Sophia: Believe me, she's a totally rotten human being.
Rose: Well, I for one don't believe there is such a thing as a totally rotten human being. I think there's some good in everybody.
Blanche: Well, I agree with Sophia. Mrs. Claxton is a mean old woman. Everybody in the neighborhood hates her.
Rose: How can you say that?
Dorothy: Come on. Last Halloween, half the kids in the neighborhood wore Frieda Claxton costumes.

Rose: Well, maybe she's just one of those people who needs to be shown some kindness. Like a fellow I knew back home. Ernest T. Minky.
Blanche: I'm suddenly so hungry, I think I'll get something to eat.
Sophia: Boy, that was a close call.
Blanche: If I have to listen to one more story about the colorful people of St Olaf, I think I'll explode.

Rose: [on the phone] Hello, Mrs. Claxton? This is Rose Nylund. How are you? Well, I've never sat on one before, but wouldn't that be painful?

Rose: Girls, I've got great news. I've just come from Mrs. Claxton's and she says she wants to save the tree.
Dorothy: You're kidding.
Blanche: How did you manage that?
Rose: With persistence. I've gone to her house every day this week with a variety of home-made Danish, begging her to listen to reason. Well, she didn't want the apricot and she didn't want the cheese, but today the prune seemed to the trick.
Sophia: Always does for me.
Rose: Anyway, after she snarfed down two, she said she'd save the tree.

Blanche: Well, Mrs. Claxton, how lovely to see you again.
Mrs. Claxton: Who are you?
Blanche: I'm your neighbor, Blanche Devereaux.
Mrs. Claxton: Oh, yeah. I didn't recognise you with your clothes on.
Blanche: I beg your pardon?
Mrs. Claxton: With my binoculars, I have a terrific view in your bedroom window. I think some of the stuff you do is illegal. I'm looking into it.
Blanche: Why, you miserable old...

Dorothy: Oh, Mrs. Claxton, I don't know if you remember me. Dorothy Zbornak.
Mrs. Claxton: Sure, I know you. You're the one with nothing going on in your bedroom.
Dorothy: Why, you miserable old...

Mrs. Claxton: Let me save everyone a lot of time here. My name is Frieda Claxton. The tree is on my property and I could care less if the city wants to cut it down.
Dorothy: Look, sixty people live on that block and all of them have signed this petition to save the tree.
Mrs. Claxton: Concrete's cleaner. They'll get used to it.
Rose: Mrs. Claxton, please.
Dorothy: I also have pictures of the tree that I'd like you all to take a look at.
Mrs. Claxton: You wanna look at pictures? I've got pictures. Of her roommate, the human slinky.
Blanche: Shut up, Claxton.
Ed: Were there any other faces recognisable in those pictures?
Blanche: You shut up too, Ed.

Mrs. Claxton: Stop wasting the taxpayers' money. Yank out that tree and start pouring cement.
Rose: Mrs. Claxton, think about what you're doing. That beautiful old tree is 200 years old. How can you hate a living thing?
Mrs. Claxton: I hate you.
Rose: That's it! I have had all I'm gonna take from you. Now, if you don't have the common decency to treat people like human beings, then I'm sure as hell not gonna waste my time kissing your fanny. Now, if you don't like it, Mrs. Claxton, you just sit there and shut up while we have our say. And if you don't like it, just drop dead. Go on, Dorothy. [Mrs. Claxton falls to the ground]
Dorothy: What happened?
Sophia: You know you told her to "Drop dead"?
Rose: Yes.
Sophia: I think she did.

Dorothy: Blanche, you've been gone three hours and you only got one guy to sign this petition?
Blanche: Well, give me a chance to freshen up and change clothes, I'll get you another one.

Rose: I killed her. I might just as well have shot her with a gun.
Dorothy: Honey, the woman was 83. She had a heart attack. It was just a coincidence. Now, you haven't slept for two nights. You have to stop torturing yourself.
Rose: I guess you're right.
Blanche: Oh, Rose, you can't sleep again?
Rose: No.
Blanche: Rose, you have to put this behind you. You killed Mrs. Claxton two days ago.
Dorothy: Blanche.
Blanche: I mean she died two days ago.