The Vortex quotes
The lines readers remember from The Vortex, by Noël Coward.
9 quotes · About the book
Standout lines
Personally, it would make me self-conscious to sit in a bath surrounded by frisky gods and goddesses all with such better figures than mine.
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How can you, Helen! It’s too marvelous for words. Parelli designed it specially for me.
Personally, it would make me self-conscious to sit in a bath surrounded by frisky gods and goddesses all with such better figures than mine.
I find it encouraging. This whole room is so typical of Florence.
He’s divinely selfish; all amusing people are.
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It’s difficult to tell with Nicky.
He’s divinely selfish; all amusing people are.
Did you hear him play in Paris?
You’re ten years older than I am, but when I’m your age I shall be twenty years older than you.
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What’s the matter with you?
You’re ten years older than I am, but when I’m your age I shall be twenty years older than you.
Darling, how deliciously involved—what can you mean by that?
I think it’s silly not to grow old when the time comes.
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I mean,
I think it’s silly not to grow old when the time comes.
She rises and goes towards door.
The great thing in this world is not to be obvious, Nicky—over anything!
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You dance with Bunty, Pawnie—I’ll dance with Tom—come on.
The great thing in this world is not to be obvious, Nicky—over anything!
Florence and Tom dance, also Helen and Pawnie. Everyone talks at once, as in the beginning of the act.
The long run never counts at the moment.
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He’ll get over it in the long run.
The long run never counts at the moment.
As much as either you or he are capable of it.
All quotes
Act I
Personally, it would make me self-conscious to sit in a bath surrounded by frisky gods and goddesses all with such better figures than mine.
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How can you, Helen! It’s too marvelous for words. Parelli designed it specially for me.
Personally, it would make me self-conscious to sit in a bath surrounded by frisky gods and goddesses all with such better figures than mine.
I find it encouraging. This whole room is so typical of Florence.
He’s divinely selfish; all amusing people are.
Show the passage
It’s difficult to tell with Nicky.
He’s divinely selfish; all amusing people are.
Did you hear him play in Paris?
You’re ten years older than I am, but when I’m your age I shall be twenty years older than you.
Show the passage
What’s the matter with you?
You’re ten years older than I am, but when I’m your age I shall be twenty years older than you.
Darling, how deliciously involved—what can you mean by that?
I think it’s silly not to grow old when the time comes.
Show the passage
I mean,
I think it’s silly not to grow old when the time comes.
She rises and goes towards door.
Act II
Candles gutter awfully quickly when they’re burned at both ends.
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If you’d seen me in Paris—studying, studying—all night long until the gray dawn put the guttering candle to shame—and my nerveless hands dropped from the keys—
Candles gutter awfully quickly when they’re burned at both ends.
Meaning that I look a debauched wreck of my former self?
Darling Helen—you’ve got such a lovely mind—like a Christmas card—with frosted robins and sheep wandering about in the snow—bleating.
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You’re far more sentimental than I.
Darling Helen—you’ve got such a lovely mind—like a Christmas card—with frosted robins and sheep wandering about in the snow—bleating.
All the same, I should give up drugs if I were you.
To describe you as hard would be inadequate—you’re metallic!
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Nicky looks at her for a moment in amazement.
To describe you as hard would be inadequate—you’re metallic!
Politely. Can you?
The great thing in this world is not to be obvious, Nicky—over anything!
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You dance with Bunty, Pawnie—I’ll dance with Tom—come on.
The great thing in this world is not to be obvious, Nicky—over anything!
Florence and Tom dance, also Helen and Pawnie. Everyone talks at once, as in the beginning of the act.
Act III
The long run never counts at the moment.
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He’ll get over it in the long run.
The long run never counts at the moment.
As much as either you or he are capable of it.
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