61 Sex and the City Quotes: Iconic Wisdom on Love, Life, and Friendship
Witty and poignant lines that celebrate self-love, female bonds, and modern romance.

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Few shows have had as lasting a cultural impact as Sex and the City. Chronicling the lives, loves, and friendships of four iconic New York women—Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, Charlotte York, and Miranda Hobbes—the series offered not only fashion inspiration but also witty, poignant, and thought-provoking insights about relationships, ambition, and self-acceptance. Below, explore 61 of the most memorable quotes from these unforgettable characters, grouped by who said them and by the timeless themes they address.
Table of Contents
- Carrie Bradshaw Quotes
- Samantha Jones Quotes
- Charlotte York Quotes
- Miranda Hobbes Quotes
- Quotes on Friendship & Ensemble Moments
- Frequently Asked Questions
Carrie Bradshaw Quotes
Carrie’s musings defined the spirit of the show—wry, romantic, and never afraid to probe the awkward questions of modern love and identity. Here are some of her most unforgettable observations:
- “The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you you love, well, that’s just fabulous.”
- “They say nothing lasts forever; dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style.”
- “I’m looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can’t-live-without-each-other love.”
- “Maybe the past is like an anchor holding us back. Maybe you have to let go of who you were to become who you will be.”
- “Welcome to the age of un-innocence. No one has breakfast at Tiffany’s and no one has affairs to remember.”
- “I will never be the woman with the perfect hair, who can wear white and not spill on it.”
- “After all, seasons change, so do cities; people come into your life and people go. But it’s comforting to know that the ones you love are always in your heart. And if you’re very lucky, a plane ride away.”
- “I’d like a cheeseburger, please, large fries, and a Cosmopolitan!”
- “When men attempt bold gestures, generally it’s considered romantic. When women do it, it’s often considered desperate or psycho.”
- “I’ve spent $40,000 on shoes and I have no place to live? I will literally be the old woman who lived in her shoes!”
- “Somewhere out there is another little freak who will love us and understand us and kiss our three heads and make it all better.”
- “Maybe the best any of us can do is not to quit, play the hand we’ve been given, and accessorize the outfit we got.”
- “Later that day I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself.”
- “I couldn’t help but wonder…”
- “The universe may not always play fair, but at least it’s got a hell of a sense of humor.”
- “Maybe some women aren’t meant to be tamed. Maybe they need to run free until they find someone just as wild to run with.”
- “I will never be the woman with the perfect hair, who can wear white and not spill on it.”
- “It’s the end of an era.”
- “Toto, I don’t think we’re in single digits anymore.”
Samantha Jones Quotes
The unapologetically bold Samantha Jones was the show’s resident truth-teller, championing self-love, autonomy, and pleasure. Her quotes range from hilarious to empowering:
- “I love you, but I love me more.”
- “I will not be judged by you or society. I will wear whatever, and blow whomever I want as long as I can breathe—and kneel.”
- “Listen to me: the right guy is an illusion. Start living your lives!”
- “He’s just not that into you. So move on.”
- “Monogamy is fabulous. Just not for me.”
- “If I worried about what every bitch in New York was saying about me, I’d never leave the house.”
- “Sex with an ex can be depressing. If it’s good, you can’t get it anymore. If it’s bad, you just got reminded why it ended in the first place.”
- “I’m a try-sexual: I’ll try anything once.”
- “I feel the same way about being a bridesmaid as you feel about Botox. Painful and unnecessary.”
- “His problem is he’s an asshole.”
- “You dated Mr. Big. I’m dating Mr. Too Big.”
- “You men have no idea what we’re dealing with down there… Teeth placement, jaw stress, suction, gag reflex… They don’t call it a job for nothing.”
- “Fuck me badly once, shame on you. Fuck me badly twice, shame on me.”
Charlotte York Quotes
Charlotte’s idealism and hope for romance often balanced out the group’s cynicism. Her quotes celebrate love, belief in happy endings, and vulnerability:
- “I’m looking for love. Real love.”
- “I think I believe some people are meant to be together.”
- “Sometimes you have to forget what you feel and remember what you deserve.”
- “I’ve been dating since I was fifteen. I’m exhausted! Where is he?”
- “I once pretended to have a British accent for an entire month.”
- “I’m nice! I deserve love!”
- “Harry was bald and he talked with his mouth full. But I loved him.”
Miranda Hobbes Quotes
Miranda, with her sharp wit and practical outlook, supplied some of the series’ most grounded and relatable observations on modern womanhood:
- “I want to enjoy my success, not apologize for it.”
- “Being single used to mean that nobody wanted you. Now it means you’re pretty sexy and you’re taking your time deciding how you want your life to be and who you want to spend it with.”
- “After years of odd men, God is throwing me a bone.”
- “What’s the big mystery? It’s my clitoris, not the sphinx.”
- “I didn’t tell Walker I was pregnant. It didn’t come up. If Walker had said to me, ‘Have you given birth recently?’, I would have said, ‘Well, first of all, define recently.’”
- “You get one day. It’s you day. You get a day.”
- “He’s just not that into you. So move on.”
- “I have a child. The jig is up.”
Quotes on Friendship & Ensemble Moments
At its core, Sex and the City celebrates the enduring power of female friendship. The best moments of the series highlight how these women support, uplift, and sometimes challenge each other.
- “Friendships never go out of style.”
- “The most important thing in life is your family. There are days you love them, and others you don’t. But in the end, they’re the people you always come home to. Sometimes it’s the family you’re born into and sometimes it’s the one you make for yourself.”
- “Maybe our girlfriends are our soulmates and guys are just people to have fun with.”
- “After all, computers crash, people die, relationships fall apart. The best we can do is breathe and reboot.”
- “Maybe the best any of us can do is not to quit, play the hand we’ve been given, and accessorize the outfit we got.”
The Lasting Impact of Sex and the City Quotes
The sharp humor and insightful commentary of Sex and the City ensured that its quotes became embedded into pop culture. Lines from Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha are invoked by generations who see in them validation for their own experiences. Let’s review why these quotes endure:
- Celebration of Individuality: The show encourages embracing quirks, flaws, and all the mess that comes with modern life.
- Platinum-Standard Friendship: Through ups and downs, the strength of friendship remains central, redefining what ‘family’ means.
- Empowered Femininity: These quotes are fuel for confidence, urging women to own their decisions about love, career, and self-care.
- Honest Reflections on Romance: Few series have captured the complications, joys, and heartbreaks of dating and commitment with such wit and poignancy.
Table: The Main Characters at a Glance
Character | Defining Traits | Representative Quote |
---|---|---|
Carrie Bradshaw | Romantic, thoughtful, witty, introspective | “I couldn’t help but wonder…” |
Samantha Jones | Bold, confident, unapologetic, sexual | “I love you, but I love me more.” |
Charlotte York | Optimistic, traditional, romantic, nurturing | “I’ve been dating since I was fifteen. I’m exhausted! Where is him?” |
Miranda Hobbes | Pragmatic, sarcastic, ambitious, loyal | “Being single used to mean that nobody wanted you. Now it means you’re pretty sexy and you’re taking your time deciding how you want your life to be and who you want to spend it with.” |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Which Sex and the City character said the most iconic quotes?
A: While all four main characters have memorable lines, Carrie Bradshaw is best known for her pithy, poignant narrative quotes, especially her “I couldn’t help but wonder…” moments and observations about romance, independence, and friendship.
Q: What is the most famous Sex and the City quote about friendship?
A: Many fans cite Carrie’s line, “They say nothing lasts forever; dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style,” as one of the show’s definitive testaments to the power of friendship.
Q: How did Sex and the City influence women’s conversations about relationships?
A: Sex and the City broke barriers with its frank, humorous, and often empowering discussions of sex, dating, and self-acceptance. The show validated women’s desires, struggles, and triumphs, making discussions about love, breakups, sex, and self-worth more mainstream and honest.
Q: Are there Sex and the City quotes relevant today?
A: Absolutely. Many quotes, such as Samantha’s “I love you, but I love me more” and Miranda’s commentary on single life, resonate with current conversations about self-love, empowerment, and redefining societal norms regarding relationships and success.
Conclusion: Why Sex and the City Quotes Are Timeless
Over two decades since it first aired, Sex and the City remains an essential cultural reference point. The witty, sometimes biting, and always insightful quotes from Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda continue to inspire, comfort, and challenge audiences worldwide. Whether you’re looking for insight into love, the value of friendship, or just a laugh over a Cosmopolitan, there’s a Sex and the City quote for every occasion.
Raise your glass to more laughter, more love, and more unforgettable quotes!
References
- https://www.krnlmagazine.com/post/iconic-quotes-from-sex-and-the-city-to-remind-us-of-what-s-important
- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159206/quotes/
- https://parade.com/1149709/alexandra-hurtado/sex-and-the-city-quotes/
- https://collider.com/sex-and-the-city-best-quotes-ranked/
- https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/sex-and-the-city

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