Charlie Allnut: A man takes a drop too much once in a while, it's only human nature.
Rose Sayer: Nature, Mr. Allnut, is what we are put in this world to rise above.


--Katharine Hepburn (as Rose Sayer) in The African Queen

Charlie Allnut: How'd you like it?
Rose Sayer: Like it?
Charlie Allnut: White water rapids!
Rose Sayer: I never dreamed...
Charlie Allnut: I don't blame you for being scared - not one bit. Nobody with good sense ain't scared of white water...
Rose Sayer: I never dreamed that any mere physical experience could be so stimulating!


--Katharine Hepburn (as Rose Sayer) in The African Queen

Charlie Allnut: I don't know why the Germans would want this God-forsaken place.
Rose Sayer: God has not forsaken this place, Mr. Allnut, as my brother's presence here bears witness.


--Katharine Hepburn (as Rose Sayer) in The African Queen

Richard Sumner: [watching the computer result on "Corfu", which is mistaken as "curfew"] What the devil is this?
Bunny Watson: [also having a look] It's the poem, "Curfew Shall Not Ring Tonight". Isn't that nice?
[reciting]
Bunny Watson: "Cromwell will not come till sunset, and her lips grew strangely white... as she breathed the husky whisper, curfew must not a-ring tonight."
Miss Warriner: [while Bunny goes on] Mr. Sumner, what can I do?
Richard Sumner: Nothing. You know you can't interrupt her
[the computer]
Richard Sumner: in the middle of a sequence.
Miss Warriner: Yes, but, Mr. Sumner...
Richard Sumner: Quiet! Just listen.
Bunny Watson: "She had listened while the judges read, without a tear or sigh, at the ringing of the curfew, Basil Underwood must die."
Richard Sumner: Uh, how long does this go on?
Bunny Watson: That old poem has about 80 stanzas to it.
Richard Sumner: Where are we now?
Bunny Watson: She has reached the topmost ladder. O'er her hangs the great dark bell, awful is the gloom beneath her like the pathway down to hell. Lo, the ponderous tongue is swinging. 'Tis the hour of curfew now, and the sight has chilled her bosom, stopped her breath and paled her brow."
[telephone rings]
Bunny Watson: "Shall she let it ring? No, never! Flash her eyes with sudden light, as she springs and grasps it firmly...
[answers the phone]
Bunny Watson: curfew shall not ring tonight!" They hung up... And I know another one! "Out she swung, far out, the city seemed a speck of light..."


--Katharine Hepburn (as Bunny Watson) in Desk Set

Richard Sumner: That's correct!
Bunny Watson: Yes, I know.


--Katharine Hepburn (as Bunny Watson) in Desk Set

Richard Sumner: Tough question?
Bunny Watson: No... (chewing)... Tough roast beef.


--Katharine Hepburn (as Bunny Watson) in Desk Set

Richard Sumner: You were late this morning.
Bunny Watson: I know. But it's alright - I brought a note from my mother.


--Katharine Hepburn (as Bunny Watson) in Desk Set

Sam Craig: I don't want to be married to Tess Harding any more than I want you to be just Mrs Sam Craig. Why can't you be Tess Harding Craig?
Tess Harding: I think it's a wonderful name.


--Katharine Hepburn (as Tess Harding) in Woman of the Year

George Kittredge: I'm going to build you an ivory tower with my own two hands.
Tracy Lord: Like fun you are.


--Katharine Hepburn (as Tracy Lord) in The Philadelphia Story

George Kittredge: You're like some marvelous, distant, well, queen, I guess. You're so cool and fine and always so much your own. There's a kind of beautiful purity about you, Tracy, like, like a statue.
Tracy Lord: George...
George Kittredge: Oh, it's grand, Tracy. It's what everybody feels about you. It's what I first worshipped you for from afar.
Tracy Lord: I don't want to be worshipped. I want to be loved.


--Katharine Hepburn (as Tracy Lord) in The Philadelphia Story