51 Best 'Coraline' Quotes From The Spooky Stop-Motion Movie

Rajnandini Roychoudhury
Dec 12, 2023 By Rajnandini Roychoudhury
Originally Published on Mar 12, 2021
Edited by Jacob Fitzbright
Coraline Raincoat & Boots 7" Action Figure.

'Coraline' by Neil Gaiman is one of his most famous works that have been adapted into a graphic novel as well as a movie.

It is centered on the titular character named Coraline Jones, who had moved recently with her parents, and falls prey to the antagonist in the plot called The Beldam. The Beldam is also referred to as the "other mother" as she accidentally finds another world by opening a door leaving her old life behind.

The story focuses on her sense of wit and bravery as well as help from other friends along with a talking cat who help rescue her from the clutches of this evil entity that lures in and traps the souls of children in her world.

In another world where The Beldam rules, the button is the main symbol in the play as the other mother's desire to control Coraline's actions by limiting her freedom.

One can understand that it is a popular children's novel, but one cannot deny how spooky and creepy it is because of the dark, dreary, and very sinister theme for you to understand while reading it for the first time.

Here is a list of some of the spookiest quotes from both the novel and the film adaptation of Neil Gaiman's 'Coraline'.

If you like this, check out Neil Gaiman quotes and ['Corpse Bride' quotes].

Quotes From 'Coraline'

Here's a list of some of the most memorable quotes from both the book and the movie by Coraline Jones, the titular character who chances upon the other world and gets trapped there away from the real world.

1. "'No?' said Coraline."

-'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

2. "'You can,' said Coraline. 'Be brave.'"

-'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

3. "I asked you not to call me Caroline. It’s Coraline."

-Coraline Jones, 'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

4. "'If you won't even talk to me,' said Coraline, 'I am going exploring.'"

-Coraline Jones, 'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

5. "Coraline hesitated. She turned back. Her other mother and her other father were walking toward her, holding hands. They were looking at her with their black button eyes. Or at least she thought they were looking at her."

-'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

6. "'I’m bored,' she said. 'Learn how to tap-dance,' he suggested, without turning around. Coraline shook her head. 'Why don’t you play with me?' she asked."

-'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

7. "'I'm an explorer,' thought Coraline to herself."

-Coraline Jones, 'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

8. "Coraline walked down the hallway to her father’s study. He had his back to her, but she knew, just on seeing him, that his eyes, when he turned around, would be her father’s kind gray eyes, and she crept over and kissed him on the back of his balding head."

-'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

10. "But how can you walk away from something and still come back to it?"

-'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

12. "The sky had never seemed so sky; the world had never seemed so world."

-'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

13. "Oh—my twitchy witchy girl. I think you are so nice, I give you bowls of porridge."

-'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

14. "When you're scared but you still do it anyway, that's brave."

-Coraline Jones, 'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

15. "It wasn’t brave because he wasn’t scared: it was the only thing he could do. But going back again to get his glasses, when he knew the wasps were there, when he was really scared. That was brave."

-Coraline Jones, 'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

16. "I have no plans to love you."

-Coraline Jones, 'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

17. "I want to be with my real mom and dad. I want you to let me go!"

-Coraline Jones, 'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

18. "What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted just like that, and it didn't mean anything?"

-Coraline Jones, 'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

19. "What if everyone got what they wanted?"

-Coraline Jones, 'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

20. "I can't believe it. You and Dad get paid to write about plants, and you hate dirt."

-Coraline Jones, 'Coraline', 2009.

21. "Eat? That's ridiculous, mothers don't eat daughters."

-Coraline Jones, 'Coraline', 2009.

22. "But, Mom, I want stuff growing when my friends come to visit. Isn't that why we moved here?"

-Coraline Jones, 'Coraline', 2009.

Coraline Cat Quotes

The talking cat that Coraline befriends in the story is one of the most important side characters in the other world inside the mysterious door who aids Coraline in fleeing from The Beldam. Here is a list of some of the best quotes by the cat.

23. "Cat: Walk around the world.

Coraline Jones: Small world."

-'Coraline', 2009.

24. "We could be rare specimens of an exotic breed of African dancing elephants. But we're not. At least,' it added cattily, after darting a brief look at Coraline, 'I’m not."

-'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

25. "'No,' said the cat. 'Now, you people have names. That’s because you don’t know who you are. We know who we are, so we don’t need names.'"

-'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

26. "You probably think this world is a dream come true... but you're wrong."

-Cat, 'Coraline', 2009.

27. "'She wants something to love, I think,' said the cat. 'Something that isn’t her. She might want something to eat as well. It’s hard to tell with creatures like that.'"

-'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

28. "I don't know. How do you taste?"

-Cat, 'Coraline', 2009.

29.  "'Please. What’s your name?' Coraline asked the cat. 'Look, I’m Coraline. Okay?' The cat yawned slowly, carefully, revealing a mouth and tongue of astounding pinkness. 'Cats don’t have names,' it said."

-'Coraline', Neil Gaiman.

Quotes By The Other Mother

The Beldam, also referred to the other mother in Coraline, is the primary antagonist in the story that preys on little children like Coraline and traps their souls in the other world. Here is a list of some of her spookiest quotes.

30. "The hand, running high on its fingertips, scrabbled through the tall grass and up onto a tree stump. It stood there for a moment, like a crab tasting the air, and then it made one triumphant, nail-clacking leap onto the center of the paper tablecloth."

-'Coraline'.

31. "Coraline, How dare you disobey your mother?!"

-The Other Mother, 'Coraline'.

32. "The other mother stared down at Coraline with big black button eyes. 'Coraline, my darling,' she said. 'I thought we could play some games together this morning, now you’re back from your walk. Hopscotch? Happy Families? Monopoly?"

-'Coraline'.

33. "The Other Mother: You know I love you.

Coraline: You... have a very funny way of showing it."

-'Coraline'.

35. "The expression of delight on her face was a very bad thing to see. 'You’re wrong! You don’t know where your parents are, do you? They aren’t there.' She turned and looked at Coraline. 'Now,' she said, 'you’re going to stay here for ever and always."

-'Coraline'.

36. "'How do I know you'll keep your word?' asked Coraline. 'I swear it,' said the other mother."

-'Coraline'.

37. "'You know that I love you.' And despite herself, Coraline nodded. It was true. The other mother loved her. But she loved Coraline as a miser loves money, or a dragon loves its gold."

-'Coraline'.

Quotes By The Other Characters

Here is a list of some quotes by all the other characters who are integral to the story, Coraline.

38. "Coraline, we've been through this before. You dad cooks, I clean, and you stay out of the way. I swear I'll go food shopping soon as we finish the catalog. Try some of the chard. You need a vegetable."

-Mel, 'Coraline'.

39. "How infinite in faculty! In form and moving, how express and admirable!"

-Miss Spink, 'Coraline'.

40. "What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason!"

-Miss Forcible, 'Coraline'.

41. "Run, child. Leave this place. She wants me to hurt you, to keep you here forever, so that you can never finish the game and she will win. She is pushing me so hard to hurt you. I cannot fight her."

-The Other Father, 'Coraline'.

42. "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."

-The Rats, 'Coraline'.

43. "Bless you, miss. You found me! But there's two eyes still lost."

-Ghost Boy, 'Coraline'.

44. "Be clever, miss. Even if you win, she'll never let you go!"

-Ghost Girl, 'Coraline'.

45. "Stay here with us. We will listen to you and play with you and laugh with you."

-'Coraline'.

46. "What's shakn' baby?"

-Toy, 'Coraline'.

48. "Hush, and shush, for the beldam might be listening."

-Tall Ghost Girl, 'Coraline'.

49. "Don't leave me! Don't leave me! I'll die without you!"

-Other Father, 'Coraline'.

50. "Ah. So sorry, is nothing. Sometimes mice are little mixed up. They even get your name wrong, you know? They call you 'Coraline' instead of 'Caroline.' Not 'Caroline' at all! Maybe I work them too hard."

-Mr. Bobinsky, 'Coraline'.

51. "They are saying, 'Do not go through little door.' Do you know such a thing?"

-Mr. Bobinsky, 'Coraline'.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 'Coraline' quotes then why not take a look at Tim Burton quotes, or ['Nightmare Before Christmas' quotes].

main image credit: AM-STUDiO / Shutterstock.com
second image credit: Iryna Imago / Shutterstock.com

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Written by Rajnandini Roychoudhury

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English

Rajnandini Roychoudhury picture

Rajnandini RoychoudhuryBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English

With a Master of Arts in English, Rajnandini has pursued her passion for the arts and has become an experienced content writer. She has worked with companies such as Writer's Zone and has had her writing skills recognized by publications such as The Telegraph. Rajnandini is also trilingual and enjoys various hobbies such as music, movies, travel, philanthropy, writing her blog, and reading classic British literature. 

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