Before Wicked became a cinematic spectacle, it was the soundtrack of my own becoming. Back when I was building VCC in 2022/23, Elphaba’s defying gravity and Glinda’s light weren’t just lyrics – they were lifelines. “Something has changed within me,” was a declaration.
From the West End stage’s emerald glow to the big screen’s dazzling spell, Wicked has been more than a story but a mirror. A reminder that when the world calls you “too much,” “too different,” or “too ambitious,” you were never meant to fit in. You were meant to fly.
As the second movie prepares to soar into cinemas this November, I’m revisiting the quotes that have anchored and inspired me; lines that remind us to defy gravity, embrace our truth, and live unapologetically bold lives.
Here are 130 quotes from Wicked – a celebration of courage, friendship, transformation, and the fierce magic of becoming who you truly are.
Destiny, Defiance And Becoming – Elphaba Thropp
Elphaba Thropp’s journey is a blazing lesson in what happens when a remarkable heart refuses to conform. From being misunderstood to embracing her power, her quotes chart the thrilling, painful, and ultimately freeing path of discovering your true self.
She moves beyond the limits placed upon her, choosing defiance over acceptance and finding that her destiny was always hers to write. She teaches us that sometimes, to do the most good, you have to be labelled the most wicked.
“Unlimited… Our future is unlimited.”
“Something has changed within me – something is not the same.”“I’m through with playing by the rules of someone else’s game.”
“Everyone deserves the chance to fly.”
“So if you care to find me, look to the western sky!”
“And nobody in all of Oz, no wizard that there is or was, is ever gonna bring me down!”
“I’m through accepting limits ‘cause someone says they’re so.”
“Some things I cannot change, but until I try, I’ll never know.”
“I don’t cause commotions; I am one.”
“When they call you wicked, smile – you’re probably rewriting the rules.”
“The sky was never the limit; it was just the beginning.”
“Unpopular doesn’t mean unworthy.”
“Be bold enough to be misunderstood.”
“Even gravity bows to a determined heart.”
“The green girl was never meant to blend in.”
“Fear was the cage; courage was the key.”
“Flying isn’t rebellion; it’s revelation.”
“The real magic was self-belief all along.”
“Every fall was just flight practice.”
“I’m not falling; I’m flying.”
“I’d rather be wicked than weak.”
Friendship, Sisterhood And Connection
The bond between Elphaba and Glinda is the enduring heart of Oz, proving that true connection can flourish even between the greatest opposites. Their story moves from rivalry to an unbreakable sisterhood, showing us that the people who change us the most are often those we least expect. These quotes capture the power of their reciprocal care, loyalty, and the realization that their unique friendship left them both changed for good.
“Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? But because I knew you, I have been changed for good.”
“I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn, and we are led to those who help us most to grow, if we let them and we help in return.”“So much of me is made of what I learned from you. I know I’m who I am today because I knew you, and you’ll be with me like a handprint on my heart.”
“Happy is what happens when all your dreams come true.”
“Pink goes good with green.”It is only through friendship that we discover our true selves.”
“Unwritten stories weave through the fabric of who I am becoming.”
“She was my first real friend.”
“Some friendships change your life’s entire rhythm.”
“Your wings helped me find my own.”
Sisterhood isn’t sameness; it’s strength in difference.”
“Not every goodbye is the end of a spell.”
“We deserve each other.”“Some people arrive as mirrors, others as maps.”
“Because I knew you, I became more myself.”“Let our paths entwine, and let the friendship blossom.”
“I thought to forget you, but you are stuck with me.”
“Even opposite stars share the same sky.”
“She saw the witch in me – and didn’t flinch.”
“Friendship is the quiet magic between two unlikely souls.”
“Sometimes your opposite is your missing piece.”
“I see a glimpse of hope in you – for good.”“In the end, true friends will celebrate our uniqueness.”
“You have rewritten my story by being my friend”
Identity, Power And Self-Definition
The central narrative of Wicked is a powerful examination of how identities are formed – both by ourselves and by the stories society tells about us. These quotes, drawn from the lead characters and the narration, explore the struggle for self-definition in a world obsessed with labels. They delve into themes of recognizing one’s own power, choosing agency over acceptance, and realizing that the most potent magic comes from understanding who you truly are, regardless of others’ views.
“Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?”Glinda
“The world defines you until you decide otherwise.”
“Wicked is just a word for women who won’t obey.”“I am not here for your approval; I am not a story you can control. I am the visionary; not the villain.”
“I am not a mistake; I am a masterpiece. I am not a problem to be solved, but a mirror reflecting the truth.”
“I am not a rumour; I am a revolution. I am not the spark – I am the fire.”
“I refuse to be a pawn; I am the queen. I am not a shadow, but the sun; not the whisper, but the roar.”
“Understand this: I am not a victim, but the verdict. I am not a chapter; I am the whole book. I am not a lesson – I am a legacy.”
“I am not wicked – I am wide awake.”
Love, Loss And Vulnerability
TThe tempestuous relationship between Elphaba and Fiyero is a searing depiction of finding love in the most complicated circumstances. Their quotes explore the painful collision of duty, destiny, and desire, capturing the vulnerability required to love fiercely and the profound loss endured when that love is threatened. They show us that sometimes, the greatest act of love is choosing to stand by someone, regardless of the cost, making their bond a powerful source of both fire and gentle strength.
“As long as you’re mine.”
“Too long I’ve been afraid of losing love I never had.”
“Well, if that’s love, it comes at much too high a cost.”
“You’ve got me seeing through different eyes.”
“It’s just, for the first time… I feel wicked.”
“Don’t tell me that I am. You don’t need to lie to me.”
“Don’t wish. Don’t start. Wishing only wounds the heart.”
“Love knows no boundaries, and embraces the impossible.”“Even the strongest spells fade before true love.”
“Locked in your spell, I’ve never felt so free.”
“I wish I could be beautiful – for you.”
“Hearts stitched together in a dance of destiny.”
“I’m through accepting love that isn’t true.”
“In love’s eyes, we see potential, not perception.”
Wickedness, Truth And The Wizard
This section cuts to the political heart of Oz, exploring how truth is manufactured and how wickedness is assigned. These quotes, drawn from the Wizard, Elphaba, Dr. Dillamond and others, expose the propaganda and power structures that manipulate public opinion. They highlight the danger of blind obedience, the necessity of questioning authority, and the ultimate realization that the most powerful lies are the ones people desperately want to believe.
“The best way to bring folks together is to give them a real good enemy.”
The Wizard
“You’re the one the Wizard has been waiting for.”Madame Morrible
“The truth is not a thing of fact or reason; it’s just what everyone agrees on.”The Wizard
“A man’s called a traitor or liberator; a rich man’s a thief or a philanthropist.”Elphaba
“The most celebrated are the rehabilitated.”The Wizard
“Only verbally.”
The Wizard, after being accused of lying to the people of Oz
“You have no real power!”
Elphaba to the Wizard
“That’s why I need you.”
The Wizard to Elphaba
“Wickedness is just a term applied to those whose actions one does not like.”
Gregory Maguire (Author)
Let all Oz be agreed: I’m wicked through and through.”
Elphaba
“If it’s so good, why is he trapped like that?”
Elphaba (about Doctor Dillamond)
“We cannot escape the past, and we ignore it to our great peril.”
Dr. Dillamond
“No one should be scorned or laughed at.”
Elphaba
“You’re green!”
Various Characters
Elphaba: ‘No, I did not eat grass as a child.’ Fiyero: ‘Oh, you didn’t? I did.’
Fiyero: “She doesn’t give a twig what anyone thinks.” Glinda: “Of course she does. She just pretends not to.”
“Maybe the driver saw green and thought it meant go.”Fiyero
“You can’t have my fear. Not today.”
Elphaba
“It’s just life, so keep dancing through.”
Fiyero
Courage, Resilience And Redemption
The narrative of Wicked is ultimately a testament to the power of inner strength. These quotes capture the defiant spirit required to overcome betrayal, prejudice, and loss. They illuminate the path to redemption – a path found not in seeking external approval, but in embracing the power of one’s own resilience. True courage is the magic that allows the misunderstood to rise, proving that survival itself is the most profound victory.
“She fell. Then she flew.”“You can’t cancel a woman who’s already risen.”
“Resilience is rebellion made gentle.”
“Forgiveness is the quietest form of power.”
“She learned that even ashes make fertile ground.”
“Every curse taught her how to conjure.”
“Survival is the most underrated kind of magic.”
“She turned every ‘no’ into new wings.”
“Some witches save themselves.”
“The storm doesn’t scare the witch; it reveals her.”
“I’m not afraid; it’s the Wizard who should be afraid of me.”
“You can chain me, but you cannot change me.”
“She wasn’t broken; just burning brighter than they expected.”
“Every scar is proof that I didn’t disappear.”
“When the world calls you wicked, keep rising.”
Wisdom, Hope And Growth
The journey of transformation in Wicked offers profound lessons on facing life’s complexities. These quotes capture the quiet strength required for personal evolution. They focus on finding wisdom through perspective, embracing hope even in darkness, and achieving growth by applying grace to oneself and others. Ultimately, they remind us that the legacy we leave is less about external achievement and more about the brave, continuous work of self-redemption.
“The truth sets you free; if you’re brave enough to face it.”“Perspective is the real potion. Sometimes the villain’s story is just untold truth.”
“Legacy is not just what you leave; it’s also who you become.”
“You can’t rewrite the past, but you can redeem it. Healing is the bravest spell.”
“Not all battles are meant to be won; some are meant to awaken.”
“The hard days teach the softest truths. Goodness evolves when we do.”
“Gratitude is rebellion against despair. Even in darkness, she gave thanks.”
“Hope is the spell that never fades. Every ending carries a quiet blessing.”
“Every version of you deserves grace. Grace is strength wearing kindness.”
“She learned to thank the storm.”
Freedom, Flight And Fierce Living
The ultimate expression of agency in Wicked is the act of taking flight – both literally and metaphorically. These quotes embody the courage needed to break away from expectations and define one’s own space. They celebrate the exhilaration of freedom, the power of conviction that knows no cage, and the fierce joy of living life on your own terms. True liberation is realizing you are the key, not the prisoner.
“Wings don’t ask permission. She stopped chasing approval and started flying.”“She didn’t follow the yellow brick road; she made her own.”
“No cage can contain conviction. Every revolution starts with one flight.”
“The view is worth the vertigo.”
“Freedom looks good on you. I’m not here to be liked; I’m here to be free.”
“The higher you rise, the smaller fear looks.”
“Fear grounded her once – never again.”
“She wasn’t waiting for a broom; she built one.”
“I’m not wicked; I’m winning.”
“I’m not a prisoner; I’m the key. I’m not a dream; I’m the dawn.”
Legacy, Light And Magic
The story of Oz is fundamentally about the power of defining your own legend. These quotes celebrate the enduring impact of those who refuse to shrink their spirit. They speak to how legacy is built through authenticity, how finding your own light can dispel doubt, and how magic is simply the result of aligning belief with action. Ultimately, they remind us that the greatest power lies in naming yourself first and becoming utterly unforgettable.
“What if your destiny is simply to be unforgettable?”“Power isn’t evil; it’s how you use it.”
“Own your narrative before someone else writes it.”
“Shine where they said you shouldn’t. Be the reason someone believes in magic again.”
“You were never meant to be ordinary. No one mourns the ordinary.”
“Some crowns aren’t made of gold; they’re made of grit.”
“She was never wicked; just wildly herself. Wickedness is simply misunderstood willpower.”
“Her magic outlived the myths. The world may never understand; but it will remember.”
“She left emerald footprints wherever she went.”
“Even emerald cities are built one brick at a time.”
“When you stop hiding, the world starts glowing.”
The Truth We’ve Always Known
Wicked isn’t just a story but a mirror. It’s for every dreamer who’s ever been doubted, every leader who’s ever stood alone, and every soul who’s ever been told to shrink.
The truth is, the ones they call “wicked” are often just the ones brave enough to rise, to question, and to rewrite the rules. As we count down to the new movie, let’s carry that spirit forward – the courage to stand tall in our difference, the faith to believe that our limits are illusions, and the magic to turn our stories into flight paths.
Because if Wicked has taught us anything, it’s this: when we dare to live unapologetically, we don’t just change ourselves – we change the world for good.
💚 I’ll be in the cinema opening week of WICKED 2: FOR GOOD – singing and probably crying through “For Good.” Now it’s your turn: which Wicked quote has stayed with you the longest?
Drop it in the comments – let’s build a sky-high wall of inspiration together.
Until then – Don’t just accept the destiny someone else has written for you. Go write your own.
With courage, hope, and a little bit of magic.
Thank you for being a VCC reader.