“- Nancy Kendricks: Alex is a writer.
- Mrs. Connelly: Oh, a writer. I always thought of that as more of a hobby than a real job. I suppose I'm forgetting about Joyce.
- Alex Rose: Joyce. James Joyce. Of course. Wonderful writer.
- Mrs. Connelly: He died drunk and penniless.”
Drew Barrymore - Nancy Kendricks
Eileen Essell - Mrs. Connelly
Ben Stiller - Alex Rose

“Don't you know the finest things in the world have been written on an empty stomach.”
Lloyd Gough - Morino

“- Young Celie Harris: Write!
- Nettie Harris: What?
- Young Celie Harris: Write!
- Nettie Harris: Nothing but death can keep me from it!”
Desreta Jackson - Young Celie Harris
Akosua Busia - Nettie Harris

“- Roger: [singing] Ti tum ti ta ti, ta tum ti ta tum.
- Roger: Do you like my new song?
- Anita: Ta tum ti ta tum. Such clever lyrics.
- Roger: Melody first, my dear, and then the lyrics.”
Ben Wright - Roger
Lisa Davis - Anita

“There was a time in this country, a long time ago, when reading wasn't just for fags and neither was writing. People wrote books and movies, movies that had stories so you cared whose ass it was and why it was farting. And I believe that time can come again!”
Luke Wilson - Joe Bauers