It’s been decades since it first came out, but Breakfast at Tiffany’s remains timeless to this day.
There’s the glitz, the glamour, the romance. And it doesn’t hurt that the quotes still apply in all areas of our lives today.
Here are Breakfast at Tiffany’s quotes to make you feel like royalty.
On being confident when you’ve earned the right to be:
“Everybody has to feel superior to somebody,” she said. “But it’s customary to present a little proof before you take the privilege.” – Holly Golightly
On the yardstick of how men should treat you:
“You could always tell what kind of a person a man thinks you are by the earrings he gives you. I must say, the mind reels.” – Holly Golightly
On being the life of the party:
“Promise me one thing: don’t take me home until I’m drunk – very drunk indeed.” – Holly Golightly
On the importance of loving and being loved:
“People do fall in love. People do belong to each other, because that’s the only chance that anyone’s got for true happiness.” – Paul Varjak
On not needing a man to complete you:
“We don’t belong to each other: he’s an independent, and so am I.” – Holly Golightly
On the feeling of home:
“It calms me down right away, the quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there, not with those kind men in their nice suits, and that lovely smell of silver and alligator wallets. If I could find a real-life place that made me feel like Tiffany’s, then I’d buy some furniture and give the cat a name.” – Holly Golightly
On always wanting to look your best:
“I’ve got to do something about the way I look. I mean a girl just can’t go to Sing Sing with a green face.” – Holly Golightly
On getting to a good place with love:
“Love should be allowed. I’m all for it. Now that I’ve got a pretty good idea what it is.” – Paul Varjak
On the importance of being dressed to the nines:
“Hand me my purse, will you, darling? A girl can’t read that sort of thing… with… without her lipstick.” – Holly Golightly
On not giving your heart to just anyone:
“You musn’t give your heart to a wild thing. The more you do, the stronger they get, until they’re strong enough to run into the woods or fly into a tree. And then to a higher tree and then to the sky.” -Holly Golightly
On people belonging together:
“You know what’s wrong with you, Miss Whoever-You-Are? You’re chicken, you’ve got no guts. You’re afraid to stick out your chin and say, “Okay, life’s a fact, people do fall in love, people do belong to each other, because that’s the only chance anybody’s got for real happiness.” -Paul Varjak
On confidence:
“Anyone who ever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot.” – Holly Golightly
On remaining free:
“I don’t want to put you in a cage, I want to love you!” – Paul Varjak
On knowing what matters to you:
“He’s all right! Aren’t you, cat? Poor cat! Poor slob! Poor slob without a name! The way I see it I haven’t got the right to give him one. We don’t belong to each other. We just took up one day by the river. I don’t want to own anything until I find a place where me and things go together. I’m not sure where that is but I know what it is like. It’s like Tiffany’s.” – Holly Golightly
On not letting a man know he’s all that:
“He’s all right — I suppose. If you like dark, handsome, rich-looking men with passionate natures and too many teeth.” – Holly Golightly
