Magical Fairy Quotes from Peter Pan
Peter Pan has been teaching kids to believe in fairies since 1904, when J.M. Barrie’s play first opened in London. These fairy quotes from Peter Pan are for bedtime stories, Neverland birthday parties and anyone who still leaves the window open just in case.
If Neverland leaves you wanting more pixie dust, the complete fairy quotes roundup links every fairy list on the site.
We split the lines that really come from Barrie’s book from the ones that just get passed around with Peter’s name on them. Want sayings with a little more mud on their boots? Our fairy quotes for boys are full of Lost Boy energy.
Quick Picks: Fairy Quotes from Peter Pan
Five to say before you turn out the light.
- “Second to the right, and straight on till morning.” (J.M. Barrie, Peter and Wendy)
- “You just think lovely wonderful thoughts and they lift you up in the air.” (J.M. Barrie, Peter and Wendy)
- “All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.” (Disney’s Peter Pan, 1953, as it is usually quoted)
- “Come with me where dreams are born and time is never planned.”
- “Neverland is wherever you are brave enough to look.”
The Come with me line is a popular saying with no known author. The last one is an original 3BoysAndADog saying.
Peter Pan Quotes Straight from Barrie’s Book
These are the real lines, word for word, from the 1911 novel.
From the book
“Second to the right, and straight on till morning.”
J.M. Barrie, Peter and Wendy
- “I’ll teach you how to jump on the wind’s back, and then away we go.” (J.M. Barrie, Peter and Wendy)
- “You just think lovely wonderful thoughts and they lift you up in the air.” (J.M. Barrie, Peter and Wendy)
- “All children, except one, grow up.” (J.M. Barrie, Peter and Wendy)
- “Oh, the cleverness of me!” (J.M. Barrie, Peter and Wendy)
- “Wendy, one girl is more use than twenty boys.” (J.M. Barrie, Peter and Wendy)
Disney changed the directions to “second star to the right” for the 1953 movie. Barrie never mentions a star.
Peter Pan Quotes About Believing in Fairies
Tinker Bell only stays bright if somebody believes. So do most of us.
- “If you believe, clap your hands! Don’t let Tink die.” (J.M. Barrie, Peter and Wendy)
- “The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.” (J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens)
- “Dreams do come true, if only we wish hard enough.” (often credited to J.M. Barrie)
- “Believing is the first step to flying.”
- “Clap a little louder. Somebody needs it.”
Disney magic
“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust.”
Disney’s Peter Pan, 1953, as it is usually quoted
We could not find the Dreams do come true line in any of Barrie’s books, so we list it as credited to him. The last two are original 3BoysAndADog sayings.
Peter Pan Quotes About Never Growing Up
For the grown-ups who still race their kids to the swings.
Neverland state of mind
“Neverland isn’t a place. It’s a state of mind.”
Popular saying
- “Never grow up.”
- “Once you’re grown up, you can’t come back.”
- “No one is too old for fairy tales.”
- “Keep one foot in Neverland.”
- “Grow up slowly. Neverland will wait.”
The first three are popular sayings linked to Peter Pan but not found in Barrie’s text. The last two are original 3BoysAndADog sayings.
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Peter Pan Quotes About Love and Waiting
Wendy’s mother kept the nursery window open for years. These lines are for that kind of love.
- “You mean more to me than anyone in this whole world.”
- “Just always be waiting for me.” (often credited to Peter Pan, 2003 film)
- “Wait for me somewhere between reality and all we’ve ever dreamed.”
- “Come with me where dreams are born and time is never planned.”
- “The window is always open for you.”
The first, third and fourth are popular sayings with no known author. The last one is an original 3BoysAndADog saying.
Happy Thoughts and Big Adventures
Little pushes for the kid who is about to try something new.
- “Think of happy things and your heart will fly.”
- “Stars are beautiful, but they may not take an active part in anything, they must just look on for ever.” (J.M. Barrie, Peter and Wendy)
- “Pick your second star and go.”
- “Happy thoughts are lighter than air.”
- “Every great adventure starts with an open window.”
The first one is a popular saying. The last three are original 3BoysAndADog sayings.
Ways to Use Peter Pan Quotes at Home
Easy ideas that do not need any pixie dust.
- Mirror notes: Write “think lovely wonderful thoughts” on the bathroom mirror before a big day.
- Quote wall: Let everyone in the house add a favorite line on a sticky note.
- Journal prompts: Ask older kids “What is your Neverland?” and let them write.
- Fairy party: Pair the Tinker Bell lines with our Tinker Bell activity pack.
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Peter Pan Picks
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Quick facts about Peter, Wendy and where these lines came from.
More Peter Pan Fun
Printables, books and nursery ideas for a whole Neverland week.
These are lovely quotes! I think I read somewhere recently that J M Barrie lost a lot of people around him when he was only young, and that was his inspiration for a boy that never grew old. It is quite sad really. But through his work he has brought so much joy.