Summary

• Belle from Beauty and the Beast is Disney's greatest princess, known for her strong character and quotes.
• Belle's willingness to learn and see past appearances make her a truly inspiring Disney character.
• Belle's iconic quotes showcase her intelligence, bravery, and selflessness throughout the movie.

Beauty and the Beast is one of Disney's most important and influential movies, thanks in large part to Belle's strong character and great quotes. It is certainly one of the best animated films of all time. With a plethora of fantastic characters, an interesting story, great songs, and a strong moral lesson, there is plenty to take away from this superb movie. The story follows a young woman from a small village who agrees to live with the Beast instead of her father, who was taken by the Beast for tresing. She and the Beast form an unlikely friendship as she also bonds with his enchanted household staff.

At the heart of the entire film is Belle. She's arguably Disney's greatest princess. She sees through the Beast's tough exterior to see his warm personality, she isn't judgmental, she's incredibly smart, and she encourages reading. Disney's groundbreaking animated Beauty and the Beast movie from 1991 has many famous lines, but Belle's remain some of the most quotable, and for good reason. She never backs down from a fight, and she knows exactly what she wants. Belle is a truly inspiring Disney character that fans will never forget and these great Belle quotes demonstrate why that's the case.

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15 "What Do You Know About My Dreams, Gaston?"

Belle Won't Be Told What She Wants

Belle was a breath of fresh air compared to many of the Disney princesses that came before, because she didn't spend the entire movie pining after a man. In fact, she spent most of the first half of Beauty and the Beast rejecting one. One of Belle's best qualities is that she won't be told what to want out of life by those around her in her secluded country life, least of all the brutish Gaston, who wishes to marry her and leave her to look after his home and children for him.

Belle lets Gaston know quite frequently throughout the movie that she finds him repulsive

Belle lets Gaston know quite frequently throughout the movie that she finds him repulsive, but the lumbering hunter is just too narrow-minded to see it, even though lines like this one couldn't make it any clearer. All of Belle's quotes aimed at Gaston are just like this one, showing her strong mind, which is really in direct contrast to what he wants. He simply cannot see past her beauty to understand that she has her own opinions and desires.

14 "I Want Adventure In The Great Wide Somewhere."

Belle Wants A Life Of Adventure

Much like the fact that Belle's story wasn't defined by longing for a Prince Charming-type figure, another reason she was so endearing compared to earlier Disney Princesses is that she — much like Ariel a few years prior in 1990's The Little Mermaid — had ambitions of her own. Another of Belle's greatest attributes is her yearning for adventure, which makes her hugely relatable and a fun character to go through a fantasy story with.

She's always interested in her fantastical surroundings and wants to know more. Belle sings this line in her big opening Beauty and the Beast number about wanting more than the country life can offer her. It's a testament to her character that she doesn't come off as snobby but rather an irable dreamer instead. She doesn't look down on those who enjoy their life in the village, but she wants something different from them.

13 "True That He's No Prince Charming, But There's Something In Him That I Simply Didn't See."

Belle Is Big Enough To it She's Been Wrong

One of the best things about Belle and The Beast's love-story is how their opnions of one-another change over time. As much as Belle is headstrong and self-determined, she's also able to show humility and a healthy level of introspection. While she's defiant towards those who thinks they know what she wants, she never comes across as obnoxious or stubborn — and, most importantly, knows that she's not infallible despite being clearly smarter than the rest of the residents of her village.

As Belle gets to know the Beast better, giving him a second chance after a rocky start, she begins to see his softer side, and she's not so proud that she can't it when she's been mistaken.

As Belle gets to know the Beast better, giving him a second chance after a rocky start, she begins to see his softer side, and she's not so proud that she can't it when she's been mistaken. Belle's willingness to learn and be open to new experiences is a big part of what makes her one of the all-time great Disney Princess characters, and her forgiving nature allows her to truly find the Prince Charming character that she's dreamed of meeting.

12 "...I Want So Much More Than They've Got Planned."

Belle Wants To Write Her Own Story

Many of the best Belle quotes in Beauty and the Beast come in song lyrics, and it's no surprise that the opening number from the movie, "Belle", contains some of the most memorable. The first song in Beauty and the Beast is all about Belle and establishing who she is to the audience. Belle is a strong character who knows what she wants, but that doesn't mean that life is kind to her. Her father may be ive but the people around her constantly seem to want to pigeonhole her and even beat her spirits down.

And for once it might be grand to have someone understand I want so much more than they've got planned.

This quote from Belle echoes her earlier sentiment about wanting adventure — but it also speaks to the loneliness she reluctantly harbors. Adventure is all very well, but deep down she'd love someone to share those adventures with. Belle sings this wistful line just before Philippe appears and leads her on her adventure to meet the Beast and save him from his curse. So perhaps the universe was listening to her plea.

11 "Well, Some People Use Their Imagination.”

Belle's Greatest Attribute Is Her Mind

The interactions between Belle and Gaston may not be enjoyable for Belle, but they certainly are for the audience, as Belle manages to drop several cutting insults that her bullish suitor completely misses. While Belle is quite relaxed and calm with her views, not often arguing or making a scene, she does have a little sass in her when it's required, as this quote from Beauty and the Beast showcases. With Gaston questioning how she can read a book that has no pictures, Belle provides the perfect response to silence him immediately.

Gaston has such a childish view of reading books and Belle showcases why she's more sophisticated and intelligent, happily using her imagination to bring the stories to life within her books.

Gaston has such a childish view of reading books and Belle showcases why she's more sophisticated and intelligent, happily using her imagination to bring the stories to life within her books. However, the reason this Belle quote is particularly great is that it silences an otherwise arrogant Gaston. Usually, he steamrolls over her in a conversation, but this time, he can't.

10 "Gaston, You Are Positively Primeval."

Belle Is Never Fooled By Gaston's Charms

Another of Belle's funniest quotes comes at Gaston's expense, as she makes it clear exactly what she thinks of him. One of her best insults against Gaston is when she says he's "positively primeval", letting him know that she thinks his views and outlook on life aren't suited to civilized society. The funny part is, that Gaston doesn't even understand that this isn't a compliment, and he takes it as one, despite the fact Belle is mocking him.

The quote is great because it highlights Belle's intelligence and the fact that she's smart enough to tell Gaston what she thinks about him, knowing full well that what she's going to say will go over his head. Her intelligence is further showcased by her specific choice of words. A female character referring to a male like Gaston as a caveman or dinosaur to express that they're uncivilized in their approach to women is relatively common, but the use of the phrase "positively primeval" helps Belle's take on the insult stand out.

9 "Well, You Should Learn To Control Your Temper!"

Belle Is Never Afraid To Tell It Like It Is

Belle isn't like many of the earliest Disney Princesses who need a Prince to rescue them from a scary monster. Paving the way for the likes of Moana and Elsa and Anna from Frozen, Belle showed in the early-90s that the new blueprint for heroines in Disney movies is that they're brave and fearless. This is best shown in how she handles the Beast when they first meet.

Despite the fact that the Beast has a monstrous appearance that might seemingly make him scary to others, Belle is still brave enough to show him defiance.

It isn't just Gaston that Belle is willing to put in his place, as she happily tells the Beast how she feels as well. Despite the fact that the Beast has a monstrous appearance that might seemingly make him scary to others, Belle is still brave enough to show him defiance. The Beast's temper is a big problem for him earlier on in the film, and it's something he learns to control for Belle, especially after this quote. She happily informs him that he needs to control his temper and, from then on, they do have a better relationship.

8 "Of Course I Came Back."

Belle Is Always There For The People She Loves

At the end of Beauty and the Beast, the Beast is ready to give up the fight and allow Gaston to kill him, believing he has no real purpose to stay alive. That is, of course, until he sees that Belle has returned to him and wants to be with him, which forces him to pick up the fight. Even though he deals with Gaston fairly swiftly, the Beast ends up severely hurt, which leads to an emotional conversation as both he and Belle believe he's dying.

This is where Belle makes it clear she was always going to come back, making her feelings very clear to him. While the audience sees the feelings develop between the two easily, the Beast always thinks his appearance and his beastly behaviors will lead her to leave, no matter how king she is.

7 "Take Me Instead."

Belle Is Selfless

One of Belle's best qualities is that, despite her own aspirations and dreams, she never puts herself ahead of the others she cares about. This is most clearly exemplified by her relationship with her father, Maurice. Despite the fact that Maurice is a bit of a social pariah and his persuit of inventing is implied to cause them to struggle financially, Belle always sticks by him — even when it means her own life may be in danger.

It's a moment of pure kindness and sacrifice, as she isn't aware that the Beast is actually kind and sweet at that point and instead thinks he's just a monster.

When Belle first meets the Beast, he takes her in as a prisoner in order for her to replace Maurice. It's a moment of pure kindness and sacrifice, as she isn't aware that the Beast is actually kind and sweet at that point and instead thinks he's just a monster. However, her love for her father trumps whatever pain or problems she might go through by being a prisoner in the castle. It showcases her kindness and comion and how it trumps anything in her life, and that is something that sets Belle up as such a likable character.

6 "I Know He Looks Vicious, But He's Really Kind And Gentle. He's My Friend."

Belle Bravely Sticks Up For The Beast

Maurice isn't the only person in Belle's life she's willing to put herself in potential danger for, because by the end of the movie, she risks the ire of Gaston's riled-up mob when she attempts to stop them from going to the castle to slay the man only she knows isn't a monster. Belle uses the magic mirror to show the villagers that the Beast is real in order to prove her father isn't crazy, but that only backfires as it makes the village want to kill the Beast.

She quickly sees the problem she's caused and that brings out this fantastic Belle quote. She clearly cares for him deeply, and she tries to make that as clear as possible, telling them all about how nice and gentle he is, which might seem like the total opposite of his appearance, but Belle is someone who knows the Beast better than anyone. Belle's story is continuously one of not judging someone by their appearance, but she cannot get anyone to listen to her.