When Harry Met Sally is a romantic comedy that follows the repeated encounters between Harry Burns and Sally Albright. As they say, the first time they met, they hated each other; the second time, Harry didn't recognize her; and the third time they became friends... and something more.
The film is full of memorable lines, from "Waiter, there is too much pepper on my paprikash" to "You made a woman meow?" Some quotes, however, will be timeless for how relatable they are to their audiences, even 33 years later.
Faking Orgasms
"It’s Just That All Men Are Sure It Never Happened To Them, And All Women At One Time Or Other Have Done It, So You Do The Math."
One of the most famous scenes from When Harry Met Sally includes this quote, as well as the infamous "I'll have what she's having." The scene made fans laugh out loud, as Sally fakes an orgasm at the table, much to the shock and entertainment of those around her.
While the scene is timeless, it is also a relatable quote, with nearly 60% of women reporting having faked an orgasm at least once, according to the Archives of Sexual Behavior. As Sally says, with that many women faking an orgasm, one has to wonder how many men have been faked to.
Harry's Impulsive Speaking
"You’re Going To Have To Try And Find A Way Of Not Expressing Every Feeling That You Have, Every Moment That You Have Them."
Harry has some fantastic lines in this movie, but also plenty that didn't age so well. This comes from his willingness to share whatever is on his mind without thinking through the consequences of it. He is funny, but he often comes across as crass as well.
After having a breakdown about divorce in front of their newly-engaged friends, Sally scolds Harry for saying whatever comes to mind. Everyone can think of someone in their lives who speaks before they think, making this an incredibly relatable quote.
Perks To Female Friendship
"Yeah, That’s The Point. I Can Say These Things To Her. And The Great Thing Is, I Don’t Have To Lie Because I Am Not Always Thinking About How To Get Her Into Bed. I Can Just Be Myself."
One of the best parts of When Harry Met Sally is seeing the characters grow and change, with one such point being when Harry realizes the benefits of having a female friend. Despite his earlier allegations, there are some wonderful things about having a friend who can offer a new perspective on his dating life without getting jealous.
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This quote is especially relevant for those who have friends with whom they feel they can share anything, even their darkest thoughts because the freedom to be your whole self in front of another is a wonderful thing.
Harry's Piggish Attitudes
"You Are A Human Affront To All Women, And I Am A Woman."
Harry tends to sleep with as many women as possible, abandoning them before the night is through. This behavior is a fundamental part of how he sees women and friendships with women, as he acts like women are tools to be used and disposed of. However, as his relationship with Sally grows, he does evolve into a more nuanced individual.
However, everyone can think of someone who acts like Harry and does not evolve into a more nuanced individual, and thus they can think of this quote and truly feel the sharp edge the words imply.
The Central Question
"Men And Women Can’t Be Friends, Because The Sex Part Always Gets In The Way."
The central question of this best-friends-turned-couple movie is whether or not men and women can be friends. To this day, viewers bicker over the question, with some arguing that the fact that Harry and Sally eventually got together negates the idea that they could be friends, and others claiming that they never would have gotten together had they not been friends first.
The question is as relevant today as it was in 1989, as men, women, and nonbinary people try to navigate relationships within and across genders.
Sally's Great Comebacks
"It’s Amazing. You Look Like A Normal Person, But Actually You Are The Angel Of Death."
Sally has several great lines in this movie, with the best of these coming early on in their relationship when she still hated him. At this point in the film, Harry and Sally have met for the second time, and Harry can't place where he knows Sally from. The two end up sitting together on the plane and bicker, which leads to Sally dropping the aforementioned line.
Everyone has someone in their lives who deserves to hear this line, and maybe next time they deal with them, they can take a little inspiration from Sally when they make their comebacks.
Waiting For Life To Begin
"The Story Of My Life Isn’t Even Gonna Get Us Out Of Chicago. I Mean, Nothing’s Happened To Me Yet."
When Sally and Harry meet for the first time, they are driving to New York together. Harry asks Sally to tell him her life story, and she replies that there isn't much to tell yet.
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The quote, and the feeling behind it, are extremely relatable, with many people feeling like their lives aren't interesting enough to talk about, because they haven't done something hugely important or exciting yet.
Not Wanting A Hookup
"I Just Didn’t Want To Sleep With You, And You Had To Write It Off As A Character Flaw, Rather Than Dealing With The Possibility That It Might Have Something To Do With You."
Sally has one of the best rebuttals to a man's complaints about her rejecting him that the screen has ever seen. While Harry is of the mindset that finding someone attractive is the precedent for a hookup, Sally believes the personality matters just as much.
Most women have had at least one man in their lives who doesn't respond well to their rejection, and Sally says, even joking, the response that they all want to be able to say. Sometimes it isn't an "It's not me, it's you," situation and the refusal to take "no" for an answer makes that possibility much more likely.
The End Of A Relationship
"We Talked About It For A Long Time, And I Said, ‘This Is What I Want,’ And He Said, ‘Well, I Don’t,’ And I Said, ‘Well, I Guess It’s Over,’ And He Left."
For such a perfect rom-com, When Harry Met Sally deals a lot with the end of relationships, with Harry and Sally bonding over the pain of losing their respective partners. When it comes down to it, Sally says, they just wanted different things, and so the relationship had to end.
While viewers might not have the level of calm that Sally keeps for most of the movie, they can relate to the unfortunate relationships where pieces just don't fit together. The end of a relationship can be heartbreaking, but it can also be numbing, as viewers see here.
Romantic Declarations
"I Came Here Tonight Because When You Realize You Want To Spend The Rest Of Your Life With Somebody, You Want The Rest Of Your Life To Start As Soon As Possible."
When Harry first confesses his feelings to Sally, she assumes it's because he's lonely, or because he finds her attractive, but he is quick to tell her that it's more than that. Their hookup almost ended their friendship, and he is ready to tell her everything he loves about her to get her to see that she means more to him. It's a complete 180 from his usual perspective on women, which is to sleep with them and leave them.
Quotes like this are part of what makes When Harry Met Sally such a great love story, with swoon-worthy romantic declarations that mean something, with character development to back them up. Viewers will wish they had someone to say this to them, making it the film's most timeless and relatable quote.
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