25 My Fair Lady Quotes For Redefining Heroism

Revisit a Hollywood classic with our My Fair Lady quotes. 

My Fair Lady is one of Audrey Hepburn’s best performances.

Many My Fair Lady fans debate the role of misogyny in the film. 

Does her role as Eliza Hepburn depict a woman who overcomes misogyny, or does the film reinforce patriarchal stereotypes about women?

Check out our My Fair Lady quotes to learn more. 

What is My Fair Lady?

My Fair Lady is a 1964 film starring Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Dootlite and Rex Harrison as Dr. Henry Higgins. 

Check out these interesting My Fair Lady facts:

• The film is a remake of the Broadway musical. 
• The Broadway musical is a remake of the Greek myth of Pygmalion. 
• My Fair Lady is one of the most awarded and critically acclaimed films. 

What is My Fair Lady about?

In the film, Higgins is a professor of linguistics who believes a person’s tone and accent determine their quality of life. 

He suggests that he can “teach” anyone to work off an accent and communicate like a member of high society. 

Dr. Higgins makes a bet with a colleague that he can teach a working-class flower seller at the market how to become the “perfect woman.”

The film tells the story of Higgins’ attempt to take Eliza Doolittle from blue-collar flower seller to passing as the “Dutchess at an embassy ball.” 

During her transformation, Eliza experiences a glow-up that comes with a price.

Her integrity is challenged, and her self-esteem suffers, but she has access to the finest clothes, jewelry, and wealthy associates. 

My Fair Lady and the misogyny debate

We almost inevitably cringe whenever we rewatch some classics from the past.

As times change, values change, and what was culturally acceptable for one generation is not always appropriate for the next. 

My Fair Lady won eight Academy Awards, including best picture. 

The question remains:

Is this a misogynistic film or a film about misogyny?

Some suggest the film depicts a strong woman who overcame the wiley guises of men who attempted to use her as a chess piece.

Others say the film represents sexist language and outdated belief systems reinforcing negative stereotypes about women. 

Such is the beauty of art, as it gives power to the observer. 

To learn more, check out our My Fair Lady quotes. 

Short My Fair Lady quotes from Eliza Doolittle

We start with these short and passionate quotes from Eliza. 

1. “But I won’t be passed over!” — Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady

2. “I don’t care how you treat me.” — Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady

3. “I don’t mind your swearing at me.” — Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady

4. “I shouldn’t mind a black eye; I’ve had one before this.” — Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady

5. “But I can get along without you. Don’t you think I can’t!” — Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady

More My Fair Lady quotes from Eliza about common flowers

As the star of the film, Eliza has a lot to say. 

Her common flower analogy is memorable. 

6. “Come on, Dover! Come on, Dover! Move your bloomin’ arse!” — Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady

7. “The difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she is treated.” — Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady

8. “He always showed what he thought and felt about me as if I were something better than a common flower girl.” — Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady

9. “But I know that I shall always be a lady to Colonel Pickering, because he always treats me like a lady, and always will.” — Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady

10. “I shall always be a common flower girl to Professor Higgins because he always treats me like a common flower girl, and always will.” — Eliza Doolittle, My Fair Lady

Famous My Fair Lady quotes from Mrs. Eynsford-Hill

Check out these interesting quotes from Mrs. Eynsford-Hill 

11. “Dear me!”  — Mrs. Eynsford-Hill, My Fair Lady

12. “I do hope we won’t have any unseasonable cold spells; they bring on so much influenza. And the whole of our family is susceptible to it.” — Mrs. Eynsford-Hill, My Fair Lady

13. “But it can’t have been right for your father to be pouring spirits down her throat like that.” — Mrs. Eynsford-Hill, My Fair Lady

14. “It could have killed her.” — Mrs. Eynsford-Hill, My Fair Lady

15. “Surely you don’t think someone killed her?” — Mrs. Eynsford-Hill, My Fair Lady

The best My Fair Lady quotes from Prof. Henry Higgins

The professor is the one who wants Eliza to evolve. 

16. “Well then, get out of my way, for I won’t stop for you.” — Prof. Henry Higgins, My Fair Lady

17. “You see, the great secret, Eliza, is not a question of good manners or bad manners, or any particular sort of manners, but having the same manner for all human souls.”  — Prof. Henry Higgins, My Fair Lady

18. “I said I’d make a woman, and indeed, I did. I knew that I could do it, I knew it, I knew it!”  — Prof. Henry Higgins, My Fair Lady

19. “The question is not whether I treat you rudely, but whether you’ve ever heard me treat anyone else better.”  — Prof. Henry Higgins, My Fair Lady

20. “You talk about me as though I were a motor bus.”  — Prof. Henry Higgins, My Fair Lady

My Fair Lady quotes and sayings from Mrs. Higgins

We start our list with these short and sweet quotes from Mrs. Higgins. 

21. “How ever did you learn good manners with my son around?” — Mrs. Higgins, My Fair Lady
22. “Do you mean to say that after you’d done this wonderful thing for them without making a single mistake, they just sat there, never said a word to you?” — Mrs. Higgins, My Fair Lady

23. “Never petted you or admired you or told you how splendid you’d been?” — Mrs. Higgins, My Fair Lady

24. “No, my dear.” — Mrs. Higgins, My Fair Lady

25. “It’s the new slang, meaning someone has killed her.” — Mrs. Higgins, My Fair Lady

Classics never go out of style

My Fair Lady is a classic that stands the test of time. 

This film remains relevant as a story that speaks to the human condition.

It answers the question, what happens when we sell our soul?

Do you have a favorite My Fair Lady quote?

Be sure to let us know in the comments.