55+ Best Broadway Quotes From All The Best Loved Shows

Georgia Stone
Dec 12, 2023 By Georgia Stone
Originally Published on Feb 26, 2021
Famous musicals have made entertainment more colorful than ever.
Age: 0-99
Read time: 9.4 Min

On 12 September 1866, the world changed forever as 'The Black Crook' hit the theater in New York and introduced the population to the culture of Broadway musicals.

The popularity was unprecedented and adaptations were everywhere. Watching a Broadway musical soon became a top priority on everyone’s bucket list.

The Theater District in New York boasts of large crowds of people from all over the world flocking to watch the latest musical in town. Lyrical favorites are made on the Broadway stage and every day people fall in love with the magic they see. The music and words tailored for every on-stage moment have vast meaning to people off-stage as well as on it. The five longest-running shows on Broadway have been 'The Phantom Of The Opera', 'Chicago', The Lion King', 'Cats' and 'Wicked'. Sometimes, off-Broadway shows, which are the ones that take place in smaller commercial productions, attract a huge fan base too.

If you're a fan of Broadway, you are going to love our list of quotes about Broadway, including the best musical quotes, and theater quotes.

Broadway quotes from theater shows and musicals are often many and hard to find in one place. So, we have compiled some, if not all, of the favorites. Happy reading and don’t forget to get wrapped in the wonder that is Broadway!

If you like these Broadway musical quotes, feel free to check out these 'Phantom Of The Opera' quotes and 'Wicked' quotes too.

Quotes From 'The Lion King'

'The Lion King' is a story of courage, love, and loss along with the lovable Simba just wondering when "the sun will rise" again. The wonderful music from the show has stayed in the minds of the audience for years to come.

1. “I know that the night must end, and the sun will rise.”

-Simba, 'The Endless Night', 'The Lion King'.

2. “Oh yes, the past can hurt. But from the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it.”

-Rafiki, 'The Lion King'.

3. “I’m only brave when I have to be. Being brave doesn’t mean you go looking for trouble.”

-Mufasa, 'The Lion King'.

4. “Remember who you are.”

-Mufasa, 'The Lion King'.

5. “Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king, you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures, from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope.”

-Mufasa, 'The Lion King'.

6. “Look beyond what you see.”

-Rafiki, 'The Lion King'.

7. “Truth? But, truth is in the eye of the beholder.”

-Scar, 'The Lion King'.

8. “Love will find a way, anywhere we go. We’re home if we are there together.”

-Simba, 'The Lion King'.

Quotes From 'The Phantom Of The Opera'

A tragic hero and an unrequited love story for the ages, this is truly one of the best musicals. The theater blew up with the introduction of the masked musical genius. This longest-running musical has words for one and all. Read on for inspirational Broadway quotes from 'The Phantom Of The Opera'.

9. “Softly, deftly, music shall caress you. Hear it, feel it, Secretly possess you.”

-Phantom, 'The Phantom Of The Opera'.

10. “Love me - that's all I ask of you.”

-Phantom, 'The Phantom Of The Opera'.

11. “I love her!

Does that mean nothing?

I love her!

Show some compassion...”

-Raoul, 'The Phantom Of The Opera'.

12. “Wildly my Mind beats against you, but my soul obeys.”

-Phantom, 'The Phantom Of The Opera'.

13. “This haunted face holds no horror for me now. It's in your soul that the true distortion lies.”

- Christine Daae, 'The Phantom Of The Opera'.

14. “If he has to kill a thousand men, the Phantom of the Opera will kill and kill again!”

-Christine Daae, 'The Phantom Of The Opera'.

15. “Let your mind start a journey to a strange new world. Leave your thoughts of the life you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be.”

-Phantom, 'The Phantom Of The Opera'.

16. “Angel, I hear you speak, I listen, stay by my side, guide me. Angel, my soul was weak, forgive me, enter at last, master.”

-Christine Daae, 'The Phantom Of The Opera'.

Quotes From 'Les Misérables'

This is another one of our favorite musicals. Broadway quotes from the moving tale that is 'Les Misérables' will make your heart sing, and make you wonder why you aren’t already booking more tickets to see the show a second time. A Broadway masterpiece that earned the number one position in the eyes of many critics, some say the musical is nothing short of a work of art.

17. “The color of the world is changing day by day.”

- Enjolras, 'Red And Black', 'Les Miserables'.

18. “Yet why did I allow that man to touch my soul and teach me love? He treated me like any other, he gave me his trust, he called me brother.”

- Jean Valjean, 'Les Miserables'.

19. “To love another person is to see the face of God.”

- Fantine & Jean Valjean (Epilogue), 'Les Miserables'.

20. “I dreamed a dream in time gone by, when hope was high and life worth living. I dreamed that love would never die. I dreamed that God would be forgiving.”

-Fantine, 'Les Miserables'.

21. “There is a castle on a cloud. I like to go there in my sleep. Aren’t any floors for me to sweep, not in my castle on a cloud.”

-Cosette, 'Castle On A Cloud', 'Les Miserables'.

22. “The day begins and now let’s see what this new world will do for me.”

-Jean Valjean, 'Les Miserables'.

23. “If there’s a God in heaven, He would let me die instead.”

-Fantine, 'Les Miserables'.

Quotes From 'Chicago'

musical is nothing short of a work of art

Set in the jazz era, this is one of the best musicals on Broadway. Humor and drama go hand in hand with one of theater's most lovable celebrity criminal duos in 'Chicago'. Here are quotes from the show that are completely worth it.

24. “Roxie Hart: 'Cause I hate you.

Velma Kelly: There's only one business in the world where that's no problem at all.”

- 'Chicago'.

25. “We're worth it.”

-Velma Kelly, 'Chicago'.

26. “Roxie: Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

Matron Mama Morton: Deary, you're talking to the wrong people.”

- 'Chicago'.

27. “This trial... the whole world... it's all... show business.”

-Billy Flynn, 'Chicago'.

28. “Don't you wanna take my picture?”

-Roxie Hart, 'Chicago'.

29. “You want some advice, well here's a piece of advice from me to you, lay off the caramels.”

-Roxie Hart, 'Chicago'.

30. “Good night and God save Illinois.”

-Billy Flynn, 'Chicago'.

Quotes From 'The Sound Of Music'

There are only some who haven’t heard of 'The Sound Of Music', be it the musical or the movie. It has the kind of songs on Broadway that make you smile and go "we want more". Songs about life, love, the heart, and dreams will echo across the hills and your mind long after you hear them. The quotes in 'The Sound Of Music' are nothing short of "a few of your favorite things".

31. "You brought music back into the house. I had forgotten."

-Captain Von Trapp, 'The Sound Of Music'.

32. "You know how Sister Berthe always makes me kiss the floor after we've had a disagreement? Well, lately I've taken to kissing the floor whenever I see her coming, just to save time."

-Maria, 'The Sound Of Music'.

33. “When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.”

-Maria, 'The Sound Of Music'.

34. "After all, the wool from the black sheep is just as warm."

-Sister Margaretta, 'The Sound Of Music'.

35. “Only grown-up men are scared of women.”

-Kurt, 'The Sound Of Music'.

36. "You are seventeen going on eighteen. I'll depend on you."

-Rolfe and Liesl, 'Sixteen Going On Seventeen', 'The Sound Of Music'.

Quotes From 'Hamilton'

Of all the best musicals, this one is a truly unforgettable experience as Lin Manuel Miranda sings and raps through a fresh take on the story of America's Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton. A modern number with its 2015 debut, this was the most expensive Broadway show in the world. Quotes from this musical have won hearts all over. We hope you like our compilation of 'Hamilton' Broadway quotes, they will truly touch your heart!

37. “How on Earth did you do that with the same 24 hours a day that everyone else gets?”

-Alexander Hamilton, 'Hamilton'.

38. "I'm not throwing away my shot."

-Alexander Hamilton, 'Hamilton'.

39. "My name is Alexander Hamilton. There's a million things I haven't done. Just you wait."

-Alexander Hamilton, 'Hamilton'.

40. “You have married an Icarus;

He has flown too close to the sun.”

-Eliza Hamilton, 'Hamilton'.

41. "In New York, you can be a new man."

-Aaron Burr, 'Hamilton'.

42. “Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life.”

-Alexander Hamilton, 'Hamilton'.

43. "I want to be in the room where it happens."

-Aaron Burr, 'Hamilton'.

Quotes From 'West Side Story'

Inspirational Broadway quotes can give life to a performer's soul.

This play is a modern take on the timeless classic that is 'Romeo And Juliet' in true Broadway fashion. One of the musicals to get a revival in 2020, 'West Side Story' lyricist Stephen Sondheim has gone all in to make this more than just a copied story. Read on and enjoy!

44. “Boy, am I a victim of disappointment in you.”

-Riff, 'West Side Story'.

45. “Doc: When do you kids stop? You make this world lousy!

Action: We didn't make it, Doc.”

- 'West Side Story'.

46. "You all killed him!... Not with bullets, or guns, with hate. Well now I can kill, too, because now I have hate!"

-Maria, 'West Side Story'.

47. “Tony: Doc, I'm in love!

Doc: And you're not frightened?

Tony: Should I be?”

- 'West Side Story'.

48. “Come in, come in! We won't bite you until we know you better.”

-Anita, 'West Side Story'.

49. “Action: Juvenile delinquency is purely a social disease.

Riff: Hey! I got a social disease!”

- 'West Side Story'.

50. "Tony: Somewhere we'll find a new way of living.

Maria: We'll find a way of forgiving, somewhere."

- 'West Side Story'.

51. “If one of you was lying in the street bleeding, I'd walk by and spit on you.”

-Anita, 'West Side Story'.

More Beloved Broadway Quotes

Broadway has been home to many more on-stage performances that have resonated all over. It is everyone's dream to attend a Broadway show, but for now, let's make do with these best quotes from Broadway.

52. “There’s a hole in the world like a big black pit."

-'Sweeney Todd'.

53. “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.”

- 'Moulin Rouge'.

54. “There’s always tomorrow.”

- 'Annie'.

55. “It’s time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap!”

- 'Wicked'.

56. “Always look on the bright side of life.”

- 'Spamalot'.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 55+ of the best Broadway quotes from all the best loved shows, then why not take a look at these 'Les Miserables' quotes and 'Book Of Mormon' quotes for more quotes from musicals?

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Written by Georgia Stone

Bachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art

Georgia Stone picture

Georgia StoneBachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art

Georgia is an experienced Content Manager with a degree in French and Film Studies from King's College London and Bachelors degree from Université Paris-Sorbonne. Her passion for exploring the world and experiencing different cultures was sparked during her childhood in Switzerland and her year abroad in Paris. In her spare time, Georgia enjoys using London's excellent travel connections to explore further afield.

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