Check out the best Coraline quotes that explore bravery, curiosity, imagination, and the power of making the right choices.
Coraline is an acclaimed American dark fantasy animated film written and directed by Henry Selick, based on the bestselling children’s novella by Neil Gaiman. Loved by both kids and adults, it blends gothic adventure, psychological thrills, and unforgettable visuals.
The story follows Coraline Jones, a curious and brave young girl who finds a secret door in her new home, leading to a mysterious “Other World” that at first seems perfect.
But as the sinister Other Mother reveals her true nature, Coraline must gather all her strength and cleverness to return safely to her own world.
What makes Coraline special is its mix of dark fantasy, mystery, and a heroine who embodies courage and resilience.
It explores powerful themes of self-discovery, bravery, identity, and the importance of appreciating your real life.
Whether you’re a fan of the original book or the beautifully animated film, Coraline is filled with memorable lines that teach powerful lessons about facing fears, valuing family, and trusting your instincts.
Here are the most famous Coraline quotes to inspire you, give you chills, and remind you why this story is a timeless modern classic.
Top 10 Coraline Quotes
- “You realize you’re walking right into her trap.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “Even the proudest spirit can be broken with love.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “The world seemed to shimmer a little at the edges.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “When you’re scared but you still do it anyway, that’s brave.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “But how can you walk away from something and still come back to it?” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “You probably think this world is a dream come true, but you’re wrong.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “The sky had never seemed so sky; the world had never seemed so world.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “She hugged herself and told herself that she was brave, and she almost believed herself.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “Then she hugged her mother so tightly that her arms began to ache. Her mother hugged Coraline back.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “Nothing’s changed. You’ll go home. You’ll be bored. You’ll be ignored. No one will listen to you, really listen to you. You’re too clever and too quiet for them to understand. They don’t even get your name right.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
Famous Coraline Movie Quotes
- “Mirrors,’ she said, ‘are never to be trusted.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “Nobody is ever given more to shoulder than he or she can bear.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “She closed her eyes and wished that the earth would swallow her up.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “Her long white fingers fluttered gently, like a tired butterfly, and Coraline shivered.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “‘In danger?’ thought Coraline to herself. It sounded exciting. It didn’t sound like a bad thing. Not really.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “‘You don’t frighten me,’ said Coraline, although they did frighten her, very much. ‘I want my parents back.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “We are small, but we are many. We are many, we are small. We were here before you rose. We will be here when you fall.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “Here you go, she said. I don’t need it anymore. I’m very grateful. I think it may have saved my life, saved some other people’s death.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “Coraline wondered why so few of the adults she had met made any sense. She sometimes wondered who they thought they were talking to.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “Coraline was too close to stop, and she felt the other mother’s cold arms enfold her. She stood there, rigid and trembling as the other mother held her tightly.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
Quotes from Coraline Movie
- “I’m not much of a challenge here in the dark.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “There’s a but, isn’t there?” said Coraline. “I can feel it. Like a rain cloud.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “‘No,’ said Coraline quietly, ‘I asked you not to call me Caroline. It’s Coraline.‘” — Neil Gaiman Coraline
- “All alone, in the middle of the night, Coraline began to cry. There was no other sound in the empty flat.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “I’m an explorer, and I need all the ways out of here that I can get. So I shall keep walking.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “The names are the first things to go, after the breath has gone, and the beating of the heart. We keep our memories longer than our names.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “It is astonishing just how much of what we are can be tied to the beds we wake up in in the morning, and it is astonishing how fragile that can be.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “Coraline shook her head. ‘Why don’t you play with me?’ she asked. ‘Busy,’ he said. ‘Working,’ he added. He still hadn’t turned around to look at her.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “I don’t want whatever I want. Nobody does. Not really. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted just like that, and it didn’t mean anything? What then?” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
Best Coraline Quotes
- “You don’t frighten me… I want my parents back.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “There’s a but, isn’t there? I can feel it. Like a rain cloud.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “We’ll all be together as one big, happy family. Forever and always.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “Calling cats tends to be a rather overrated activity. Might as well call a whirlwind.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
- “Cats don’t have names. That’s because you don’t know who you are. We know who we are, so we don’t need names.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline
Conclusion
What are your favorite Coraline quotes and Coraline lines listed above? If there is a quote that we’ve missed, then let us know in the comments section what your thoughts are.
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