The Dressmaker Quotes

“Life is an act—most of it, anyway. Get out there today and pretend you’re in charge, for goodness’ sake. Do you hear me? Lift up your head and pretend.” A flicker of a smile passed over her face. “It’s the secret to everything.”
― Kate Alcott, The Dressmaker

“My dear, here is lesson number one for using opportunity; waste no time on false humility. Tell the world about your achievements don't wait for someone else to do it.”
― Kate Alcott, The Dressmaker

“You have to humor them you know." Lucile sighed lightly as the door closed. "Men can be boring, but they are necessary. One needs to learn to work around them. Don't you think so?”
― Kate Alcott, The Dressmaker

“Trouble? Everybody gets into trouble in America -- That's what it's about.”
― Kate Alcott, The Dressmaker

“You know one of the best things? Women gathering, marching, doing anything together makes a lot of men go crazy. They yell and scream and taunt and shake their fists. You know why? They're scared. They're scared we'll actually gain power and force them to change.”
― Kate Alcott, The Dressmaker

“I've told you to look for opportunity, dear Tess. Keep your head up, not down. Don't settle for safety. Push forward-you are not foolish to try.”
― Kate Alcott, The Dressmaker

“It looks beautiful from out here, but nothing glitters quite as much when you get close up.”
― Kate Alcott, The Dressmaker

“My dear, here is lesson number one for using opportunity: waste no time on false humility. Tell the world about your achievements; don't wait for someone else to do it.”
― Kate Alcott, The Dressmaker

“She could allow herself to think of Jim, too. To remember the energy and the excitement of life bursting from him, surrounding her, making her laugh and dream and think-- that's what he represented. Not security just hope.”
― Kate Alcott, The Dressmaker

“The view was breathtaking. Her gaze swept out across the splendid, exciting square. Yes, she could see the horizon, the view so much more sweeping than she had expected. She saw now what Jim had seen, what had been there all the time. So much to do and know, and yes, she could do this.
And then she saw something else. A familiar figure, cap pushed back, walking toward her. She saw him moving closer, saw those clear, blue eyes. She heard a laugh-- whose? Her own. And it was all right. She could be right or wrong, but her vow to herself was clear now. She would be strong and not always too careful, not settle for a smaller life, and face what was true.
What was true? Perhaps it was here, staring her in the face.
"May I help you down?" Jim said. He was standing beneath her now, his hands on the bridle, looking up, his eyes alight.
Palms up, arms stretched out, she reached toward him.
"Yes," she said.”
― Kate Alcott, The Dressmaker

“What did it clarify for you?" Pinky asked.
Mrs. Brown laughed. "Told me to keep doing and saying what I dam well please, and not be bamboozled by anyone. Life is too short - no mulling things over for a dozen years or so. What about you?"
"I wasn't on the ship”
― Kate Alcott, The Dressmaker

“If all the lifeboats were on the upper deck, then mostly first-class passengers survived?”
― Kate Alcott, The Dressmaker

“Someone that immediately touchy was probably a servant. “How did you end up on the Titanic?” Pinky asked. She tried not to make her voice hurried, but she couldn’t waste time if she was going to get more interviews before Smith and his crowd caught her.”
― Kate Alcott, The Dressmaker

“There would be a scramble now―everybody in Congress would be grandstanding and orating and introducing addled legislation that would do nothing. The usual harebrained response.”
― Kate Alcott, The Dressmaker