The story of Robin Hood has been retold in movies numerous times, in many different ways, from gritty adaptations to family-friendly attempts. Disney's version of this story is certainly one of the best, with the usual characters, from Maid Marian to Little John, being brought to life in an incredibly vibrant manner. With the usual over-the-top personalities that can be expected from an animated movie, the characters in this version are certainly larger than life, from Peter Ustinov's delightfully dastardly Prince John to the magnetic personality of Robin himself. Those big characters bring brilliant quotes and there's a great mix of humor and emotion throughout this Disney classic.
The best quotes from Disney's Robin Hood don't just belong to the wily fox at the heart of the story, the cast of classic characters ensures that great lines are coming from left, right, and center throughout the movie. The narration and songs of Alan-a-Dale form some of the most memorable moments of the movie and even the villainous Prince John gets some fun quotes. Each is worth ing for its own reasons.
15 "Robin Hood And Little John Walkin' Through The Forest, Laughin' Back And Forth At What The Other'n Has To Say."
Alan-a-Dale
Disney is known the world over for its ability to make unforgettable musicals and their Robin Hood movie gets off to a blazing start with Alan-a-Dale's first earworm, the iconic song "Oo-De-Lally". Voice actor Roger Miller gives a wonderfully folksy edge to every scene that Alan-a-Dale is in and, after beginning the story, he introduces Robin Hood and Little John with a tune that's all-but-guaranteed to get stuck in fans' heads for the rest of the day. It also establishes just how relatable the two heroes are.
14 "You Know Somethin', Robin. I Was Just Wonderin', Are We Good Guys Or Bad Guys?"
Little John
"You know somethin', Robin. I was just wonderin', are we good guys or bad guys? You know, I mean, uh? Our robbin' the rich to feed the poor."
There are some aspects to Robin Hood's character that can seem confusing, especially for younger audiences. He's one of several fan-favorite Dinsey heroes who are literally criminals, but his crimes are some of the most heroic parts of the movie. The conversation Robin has with Little John at the beginning of the movie does a great job of clarifying this inconsistency to the audience with a few great Robin Hood quotes about stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, with Robin's response explaining why he's a hero and not an antihero.
13 "Rob? That's A Naughty Word, We Never Rob! Just Sort Of... Borrow A Bit From Those Who Can Afford It."
Robin Hood
Robin's response to Little John's musings about their morality is perhaps the line that sums up Robin's overall ethos in the movie the best. He knows right from wrong, and it ultimately means very little to him if the mixed-up world around him considers him a hero or a villain. Robin sees inequality in his community and acts to rectify it. He isn't greedy at all, rather the magnitude of his thievery simply matches the extent of the evil going around him, and he is right, Prince John can afford it.
12 "You Want Taxes? I'll Give You Taxes!"
Friar Tuck
Friar Tuck is soft and generous, so when he ends up almost fighting the Sheriff of Nottingham it's a somewhat shocking turn of events, but it does a great job of highlighting just how angry the locals are about how much money Prince John is taking from them. When the Sheriff is collecting taxes and takes from the church's poor box, Friar Tuck finally hits a breaking point. He yells out this iconic Robin Hood quote as he attacks the Sheriff, doing what everyone in the audience wishes they could do to the unlikable henchman.
11 "If You Don't Mind Me Saying So, You See, You Have A Very Loud Thumb."
Sir Hiss
One of the best running jokes in the movie is Prince John's childish proclivity for sucking his thumb while rubbing his ear. It's something that Hiss tries to dissuade him from with no success, partially because Hiss has to sugarcoat everything he says to the prince in vain attempts to not enrage him. This hilarious Robin Hood quote still does a good job of explaining the issue with Prince John's thumb-sucking though, which is that it's very obvious. Watching Hiss try to handle the unstable Prince John is one of the most entertaining aspects of the whole movie and this line demonstrates their dynamic perhaps better than any other.
10 "Keep Your Chin Up. Someday There'll Be Happiness Again In Nottingham, You'll See."
Robin Hood
Of all of Disney's many heroes, their take on Robin Hood stands out as one of the most genuine and heartwarming. There's no selfish flaw at the core of Robin. He's a little immature, but he's a genuinely kind and selfless character through and through. It's hard not to be a little reassured and even a little inspired by Robin's clear stoutness of heart. This quote comes after he comes to console the poor family of rabbits that have been visited by the dreaded Sheriff of Nottingham. His parting words to them are more than just empty sentiment, and they make for one of the most uplifting Robin Hood quotes.
9 "Oh, For Heaven's Sake, Son. You're No Outlaw. Why, Someday You'll Be Called A Great Hero."
Friar Tuck
Another great moment from Friar Tuck sees him really reassure Robin Hood of exactly how good of a person he is. Robin is one of Disney's best heroes but he often doesn't believe that himself and Friar Tuck saying it really means something to him. Because Friar Tuck is such a well-respected character within the movie, it clearly has an impact on Robin, and it also makes it clear to the audience that the times are what have placed this version of Robin Hood on the wrong side of the law.
8 "Ah! Mommy!"
Prince John
One of the funniest aspects of Disney's Robin Hood is Prince John's childish behavior. Despite his position of power, he proves to be a very whiny character, and that, in turn, makes him an even better villain. He often sucks his thumb and cries, but when he starts calling out for his mother is when this character is truly at his worst. It's not something that is expected from a villain in such a position of authority, but it acts as a great catchphrase for the character.
7 "A Minute Before He Knows We're There, Ol' Rob'll Snatch His Underwear!"
Little John
Not all of the memorable songs in the movie belong to Alan-a-Dale, with Little John getting his chance to shine with the playful "The Phony King of England". The song ties into the sentiment shared by many of the main characters that Prince John is a weak ruler in comparison to his brother, King Richard, but is mostly used to lift the spirits of the people of Nottingham. In every way, Prince John is no match for Robin Hood and, though it's mostly just a fun rhyme, it's not that much of an exaggeration to suggest that Robin could actually pull this trick off.
6 "Too Late To Be Known As John The First, He's Sure To Be Known As John The Worst!"
Various Characters
It's made very clear that, despite the fact that Prince John is supposed to be feared in his position of power, everyone actually finds him to be a laughingstock. This includes his two right-hand men, the Sheriff of Nottingham and Sir Hiss, who are meant to be his closest allies. However, even they get caught up singing the local town song about Prince John, even though it doesn't paint him in a very positive light. The whole song is good-hearted fun, but the fact that Sir Hiss s in really makes this moment stand out, and when Prince John sees it happen, Hiss' reaction is priceless.
