Ahoy and welcome aboard as we dive into the treasured waters of Disney’s classic film, The Little Mermaid.
Walt Disney Studios first debuted this film in 1989, but is set to release a live-action version on May 26, 2023. I cannot wait to see it!
In honor of versions new and old, I’ve collected all the best and most beloved The Little Mermaid quotes that will make you laugh, cry, and maybe just feel a little bit inspired.
Let’s dive in!
Best Little Mermaid quotes
Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a tale as old as time, or at least as old as the 1830s when Hans Christian Andersen first wrote it. But leave it to Disney to put a twist on a classic and make it their own!
Keep reading for my favorite quotes from The Little Mermaid.
This poor unfortunate soul! – Ursula
Ya look great, kid. Ya look sensational. – Scuttle to Ariel
A guppy? I’m as brave as you are! I’m not afraid of anything! – Flounder
As long as you live under my ocean, you’ll obey my rules! – King Triton to Ariel
This I haven’t seen in years. This is wonderful! A banded, bulbous snarfblatt. – Scuttle
A fine strong wind and a following sea. King Triton must be in a friendly type mood. – Ship crewmate
I consider myself a reasonable merman. I set certain rules and I expect those rules to be obeyed! – King Triton
This is great. I mean, I really love this. Excitement. Adventure. Danger lurking around every corner. Flounder
You’ll have your looks. Your pretty face. And don’t underestimate the importance of body language. – Ursula singing to Ariel
Well, angelfish, the solution to your problem is simple. The only way to get what you want is to become a human yourself. – Ursula
My dear, sweet child. That’s what I do. It’s what I live for. To help unfortunate merfolk, like yourself, poor souls with no one else to turn to. – Ursula
Isn’t this great? The salty sea air. The wind blowing in your face. Ah, the perfect day to be at sea. – Prince Eric, as Grimsby is green-faced and hurling over the side of the ship
It’s a dinglehopper. Humans use these little babies to straighten their hair out. See? Just a little twirl here and a yank there and voila! You’ve got an aesthetically pleasing configuration of hair that humans go nuts over. – Scuttle
Inspirational quotes from The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid offers up some witty words of wisdom that we can all take to heart.
Who knew that a Disney movie about a mermaid wanting to be human could have such inspirational quotes?
I say that a bit sarcastically because Disney movies are well-known for being inspiring.
That aside, The Little Mermaid may have been made for kids, but the following quotes are pure gold for anyone looking for some inspiration.
Life’s full of tough choices, isn’t it? – Ursula
Well, it’s like I say, Your Majesty, children got to be free to lead their own lives. – Sebastian
You want something done, you’ve got to do it yourself.- Sebastian singing Under the Sea
Ariel, listen to me. The human world is a mess. Life under the sea is better than anything they got up there. – Sebastian
Ariel quotes
Once upon a time in a magical underwater world, there lived a daring and adventurous mermaid named Ariel.
With her fiery red hair, sparkling green eyes, and a voice that could make any sea creature stop and listen, Ariel always stood out from the crowd.
She was never afraid to take risks, whether it was exploring unknown parts of the ocean or standing up to her overprotective father, King Triton.
And never too far from her side were her BFFs, Flounder the angelfish, Scuttle the seagull, and Sebastian the crab.
Here are some of Ariel’s best lines from The Little Mermaid.
Flounder, don’t be such a guppy!
Why don’t you go tell my father? You’re good at that. – Ariel to Sebastian
I’ve never seen a human this close before! Oh, he’s very handsome, isn’t he?
Your not getting cold fins now, are you? – Ariel to Flounder, as they are about to explore a sunken ship
When’s it my turn? Wouldn’t I love, love to explore that shore up above? Out of the sea, wish I could be, part of your world.
I wanna be where the people are. I wanna see, wanna see ’em dancin’. Walking around on those, what do you call ’em? Oh, feet!
Look at this stuff. Isn’t it neat? Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete? Wouldn’t you think I’m the girl…the girl who has everything?
I don’t know when. I don’t know how. But I know something’s starting right now. Watch and you’ll see, someday I’ll be part of your world.
Look at this trove. Treasures untold. How many wonders can one cavern hold? Looking around here, you’d think “Sure, she’s got everything!”
If only I could make him understand. I just don’t see things the way he does. I just don’t see how a world that makes such wonderful things could be bad.
I’ve got gadgets and gizmos aplenty. I’ve got whozits and whatsits galore. You want thingamabobs? I’ve got twenty. But who cares? No big deal. I want more!
Sebastian quotes
Meet Sebastian, the beloved supporting character from Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Don’t let his small size fool you, Sebastian is a force to be reckoned with!
From his iconic Caribbean accent to his catchy songs, this crustacean steals every scene he’s in.
Whether he’s helping Ariel navigate life on land or trying to keep her out of trouble, Sebastian’s quick wit and can-do attitude made him an instant fan favorite.
So next time you watch The Little Mermaid, pay attention to King Triton’s right-hand crab and you’ll see why Sebastian is truly unforgettable.
Just look at her! On legs! Human legs!
The seaweed is always greener in somebody else’s lake.
Darling, it’s better, down where it’s wetter. Take it from me.
You are hopeless, child. You know that. Completely hopeless.
She’s got legs, you idiot! She traded her voice to the sea witch and got legs! Geez, mon!
Ariel, please! Will you get your head out of the clouds and back into the water where it belongs?
This had got to be, without a doubt, the single most humiliating day of my life. I hope you appreciate what I go through for you, young lady!
Now, we got to make a plan to get that boy to kiss you. Tomorrow, when he takes you for that ride, you gotta look your best. You gotta bat your eyes like this. You gotta pucker your lips, like this.
Ursula quotes
There’s no one quite like Ursula, the tentacled, villainous sea witch. With her deep, sultry voice and cunning personality, this octopus is one to watch out for.
Whether you’re a fan of The Little Mermaid or have yet to be initiated into the world of underwater intrigue, Ursula is a character worth getting to know.
So grab a seat, pour yourself a cup of seawater, and prepare to be mesmerized by the one and only Ursula with her best lines.
So long, lover boy!
Babies! My poor little poopsies!
Say goodbye to your sweetheart.
Don’t fool with me, ya little brat!
The little tramp. Ah, she’s better than I thought.
Poor little princess. It’s not you I’m after. I’ve got much bigger fish to fry.
Yes, hurry home, Princess. We wouldn’t want to miss ol’ Daddy’s celebration, now would we?
Come in, my child. We mustn’t lurk in doorways. It’s rude. One might question your upbringing.
I’ll admit that in the past I’ve been a nasty. They weren’t kidding when they called me, well, a witch.
Now I am the ruler of all the ocean! The waves obey my every whim! The sea and all it spoils bow to my power!
In my day, we had fantastical feasts when I lived in the palace. And now look at me, wasted away to practically nothing. Banished and exiled and practically starving while he and his flimsy fish folk celebrate. Well, I’ll give ’em something to celebrate soon enough!
Funny Little Mermaid quotes
There are plenty of funny and witty moments throughout The Little Mermaid that will leave you in stitches!
From Scuttle’s dimwitted one-liners to Ursula’s sassy remarks, there’s never a dull moment.
It’s comical moments like these that make The Little Mermaid such a timeless classic and keep us coming back for more, don’t you agree?
Jumpin’ jellyfish! – Sebastian
Zut alors! I have missed one. – Chef Louis
Well, look at what the catfish dragged in! – Scuttle
Boy, what a softshell I’m turning out to be. – Sebastian
It’s time Ursula took matters into her own tentacles. – Ursula
Ariel! Where in the name of Poseidon is that girl? – Sebastian
Somebody’s got to nail that girl’s fins to the floor. – Sebastian
Ah Grimsby, you ol’ beanpole. You shouldn’t have! – Prince Eric
Mermaid off the port bow! Ariel, how you doin’ kid? Whoa! What a swim. – Scuttle
Teenagers! They think they know everything. You give them an inch, they swim all over you. – Sebastian
Wonderful! Now let’s eat before this crab wanders off my plate. – Grimsby, as Sebastian wanders off his plate
Move over. Move your big feathers. I can’t see a thing. – Flounder to Scuttle as they are spying on Ariel and Eric
You really delight in these sadistic strains on my blood pressure, don’t you? – Grimsby as he finds Prince Eric stranded on the beach
Little Mermaid love quotes
When it comes to love quotes, it’s hard to beat the romantic musings of the The Little Mermaid.
Ariel may have given up her voice for the chance to be with Prince Eric, but her words still speak volumes about the power of love.
So whether you’re madly in love or just a hopeless romantic at heart, there’s something in these quotes that are sure to make you smile.
But Daddy, I love him! – Ariel
So much for true love! – Ursula
I love you, Daddy. – Ariel to King Triton, as she hugs him goodbye
I’m gonna find that girl and marry her! – Prince Eric
Grim, I lost her once, I’m not gonna lose her again! – Prince Eric
Oh Eric, isn’t she a vision? – Grimsby, as Ariel walks into the dining room in a lovely pink gown.
Now listen, this is important. Before the sun sets on the third day, you’ve got to get dear old princie to fall in love with you. That is, he’s got to kiss you. Not just any kiss. The kiss of true love. – Ursula to Ariel, as she is explaining the contract
There you see her, sitting there across the way. She don’t got a lot to say, but there’s something about her. And you don’t know why, but you’re dying to try. You wanna kiss the girl. – Sebastian singing into Prince Eric’s ear
What are your favorite quotes from The Little Mermaid?
Disney’s The Little Mermaid holds a special place in the hearts of many viewers. It is a classic tale full of love, curiosity, and joy.
Amongst its captivating characters are Princess Ariel, Sebastian, and Ursula who each provide unique and often humorous insights into life.
Whether it be funny catchphrases or romantic tokens of endearment, their quotes from The Little Mermaid cover the various highs and lows of life.
So next time you need a good laugh, some inspiration, or are feeling nostalgic, head to Disney+ and stream this movie.
What are your favorite quotes from The Little Mermaid? Share them in the comments below.
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About the author
Meg Frost is the creator of The Park Pixie, where she covers Disney World, Disney+, and Disney fandom.
She holds an M.A. in Journalism from Northeastern University and B.S. in Communication & American Studies from University of Miami in Florida.
This post was published May 1, 2023. It was last updated September 27, 2023.
