- Title: [Opening title] There's change, but human love is everlasting.
- Title: Youth - love - poverty - companions three.
- The Landlady: [to Manon] You're a fool to waste yourself on a pauper. Fancy baggage like you should fetch a fancy price. You'll come to it, my gosling! Mother Paris will teach you that diamonds give more light than candles!
- André Lescaut: [to the Apache] She happens to be my sister, good comrade - and much too frail to please a robust fellow like you.
- Manon Lescaut: [to Fabien] If you send me away now, there's only one place left for me - the streets!
- Louis XV - King of France: [to Fabien] You are much too good a cheat to go to prison. You must come to court.
- Chevalier Fabien des Grieux: [to his fellow prisoners on the prison ship] You were men - and you have let them make animals of you!
- Comte Guillot de Morfontaine: A convent, my dear Lieutenant, will be a dull frame for the fresh young beauty of your sister.
- André Lescaut: One does not find frames of gold at the bottom of an empty purse.
- Comte Guillot de Morfontaine: Paris is her proper setting. As a connoisseur - and one of ample means - may I suggest - ?
- André Lescaut: How would you like to go to Paris, my little cabbage - instead of the musty old convent? What luck, my dear! The rich de Morfontaine is mad about you!
- Manon Lescaut: Not he - not that awful old man!
- André Lescaut: Be sensible, child! You will have everything - garters sparkling with diamonds for those dimpled knees - leagues of Brussels lace to trim the little chemises...
- Drunkard: Who drinks with me drinks to my wench!
- Chevalier Fabien des Grieux: What of your protector? How dare you come pleading to me - fresh from the arms of that man!
- Manon Lescaut: I haven't seen him since the night - that awful night - at the club.
- Chevalier Fabien des Grieux: You still wear his jewels!
- Manon Lescaut: I'm sorry, Fabien - but I'm just a woman. I shall always love jewels and pretty clothes!
- Chevalier Fabien des Grieux: What have you done with Manon?
- Le Duc de Richelieu: She has been arrested as a public character and will be deported to Louisiana.
- Captain of Convict Boat: How's my morsel of dessert - that little blonde I've been saving for the last?
- Convict Prisoner: By the devil's wife! I'm strong enough to squeeze you - till the red juice pops!
- Chevalier Fabien des Grieux: Then use your strength on those chains, you filthy ox!
- Chevalier Fabien des Grieux: [Closing lines] Yonder - America! For us freedom - and everlasting love.