best It’s a Wonderful Life Quotes (Handpicked)
1. “Every time you hear a bell ring, it means that some angel’s just got his wings.”- Clarence
2. “You see George, you really had a wonderful life. Don’t you see what a mistake it would be to throw it away?” – Clarence
3. “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. And when he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” – Clarence
4. “You’ve been given a great gift, George, a chance to see what the world would be like without you.” – Clarence
5. Clarence: No, we don’t use money in Heaven.
George Bailey: Oh yeah, that’s right. I keep forgetting. Comes in pretty handy down here, bub!
6. “Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.” – Clarence
7. “Look, we’re still in business! We’ve still got two bucks left!” – George Bailey
8. “Dear Father in Heaven, I’m not a praying man, but if you’re up there and you can hear me, show me the way.” – George Bailey
9. “What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word, and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.” – George Bailey
10. George Bailey: And all’s fair in love and war.
Ma Bailey: Well, I don’t know about war.
11. George Bailey: How old are you anyway?
Mary: 18.
George Bailey: 18! Why it was only last year you were 17.
12. “If it wasn’t me talking, I’d say you were the prettiest girl in town.” – George Bailey
13. George Bailey: You know what the three most exciting sounds in the world are?
Uncle Billy: Uh-huh. Breakfast is served, lunch is served, dinner…
George Bailey: No, no, no, no! Anchor chains, plane motors, and train whistles.
14. “I know what I’m gonna do tomorrow, and the next day, and next year, and the year after that.” – George Bailey
15. “What’s a pretty girl like you doing marrying this two-headed brother of mine?” – George Bailey
16. “You call this a happy family? Why do we have to have all these kids?” – George Bailey
17. “I’m a rich tourist today. How about driving me home in style?” – George Bailey
18. “A man doesn’t get in a situation like this every day.” – George Bailey
19. “[running through Bedford Falls] Merry Christmas, movie house! Merry Christmas, Emporium! Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan!” – George Bailey
20. “You’re right when you say my father was no businessman. I know that. Why he ever started this cheap, penny-ante Building and Loan, I’ll never know. But neither you nor anyone else can say anything against his character.” – George Bailey
21. “But ideals without common sense can ruin this town.” – Mr. Potter
22. “George Bailey, whose ship has just come in. Provided he has enough brains to climb aboard.” – Mr. Potter
23. “George, I am an old man and most people hate me. But I don’t like them either, so that makes it all even.” – Mr. Potter
24. George: Mary Hatch, why in the world did you ever marry a guy like me?
Mary: To keep from being an old maid!
25. Mary: What do you want?
George: Me? Not a thing. I just came in to get warm.
Mary: He’s making violent love to me, mother!
26. Mary: Remember the night we broke some windows in this old house? This is what I wished for.
George: You’re wonderful.
27. “It’s deep in the race for a man to want his own roof and walls and fireplace.” – Mary Bailey
28. George: Well, maybe I left the car up at Martini’s. Well, come on, Gabriel.
Clarence: Clarence!
George: Clarence. Right… Clarence.
George Bailey: And it goes for you too.
29. Uncle Billy: [drunk] Where’s my hat? Where’s my hat?
[George takes it off Billy’s head and hands it to him]
Uncle Billy: Oh, oh thankyou, George. Which is mine?
George: The middle one.
30. George: Now, come on, get your clothes on, and we’ll stroll up to my car and get… Oh, I’m sorry.
I’ll stroll. You fly.
Clarence: I can’t fly! I haven’t got my wings.
George: You haven’t got your wings. Yeah, that’s right.
31. Mary: You look at me as if you didn’t know me.
George Bailey: Well, I don’t.
Mary: You pass me on the street almost every day.
George Bailey: Me? Naw, that was a little girl named Mary Hatch, that wasn’t you.
32. [George has discovered his brother Harry’s tombstone]
Clarence: [explaining] Your brother, Harry Bailey, broke through the ice and was drowned at the age of nine.
George: That’s a lie! Harry Bailey went to war! He got the Congressional Medal of Honor! He saved the lives of every man on that transport!
Clarence: Every man on that transport died. Harry wasn’t there to save them, because you weren’t there to save Harry.
33. Senior Angel: A man down on Earth needs our help.
Clarence: Splendid. Is he sick?
Senior Angel: No, worse. He’s discouraged.
34. George: This is a very interesting situation!
Mary: Please give me my robe.
George: A man doesn’t get in a situation like this every day.
35. Zuzu Bailey: I’m not sleepy. I want to look at my flower.
George: I know I know, but you just go to sleep, and then you can dream about it, and it’ll be a whole garden.
Zuzu Bailey: It will?
George: Uh-huh.
36. Mrs. Hatch: Who is down there with you, Mary?
Mary: It’s George Bailey, mother.
Mrs. Hatch: George Bailey? What does he want?
Mary: I don’t know!
[to George]
Mary: What do you want?
George Bailey: Me? Nothing! I just came in to get warm.
Mary: [pause] He’s making violent love to me, mother!
Life Lessons that It’s A Wonderful Life Presents
Don’t Compare Yourself To Others : In the movie, the main character George often compares himself to Sam Wainwright, a very successful friend. He considers Sam his rival for Mary; however, George gets her attention.
He is, however, unhappy that the wealthy Sam had left Bedford Falls behind to do “important things.” Thinking about things like these will always keep your mind stressed.
Great Sacrifice Leads To Great Reward : In the film, all the sacrifices George made caused him to feel like he’s not able to make it and ultimately led him to feel angry about the circumstances of his life.
However, these sacrifices do mean something since in the time of his greatest need, the people he gave up so many times on behalf of come to the aid and assist him.
“No Man Is A Failure Who Has Friends” : The film reveals that George believes that he is a total failure for having not left Bedford Falls, travelled the world, or fulfilled his goals. But, in the end, by staying in Bedford Falls, he enriched many people’s lives, and in making it so, he made new friends.
In the last scene, the friends express their appreciation to him to thank him for all he’s done for them. The fact that everyone gives more than George required speaks volumes.
