The Little Mermaid Quotes: Inspirational and Funny

The Little Mermaid is a classic animated Disney film from 1989 that introduced Ariel, a stubborn and curious young girl who is a mermaid princess who dreams of a life on land in the human world. It is full of some amazing, catchy songs, and quotes. Let’s take a look at some of the best Little Mermaid quotes: inspirational, positive and funny!

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The Little Mermaid is full of fun songs and quotes with inspiring messages about following your heart and great lessons on determination to make your dreams come true. 

This popular movie has stemmed other animated movies, a newer live action remake and even a Broadway musical!

Some of the best quotes in the movie are inspirational, positive, and also downright funny. If you are a fan of the Little Mermaid, you are going to love this list of quotes.

Inspirational and Positive Quotes

These quotes capture the themes of curiosity, hope, encouragement, and the desire for a better life.

1. “The seaweed is always greener in someone else’s lake.” – Sebastian
2. “I don’t see how a world that makes such wonderful things can be that bad.” – Ariel
3. “But who cares? No big deal, I want more.” – Ariel
4. “Isn’t this great? The salty sea air, the wind blowing in your face. A perfect day to be at sea!” – Prince Eric
5. “Watch and you’ll see. Someday I’ll be part of your world.” – Ariel
6. “First, we got to create the mood.” – Sebastian
7. “Give them an inch, they swim all over you.” – Sebastian
8. “Children have to be free to live their own lives.” – Sebastian

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Funny Quotes

Some of the funniest quotes in the movie come from Scuttle and Sebastian.

9. “You got your own style, now let it shine through and remember no matter what, you’ve got to be you.” – Sebastian
10. “He looks kind of hairy and slobbery.” – Scuttle
11. “It’s a dinglehopper!” – Scuttle
12. “We got no troubles. Life is the bubbles under the sea.” – Sebastian
13. “Ariel, please! Will you get your head out of the clouds and back in the water where it belongs?” – Sebastian

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Ariel Quotes

Ariel is the youngest daughter of King Triton. She has several older sisters, each with their own unique roles in the underwater kingdom of Atlantica.

Ariel’s status as the youngest and her adventurous spirit is the main part of the story, as longs to explore the human world and defy her father’s expectations.

14. “I’m not a child anymore. I’m a grown-up.”
15. “I want to be where the people are. I want to see, want to see them dancing.”
16. “Part of your world.”
17. “I don’t know when, I don’t know how, but I know something’s starting right now.”
18. “I’ve got gadgets and gizmos aplenty. I’ve got whozits and whatzits galore.”
19. “I don’t need to see it. I know it’s beautiful.”
20. “You’re not gonna believe this!”
21. “I just don’t see things the way they do.”
22. “He’s more than a pretty face. He’s a prince!”

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Ursula Quotes

Ursula is a classic and iconic Disney villain. She is a sea witch who was banished from King Triton’s palace. She targeted Ariel as fuel for revenge against King Triton.

She is known for her cunning and manipulative nature, using her dark magic to deceive Ariel and gain control over the ocean and stealing Ariel’s voice.

23. “Don’t underestimate the importance of body language!”
24. “The only way to get what you want is to become a human yourself.”
25. “Poor unfortunate soul, in pain, in need!”
26. “Life’s full of tough choices, isn’t it?”
27. “So much for true love!”
28. “So long, lover boy!”
29. “The waves obey my every whim!”
30. “Well, it’s time Ursula took matters into her own tentacles!”
31. “Babies! My poor little poopsies.”
32. “We mustn’t lurk in doorways. It’s rude.”
33. “You can’t get something for nothing, you know.”
34. “No more talking, singing. Zip!”

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Sebastian Quotes

Sebastian is a red Jamaican crab who serves as King Triton’s advisor and the royal court composer. He is featured in many songs including “Under the Sea,” where he sings about the benefits of life under the sea compared to the human world, and “Kiss the Girl,” where he tries to encourage Ariel and Prince Eric to kiss.

He is known for his lively personality and Caribbean accent. He provides comedy and also valuable advice to Ariel and King Triton throughout the movie.

35. “Teenagers. They think they know everything. You give them an inch, they swim all over you.”
36. “Boy, what a soft shell I’m turning out to be.”
37. “The human world, it’s a mess.”
38. “Geez, man. I’m surrounded by amateurs.”
39. “This has got to be, without a doubt, the single most humiliating day of my life.”
40. “You gotta bat your eyes, like this.”
41. “Under the sea, under the sea. Darling, it’s better down where it’s wetter, take it from me.” 
42. “You gotta be kidding! How could you be so stupid?!” 
43. “The human world, it’s a mess. Life under the sea is better than anything they got up there.”
44. “This is a disaster! I’m gonna get the rest of the guys together and we’re gonna come up with a plan to get you out of this mess.”

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Prince Eric Quotes

Eric is the prince of a seaside kingdom. He is brave, kind-hearted, and a skilled sailor. His character serves as Ariel’s love interest and plays a crucial role in her journey. He is handsome and noble with a strong sense of duty and also adventure. 

45. “Isn’t this great? The salty sea air, the wind blowing in your face. A perfect day to be at sea!”
46. “Are you okay, miss?”
47. “I’m sorry if this knucklehead scared you.”
48. “Have we met?”
49. “You’re the one, the one I’ve been looking for.”
50. “I don’t know when, I don’t know how, but I know something’s starting right now.” – Ariel
51. “Isn’t it amazing? It’s my favorite part because you’ll see.”
52. “Ariel, you’re… you’re… a mermaid!”

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Scuttle Quotes

Scuttle is a quirky and humorous seagull in The Little Mermaid. He is Ariel’s friend and provides comic relief with his misguided but well-meaning advice.

53. “Have I ever been wrong? I mean, when it’s important!”
54. “It’s a dinglehopper. Humans use these little babies to straighten their hair out.”
55. “It’s a she’s got a tail, a fin, and it’s an underwater thing. All right, it’s a fish!”
56. “Well, that’s just crazy talk. I mean, a fish marrying a human? It’s unheard of!”
57. “I don’t know. He looks kind of hairy and slobbery to me.”
58. “Now, the snarfblatt dates back to prehistorical times, when humans used to sit around and stare at each other all day.”
59. “Ya look great, kid. Ya look sensational.”
60. “You’re gonna love it! You just have to be careful with those, uh, crab things.”

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Flounder Quotes

Flounder is a yellow and blue tropical fish. Ariel has many fish friends, but Flounder is her best friend and a loyal companion throughout her adventures. He supports her however he can. He has a nervous and cautious nature and always expresses his concern about Ariel’s adventurous plans. 

61. “Ariel, I’m not sure this is such a good idea.”
62. Oh, I don’t think I’m cut out for this.”
63. “Ariel, you know I can’t swim fast! Why do you always have to get me into these things?”
64. “That’s a fork! They use it to eat their food. You know, like we use a dinglehopper.”
65. “I’ll never be able to do anything like that!”
66. “Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, you’ve got everything you want here under the sea.”
67. “You’re not going to believe this, but I saw a human! A real live human!”
68. “I’m not sure I’m cut out for this kind of adventure.”
69. “But Ariel, I’m just a fish. I don’t know what I’m doing!”
70. “I just can’t believe you’re going to give up your voice for a chance at love.”
71. “We’re gonna be shark bait!”
72. “Okay. Yeah, you go. I’ll just stay and… What? Sharks? Ariel!

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King Triton Quotes

King Triton is the ruler and strong authority figure of the underwater kingdom of Atlantica and Ariel’s father. He is known for his powerful trident and strong sense of duty and being overprotective of his daughters and the ocean. He loves his children, and becomes tender and soft towards Ariel in the end.

73. “I consider myself a reasonable merman. I set certain rules, and I expect those rules to be obeyed.”
74. “As long as you live under my ocean, you’ll obey my rules!”
75. “I just don’t know what we’re going to do with you, young lady.”
76. “You deliberately disobeyed me.”
77. “She’s got to be free to lead her own life.”
78. “Then I guess there’s just one problem left. How much I’m going to miss her.”

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Fun Facts About the Original 1989 Little Mermaid

• Beginning of the Disney Renaissance – The Little Mermaid is often credited with starting the Disney Renaissance, a period of success and creativity for Disney animation that continued through the 1990s.
• Based on a Fairy Tale Book – The movie is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale of the same name, though it has a completely different ending.
• Jodi Benson – Jodi Benson, who voiced Ariel, also performed the song “Part of Your World” and has become closely associated with the character.
• Academy Award Winning Music – The film’s memorable music was composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman. Their work on the film’s songs earned them two Academy Awards.
• First Feature Animation to Win an Oscar for a Song – The song “Under the Sea” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, marking the first time a song from a Disney animated feature won this award.
• Hidden Mickeys: As with many Disney movies, The Little Mermaid includes hidden Mickey Mouse symbols. Keep an eye out for them in Ariel’s Grotto, on a dinglehopper and in a conch shell during the Under the Sea song.
• Mermaid Tail Creation – To create Ariel’s realistic swimming motions, animators studied footage of actual swimmers and underwater footage of dolphins and manatees.
• Ariel’s Hair Animation – Ariel’s flowing red hair was animated with the help of special effects to give it a vibrant and lifelike appearance. It took a lot of effort to make it look as natural as possible underwater.
• Voice Cameos: Some of the voice actors for the fish and sea creatures in the film were cast from Broadway performers and singers, adding a unique touch to the characters.
• Innovative Animation Techniques – The movie used a new technique called the “Ariel’s Grotto” effect to create the underwater scenes, combining traditional animation with digital effects.

What other Little Mermaid Movies are there?

• The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000) – This is a direct-to-video sequel to the original film. It follows Ariel’s daughter, Melody, who longs for a life under the sea despite her mother’s wishes.
• The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning (2008) – This is a prequel to the original film, also released direct-to-video. It explores Ariel’s earlier years and how she came to be the adventurous mermaid we know.
• The Little Mermaid (2023) – A live-action remake of the movie, directed by Rob Marshall and starring Halle Bailey as Ariel and Melissa McCarthy as Ursula. This version offers a new take on the classic story with updated music and visuals.

Is there a Little Mermaid Musical?

A stage musical adaptation of the film was created with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater. The Broadway production included songs from the film as well as new ones.

It was known for its elaborate sets and costumes, as well as its efforts to bring the underwater world to life on stage. This show is no longer on Broadway, but can be seen performed at community theaters and small stage productions today.

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What is your favorite Little Mermaid quote?

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