The Illusion of Heroism and Courage
Swann:
Stone... I'm afraid. I'm afraid. That's why I couldn't get out of the car to see my Tess, my child.
Benjy:
Alan Swann, afraid? The Defender of the Crown? Captain from Tortuga? The Last Knight of the Round Table?
Swann:
Those are movies, damn you! Look at me! I'm flesh and blood, life-size, no larger! I'm not that silly goddamned hero! I never was!
Benjy:
To me you were! Whoever you were in those movies, those silly goddamn heroes meant a lot to me! What does it matter if it was an illusion? It worked! So don't tell me this is you life-size. I can't use you life-size. I need Alan Swanns as big as I can get them! And let me tell you something: you couldn't have convinced me the way you did unless somewhere in you you had that courage! Nobody's that good an actor! You are that silly goddamn hero!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Facing Insecurities in Unexpected Situations
Benjy:
Bring Allan Swann to Brooklyn?
Belle:
Sure; what are you ashamed of?
Benjy:
Everything!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Nature of Humor and Funny People
K.C.:
Do you think there are funny people and not-funny people?
Benjy: [[w:Marx Brothers|Marx Brothers; [w:Ritz Brothers|Ritz Brothers; [w:Laurel and Hardy|Laurel ''and'' Hardy; [w:Woody Woodpecker|Woody Woodpecker]
Yes. Definitely. On the funny side there are the ], except Zeppo; the ], no exceptions; both ]; and ]. On the unfunny side there's anyone who has ever played the accordion professionally.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Disdain for Actors Among Stockbrokers
Stockbroker #1: [peering over the edge of the balcony]
I think Alan Swann is beneath us!
Stockbroker #2:
Of course he's beneath us. He's an actor!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Unwell Gentlemen and Their Choices
Benjy:
I think I'm going to be unwell.
Swann:
Ladies are unwell, Stone. Gentlemen vomit.
Benjy:
Mm-hm.
Swann: [to his limo driver]
Alfredo, you needn't wait. We shan't need the car any more. We're going to throw up in the park and then walk home.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Choice Between Watching and Joining
Benjy:
Mr. Swann, I was supposed to watch you, remember?
Swann: [downs another; hands Benjy a glass]
Good. Watch this. Stone, you can watch me or you can join me. One of them is more fun.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Meaning of Names and Their Impact
Alan Swann:
What's in a name? A rose by any other name would wither and die.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Distinction Between Actor and Movie Star
Alan Swann:
Damn you! I'm not an actor, I'm a movie star!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
