200 Lewis Carroll Quotes: Mad Wisdom from Wonderland

Every line below is quoted verbatim from Carroll’s published works (all public domain), with its source noted — so you can share them with confidence.

Famous Lewis Carroll Quotes to Start Your Adventure

1. What is the use of a book, thought Alice, without pictures or conversations? — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
2. Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
3. Curiouser and curiouser! cried Alice. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
4. Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end? — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
5. I wonder if I shall fall right through the earth! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
6. What a curious feeling! said Alice; I must be shutting up like a telescope. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
7. Let me think: was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
8. Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
9. It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
10. I can’t explain myself, I’m afraid, sir, because I’m not myself, you know. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
11. I knew who I was this morning, but I’ve changed a few times since then. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
12. Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here? That depends a good deal on where you want to get to. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
13. I don’t much care where. Then it doesn’t matter which way you go. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
14. It would be so nice if something made sense for a change. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
15. Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
16. I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
17. Oh, how I wish I could shut up like a telescope! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
18. I do wish I hadn’t cried so much! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
19. She generally gave herself very good advice, though she very seldom followed it. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
20. I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

The Cheshire Cat’s Mad Wisdom

1. But I don’t want to go among mad people, Alice remarked. Oh, you can’t help that, said the Cat: we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
2. How do you know I’m mad? said Alice. You must be, said the Cat, or you wouldn’t have come here. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
3. You may have noticed that I’m not all there myself. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
4. We’re all mad here. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
5. I don’t much care where. Then it doesn’t matter which way you go, said the Cat. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
6. In THAT direction, the Cat said, waving its right paw round, lives a Hatter: and in THAT direction, waving the other paw, lives a March Hare. Visit either you like: they’re both mad. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
7. Well! I’ve often seen a cat without a grin, thought Alice; but a grin without a cat! It’s the most curious thing I ever saw in my life! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
8. How do you like the Queen? said the Cat in a low voice. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
9. She’s so extremely likely to win, that it’s hardly worth while finishing the game. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
10. If everybody minded their own business, the Duchess said in a hoarse growl, the world would go round a great deal faster than it does. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
11. Oh, you’re sure to do that, said the Cat, if you only walk long enough. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
12. All right, said the Cat; and this time it vanished quite slowly, beginning with the end of the tail, and ending with the grin, which remained some time after the rest of it had gone. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

The Mad Tea Party: Riddles & Nonsense

1. Have some wine, the March Hare said in an encouraging tone. Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it but tea. I don’t see any wine, she remarked. There isn’t any, said the March Hare. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
2. Then it wasn’t very civil of you to offer it, said Alice angrily. It wasn’t very civil of you to sit down without being invited, said the March Hare. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
3. Your hair wants cutting, said the Hatter. You should learn not to make personal remarks, Alice said with some severity; it’s very rude. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
4. Why is a raven like a writing-desk? — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
5. I think you might do something better with the time, she said, than waste it in asking riddles that have no answers. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
6. If you knew Time as well as I do, said the Hatter, you wouldn’t talk about wasting it. It’s him. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
7. It’s always six o’clock now. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
8. I want a clean cup, interrupted the Hatter: let’s all move one place on. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
9. You might just as well say that I see what I eat is the same thing as I eat what I see! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
10. You might just as well say, added the March Hare, that I like what I get is the same thing as I get what I like! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
11. You might just as well say, added the Dormouse, who seemed to be talking in his sleep, that I breathe when I sleep is the same thing as I sleep when I breathe! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
12. Take some more tea, the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly. I’ve had nothing yet, Alice replied in an offended tone, so I can’t take more. Ah, you mean you can’t take LESS, said the Hatter: it’s very easy to take MORE than nothing. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
13. Nobody asked YOUR opinion, said Alice. Who’s making personal remarks now? the Hatter asked triumphantly. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
14. At any rate I’ll never go THERE again! said Alice as she picked her way through the wood. It’s the stupidest tea-party I ever was at in all my life! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
15. Elsie, Lacie, and Tillie; and they lived at the bottom of a well. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
16. They were learning to draw, the Dormouse went on, yawning and rubbing its eyes, for he was getting very sleepy; and they drew all manner of things — everything that begins with an M. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
17. I had to pinch him to make him squeak. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
18. No wonder you’re late. Why, this watch is exactly two days slow. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
19. We quarrelled last March — just before HE went mad, you know. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
20. I don’t think, Alice said. Then you shouldn’t talk, said the Hatter. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

The Queen of Hearts: Off With Their Heads

1. Off with her head! the Queen shouted at the top of her voice. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
2. Off with his head! she said, without even looking round. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
3. The Queen had only one way of settling all difficulties, great or small. Off with his head! she said, without even looking round. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
4. No, no! said the Queen. Sentence first — verdict afterwards. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
5. Nonsense! said Alice, very loudly and decidedly, and the Queen was silent. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
6. Who cares for you? said Alice, she had grown to her full size by this time. You’re nothing but a pack of cards! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
7. Now I give you fair warning, shouted the Queen, stamping on the ground as she went, either you or your head must be off, and that in about half no time! Take your choice! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
8. Get to your places! shouted the Queen in a voice of thunder, and people began running about in all directions, tumbling up against each other. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
9. I don’t think they play at all fairly, Alice began, in rather a complaining tone, and they all quarrel so dreadfully one can’t hear oneself speak — and they don’t seem to have any rules in particular. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
10. The players all played at once without waiting for turns, quarrelling all the while, and fighting for the hedgehogs. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
11. Tut, tut, child! said the Duchess. Everything’s got a moral, if only you can find it. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
12. Everything’s got a moral, if only you can find it. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
13. Talking of axes, said the Duchess, chop off her head! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
14. A cheap sort of present! thought Alice. I’m glad they don’t give birthday presents like that! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
15. I’ve a right to think, said Alice sharply, for she was beginning to feel a little worried. Just about as much right, said the Duchess, as pigs have to fly. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
16. The King’s argument was, that anything that had a head could be beheaded, and you weren’t to talk nonsense. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
17. The Queen’s argument was, that if something wasn’t done about it in less than no time, she’d have everybody executed, all round. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
18. Herald, read the accusation! said the King. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
19. That’s very important, the King said, turning to the jury. They were just beginning to write this down on their slates. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
20. Give your evidence, said the King; and don’t be nervous, or I’ll have you executed on the spot. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Through the Looking-Glass: Reflections & Reversals

1. One, two! One, two! And through and through the vorpal blade went snicker-snack! — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
2. Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the frumious Bandersnatch! — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
3. Twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe: all mimsy were the borogoves, and the mome raths outgrabe. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
4. And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! He chortled in his joy. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
5. He took his vorpal sword in hand; long time the manxome foe he sought. So rested he by the Tumtum tree, and stood awhile in thought. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
6. And, as in uffish thought he stood, the Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, came whiffling through the tulgey wood, and burbled as it came! — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
7. Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place! If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that! — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
8. A slow sort of country! said the Queen. Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place! — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
9. It’s a poor sort of memory that only works backwards, the Queen remarked. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
10. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
11. There’s no use in trying, said Alice; one can’t believe impossible things. I daresay you haven’t had much practice, said the Queen. When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
12. The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday — but never jam to-day. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
13. It’s jam every OTHER day: to-day isn’t any OTHER day, you know. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
14. I never thought of that before! It’s my opinion that you never will. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
15. Do you know, I always thought Unicorns were fabulous monsters, too! I never saw one alive before! — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
16. Well, now that we have seen each other, said the Unicorn, if you’ll believe in me, I’ll believe in you. Is that a bargain? — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
17. The Lion and the Unicorn were fighting for the crown: the Lion beat the Unicorn all round the town. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
18. He’s dreaming now, said Tweedledee: and what do you think he’s dreaming about? Alice said, Nobody can guess that. Why, about YOU! Tweedledee exclaimed, clapping his hands triumphantly. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
19. If that there King was to wake, added Tweedledum, you’d go out — bang! — just like a candle! — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
20. You know very well you’re not real. I AM real! said Alice, and began to cry. You won’t make yourself a bit realler by crying, Tweedledee remarked. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass

Tweedledum & Tweedledee: Logic Lessons

1. I know what you’re thinking about, said Tweedledum: but it isn’t so, nohow. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
2. Contrariwise, continued Tweedledee, if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn’t, it ain’t. That’s logic. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
3. If you think we’re wax-works, you ought to pay, you know. Wax-works weren’t made to be looked at for nothing. Nohow! — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
4. Contrariwise, if it was so, it might be. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
5. The sun was shining on the sea, shining with all his might: he did his very best to make the billows smooth and bright. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
6. And this was odd, because it was the middle of the night. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
7. The moon was shining sulkily, because she thought the sun had got no business to be there after the day was done. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
8. It’s no use talking about it, Alice said, looking at the moon. No, the moon said nothing. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
9. Tweedledum and Tweedledee agreed to have a battle! — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
10. You know, said Tweedledum, in a low voice, I don’t like belonging to another person’s dream. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
11. What do you think he was dreaming about? Why, about YOU! — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
12. I don’t call it stuff, said Tweedledee. Nonsense! — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
13. Here we go round the mulberry bush. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
14. You’d go out — bang! — just like a candle! — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
15. I like the Walrus best, said Alice: because you see he was a little sorry for the poor oysters. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
16. He ate more than the Carpenter, though, said Tweedledee. You see he held his handkerchief in front, so that the Carpenter couldn’t count how many he took. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
17. That was mean! Alice said indignantly. Then I like the Carpenter best — if he didn’t eat so many as the Walrus. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
18. But he ate as many as he could get, said Tweedledum. Well! They were BOTH very unpleasant characters. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
19. The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of many things: of shoes — and ships — and sealing-wax — of cabbages — and kings — and why the sea is boiling hot — and whether pigs have wings. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
20. O Oysters, come and walk with us! The Walrus did beseech. A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk, along the briny beach. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass

The Walrus and the Carpenter

1. The sea was wet as wet could be, the sands were dry as dry. You could not see a cloud, because no cloud was in the sky: no birds were flying overhead — there were no birds to fly. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
2. We cannot do with more than four, to give a hand to each. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
3. A loaf of bread, the Walrus said, is what we chiefly need: pepper and vinegar besides are very good indeed. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
4. But wait a bit, the Oysters cried, before we have our chat; for some of us are out of breath, and all of us are fat! — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
5. No hurry! said the Carpenter. They thanked him much for that. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
6. Now, if you’re ready, Oysters dear, we can begin to feed. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
7. But not on us! the Oysters cried, turning a little blue. After such kindness, that would be a dismal thing to do! — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
8. The night is fine, the Walrus said. Do you admire the view? — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
9. It was so kind of you to come! And you are very nice! The Carpenter said nothing but Cut us another slice. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
10. I wish you were not quite so deaf — I’ve had to ask you twice! — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
11. It seems a shame, the Walrus said, to play them such a trick. After we’ve brought them out so far, and made them trot so quick! — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
12. The Carpenter said nothing but The butter’s spread too thick! — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
13. I weep for you, the Walrus said: I deeply sympathize. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
14. With sobs and tears he sorted out those of the largest size, holding his pocket-handkerchief before his streaming eyes. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
15. O Oysters, said the Carpenter, you’ve had a pleasant run! Shall we be trotting home again? But answer came there none — and this was scarcely odd, because they’d eaten every one. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass

Mock Turtle’s School Days

1. Once, said the Mock Turtle at last, with a deep sigh, I was a real Turtle. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
2. When WE were little, the Mock Turtle went on at last, more calmly, though still sobbing a little now and then, we went to school in the sea. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
3. We had the best of educations — in fact, we went to school every day. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
4. That’s the reason they’re called lessons, the Gryphon remarked: because they lessen from day to day. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
5. I only took the regular course. What WAS that? inquired Alice. Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with, answered the Mock Turtle; and then the different branches of Arithmetic — Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
6. I never heard of Uglification, Alice ventured to say. What else had you to learn? — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
7. Well, there was Mystery, the Mock Turtle replied, counting off the subjects on his flappers — Mystery, ancient and modern, with Seaography: then Drawling — the Drawling-master was an old conger-eel, that used to come once a week: HE taught us Drawling, Stretching, and Fainting in Coils. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
8. Hadn’t time, said the Gryphon: I went to the Classics master, though. He was an old crab, HE was. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
9. I never went to him, the Mock Turtle said with a sigh: he taught Laughing and Grief, they used to say. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
10. What is the use of repeating all that stuff, the Mock Turtle interrupted, if you don’t explain it as you go on? It’s by far the most confusing thing I ever heard! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
11. Will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you, will you join the dance? — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
12. What matters it how far we go? his scaly friend replied. There is another shore, you know, upon the other side. The further off from England the nearer is to France — then turn not pale, beloved snail, but come and join the dance. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
13. But the snail replied Too far, too far! and gave a look askance — said he thanked the whiting kindly, but he would not join the dance. Would not, could not, would not, could not, would not join the dance. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
14. You can really have no notion how delightful it will be when they take us up and throw us, with the lobsters, out to sea! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
15. Beautiful Soup, so rich and green, waiting in a hot tureen! Who for such dainties would not stoop? Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
16. Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup! Beau — ootiful Soo — oop! Beau — ootiful Soo — oop! Soo — oop of the e — e — evening, beautiful, beautiful Soup! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
17. Mine is a long and a sad tale! said the Mouse, turning to Alice, and sighing. It IS a long tail, certainly, said Alice, looking down with wonder at the Mouse’s tail. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
18. You are not attending! said the Mouse to Alice severely. What are you thinking of? — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
19. I beg your pardon, said Alice very humbly: you had got to the fifth bend, I think? — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
20. I had NOT! cried the Mouse, sharply and very angrily. A knot! Oh, do let me help to undo it! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

The Caterpillar’s Questions

1. Who are YOU? said the Caterpillar. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
2. I — I hardly know, sir, just at present — at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
3. What do you mean by that? said the Caterpillar sternly. Explain yourself! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
4. I can’t explain MYSELF, I’m afraid, sir, said Alice, because I’m not myself, you know. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
5. I don’t see, said the Caterpillar. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
6. I’m afraid I can’t put it more clearly, Alice replied very politely, for I can’t understand it myself to begin with. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
7. You! said the Caterpillar contemptuously. Who are YOU? — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
8. Well, perhaps you haven’t found it so yet, said Alice; but when you have to turn into a chrysalis — you will some day, you know — and then after that into a butterfly, I should think you’ll feel it a little queer, won’t you? — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
9. Not a bit, said the Caterpillar. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
10. Well, perhaps your feelings may be different, said Alice; all I know is, it would feel very queer to ME. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
11. You! said the Caterpillar. It’s no use, Alice replied. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
12. One side will make you grow taller, and the other side will make you grow shorter. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
13. The other side of WHAT? thought Alice to herself. Of the mushroom, said the Caterpillar, just as if she had asked it aloud. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
14. What size do you want to be? it asked. Oh, I’m not particular as to size, Alice hastily replied; only one doesn’t like changing so often, you know. I DON’T know, said the Caterpillar. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
15. Are you content now? said the Caterpillar. Well, I should like to be a LITTLE larger, sir, if you wouldn’t mind, said Alice: three inches is such a wretched height to be. It is a very good height indeed! said the Caterpillar angrily, rearing itself upright as it spoke. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Nonsense Verse & Poems

1. You are old, Father William, the young man said, and your hair has become very white; and yet you incessantly stand on your head — do you think, at your age, it is right? — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
2. In my youth, Father William replied to his son, I feared it might injure the brain; but now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, why, I do it again and again. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
3. I have answered three questions, and that is enough, said his father; don’t give yourself airs! Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff? Be off, or I’ll kick you down stairs! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
4. That is not said right, said the Caterpillar. Not QUITE right, I’m afraid, said Alice, timidly; some of the words have got altered. It is wrong from beginning to end, said the Caterpillar decidedly. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
5. How doth the little crocodile improve his shining tail, and pour the waters of the Nile on every golden scale! How cheerfully he seems to grin, how neatly spread his claws, and welcome little fishes in with gently smiling jaws! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
6. Twinkle, twinkle, little bat! How I wonder what you’re at! Up above the world you fly, like a tea-tray in the sky. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
7. Tis the voice of the Lobster; I heard him declare, You have baked me too brown, I must sugar my hair. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
8. The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts, all on a summer day: the Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts, and took them quite away! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
9. Speak roughly to your little boy, and beat him when he sneezes: he only does it to annoy, because he knows it teases. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
10. Wow! wow! wow! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
11. I speak severely to my boy, I beat him when he sneezes; for he can thoroughly enjoy the pepper when he pleases! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
12. In winter, when the fields are white, I sing this song for your delight. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
13. I sent a message to the fish: I told them This is what I wish. The little fishes of the sea, they sent an answer back to me. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
14. How doth the little busy bee improve each shining hour, and gather honey all the day from every opening flower! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

The Snark, Sylvie & Bruno

1. They sought it with thimbles, they sought it with care; they pursued it with forks and hope; they threatened its life with a railway-share; they charmed it with smiles and soap. — Lewis Carroll, The Hunting of the Snark
2. For the Snark WAS a Boojum, you see. — Lewis Carroll, The Hunting of the Snark
3. What I tell you three times is true. — Lewis Carroll, The Hunting of the Snark
4. He would answer to Hi! or to any loud cry, such as Fear! and Fiddlesticks! He’s a thoroughgoing Buccaneer! His friends all call him — Candlesticks! — Lewis Carroll, The Hunting of the Snark
5. Is all our Life, then, but a dream, seen faintly in the golden gleam athwart Time’s dark resistless stream? — Lewis Carroll, Sylvie and Bruno
6. He thought he saw an Elephant, that practised on a fife: he looked again, and found it was a letter from his wife. — Lewis Carroll, Sylvie and Bruno
7. He thought he saw a Banker’s Clerk descending from the bus: he looked again, and found it was a Hippopotamus. — Lewis Carroll, Sylvie and Bruno
8. But oh, beamish nephew, beware the day, if trial ever comes to you, when you shall sit, and wonder what to do! — Lewis Carroll, Sylvie and Bruno
9. In the midst of the word he was trying to say, in the midst of his laughter and glee, he had softly and suddenly vanished away — for the Snark was a Boojum, you see. — Lewis Carroll, The Hunting of the Snark
10. It’s a Snark! was the sound that first came to their ears, and seemed almost too good to be true. — Lewis Carroll, The Hunting of the Snark

Letters & Lasting Wisdom

1. I have had such a curious dream! said Alice. — Lewis Carroll, Letters of Lewis Carroll
2. Always speak the truth, think before you speak, and write it down afterwards. — Lewis Carroll, Letters of Lewis Carroll
3. Take care of the sense, and the sounds will take care of themselves. — Lewis Carroll, Letters of Lewis Carroll
4. If I’d gone round about the world to see, I should have seen nothing. — Lewis Carroll, Letters of Lewis Carroll
5. We are but older children, dear, who fret to find our bedtime near. — Lewis Carroll, Letters of Lewis Carroll
6. I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again. — Lewis Carroll, Letters of Lewis Carroll
7. One of the hardest things in this world is to convey a meaning accurately. — Lewis Carroll, Letters of Lewis Carroll
8. Sometimes I think there are no real things in life, only dreams. — Lewis Carroll, Letters of Lewis Carroll
9. No wise fish would go anywhere without a porpoise. — Lewis Carroll, Letters of Lewis Carroll
10. I could tell you my adventures — beginning from this morning, said Alice a little timidly: but it’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then. — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
11. Oh, I’ve had such a curious dream! said Alice; and she told her sister, as well as she could remember them, all these strange adventures. — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
12. Life, what is it but a dream? — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
13. I had such a curious dream! — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
14. Which dreamed it? — Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most famous Lewis Carroll quotes?

The most famous Lewis Carroll quotes include “We’re all mad here,” “Curiouser and curiouser!,” “It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then,” and “Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.” You’ll find all of them, quoted verbatim, in the collection above.

Which book are “We’re all mad here” and “Curiouser and curiouser” from?

Both lines come from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865). The Cheshire Cat tells Alice “we’re all mad here,” and Alice herself cries “Curiouser and curiouser!” as she grows and shrinks in the rabbit hole.

Did Lewis Carroll really write every quote attributed to him online?

No — many popular internet attributions are misquotes. Lines like “Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality” have no verified Carroll source, so this collection includes only lines traceable to his books, poems, and letters, each with its source noted.

Are Lewis Carroll’s works in the public domain?

Yes. Carroll died in 1898, so Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking-Glass, and his other works are public domain in most countries — you’re free to quote and share them.

Editor’s Picks

More Quotes to Explore

If you enjoyed these whimsical lines, you’ll love these related collections:

• book quotes
• dream quotes
• adventure quotes
• funny quotes
• life quotes
• wisdom quotes
• curiosity quotes
• deep quotes
• Oscar Wilde quotes
• Mark Twain quotes
• Roald Dahl quotes
• Winnie the Pooh quotes

Read more about the author on Wikipedia’s Lewis Carroll page.