Wicked’s 10 Best Quotes

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Wicked.Wicked is the movie musical of the year, but even before that, it was a Broadway show that resonated with audiences all over the world with memorable lyrics and spoken lines. There are many reasons for this that go beyond catchy songs and gorgeous set pieces. Wicked is the story of The Wizard of Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba — more specifically, it is about what led her to become the Wicked Witch, and not everything is as it seems.

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Wicked deals with a lot of complex issues, including propaganda, complacency, and discrimination. It is also about embracing other people’s differences, and at the heart of this jaw-dropping musical adaptation is a beautiful friendship between Cynthia Ervio’s Elphaba and Ariana Grande’s Glinda. While there are plenty of iconic quotes in Wicked to reference, a handful stand out as the most impactful and representative of the story, with some of them being from the film’s most popular songs.

10 “You Have No Real Power.”

Said By Elphaba

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba with an expression of fear and concern in Wicked

What Elphaba wants more than anything for the majority of Wicked is to meet the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) and work alongside him. At the time, she even wishes for the Wizard to change her green skin; however, by the time she meets him, she’s embraced her complexion. Elphaba is offered the life she always wanted and the opportunity to be by his side. However, after learning of his true motives for the animals of Oz, Elphaba realizes the Wizard is not just a con man; he is powerless without her.

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The Wizard of Oz’s charade can only go on so long, which is why he needs someone with true magical abilities, like Elphaba. His desperate attempt to get her on his side highlights how superior she is to him. It also underscores how he has no real power, relying primarily on scare tactics, false promises, and propaganda, which Elphaba will not stand for.

9 “The Best Way to Bring Folks Together Is To Give Them A Real Good Enemy.”

Saib By The Wizard Of Oz

The Wizard is in front of the golden Wizard head in the Wicked poster

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Because the Wizard of Oz has no real power, he must rely on other means to keep the people of Oz on his side. One way he accomplishes this is by constructing a tight yet false narrative about the animals of Oz. He starts small, blaming them for the pitfalls and struggles across the map of the Land of Oz. In addition to this, animals who oppose him or speak out are silenced and/or captured, which is what happens to Dr. Dillamond (Peter Dinklage).

The Wizard of Oz’s reasoning behind this is to give the people of Oz an enemy to unite over. Instead of trying to bring together the citizens through hope and progress, the Wizard stokes their fears through falsities and propaganda. While Elphaba opposes this, her rebelling against the Wizard of Oz gives him exactly what he wants — “a real good enemy.

8 “I Don’t Cause Commotions. I Am One. Some of Us Are Just Different.”

Said By Elphaba

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba raising a glass in Wicked

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After Dr. Dillamond is apprehended, and his class is subject to a corrupt professor’s inhuman demonstration involving a lion cub, Elphaba uses her powers to knock everyone out except Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey). Together they free the cub from captivity. While Fiyero is ready to help save the lion, he questions why Elphaba causes a commotion so often. Here, Elphaba makes it clear she is not causing problems. In Oz, she is inherently just seen as a problem because of her visible difference.

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From the moment she was born, Elphaba was seen as different and, in turn, bad. She does not fit in, and that is seen as dangerous to many in Oz. It is a sad reality, but one she has to live with. Fiyero, on the other hand, never had to come to terms with this until growing closer to Elphaba and seeing how Oz is not as wonderful as it pretends to be, especially for its citizens who are different, whether they choose to be or not.

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7 “We’re Just Two Friends.” “Two Good Friends.” “Two Best Friends.”

Said By Elphaba & Glinda

Elphaba and Glinda standing side by side in Wicked

While only Elphaba is invited to meet the Wizard, she asks Glinda to come with her. This is what Elphaba has been working toward since she enrolled in Shiz University, so for her to share this moment with Glinda is a true sign of friendship. Since the events of the Ozdust Ballroom, their friendship has been growing stronger, leading to this very moment. After their day in the Emerald City together, Elphaba faces the Wizard with Glinda by her side.

While it hit Elphaba back at the Ozdust Ballroom that Glinda was the first person to truly see her for herself, it’s at this moment that Glinda — who has always had plenty of friends — realizes that Elphaba is so much more than just another follower of hers. Elphaba is her best friend, and she wants to be there for her through thick and thin. This makes it all the more heartbreaking when Glinda makes her decision in Wicked‘s ending and does not leave with Elphaba during “Defying Gravity.”

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6 “She Doesn’t Give a Twig What Anyone Thinks.” “Of Course She Does. She Just Pretends Not To.”

Said By Fiyero & Glinda

Prior to the dance at the Ozdust Ballroom, Glinda convinces Elphaba to join them and wear a hat that she knows will make Elphaba look like a fool. However, Glinda realizes she’s taken things too far, especially after Elphaba gets her into Madame Morrible’s (Michelle Yeoh( class. The prank, unfortunately, goes according to plan, and Elphaba is the laughingstock of the night, but she acts as if it doesn’t bother her.

Most of the students continue to laugh at her expense, and Fiyero truly buys her act, believing Elphaba is above all this. Glinda, however, finally realizes that all the jabs and laughter have gotten to Elphaba, and she has been causing Elphaba genuine pain through her antics. This moment is not just a turning point for Glinda; it is also one of the few moments audiences see Elphaba’s more vulnerable side. While she puts up a good face, at this moment, it’s hard not to see the pain she is in.

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5 “I Happen To Be Genuinely Self-Absorbed And Deeply Shallow.”

Said By Fiyero

Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero on a horse in a promotional image for wicked

When Elphaba and Fiyero save the lion cub, the two get into an argument about why he is helping her. She even accuses him of genuinely caring, meaning his supposedly self-absorbed and shallow personality is just a facade. After all, Elphaba knows all about presenting a facade to keep the public from knowing her true feelings. However, Fiyero is not ready to drop the act, swearing he is “genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shallow.

While this is one of the funniest lines in the stage musical and 2024 film, it is also deeply ironic and confirms that Fiyero is not as self-absorbed and shallow as he presents. His actions speak for themselves, especially after he defies what is expected of him to save the lion and help Elphaba. As Fiyero leaves Shiz in Wicked‘s ending, it is also clear that he won’t stand by while people hunt Elphaba.

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4 “It’s Not About Aptitude, It’s the Way You’re Viewed, So It’s Very Shrewd to Be Very, Very Popular Like Me.”

Said By Glinda

Glinda (Ariana Grande) wearing pink, looking offended, and holding up a pointed black hat Custom image by Yailin Chacon

Once Elphaba and Glinda are friends, Glinda decides the best way to show she cares is to give Elphaba a makeover. For so long, Glinda thought popularity was the most important thing one could achieve, so she wants Elphaba to experience this for herself. However, popularity for Glinda means looking the part, and the looks are more important than what is underneath, especially if what’s underneath are questions that pose a risk to the status quo.

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While Glinda truly believes that the key to success is popularity, this song speaks to the larger issues in Oz, as well as where Glinda and Elphaba truly cannot see eye to eye. In Oz, so many people buy the glitz and glamour of Emerald City, failing to look beyond the shiny facade. They don’t ask hard questions, and if they do, it does not go well for them, as is the case for Elphaba. Where Elphaba can no longer look past the truth, Glinda still believes she can work with the Wizard to make things better.

3 “Some Things I Cannot Change, But ‘Til I Try I’ll Never Know”

Said Elphaba

Elphaba singing the Wizard and I in Wicked

When Elphaba publicly defies the Wizard, she knows her odds are not great. She wants to make a difference in the lives of the animals of Oz, even though the Wizard himself has been working hard to get the human population to turn against them. Glinda herself tries to dissuade Elphaba during “Defying Gravity,” worrying about her friend. The Wizard of Oz has the support of most of the citizens, as well as an immense amount of resources, including other spell-casters, like Madame Morrible.

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Despite all this, Elphaba will not be complacent. She will not give up. Ultimately, she will never know that she can’t make a difference if she doesn’t even try. Elphaba would rather risk it all on the off-chance she can change Oz for the better than just sit back and live the high life where others suffer for their differences.

2 “Are People Born Wicked, or Do They Have Wickedness Thrust Upon Them?”

Said By Glinda

Ariana Grande as Glinda in Wicked Custom Image by Yailin Chacon

At the beginning of Wicked, audiences are thrust into Munchkinland right after Dorothy leaves and the Wicked Witch is melted. As they celebrate, Glinda joins them, watching as they celebrate the death of her former best friend. She keeps up a good facade, but Glinda is not as cheery as the citizens of Oz who are celebrating Elphaba’s death like it’s a holiday. Unlike the Wizard, Glinda does not think this blind hate will be beneficial.

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While she does not want to disrupt the celebration, Glinda does raise an important question: “Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?” While it is unlikely that she will be able to change people’s minds entirely, Glinda can at least get them to consider the circumstances that led Elphaba down the path of being the Wicked Witch. This is also the crux of Wicked, the intention of which is re-examining the events leading up to The Wizard of Oz, showing a new side to this story.

1 “As Someone Told Me Lately, Everyone Deserves The Chance to Fly”

Said By Elphaba

Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) seen from behind, looking through a circular window with broken glass in Wicked Image via Universal Pictures

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“Defying Gravity” is one of the best songs in Wicked, and so much of it speaks to the lessons of the story. One such lesson is that no one deserves to be ostracized for how they look. Even the Wizard tells Elphaba how “everyone deserves a chance to fly,” even though he does not truly mean this. He wants to make a common enemy for the people of Oz to unite against, specifically targeting the animals because they are different from humans.

On the other hand, Elphaba does believe that no one should be treated as less than because of the way they were born and everyone deserves a fair chance in life. She’s been treated horribly most of her life just because of her green skin. “Defying Gravity” is the most powerful, defiant moment of Wicked, which shows Elphaba declaring that she will fly despite all those who have tried to make it impossible.

Wicked - Poster

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75 8.3/10 Wicked PGAdventureFantasyMusical

Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Director Jon M. Chu Release Date November 22, 2024 Studio(s) Marc Platt Productions Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Gregory Maguire , Winnie Holzman , Dana Fox , L. Frank Baum Cast Cynthia Erivo , Ariana Grande , Michelle Yeoh , Jeff Goldblum , Jonathan Bailey , Ethan Slater , Marissa Bode , Bowen Yang , Bronwyn James , Keala Settle , Peter Dinklage , Aaron Teoh , Grecia De la Paz , Colin Michael Carmichael , Adam James , Andy Nyman , Courtney Mae-Briggs , Sharon D. Clarke , Jenna Boyd Character(s) Elphaba Thropp , Glinda Upland , Madame Morrible , The Wizard , Fiyero Tigelaar , Boq , Nessarose Thropp , Pfannee , ShenShen , Miss Coddle , Doctor Dillamond (voice) , Avaric Tenmeadows , Gilligan , Professor Nikidik , Glinda’s Father , Governor Frexspar Thropp , Melena Thropp , The Midwife Runtime 160 Minutes Expand
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