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Updated January 26, 2026 | Infoplease Staff Information
Dorothy Wizard of Oz Shoes

The land of Oz has been a source of magic and wonder for generations. The beloved book series, written by L. Frank Baum, has inspired countless readers to dream big and believe in the impossible. The characters, from Dorothy to the Scarecrow, have captured our hearts with their courage and determination. And the quotes from the series continue to resonate with readers of all ages, inspiring us to never give up hope, to always believe in ourselves, and to live our best lives.

30 Quotes from "The Wizard of Oz" Books

These quotes from the "Wizard of Oz" series by L. Frank Baum will inspire you to have courage, be kind, and embrace the journey of life. From book to book, the following timeless quotes will have you feeling inspired and uplifted. So sit back, relax, and let the wisdom of Oz guide you on your path.

  1. "There's no place like home." — "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," 1900.

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  2. "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." — "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," 1900.

  3. "I am Oz, the great and powerful." — "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," 1900.

  4. "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!" — "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," 1900.

  5. "I have a heart, for I am a living person." — "The Tin Woodman of Oz," 1918.

  6. "Courage, dear heart." — "The Cowardly Lion of Oz," 1923.

  7. "It's always best to start at the beginning." — "Glinda of Oz," 1920.

  8. "A baby has brains, but it doesn't know much. Experience is the only thing that brings knowledge." — "The Road to Oz," 1909.

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  9. "You have plenty of courage, I am sure. All you need is confidence in yourself." — "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," 1900.

  10. "True courage is in facing danger when you are afraid." — "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," 1900.

  11. "The true way to gain much, is never to desire to gain too much." — "The Emerald City of Oz," 1910.

  12. "The only way to do something in this world is to do it, and you can't do it by just sitting around talking about it." — "The Lost Princess of Oz," 1917.

  13. "I shall take the heart. For brains do not make one happy, and happiness is the best thing in the world." — "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," 1900.

  14. "Everything has to come to an end, sometime." — "The Marvelous Land of Oz," 1904.

  15. “He is my dog, Toto," answered Dorothy.

    "Is he made of tin, or stuffed?" asked the Lion.

    "Neither. He's a— a— a meat dog," said the girl.” — "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," 1900.

  16. "It is not where you are but who you are with that is important." — "The Road to Oz," 1909.

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  17. "Never give up, no matter how hard it gets." — "The Emerald City of Oz," 1910.

  18. "If we walk far enough, we shall sometime come to someplace." — "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," 1900.

  19. "Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking." — "The Wizard of Oz," 1939.

  20. "The road to success is paved with mistakes well handled." — "The Patchwork Girl of Oz," 1913.

  21. "We learn more from failure than success. Don't let it stop you. Failure builds character." — "The Marvelous Land of Oz," 1904.

    Shadow figures from the Wizard of Oz
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  22. "Experience is the teacher of all things." — "The Patchwork Girl of Oz," 1913.

  23. "No thief, however skillful, can rob one of knowledge, and that is why knowledge is the best and safest treasure to acquire." — "The Lost Princess of Oz," 1917.

  24. "You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." — "The Motley Fool of Oz," 1915.

  25. “But you will admit that it is a very good thing to be alive.” — "The Marvelous Land of Oz," 1904.

  26. "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." — "The Patchwork Girl of Oz," 1913.

  27. "All you need is confidence in yourself. There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid." — "Ozma of Oz," 1907.

  28. "The true way to gain much, is never to desire to gain too much." — "The Emerald City of Oz," 1910.

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  29. "The best way to predict the future is to invent it." — "The Lost Princess of Oz," 1917.

  30. "If you want to be happy, be." — "The Patchwork Girl of Oz," 1913.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road...

The "Wizard of Oz" books have stood the test of time, inspiring generation after generation to dream big and believe in the impossible. The quotes from the series remind us that no matter how tough life can get, we always have the power to overcome our challenges and achieve our goals. So let's take these inspiring words to heart and live our best lives, both in the real world and in the magical land of Oz. As Glinda the Good Witch said, "You've always had the power, my dear. You just had to learn it for yourself."

Are you interested in other books for children and adults alike? Why not test your knowledge with our quiz, "Charlotte's Web": The Book?
 

"The Wizard of Oz" Books and the Movie Difference:


While the story of Dorothy’s adventure in Oz and her wish to return home is the basic tale in “The Wizard of Oz” books and the 1939 movie, there are differences.

In the novels, Dorothy's travels in Oz span a series of books, bringing in new characters and embellishing the mythology of Oz, while the movie is only focused on the first book.

The film stands out with bright colors and musical numbers, while the novels offer more detailed world-building and a richer exploration of Oz’s magically populated land.

Both of them highlight the themes of bravery, companionship, and the significance of self-belief.
 

Below are the 15 best "The Wizard of Oz" Movie Quotes:

  1. "A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others." — "The Wizard, The Wizard of Oz," 1939
    The true gauge of the heart is not how much love it gives but how much love it receives. Hence, this line also implies the influence of love in the bonds and warmth given back by others.
     
  2. "Only a few are born great, others have greatness thrust upon them." — "The Wizard, The Wizard of Oz," 1939.
     
  3. "I’m not a witch at all. I’m just a girl who happens to be the most powerful woman in the world." — "Glinda, The Wizard of Oz," 1939.
     
  4. "You can’t be a good witch if you don’t have a little wickedness in you." — "Glinda, The Wizard of Oz," 1939.
    This quote illustrates that even the best of us have some darkness or depth within us. It emphasizes that to be truly powerful, you must be balanced and understand both light and dark attributes.
     
  5. "A man is not a man until he has a heart." — "The Tin Man, The Wizard of Oz," 1939.
     
  6. "The most important thing in life is not being in the moment, it’s what you do with the moments you have." — "Glinda, The Wizard of Oz," 1939.
     
  7. "You’re the one who is gonna change the world, and everyone else is just along for the ride." — "Dorothy Gale, The Wizard of Oz," 1939.
     
  8. "The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." — "The Wizard, The Wizard of Oz," 1939.
    The best counter to it is to embrace change rather than resist it. This aphorism encourages adapting to new situations as opposed to trying to figure everything out beforehand.
     
  9. "What you lack in brain power, you make up for in heart." — "The Wizard, The Wizard of Oz," 1939.
     
  10. "Sometimes, you have to risk everything to find out what you’re truly capable of." — "Glinda, The Wizard of Oz," 1939.
     
  11. "It’s not what you see, but how you see it that makes all the difference." — "The Scarecrow, The Wizard of Oz," 1939.
     
  12. "All it takes is a little bit of courage and a whole lot of belief." — "Dorothy Gale, The Wizard of Oz," 1939.
    This quote implies that overcoming any struggle requires courage but, more importantly, a profound belief in yourself. It reminds us that believing in our abilities is just as important as having the courage to do something.
     
  13. "A place where you’ll never be alone, because you’re surrounded by all the things you love." — "The Wizard, The Wizard of Oz," 1939.
     
  14. "We’ve always had the power. It’s not magic that makes us who we are, but how we choose to use it." — "Glinda, The Wizard of Oz," 1939.
     
  15. "To find what you seek, you must first learn how to believe in what you cannot see." — "The Wizard, The Wizard of Oz," 1939
    This powerful statement reflects the importance of faith, even when the future seems to be new or unclear. 

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[1] The Wizard of Oz: Quotable Quotes. (n.d.) Goodreads.com. Retrieved June 14, 2023, from https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/9906617-you-ve-always-had-the-power-my-dear-you-just-had

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