There’s always something to learn from Disney stories, and the Disney Renaissance films were supremely successful mainly because each of these films had a valuable lesson at the center of them. Aladdin, being one of the earlier Disney Renaissance films, stood out for being something new and fresh. The film handed out these important lessons through quotes that were certain to resonate with every member of the audience, no matter the age range. Even after the 2019 live-action version has been released, fans still have a special place in their hearts for the 1992 film.
Robin Williams’ voice performance in the original made very many of the most famous Aladdin quotes as quotable as they are, and it remains unmatched. Overall, the talented voice cast of the film, many of whom reprised their roles in sequels and a TV series, was a hugely integral part of the film’s success. The lyrics of Howard Ashman and Tim Rice also produced some iconic Aladdin quotes that have been embedded into the very core of pop culture. These Disney quotes are without a doubt some of the most to revisit.
16 “Ten Thousand Years Will Give You Such A Crick In The Neck!”
Genie
This highly memorable Aladdin quote is in fact genie’s first line in the film, and he says right after making his grand entrance after Aladdin rubs the lamp in the cave. It lets the audience know right off the bat what kind of character Genie is and what his priorities are. Like the beloved and also highly quotable bear Baloo from The Jungle Book, Genie cares a lot about comfort, and viewers knew right then and there that they’d be able to relate to this character’s attitude.
15 “Hey, It’s Only An Eternity Of Servitude. This Is Love.”
Genie
In this scene, while Aladdin was having second thoughts about giving up Genie’s freedom for marriage to Jasmine and Genie tried to make it easy for him by claiming he didn’t care. This one really goes to show just how much love Genie had developed for Aladdin, as he was ready to give up freedom for all eternity if it meant the latter was happy. Considering Aladdin’s limited lifespan was like a blip in Genie’s, this really was the biggest sacrifice.
14 “Let Me Share This Whole New World With You…”
Aladdin and Jasmine
This was part of the lyrics to the famous Aladdin song “A Whole New World” but it felt so much like Jasmine and Aladdin talking rather than singing. It was here when the two finally understood what it was like to be free, although true freedom turned out to be different. They realized that just having an adventure wasn’t what they’d wanted, instead the fact that they got to share it together was what made it feel so special. From that point on, it was clear that the two were meant to be.
13 “Today’s Special Moments Are Tomorrow’s Memories.”
Genie
This Aladdin quote can be interpreted in both optimistic and pessimistic ways, with Genie reminding Aladdin of the moral behind this saying. One of Genie’s main goals is to make Aladdin realize that short-term gains are nothing when compared to lifelong things like love. Love is one of the few things that Genie can’t influence, and he recognizes that it’s more powerful than even him. Even though he just fires this line off among many other Genie zingers, it sticks out as one of the wisest Aladdin quotes.
12 “Sometimes We Only See How People Are Different. But If We Look Hard Enough, You Can See How Much We’re All Alike.”
Jasmine
Jasmine got to do a lot of thinking during her time isolated in the castle. She had this piece of wisdom to teach viewers, something she realized after being pretty much stuck in captivity despite being a princess. It didn’t matter that she was the most sought-out woman in all the kingdom, as Jasmine didn’t think she was any different from a regular person. In fact, she relished the prospect of being considered a part of the people.
11 “Do You Trust Me?”
Aladdin
This Aladdin quote was said twice by Aladdin himself to Jasmine in different scenarios. The first time was when they were being chased around by the guards, and he had to ask for Jasmine’s trust in placing her life in his hands. The gesture was much more directly romantic the second time around though when he invites her to join her on his magic carpet. It’s memorable not just for being repeated though, as each time he says it, the movie pauses to fully show how these moments are big stepping stones in the relationship between Jasmine and Aladdin.
10 “Riff-Raff, Street Rat, I Don’t Buy That. If Only They’d Look Closer…”
Aladdin
Before this scene played out, the audience could think that Aladdin enjoyed his life as a “street rat.” However, it was when he was hit with the term once more that we saw how it affected him. Aladdin was shown depressed in his hideout for being shamed in public for being poor, and it was here we saw how badly he wanted to be seen for who he really was rather than always being judged for being a street thief. It’s hard not to relate to this Disney hero’s hopes and dreams to find a better life.
9 “I Am Not A Prize To Be Won!”
Jasmine
A good change in the live-action Aladdin movie was the strengthening of Jasmine’s role, getting more to do in the plot, and a new song. The animated version also had her moments of empowerment though, with this one being the most iconic. Jasmine saw how Aladdin, the Sultan, Jafar, and everybody else was talking about her future while she was meant to watch powerlessly. It was with this proclamation that the men got the point that Jasmine would not idly sit by and be spoken about as if she were an object.
8 “I Understand. After All, You’ve Lied To Everyone Else, I Was Beginning To Feel Left Out.”
Genie
Every hero needs that one moment when they are called out for thinking too highly of themselves, and Aladdin got his when he betrayed the Genie and went back on his promise to release him. At that moment, Genie realized that Aladdin might have seen him as more of an ally than a friend, and called Aladdin out for his lack of honesty. A true friend will call another friend out if they’re really in the wrong, so Genie’s critique can be seen as harsh, but it was the best thing to do, as Aladdin needed to hear it.
7 “Well, Am I Sultan, Or Am I Sultan?”
Sultan
The Sultan is generally a very bumbling and inept character but lovably so and his innocent nature makes the moments when he finally puts his foot down matter all the more. When he realized that the rule of only marrying a prince was wrong, especially considering how Aladdin had proven himself more worthy than anybody else, the Sultan abolished the former law and allowed Aladdin to be with Jasmine, proving why the Sultan deserved his title.
6 “If I Were As Rich As You, I Could Afford Some Manners!”
Aladdin
Aladdin is a great film to teach kids about humility, as the audience sees how riches and fame don’t really bring Aladdin happiness. At the beginning of the movie, Aladdin wasn’t impressed by a visiting prince who arrived to be Jasmine’s suitor but almost trampled some small children with his horse as he rode up to the palace. He fearlessly gets into it with this much more powerful man and delivers some well-aimed comments about the suitor’s appearance and behavior, with this Aladdin quote being one of them.
5 “To Be Free. Such A Thing Would Be Greater Than All The Magic And All The Treasures In The World.”
Genie
One of the most interesting things about the main characters in Aladdin is that all of them are trapped in one way or another, at least at the beginning. Aladdin is a “street rat”, Jasmine is a princess who can go nowhere, and Genie is literally shackled by his powers. This Aladdin quote was more a message toward the viewers than Genie’s own thoughts, as it was meant to illustrate how having basically any material thing a person could desire, like money, didn’t mean anything without more abstract ideas like freedom.
4 “Phenomenal Cosmic Powers! Itty Bitty Living Space.”
Genie
Just by itself, this is an iconic Aladdin quote, but the superb line delivery of the legendary Robin Williams puts it in a class of its own in terms of famous Disney movie lines. Many people with cramped working conditions can relate to Genie’s problem of having so much power and authority while still feeling trapped all the time by the conditions of his own everyday life. Anyone who’s ever worked in an office cubicle knows exactly what Genie is talking about here.
3 “Jasmine, I Do Love You, But I’ve Got To Stop Pretending To Be Something I’m Not.”
Aladdin
The things that Aladdin got from his wishes were never what made him a great Disney hero. He gained entry into the palace, but that was the extent of it as Aladdin quickly realized if he wanted to be happy then he had to accept himself for who he truly was. To this end, the prospect of becoming a real prince and achieving the life of a royal didn’t have any meaning to him because it came at the cost of Aladdin’s integrity. Being what society wanted him to be would have meant he was just lying again, and this Aladdin quote shows how much he grows throughout the film.
2 “I Choose You, Aladdin.”
Jasmine
This Aladdin quote might seem like a throwaway line since by the time it comes about in the story all the conflicts had been resolved, but it is actually extremely significant as Jasmine finally had a choice in her future. The former rule had been abolished, but it was still Jasmine’s decision who she wanted. So, hearing her happily choose Aladdin brought the satisfaction that Jasmine herself was finally free.
1 “Al, No Matter What Anyone Says, You’ll Always Be a Prince To Me.”
Genie
In many ways, the most important relationship in the movie is the one between Aladdin and Genie. After all, it was the moment when Aladdin released Genie that it became clear he chose friendship over his romantic interest. Out of all the heartwarming and heartbreaking scenes in the movie, the goodbye hug between Aladdin and Genie is the most tear-jerking, even on repeat viewings for die-hard fans who already know that Genie doesn’t leave for very long at all before coming into Aladdin’s life.
