The Best Quote From Each Of Disney's 13 Official Princesses

Summary Snow White's sly request that the birds keep a secret reveals her charm and kindness in her first scene.

Cinderella defies her stepmother cleverly by revealing she has the other slipper.

Aurora's dreamy quote highlights her innocence and unique charm in the classic era.

Every Disney Princess on the Disney company’s official line has a distinct personality and at least a few good quotes that capture her entire character. Over time, Disney Princesses have evolved from being static damsels whose main character traits are niceness and romanticism to fully formed characters capable of winning any fight. However, even Snow White and Cinderella have some clever quotes that endear them to audiences.

With even more upcoming live-action remakes at Disney, producers and writers must consider what certain Disney Princesses’ core traits are and how they can be adapted. Some of their most famous quotes might even make it into the new movie ad verbatim. The quotes that Disney fans might hope to see uttered once again in a remake show off the Princesses’ bravery, sense of humor, or compassion, characteristics that define them and the story.

All Disney Princess movies are available to stream via Disney+.

Related Disney’s Best Unofficial Princesses, Ranked Cinderella's great and all, but let's not forget these unforgettable, and unofficial, Disney princesses.

13 Snow White: "Want To Know A Secret? Promise Not To Tell?"

Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Snow White is not exactly a fan-favorite Disney Princess, by modern standards, as she trusts too easily and puts herself in dangerous situations because of a lack of common sense. Her charm lies in being able to befriend anyone, being genuinely kind, and occasionally, ordering the dwarves around. In her first scene in the movie, she works as a servant for her stepmother and has no friends but talks to the pigeons to pass time. Her line “Want to know a secret? Promise not to tell?” is coyishly clever, said before she launches into “I’m Wishing.”

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Director David Hand , Perce Pearce , William Cottrell , Larry Morey , Wilfred Jackson , Ben Sharpsteen Release Date December 21, 1937 Cast Adriana Caselotti , Roy Atwell , Pinto Colvig Runtime 83 Minutes

12 Cinderella: "But You See, I Have The Other Slipper."

Cinderella (1950)

In a way, she is finally defying her stepmother.

Cinderella’s strongest traits are endurance and work ethic, as she takes her step-family’s abuse in silence. She is often criticized for her passivity, never taking action to make life better for herself. However, when the stepmother breaks the royal party’s slipper, Cinderella doesn’t play the game where she must try on that slipper and presents the other one. In a way, she is finally defying her stepmother. The way she says it is also hilarious — like she’s not dropping a major bombshell, and that the fact that she has the other slipper isn’t conclusive proof that she’s who they’re looking for.

Cinderella (1950) Director Clyde Geronimi , Wilfred Jackson , Hamilton Luske Release Date March 4, 1950 Cast Ilene Woods , James MacDonald , Eleanor Audley , Verna Felton

11 Aurora: "Oh, He's Not A Stranger. We've Met Before. Once Upon A Dream."

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Aurora is the last of the classic damsel category of Disney Princesses. Talking to a stranger in the woods and declaring him her true love doesn’t make her seem that smart. However, the lyrics of “Once Upon a Dream” are some of the best of the pre-Disney Renaissance era, and Aurora is somehow charming because she simply exists in her own world. When the fairies worry about her talking to a stranger, Aurora says, “Oh, he's not a stranger. We've met before.” When they ask where, she responds, “Once upon a dream,” as if they even know what this means.

sleeping beauty Director Clyde Geronimi , Wolfgang Reitherman Release Date January 29, 1959 Cast Mary Costa , Bill Shirley , Eleanor Audley , Verna Felton , Barbara Jo Allen , Barbara Luddy , Bill Thompson Runtime 75minutes

10 Ariel: "I Was A Regular Fish Out Of Water"

The Little Mermaid (1989) & The Little Mermaid II: Return To The Sea (2000)

Ariel was the feistiest Disney Princess yet, and extremely relatable to all 16-year-old girls rebelling against their parents and falling in love with the wrong boy. The first movie is full of good quotes from her teasing Flounder and arguing with her father and Sebastian. “Daddy I love him!” is the most Taylor Swift thing she could possibly say (but then again, Taylor Swift probably got it from her).

However, Ariel’s best quote comes when she has outgrown this phase. In The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea, Ariel is talking to her own awkward teenage daughter (who is unaware that Ariel was born a mermaid) about how she once felt the same way, stating: “I was a regular fish out of water.” It signifies interesting character development that this once classically rebellious teenager is now a wise, mature adult armed with retrospect. She also wins points for the obvious inside joke with herself.

The Little Mermaid Director Ron Clements , John Musker Release Date November 17, 1989 Cast Jodi Benson , Samuel E. Wright , Rene Auberjonois , christopher daniel barnes , Pat Carroll , Jason Marin Runtime 63 Minutes

The Little Mermaid 2: Return To The Sea (2000) Director Jim Kammerud Release Date September 19, 2000 Cast Jodi Benson , Samuel E. Wright , Tara Strong , Pat Carroll , Buddy Hackett Runtime 75 minutes

9 Belle: "Well, Some People Use Their Imagination"

Beauty And The Beast (1991)

Belle is also assertive and defiant in a way none of the earliest Disney Princesses are. However, she snaps back at her would-be suitors rather than her father. She has some good quotes telling Beast to grow up and behave himself, but her sassy responses to Gaston are even better. Belle is smart enough to know there is no reasoning with Gaston or getting him to see things differently, so she entertains herself by mocking him before moving on. When he remarks that there are no pictures in her book, she slyly says: “Well, some people use their imagination.”

Beauty and the Beast (1991) Director Gary Trousdale , Kirk Wise Release Date November 21, 1991 Cast Paige O'Hara , Robby Benson , Angela Lansbury , Jerry Orbach , David Ogden Stiers , Bradley Pierce , Jesse Corti , Richard White Runtime 84 Minutes

8 Jasmine: "When I Am Queen, I Will Have The Power To Get Rid Of You."

Aladdin (1992)

Like several other Disney Renaissance Princesses, Jasmine’s romantic subplot overshadows that she is politically savvy enough to know that she is treated unfairly and that she has the power to make a difference in the world. Jasmine’s most satisfying scenes include her exerting the power she has as a princess: attempting to order the guards to release Aladdin and putting Jafar in his place. Jasmine is admirable because of her self-determination, even if running away with no money wasn’t the best plan. Demonstrating that she knows what kind of power she would have as queen is her best moment.

Aladdin (1992) Director Ron Clements , John Musker Release Date November 25, 1992 Cast Scott Weinger , Robin Williams , Linda Larkin , Jonathan Freeman , Frank Welker , Gilbert Gottfried , Brad Kane , Lea Salonga Runtime 90 Minutes

7 Mulan: "You Said You'd Trust Ping. Why Is Mulan Any Different?"

Mulan (1998)

One of the best quotes from the original animated Mulan is Mulan directly pointing out Shang’s hypocrisy. Yet the fact that trusting Mulan is no different from trusting Ping becomes clear minutes later. As soon as everything falls apart and the emperor is kidnapped, neither Shang nor any of Mulan’s friends hesitate to drop everything and follow her lead. Mulan wins the respect of the men around her when she has been told her whole life that all she can do is become a wife, but this argument is possibly the first time she voices the double standard.

Mulan (1998) Director Barry Cook , Tony Bancroft Release Date June 19, 1998 Cast Ming-Na Wen , Eddie Murphy , BD Wong , Miguel Ferrer , June Foray , James Hong , Pat Morita , George Takei Runtime 87 Minutes

Related All 13 Disney Princesses & The Folklore They're Based On Disney princesses can trace their origins back hundreds of centuries, all across the world, and some are based on shockingly violent fairy tales.

6 Pocahontas: "What You Mean Is, Not Like You."

Pocahontas (1995)

Pocahontas has some beautiful quotes and lyrics that, when taken out of context, espouse lessons of taking the time to learn about other people and their cultures. Almost the entirety of “Colors of the Wind” comprises lyrics like this, as well as most of Pocahontas’ first scene with John Smith. He keeps trying to politely explain to her what he means by “savage” or “uncivilized,” while she keeps pointing out his prejudiced way of thinking. However, Pocahontas’ smart lines and most of the rest of the movie are negated by its problematic depiction of Indigenous Americans and colonialism.

Pocahontas Director Mike Gabriel , Eric Goldberg Release Date June 16, 1995 Cast Irene Bedard , Mel Gibson , David Ogden Stiers , John Kassir , Russell Means , Christian Bale , Linda Hunt Runtime 81 minutes

5 Tiana: "Oh, Very Funny. So, What Now? I Reckon You Want A Kiss?"

The Princess And The Frog (2009)

From “I’m not a princess, I’m a waitress,” to “I reckon you want a kiss?” Tiana is actually a cleverly subtle meta Disney Princess.

Tiana is one of the most relatable Disney Princesses because she is shockingly real. She lives in the setting closest to the modern day of the Princesses, works as a waitress, and has the real career goal of owning a restaurant. Tiana also has a sharp sense of humor derived from her knowing what kind of story she is in and not wanting any part in it. The movie gives its Disney Princess an unfair deal because it pushes Tiana away from her career and toward romance (although she does get her restaurant anyway).

Yet throughout their ordeal, Tiana does not accept Naveen’s behavior and constantly calls him out on his own privilege (and eventually gets him to change). She also has a great quote when she first meets Naveen (before he starts talking), making fun of the Frog Prince story itself. From “I’m not a princess, I’m a waitress,” to “I reckon you want a kiss?” Tiana is actually a cleverly subtle meta Disney Princess.

The Princess and the Frog Director John Musker Release Date December 10, 2009 Cast Anika Noni Rose , John Musker , Keith David Runtime 97minutes

4 Rapunzel: "You Can Tear This Tower Apart Brick By Brick, But Without My Help, You Will Never Find Your Precious Satchel."

Tangled (2010)

Rapunzel tries to convince Gothel that she can handle herself — and to a certain degree, she can. She is confrontational with Flynn and corners him until he has no choice but to help her. Rapunzel’s “brick by brick” line is slightly clichéd but very dramatic; she executes her argument impressively for someone who has never been in a negotiation over stolen goods before. Rapunzel is good at getting what she wants because she knows how to leverage what other people want, even when she bargains with Gothel to go with her willingly near the end of the movie.

Tangled Director Byron Howard , Nathan Greno Release Date November 24, 2010 Cast Donna Murphy , Ron Perlman , Mandy Moore , Brad Garrett , Jeffrey Tambor , Zachary Levi Runtime 100 minutes

3 Merida: "I Am Merida, Firstborn Descendant Of Clan Dunbroch. And I'll Be Shooting For My Own Hand!"

Brave (2012)

Merida charges into every battle without thinking about it first. Trying to magically change her mother’s mind is one of the worst decisions a Disney Princess has ever made, and even her famous archery display was poorly planned, in retrospect. However, the scene of Merida declaring her intention to “shoot for her own hand” and proceeding to show up all her suitors with her archery skills is as iconic as any Disney Princess moment there is. Despite Brave not being the best Pixar movies, Merida is one of Pixar’s best characters because, while she is flawed, she is completely fearless.

Brave Director Mark Andrews , Brenda Chapman , Steve Purcell Release Date June 21, 2012 Cast Kelly Macdonald , Billy Connolly , Emma Thompson , Julie Walters , Robbie Coltrane , Kevin McKidd Runtime 1h 33m

2 Moana: "We Make It Past The Barrier Islands...We Make It To Te Fiti. None Of Which You Understand... Because You Are A Chicken."

Moana (2016)

Moana has a powerful moment, after briefly believing that she was wrongly chosen for her quest, where she rallies for a second attempt at reaching Te Fiti. She narrates her “I am Moana…” mantra once more and summarizes her plan…to Heihei. This quote captures how Moana is both an epic heroine and someone who can make fun of herself, by admitting the obvious. She is also smartly allowing herself a moment of levity just before she charges into another dangerous trial. In fact, the skies have already darkened, and the music has grown intense when she says this.

Moana Director Ron Clements , John Musker Release Date November 23, 2016 Cast Dwayne Johnson , Temuera Morrison , Auli'i Cravalho , Rachel House , Nicole Scherzinger , Alan Tudyk , Jemaine Clement Runtime 1h 47m

Related 10 Most Empowering Disney Princess Songs, Ranked Disney has slowly shifted away from the damsel in distress narrative to feature a series of brave women, here are some of the songs that capture that.

1 Raya: "Remind Me To Never Have Kids."

Raya And The Last Dragon (2021)

The great thing about Raya’s character is that she is a battle-ready Disney Princess, but Raya and the Last Dragon does not make a huge deal out of this. Because of this, Raya can get away with a lot of action clichés that would not have worked for Brave or Frozen, like walking dramatically into a final battle with her nemesis. However, her casual remark about not having children, not even in an angry way, is a unique illustration of how Disney Princesses have evolved. Raya is a capable warrior, but also a real and exhausted young woman.