Helena Charles: He doesn't know what love or anything else means.

Helena Charles: How was it?
Jimmy Porter: It was a funeral... no flowers, no word, no sign...
Helena Charles: What do you mean?
Jimmy Porter: I mean Alison... the injustice of it is about perfect - the wrong people going hungry, the wrong people being loved, the wrong people dying.

Helena Charles: I think you're a very tiresome young man.
Jimmy Porter: Oh dear, oh dear, my wife's friends. Pass Lady Bracknell the cucumber sandwiches.

Helena Charles: If you'd stop thinking about yourself for just one moment, I'll tell you something I think you ought to know. You wife is going to have a baby!
[pause]
Helena Charles: Well? Doesn't that mean anything? Even to you?
Jimmy Porter: [pause] If you'd permit me to interrupt your... female wisdom, there's something perhaps you ought to know. I don't care! I don't care if she's going to have a baby. I don't care if it has 2 heads!
[pause]
Jimmy Porter: Well, do I disgust you? Go on, slap my face! I just came back from seeing somebody I love very much go through the sordid process of dying. And you expect me to be overcome with awe because some stupid, cruel girl is going to have a BABY?
[pause]
Jimmy Porter: Now the performance is over. Now leave me alone - and get out, you evil-minded little virgin!

Helena Charles: Never used to know whether he was joking or being serious.
Cliff Lewis: He doesn't know himself half the time - if in doubt mark it down as an insult.

Helena Charles: Shut up - you've no right to talk about her mother like that.
Jimmy Porter: I've every right haven't I. She's an old cow and she should be dead. Well, what's the matter, why don't you spring to her defense? If someone said that about me she'd react soon enough - she'd spring into a well-known lethargy and say nothing.

Helena Charles: Sorry he's gone.
Jimmy Porter: So am I. He's sloppy and irritating but he's got a good heart, you can forgive someone almost anything for that.
Helena Charles: I love you.
Jimmy Porter: Perhaps you do, perhaps it means something to have your General lie back in your arms though he's heartily sick of the whole campaign. Tired, hungry and dry.

Helena Charles: Tell me, why did you?
Alison Porter: Marry him? Oh there must be about six different answers. I met him at a party, he'd come there on his bicycle and there was oil on his jacket, it had been such a lovely day, everything about him seemed to burn - his face, the edges of his hair glistened. His eyes were so blue and full of sun.
Helena Charles: So you took him on.
Alison Porter: There never seemed to be any choice.

Helena Charles: You know what Alison once said, you were born out of your time. I think I know what she means - sometimes I think you feel you're still in the middle of the French Revolution. Oh Jimmy, can't you give up that sweet shop and do something else?
Jimmy Porter: Such as?
Helena Charles: I don't know, there are so many things that you could do.
Jimmy Porter: Such as being a literary gent - Porter the lion of the pen club, laughing Porter the tv panelist, Lord Porter leaving no.10. The personality of Porter - lets examine it, that glittering meteoric cause. While the rest of the world is being blown to bits around us what matters - me, me me.

Helena Charles: You're hurt because everything's changed and Jimmy's hurt because everything's stayed the same. Something's gone wrong somewhere hasn't it.