Emma Horton Quotes in Terms of Endearment (1983)

Emma Horton: You both of you have beautiful eyes and your hair is too long. I mean, I don't care how long it gets in the back, but keep your bangs cut, OK, it's too long.

Tommy Horton: That's a matter of opinion.

Emma Horton: Just keep it short, alright?

Tommy Horton: Are you getting well?

Emma Horton: Look, I'm sorry about this but I can't help it, and I can't talk to you for too long or I'll get real upset. I want you to make a lot of friends. And I want you to be real nice to the girls 'cause they're gonna be real important to you, I swear.

Tommy Horton: I'm not afraid of girls. What makes you think that?

Emma Horton: Well, you may be later on.

Tommy Horton: I doubt it.

Teddy Horton: Why don't you shut up? Shut up!

Tommy Horton: You shut up!

Emma Horton: Ted, give me a kiss, come on. Tommy, you be sweet. Be sweet. And stop tryin' to pretend like you hate me. I mean, it's silly.

Tommy Horton: I like you.

Emma Horton: OK then, will you listen especially close?

Tommy Horton: What?

Emma Horton: Listen real hard?

Tommy Horton: I said 'what'?

Emma Horton: I know you like me. I know it. For the last year or two, you've been pretending like you hate me. I love you very much. I love you as much as I love anybody, as much as I love myself. And in a few years when I haven't been around to be on your tail about something or irritating you, you could... remember that time that I bought you the baseball glove when you thought we were too broke. You know? Or when I read you those stories? Or when I let you goof off instead of mowing the lawn? Lots of things like that. And you're gonna realize that you love me. And maybe you're gonna feel badly, because you never told me. But don't - I know that you love me. So don't ever do that to yourself, all right?

Emma Horton: You don't know how lucky you are, you know. Everybody wants to go to Des Moines. People come from all over the world just to get one look at Des Moines before they die.

Aurora Greenway: I just don't want to fight anymore.

Emma Horton: What do you mean? When do we fight?

Aurora Greenway: WHEN do we FIGHT? I always think of us as fighting!

Emma Horton: That's because you're never satisfied with me.

Emma Horton: Momma, that's the first time I stopped hugging first. I like that.

Aurora Greenway: [to workmen hanging her paintings] Careful there. Those are worth more than you'll ever make in your lifetime.

[everyone stares at her]

Emma Horton: [sighs] I grew up with it my whole life. You can take it for a couple of minutes.

Emma Horton: No, forget it, I'm not gonna make you feel better, I'm too mad.

[slamming on the kitchen table and yelling to the kids]

Emma Horton: DINNER!

Emma Horton: [to her son] OK, you're allowed to say one mean thing to me a year. That'll do until you're 10.

Emma Horton: Some people say Des Moines is the best city in Iowa.