What Every Woman Knows (1934)

Helen Hayes: Maggie Wylie

Photos 

Quotes 

• Alick Wylie : What is charm exactly, Maggie?

  Maggie Wylie : Oh, it's... it's a sort of bloom on a woman. If you have it, you don't need anything else. And if you don't have it, it doesn't much matter what else you have. Some women, a few, have charm for all, and most have charm for one, and some have charm for none.

• Charles Venables : I'm sorry not to find him at home. I wanted to talk to him about, about the speech he's preparing on the Gold Standard.

  Maggie Wylie : Well, I typewrite his speeches, if there's anything I can tell you.

  Charles Venables : I could never think of acquiring information in that way.

  La Contessa la Brierre : [scoffs loudly]  No, no!

  Maggie Wylie : He did say something about- what was that about? About the majority of the party wanting to remain on the Gold Standard.

  Charles Venables : Does he realise that it may mean a crash for England if we stick to Gold?

  Maggie Wylie : Oh, but in that case the majority would then change their views, wouldn't they?

  Charles Venables : The majority will never change.

  Maggie Wylie : That would be too bad, wouldn't it?

  Charles Venables : In a national crisis, Mrs Shand, men have been known to put their country above their party.

• Maggie Wylie : Is it true that you've never laughed in your life, John?

  John Shand : It is.

  Maggie Wylie : Oh, what a pity.

  John Shand : Why?

  Maggie Wylie : I think no one could ever like me very much they couldn't laugh at me a little. Goodnight.

• La Contessa la Brierre : He can't be worthy of you. No man could. Why do you do it?

  Maggie Wylie : [as Mrs. John Shand]  I'm six years older than he is. I'm plain and I have no charm. I shouldn't have let him marry me. I'm trying to make up for it.

• Maggie Wylie : [as John's wife]  It's nothing unusual I've done, John. Every man who is high up loves to think he's done it all himself. Every woman knows that. It's our only due.

• Mr. David Wylie : Are you takin' the book to your bed, Maggie?

  Maggie Wylie : Yes. I don't want him to be knowin' things I don't know myself.

• Maggie Wylie : Oh, John, if I could only make you laugh.