The Cheshire Cat is famously known for his mischievous grin from the popular book-turned-film 'Alice in Wonderland' written by Lewis Carroll.
He is a shapeshifting cat that appears and disappears out of thin air in a distorted reality, all while having a wide, slightly creepy smile on his face. In both the book and the film, he is known for having interesting, yet somewhat confusing conversations with the main character, Alice.
In the book, Alice, after following the White Rabbit down the rabbit hole, goes through a series of unusual events with some very bizarre characters.
Throughout the story, the Cheshire Cat helps Alice find her way to the March Hare, then the Mad Hatter's tea party, and then to the Queen of Hearts, which eventually leads her to wake up from her dream.
In certain contexts, it appears that all creatures residing inside Wonderland fear the Cheshire Cat in some way.
He has a clever personality in the book and is often seen helping Alice through her adventures. Although sometimes he is also known to amuse himself by putting her in trouble.
The Cheshire Cat in 'Alice in Wonderland' is most famous for his wide, eerie, Cheshire Cat smile.
He is so well known for this that the phrase 'to grin like a Cheshire Cat' has now even become a way to describe someone who is seen smiling widely.
He says many meaningful lines throughout the book, such as his observation that 'only a few find the way, some don’t recognize it when they do, some… don't ever want to'.
Here are 40 more of the best Cheshire Cat quotes from the 'Alice in Wonderland' book and films.
Famous Cheshire Cat Quotes You'll Love
These famous book quotes from 'Alice in Wonderland' by the Cheshire Cat show how witty the cat is throughout his conversations with Alice and other characters.
1. "Alice: I don't much care where-
The Cheshire Cat: Then it doesn't much matter which way you go.
Alice: -so long as I get somewhere...
The Cheshire Cat: Oh, you're sure to do that if you only walk long enough."
- 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll, 1865.
2. "In that direction... lives a Hatter, and in that direction... lives a March Hare. Visit either you like: they’re both mad."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll, 1865.
3. "You used to be much more… muchier. You’ve lost your muchness."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Tim Burton, 2010.
4. "The Bandersnatch! Well, I'd better have a look!"
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Tim Burton, 2010.
5. "It looks like you ran afoul of something with wicked claws."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Tim Burton, 2010.
6. "All this talk of blood and slaying has put me off my tea."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Tim Burton, 2010.
7. "Cheshire Cat: Oh, you can’t help that, we’re all mad here. I'm mad. You’re mad.
Alice: How do you know I’m mad?
The Cheshire Cat: You must be or you wouldn't have come here."
- 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll, 1865.
8. "Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?
The Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to."
- 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll, 1865.
9. "Alice: And how do you know that you’re mad?
The Cheshire Cat: To begin with a dog's not mad. You grant that?
Alice: I suppose so.
The Cheshire Cat: Well then, you see a dog growls when it’s angry, and wags its tail when it's pleased. Now I growl when I'm pleased, and wag my tail when I'm angry. Therefore I'm mad."
- 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll, 1865.
10. "Somehow you strayed and lost your way, and now there’ll be no time to play, no time for joy, no time for friends, not even time to make amends."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Harry Harris, 1985.
Wise Quotes By The Cheshire Cat From The 'Alice In Wonderland' Movies
The Cheshire Cat from 'Alice in Wonderland', although being portrayed as mad, does show quite a bit of intelligence from the way he speaks. These quotes from the Cheshire Cat will show his strange wisdom.
11. "You are too naïve if you do believe life is innocent laughter and fun."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Harry Harris, 1985.
12. "It needs to be purified by someone with evaporating skills or it will fester and putrefy."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Tim Burton, 2010.
13. "At least let me bind it for you. What do you call yourself?"
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Tim Burton, 2010.
14. "I knew who I was this morning, but I have changed a few times since then."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll.
15. "I never get involved in politics."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Tim Burton, 2010.
16. "Not all who wander are lost."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll, 1865.
17. "You used to be the life of the party. You used to do the best Futterwacken in all of Wit's End."
18. "I've always admired that hat. I was wondering... since you won't be needing it anymore... perhaps you would consider bequeathing it to me?"
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Tim Burton, 2010.
19. "Fine, I'll take you to the hare and the hatter. But that's the end of it."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Tim Burton, 2010.
20. "I really do love that hat. I would wear it to all the finest occasions."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Tim Burton, 2010.
Well Known Cheshire Cat 'Alice In Wonderland' Quotes
Here are some well-known Cheshire Cat quotes from 'Alice in Wonderland'.
21. "Well, some go this way, and some go that way. But as for me, myself, personally, I prefer the shortcut."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, 1951.
22. "What happened that day was not my fault."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Tim Burton, 2010.
23. "Good morning, everyone!"
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Tim Burton, 2010.
24. "It's a pity about all this."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Tim Burton, 2010.
25. "You may have noticed, I’m not all there myself."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, 1951.
26. "Oh, you can’t help that. Most everyone’s mad here."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, 1951.
27. "Imagination is the only weapon in the war with reality."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll, 1865.
28. "Can you stand on your head?"
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, 1951.
29. "The Cheshire Cat: Oh, by the way, if you’d really like to know, he went that way.
Alice: Who did?
The Cheshire Cat: The White Rabbit.
Alice: He did?
The Cheshire Cat: He did what?
Alice: Uh, went that way
The Cheshire Cat: Who did?
Alice: The White Rabbit.
The Cheshire Cat: What rabbit?"
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, 1951.
30. "Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe."
- Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll, 1871. The Cheshire Cat quotes this in 'Alice in Wonderland', Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske, 1951.
Memorable Quotes By The Cheshire Cat
Let's take a look at some Cheshire Cat quotes that are interesting, but a little confusing. These memorable quotes will surely be part of your thoughts for the days to come.
31. "Forgetting pain is convenient, remembering it… agonizing."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Lewis Caroll, 1865.
32. "How fine you look when dressed in rage. Your enemies are fortunate your condition is not permanent. You’re lucky, too. Red eyes suit so few."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Lewis Carroll, 1865.
33. "I was looking forward to seeing you Futterwacken."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice in Wonderland', Tim Burton, 2010.
34. "You have very poor evaporating skills. I should be the one."
35. "When the day becomes the night and the sky becomes the sea, when the clock strikes heavy and there's no time for tea. And in our darkest hour, before my final rhyme, she will come back home to Wonderland and turn back the hands of time."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice Through the Looking Glass', James Bobin, 2016.
36. "And no scheme of ours can raise any sort of smile. We rather hoped you might help us save him."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice Through the Looking Glass', James Bobin, 2016.
37. "The Cheshire Cat: Do you play croquet with the Queen today?
Alice: I should like it very much but I haven't been invited yet.
The Cheshire Cat: You’ll see me there."
- 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll, 1865.
38. "The Cheshire Cat: By-the-by, what became of the baby? I'd nearly forgotten to ask.
Alice: It turned into a pig.
The Cheshire Cat: I thought it would."
- 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll, 1865.
39. "Alice: It’s a friend of mine, a Cheshire Cat, allow me to introduce it.
The King of Hearts: I don’t like the look of it at all, however, it may kiss my hand if it likes.
The Cheshire Cat: I'd rather not."
- 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll, 1865.
40. "It's not impossible, merely unpossible."
- The Cheshire Cat, 'Alice Through the Looking Glass', James Bobin, 2016.
Main Image Editorial credit: Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock.com
Second Image Editorial credit: Tereza Koudelkova / Shutterstock.com
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A professional content writer hailing from Kolkata, India, with extensive experience in the corporate sector, Writvik Gupta has worked with several reputed companies, including ITC WelcomHotel Jodhpur, Bharti AXA Life Insurance, Aryan Imaging, and Eduquity. He also serves as a consultant for a startup based in Bangalore. With a passion for the outdoors, Writvik enjoys trekking and traveling to remote destinations. He also has a keen interest in exploring various cuisines and regularly volunteers for social causes.
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