25 Best Quotes From Pretty Woman

Summary Vivian's bold and humorous quotes reveal her strong personality and desire for more than just money.

The movie's commentary on classism and sex work adds depth to the romantic storyline between Vivian and Edward.

Memorable quotes like Vivian's desire for a fairy tale ending make "Pretty Woman" a timeless classic with heartwarming moments.

At over three decades years old, Pretty Woman doesn't fail to hold up, and there are plenty of Pretty Woman quotes that are still loved today. The movie remains a timeless classic, creating a great love story in the most unconventional of ways. Businessman Edward and escort Vivian make quite the pair, with Edward showing Vivian true love and another way of life while Vivian teaches him to loosen up and appreciate the little things.

Though complete opposites, they manage to connect on the things that matter most, even becoming vulnerable and opening up to one another during what's supposed to be a six-day business arrangement. Most of the best Pretty Woman quotes come from Vivian, but there are still a fair amount of quotable pieces of dialogue from other supporting characters. The best quotes from Pretty Woman prove why it was a box office hit and are a mix of heartwarming, funny, and vulnerable lines.

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25 “I Can Do Anything I Want To, Baby. I Ain’t Lost”

Julia Roberts As Vivian

She’s there to make money, not to be his entertainment.

When Vivian first meets Edward in the movie, she delivers this bold Pretty Woman quote to him as he balks at her suggestion that he pay her for directions. Roberts’ delivery of the line is not only funny, but it also lets the audience know exactly who Vivian is. She’s there to make money, not to be his entertainment. And though she might not be lost physically, it’s also clear as the movie goes on that she might be a little lost metaphorically.

The line and their brief back-and-forth about paying for directions are also what leads the two of them to make their business arrangement. Edward ends up forking over the money to get directions, but he also ends up proposing a deal to spend some time with Vivian, kicking off the entire movie.

Related Julia Roberts' 10 Best Movies, Ranked Julia Roberts is a beloved member of Hollywood royalty and her filmography has ranged from classic comedies to serious works with social impact.

24 "The Bad Things Are Easier To Believe. You Ever Noticed That?

Julia Roberts As Vivian

There are a lot of memorable quotes from Pretty Woman, and though this one might not be at the front of the audience’s mind, it’s still a great one. Vivian makes a good point when she and Edward are talking about how people treat her at one point in the movie. She tells him that the more people put her down, the more she believes the bad things about herself, but he thinks she’s exceptional.

Vivian understands that no matter how exceptional Edward might think she is, other people are still going to look down on her because of their own preconceived notions about her look or her job. She’s charming, smart, and funny, but most people in Pretty Woman don’t give her the chance to display her personality until someone like Edward steps in on her behalf, making for a great commentary on classism even today.

23 “Take Care Of You.”

Laura San Giacomo As Kit

Though Pretty Woman is Vivian’s Cinderella story, her old life features one character in particular that isn’t going to vanish just because Vivian spends a week in a fancy hotel. That character is her best friend Kit. She and Kit work the same streets, and it’s made clear with this one line that they look out for one another. Though the movie is mostly light-hearted, it’s lines like this that remind the audience that Vivian and Kit likely don’t lead easy lives.

Their job is a dangerous one that involves being up close and personal with complete strangers, and that might not always go well for them. The original story for Pretty Woman was a much darker one about the perils of their work before it became a rom-com, so it makes sense that this line would feature, with Kit and Vivian both using it to remind one another to put themselves first on the job and not get into trouble.

22 "Edward? That's My Favorite Name In The Whole World!"

Julia Roberts As Vivian

Vivian doesn't put much effort into flirting, she makes it obvious what her intentions are without her comments being sincere, presenting her as a confident, humorous woman. In her line of work, it's understandable that she has to come on strong and cut to the chase, which is likely why she pulls out this cheesy one-liner to Edward after they meet, "Edward? That's my favorite name in the whole world!"

Vivian gives him a playful nudge as she says this and Edward responds in mock surprise. It's clear from the wide grin on both characters' faces that they're enjoying the lighthearted banter between them. Neither of them are truly attempting to flirt, and it's really more like they're mocking the small talk that might happen on a first date, and having a great time doing it. This early in the movie, their chemistry is palpable.

21 "Honey, I've Got A Runner In My Pantyhose. I'm Not Wearing Pantyhose."

Julia Roberts As Vivian

When Edward first takes Vivian to the high-class hotel that he is staying in, it's clear that she doesn't fit in. Vivian isn't wearing much in the way of clothes unless counting her thigh-high boots, but her dress really doesn't leave much to the imagination. Edward tries to remedy this with his coat, but naturally, she earns herself a few dirty looks from some of the other patrons of the hotel - and even some of the staff.

Vivian is pretty fierce when she's feeling comfortable in her own clothes, so when she notices a woman staring her down she plays up to the situation, commenting "Honey, I've got a runner in my pantyhose," while baring her leg and lifting her skirt higher, before laughing and adding, "I'm not wearing pantyhose." Vivian isn't about to let anyone around her intimidate her or make her feel guilty when she's just there doing her job.

20 “Baby, I'm Gonna Treat You So Nice, You're Never Gonna Wanna Let Me Go."

Julia Roberts As Vivian

When Edward makes the business deal with Vivian that she will stay with him for a few days as a companion, Vivian offers up a standard flirty line in fictional accounts of her line of work. She declares “Baby, I'm gonna treat you so nice, you're never gonna wanna let me go.” Edward keeps it strictly business in his response, re-confirming the fee and flatly stating that he will let her go.

This Pretty Woman quote is one of the most iconic from the movie as it foreshadows exactly what happens. Even though Edward is fighting his feelings, he realizes he doesn't want to let her go before she leaves town. It is a fairly typical trope in rom-coms that feature a business arrangement or some sort of deal between the leads. It's like one character jokingly telling another not to fall in love with them. The audience knows that is exactly what's coming next.

19 “They Never Are, Dear.”

Elinor Donahue As Bridget

Her line is meant to reassure Vivian, not pass judgment.

In order to bring Vivian into his hotel with no questions asked after Edward initially checked in alone, he tells the staff that Vivian is his niece. It’s a seemingly harmless cover story that allows Vivian to come and go from Edward’s room as she pleases. One of the running jokes of Pretty Woman, however, is that anyone who is even remotely paying attention knows that Edward and Vivian are not related.

When Edward allows Vivian use of his money to buy herself a new wardrobe so she can accompany him to different events, Vivian eventually tells the woman helping her pick out clothing that Edward isn’t really her uncle. Bridget isn’t exactly surprised. As someone who dotes on wealthy customers as a shopping consultant or a sales person on a regular basis, it’s likely Bridget has seen her fair share of customers who are not the relatives or the spouses of the people who send them in with her credit card.

She’s likely helped her fair share of women in Vivian’s position, or even mistresses who are hidden by powerful men, so she understands Vivian. Her line is meant to reassure Vivian, not pass judgment.

18 “Be Still Like Vegetables. Lay Like Broccoli.”

Julia Roberts As Vivian

The expression “vegging out” isn’t an unknown one for most modern audiences. It’s especially something TV and movie fans are familiar with. Edward, however, is clearly not meant to be seen as someone who understands slang that still works today. It doesn’t seem like he spends much time relaxing at all because he is so focused on his job and his success. Vivian, however, comes from a world where 9 to 5 work and climbing a corporate ladder isn’t happening. When she gets a good payday, she takes the chance to relax.

Vivan tries to convince Edward that he needs to relax one night, just “veg out in front of the TV.” When Edward doesn’t understand what she means, Vivian tries to prove her point with this Pretty Woman quote. Very few people have likely pictured broccoli as the vegetable in question when “vegging out” until Julia Roberts named it.

Related 10 Things From Pretty Woman That Have Aged Poorly The movie was one of the biggest hits of 1990 but today it still has a few noticeable flaws...

17 “You Make A Hundred Dollars An Hour And You’ve Got A Safety Pin Holding Your Boot Up?”

Richard Gere As Edward

Edward is an incredibly wealthy man who can get almost anything he needs with a phone call or a flash of a credit card. He’s not used to having to patch things up with whatever is on hand. And despite him knowing that he can fork over a chunk of change for Vivian’s work, he doesn’t understand the reality of her life, which is exemplified in his delivery of one of the most surprising Pretty Woman quotes.

He doesn’t understand why Vivian is using a safety pin to help keep her boot in place if she can make $100 in a short amount of time. He also doesn’t understand that her work isn’t steady, that it’s dangerous, and that some of her money isn’t just taking care of her, but also her friend Kit. Her surprise at his willingness to pay her thousands of dollars to spend a few days with him should have been a giveaway that she’s not rolling in money, but Edward is far removed from Vivian’s reality.

16 “It Was So Good, I Almost Peed My Pants!"

Julia Roberts As Vivian

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Part of the film sees Edward take the protagonist to her first opera show, where Vivian wears the expensive necklace and the now-iconic red dress. Afterward, another theatre-goer asks Vivian how she liked the opera, and Vivian responds “It was so good, I almost peed my pants!” The other lady looks taken aback at this remark, as it betrays the fact that Vivian isn't as upper class as her outfit makes out, so Edward quickly intervenes with the explanation “She said she liked it better than Pirates of Penzance.”

This is a funny moment where Vivian's personality shines through and despite it not sitting well with the others, it's clear that Edward finds it endearing, and he is quick to fix the situation for her as he doesn't want people to think less of her.

15 "You Know You Could Pay Me Now And Break The Ice."

Julia Roberts As Vivian

Maintaining her plucky, tongue-in-cheek personality, when Vivian and Edward reach his hotel room she suggests, "You know you could pay me now and break the ice." Not only is it telling concerning Vivian's confidence, but it also has the darker undertones of reminding viewers that in her line of work, she sometimes doesn't get paid. That's a real possibility for someone like Vivian who doesn't get cash in hand until she's finished her end of the contract.

Despite being a rom-com film, the story touches on the dangers of sex work a few times, especially with Vivian and Kit's parting phrase to each other being "Take care of you." This is just another small reminder of the reality for women working in the same industry as Vivian and Kit, though not likely one that many audience members are going to notice right away.

14 “The Sphincter Police Won’t Let Me Through.”

Laura San Giacomo As Kit

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...it makes her a bright spot in the movie, even though she isn’t in very many scenes.

While Vivian is staying with Edward at the hotel, she gets a visit from Kit. Unfortunately, since the hotel caters to very wealthy clients, Kit gets stuck in the lobby and has to get Vivian to come to her. Kit makes a point while on the phone with Vivian in front of the hotel employees that she isn’t happy with the situation by using this particular Pretty Woman quote.

Kit’s got a way with words. While Vivian might be bold and grab the attention of others, she does it with a wide-eyed and sunny attitude most of the time, only slightly tinged with sarcasm. Kit, however, has no problem being as loud and as blunt as possible when people look at her as though she’s less than because of her outfits, or her gum chewing, or her vocabulary, and it makes her a bright spot in the movie, even though she isn’t in very many scenes.

13 "I Appreciate This Whole Seduction Thing You've Got Going On Here, But Let Me Give You A Tip: I'm A Sure Thing."

Julia Roberts As Vivian

Vivian initially tries to get right down to business as usual, but Edward intends to approach business another way. She's (for the most part) pleasantly surprised throughout the film as Edward keeps upping his offer until he gives her the fairy tale she's always wanted. Vivian's a sure thing, but Edward becomes a sure thing too, as the two fall in love with one another. The fact that Edward was trying to start a conversation showed audiences immediately that Edward was different, and that he and Vivian would come to share a valuable connection.

Vivian doesn't have to spend the entire time with Edward getting physical. Edward, and even Vivian, are clearly two lonely people looking for a connection, even though they don't know it right away. They end up bonding while watching TV, attending the opera, and having frank discussions instead of focusing on the "sure thing" of Vivian's work.

12 "You Could Freeze Ice On His Wife's Ass."

Julia Roberts As Vivian

This is one of Vivian's more underrated quotes, and it is about Philip Stuckey's (Jason Alexander) wife. It's an apt and simple description, and easily reusable for anyone who wants to use it to describe someone similar to the character. Vivian's good at reading people, and she has a way with words to boot. If someone meets Vivian, they'd better hope they make a good impression or else she could make a similar remark about them.

In this case, Vivian doesn't particularly like the Stuckeys because she sees how they look down on others. Mrs. Stuckey, in particular, is cold and uptight, something Vivian isn't. The Stuckeys don't appear to enjoy the experiences they're having, but rather, they enjoy their social status. Vivian can see that immediately, even if Edward isn't focused on that when introducing her.

11 "You And I Are Such Similar Creatures, Vivian. We Both Screw People For Money."

Richard Gere As Edward

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Edward's reflection is sad but true. Edward's quote aligns more with what they both do for work rather than who they are, however. While they go about it in different ways, they pay the bills doing what is essentially the same thing - taking money right from their clients with sometimes unscrupulous practices. Vivian doesn't really enjoy it, and Edward learns to change how he conducts business, offering to build ships instead of tearing a company apart by the film's end.

It might not work for Edward's lawyer, but Edward felt good about his shift in business tactics. Throughout the movie, he never really seems to love his work, so making a change after making a statement like this early on isn't surprising. Screwing people for money takes its toll, but Edward and Vivian both change and feel better about themselves as a result.

10 “You Just Did.”

Julia Roberts As Vivian

Pretty Woman has always been viewed as a Cinderella story. The difference is just that Vivian’s version of Cinderella isn’t a young woman being made to care for her stepmother and stepsisters, but a sex worker simply trying to get by. There are stereotypes associated with people working in Vivian’s profession, and there is a tendency for others to look down on them.

Vivian knows that when working with a client like Edward, but for most of their time together, he never makes her feel inferior, but instead, helps her have fun in a world she hasn’t been able to be a part of before. That all changes when Edward begins to treat her like a person he can literally buy. Though they’ve had a business transaction, Edward doesn’t make her feel bad about her work until he tries to buy her a condo and set her up with a steady income in exchange for keeping her a secret.

Edward: I have to go now. I want you to understand, I heard everything you said. This is all I'm capable of right now. It's a very big step for me. Vivian: I know. It's a really good offer for a girl like me. Edward Lewis: I've never treated you like a prostitute. Vivian [as Edward walks away]: You just did.

Part of the reason Vivian has enjoyed Edward’s company so much is that he doesn’t make her feel like she doesn’t belong in his world until that very moment. In that moment, he becomes just like the other bad clients she might have had in the past.

9 "Oh, God, The Pressure Of A Name... I Got It. Cindaf***in'rella."

Laura San Giacomo As Kit

Kit's got a way with words, for sure. Her idea of coming up with someone's happy ending for Vivian's sake couldn't be more perfect. Vivian and Kit share a good laugh about it, too. Cinderella starts pretty low on the rungs of life but manages to find her prince and a happily ever after.

Sometimes an example doesn't have to be real, as fiction sometimes mirrors reality more than reality itself. Cinderella's story was similar to Vivian's in a meaningful way: no matter where you come from, you can still have your happy ending with a little help. Pretty Woman is one of the many rom-coms labeled as a Cinderella story as a result, making Kit's comparison even more apt.

Modern Cinderella stories often feature a main character at their lowest point who has a friend (or benevolent stranger) who believes in them, helps them get a makeover, and gives them access to a path to their happy ending.

Related Vivian's 10 Best Outfits In Pretty Woman Julia Roberts' Vivian goes through quite a change throughout Pretty Woman, including a number of new and stunning outfits.

8 “I Would Have Stayed For Two Thousand.”

Julia Roberts As Vivian

I would have paid four.

From the moment Edward meets Vivian in the movie, she presents herself as a shrewd businesswoman who knows how to get clients to pay what she wants. She initially attempts to get Edward to pay her for directions when he’s lost, and their negotiations continue when he decides he’d like her to keep him company for the week.

Vivian is firm in her negotiations and gets Edward to agree to a $3,000 payday for her, but she also gets coy with him, telling him she would have stayed for an entire thousand less than what he’s now agreed to pay her. Moments like this demonstrate how excited Vivian is to have what appears to be a very easy, cushy job for the week. Edward surprises her, making this Pretty Woman quote stand out, when he replies, “I would have paid four.”

7 “When I Was A Little Girl, My Mama Used To Lock Me In The Attic When I Was Bad…”

Julia Roberts As Vivian

The movie doesn’t delve into a lot of backstory for Vivian like it does for Richard. It’s made clear that she didn’t like her life before, and she’s always been something of a dreamer looking to find a new life. That’s made even more clear when she gives Edward this speech in response to him wanting to make her his secret and pay for a condo for her:

When I was a little girl, my mama used to lock me in the attic when I was bad, which was pretty often. And I would- I would pretend I was a princess… trapped in a tower by a wicked queen. And then suddenly this knight… on a white horse with these colors flying would come charging up and draw his sword. And I would wave. And he would climb up the tower and rescue me. But never in all the time… that I had this dream did the knight say to me, “Come on, baby, I’ll put you up in a great condo.”

This helps remind the audience that, despite Vivian being an independent working woman, she is very much still someone who wants what she sees as a traditional fairy tale ending. She wants to be happy, and she wants to be happy on her terms without someone dictating how she gets to partake in that happiness, which is what she believes Edward is doing.

6 "Do You Have Anything In This Shop As Beautiful As She Is?"

Richard Gere As Edward

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Edward has plenty of witty remarks and comebacks, but this is one of his sweeter Pretty Woman quotes. Once he finds out how Vivian is treated in the stores, he accompanies Vivian to ensure she gets treated the right way, which is one of his more endearing moments in the movie.

Edward might be paying Vivian to stay with him for a week, but he wants her to actually enjoy her stay He wants her companionship and doesn't want her to feel like "the help." He makes her feel like a real princess, giving her every shopaholic's dream of a shopping spree with no budget, getting the best of the best in product quality and customer service. Nothing quite tops Vivian's beauty, but she does get a great wardrobe and shopping experience out of it.