Sex and the City is one of HBO’s crown jewels. Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin DavisAND Cynthia Nixon starred in the show about a sex columnist and her best friends navigating life, sex and love in New York City.
Acclaimed for his witty and sharp writing, Sex and the City inspired a whole generation of young writers. Carrie’s funny and witty voice offered some pearls of wisdom as well as memorable quotes from several other characters. Whether funny, heartbreaking, cynical or hopeful, these lines are among the Sex and the City‘s most memorable, cementing its place as one of HBO’s most well-written shows.
10 “Charlotte is a brunette, Miranda is a redhead and Samantha is trouble”
Mr. Big is one of the Sex and the Citythe most controversial characters. Many love him and others outright hate him, a reputation he earned thanks to his terrible treatment of Carrie. Big was always elusive and distant, never wanting to get too close to Carrie’s world. However, he sometimes made compromises, especially regarding her friends.
This quote, which Big uses to prove he knows who Carrie’s friends are, shows him a funny side that rarely comes out. It’s also a good, albeit simplistic, depiction of the girls; Samantha’s big reference to “trouble” is especially funny, proving that he cares the world about Carrie, even if he doesn’t show it.
9 “Hi my name is awesome”
Samantha Jones was Sex and the Cityhis secret weapon. Kim CattrallHer performance as the confident, sexually liberated and unwaveringly loyal PR expert earned rave reviews and a legion of devoted and supportive fans who championed her as the true star of the show.
This quote perfectly represents Samantha’s philosophy. She is someone who doesn’t think too much and doesn’t overcomplicate things. Samantha is strong and confident, comfortable in her own skin and doesn’t give a damn what anyone thinks of her. Many wish they could be as confident as Samantha, but she is one of a kind.
8 “I like my money where I can see it – hanging in my closet”
There are shows and movies perfect for fashionistas, and then there are Sex and the City. The series redefined what fashion could look like on television, pushing the boundaries and inspiring a generation of women to dress outside the box and buy Manolo Blahniks.
Carrie Bradshaw lives and breathes fashion; She once claimed she bought Vogue instead of dinner because it “fed (her) more”. Thus, this quote perfectly describes Carrie’s personality; indeed, the famous writer is all about labels, spending her money on designer pieces and forgoing other luxuries – like rent. One famous story has her in danger of losing her apartment despite spending $40,000 on shoes.
7 “I have a child. Jig Is Up.”
Miranda Hobbes is Sex and the Cityresident cynic. She doesn’t believe in romance or tradition, embodying the modern woman who prioritized her career over finding a husband. Miranda is intelligent and down to earth; flattery doesn’t work for this high-powered lawyer.
When she marries Steve, Miranda chooses a burgundy dress. She rejects traditional white, claiming she doesn’t want anything that says “virgin” because “the jig is up.” It’s a sharp yet refreshing line delivered perfectly by the incredible Cynthia Nixon. Most importantly, it represents Miranda in a negative light, painting her as someone who will not change herself to fit society’s standards.
6 “Friendships never go out of style”
of Sex and the City the girls have one of the best friendships on television. Carrie loves and values her relationship with Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte more than anything, using them as emotional support and, as she once puts it, a “meal ticket”—their sexual and romantic experiences are the main content for Carrie’s column.
However, despite Carrie’s notoriously selfish personality, she truly and deeply loves her friends. Carrie often emphasizes the importance of having friends in one’s life and is not blind to the fact that she would be in a much darker place if it weren’t for her three friends who are always there to pick her up when she falls.
5 “Maybe some women aren’t meant to be tamed”
Mr. Big and Carrie have one of television’s most toxic relationships. The two break up and reunite several times throughout the franchise, though their breakup in season 2, after his engagement to Natasha, is the most memorable, mostly because it should have stuck.
After much thought and heartache, Carrie realizes that Big is not for her and says goodbye, finding his stoic and detached demeanor no match for her chaotic nature. This quote, in which Carrie casts herself as a free spirit looking for someone “just as wild to run with,” is a thoughtful and beautiful sentiment. Carrie was always a more lively individual and while her relationship with Big was unique, their dynamic proved time and time again that he was indeed too guarded for someone like her.
4 “I want to enjoy my success, not apologize for it”
Ever the career woman, Miranda enjoyed the perks of her high-profile job: she is the first of the girls to buy an apartment and lead an independent life. Miranda works harder than any other girl, pulling 80-hour weeks and putting her personal life second to her career.
When she starts dating Steve, there is a clear imbalance between their income and lifestyle, causing problems for the relationship. However, Miranda speaks the truth with this quote, which shows the struggle many successful career women have when dating men who earn less than them. Fortunately, Steve learns to shine on his own, allowing Miranda to remain her successful, ambitious, and powerful self.
3 “I love you too, Richard, but I love me more”
Samantha has two serious relationships all the time Sex and the City. The first is with wealthy hotelier Richard Wright, her male counterpart who enjoys casual sex and leads a rich and carefree lifestyle. The two begin a serious relationship that ends when he cheats on her and although they reconcile, Samantha no longer trusts him.
Although Richard does his best, Samantha begins to doubt everything and second guess his every word. Realizing that’s not the way to live and not wanting to become a jealous, possessive type, Samantha does the healthy thing and ends the relationship. Her parting words for Richard may be the most inspiring and empowering Sex and the Citycementing Samantha’s place as the show’s best character.
2 “Maybe we can be each other’s soulmates”
Carrie Bradshaw was a very flawed character, but her commitment to her three best friends was undeniable. The powerful and sentimental reason behind their strong bond was that they didn’t see each other as mere friends, but rather as soul mates, as Charlotte puts it, with the men being “these great, good-for-fun guys.”
Sex and the City was, arguably, the first show to address the idea that a soul mate is not necessarily a romantic partner; friends can be soulmates because the love they share is just as valid and real. Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte were always there for each other, and their bond was far stronger than anything they shared with anyone else—at least until the resurrection.
1 “Some people refuse to settle for anything less than butterflies”
As a well-known and quite successful writer, Carrie liked to think about life, love and heartbreak. Her elaborate metaphors were sometimes brilliant, sometimes chilling, and almost always memorable. However, this reflection from the season 5 finale may be her best yet.
Carrie thinks about the people in her life and the curious and sometimes confusing choices they make. “Some people are settling down, some people are settling down, and some people refuse to settle for anything less than butterflies.” It’s a beautiful, deep, melancholy thought that I capture perfectly Sex and the Citythe essence of Life is about choices, and while it can sometimes seem like time is running out, there is always a chance to find a butterfly.
