Released in 1951, Walt Disney’s Alice in Wonderland has become a huge fan favorite over the years spawning theme park attractions, television series’ and even a live action motion picture. Walt Disney loved the Lewis Carroll books, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass, and knew that the fantastical world of Wonderland would lend itself perfectly to animation. Premiering on July 26, 1951 in both London and New York, Alice in Wonderland was received well and immediately audiences fell in love with the picture’s star Alice, beautifully voiced by the great Kathryn Beaumont, and the very funny Mad Hatter, voiced by Disney legend Ed Wynn. In honor of Alice’s 62nd birthday, we present a collection of great quotes from the Lewis Carroll novels that inspired the Disney Classic film. Enjoy!
“I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.”
“Begin at the beginning,” the King said, very gravely, “and go on till you come to the end: then stop.”
“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
“But I don’t want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked.
“Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat: “we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.”
“How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice.
“You must be,” said the Cat, or you wouldn’t have come here.”
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.”
“I don’t much care where –”
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”
“Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle.”
“You used to be much more…’muchier.’ You’ve lost your muchness.”
Mad Hatter: “Why is a raven like a writing-desk?”
“Have you guessed the riddle yet?”the Hatter said, turning to Alice again.
“No, I give it up,” Alice replied: “What’s the answer?”
“I haven’t the slightest idea,” said the Hatter
“I don’t think…” “then you shouldn’t talk,” said the Hatter.
“If everybody minded their own business, the world would go around a great deal faster than it does.”
“Alice came to a fork in the road. ‘Which road do I take?’ she asked.
‘Where do you want to go?’ responded the Cheshire Cat.
‘I don’t know,’ Alice answered.
‘Then,’ said the Cat, ‘it doesn’t matter.”
“Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly.
“I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone, “so I can’t take more.”
“You mean you can’t take less,” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.”
“Nobody asked your opinion,” said Alice.”
“You would have to be half mad to dream me up.”
“We’re all mad here.”
“I’m afraid I can’t explain myself, sir. Because I am not myself, you see?”
“And what is the use of a book,” thought Alice, “without pictures or conversation?”
“Off with their heads!”
“I wonder if I’ve been changed in the night. Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I’m not the same, the next question is ‘Who in the world am I?’ Ah, that’s the great puzzle!”
“Have I gone mad?”
“I’m afraid so, but let me tell you something, the best people usually are.”
“My dear, here we must run as fast as we can, just to stay in place. And if you wish to go anywhere you must run twice as fast as that.”
“Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
The Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.
Alice: I don’t much care where.
The Cheshire Cat: Then it doesn’t much matter which way you go.
Alice: …So long as I get somewhere.
The Cheshire Cat: Oh, you’re sure to do that, if only you walk long enough.”
“The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday-but never jam today”
“It must come sometime to jam today,” Alice objected
“No it can’t said the Queen It’s jam every other day. Today isn’t any other day, you know”
“Either it brings tears to their eyes, or else -”
“Or else what?” said Alice, for the Knight had made a sudden pause.
“Or else it doesn’t, you know.”