Citizen Kane Pride Quotes

How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Citizen Cane.

Quote #1

KANE: You mustn't go, Susan. Everything'll be exactly the way you want it. Not the way I think you want it—by your way. Please, Susan—Susan!

Near the end of the movie, Susan decides that she's going to leave Charles. He tries to make her stay by promising to change. But Susan sees through his ruse and knows that he's just as proud as he's always been. He says he can change, but the fact remains that there's no evidence to show he can.

Quote #2

SUSAN: No matter how much it cost you—your time, your money—that's what you've done with everybody you've ever known. Tried to bribe them!

Charles has so much pride that he can't even understand the concept of loving people before they can love him. He just thinks that everyone in the world is an object whose love he can win if he just works hard enough at it.

Quote #3

LELAND: There are the people of the United States, and they are blaming you. Oh, I know it doesn't make any sense, but at least you can learn a lesson from it.

Leland tries to get Charles to see the error of his ways by giving him the straight dope on what many Americans think of him. He even thinks that Charles can learn a lesson from the things he's done wrong. But that's the problem with proud people: they have a way of not learning from their experiences.