How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from It's a Wonderful Life.
Quote #1
POTTER: Have you put any real pressure on those people of yours to pay those mortgages?
BAILEY: Times are bad, Mr. Potter. A lot of these people are out of work.
POTTER: Then, foreclose!
Potter always puts his own self-interest above the interests of other people. By contrast, the Baileys are willing to temper their business interests with the interests of humanity. They add a personal, compassionate touch to their work, whereas Potter is totally impersonal and unfeeling.
Quote #2
PA BAILEY: Mr. Potter, what makes you such a hard-skulled character? You have no family—no children. You can't begin to spend all the money you've got.
POTTER: So, I suppose I should give it to miserable failures like you and that idiot brother of yours to spend for me.
GEORGE: He's not a failure! You can't say that about my father!
Potter is demonstrating more than greed here. He's showing his contempt for anyone who doesn't behave like he does.
Quote #3
POTTER: Peter Bailey was not a businessman. That's what killed him. Oh, I don't mean any disrespect to him, God rest his soul. He was a man of high ideals, so called, but ideals without common sense can ruin this town. Now, you take this loan here to Ernie Bishop. You know, that fellow that sits around all day on his brains in his taxi. You know ... I happen to know the bank turned down this loan, but he comes here, and we're building him a house worth $5,000. Why?
More evidence that Potter always places money above human interests. Greed blinds him to any concern about the little guy. They're not even worth thinking about.