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This post is all about the best Winnie the Pooh quotes for kids and adults alike.
Some fictional characters remain staples in the lives of many families worldwide – characters that have captured hearts and continue to invoke memories of warmth and affection no matter how many decades pass.
It’s fair to say that Winnie the Pooh, that loveable, good-natured, honey-loving teddy bear, is one of those characters that many children can remember from their childhood with fondness.
Recalling stories of him and his dear friends in Hundred Acre Woods will bring smiles to faces. While reading the books as children brought joy, happiness, and laughs, many lessons might have been overlooked and can undoubtedly be more appreciated when reading as an adult.
Many phrases uttered by the main characters are incredibly inspiring. While the stories are imaginative and childlike, the themes taught can be applied to the lives of adults, with values such as friendship, loyalty, love, and optimism shining through – even on the most ‘blustery day.’
History of Winnie the Pooh
The tales of Winnie the Pooh and his friends Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, Rabbit, Owl, Kanga, Roo, and, of course, Christopher Robin, are the brainchild of British author and playwright A. A. Milne, who dreamt up the characters in the 1920s. It’s incredible to think that the books are still relevant to this day, 100 years later.
Milne was inspired by his son, Christopher Robin, and his collection of stuffed animals, while their home inspired the story’s setting in the English countryside. Shortly after Milne’s death in the late 50s, Disney acquired the rights to Winnie the Pooh and introduced this silly, loveable bear to many more children worldwide.
The success of Winnie the Pooh has remained the same over the years. His stories are full of heartwarming advice and words of wisdom and encourage all to live a better, more positive life.
Without further ado, let’s dive right into the most memorable catchphrases, Winnie the Pooh quotes from the books, and what adults and children can learn from them. As Winnie the Pooh himself would say, ‘think, think, think!’.
Winnie the Pooh Quotes About Friendship and Love
The characters in the Winnie the Pooh stories are full of love for one another and offer excellent examples of friendship and loyalty. Although there are many more, here are some of the top Winnie the Pooh quotes about friendship and love we can all learn from.
- Whenever there comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever. – Winnie the Pooh
This is a beautiful reminder that love remains within the heart, even if two bodies may be apart. The feeling of love does not suddenly stop when two people are physically separated, and this could bring some comfort to those battling with loss or long-distance relationships.
- Piglet: ‘How do you spell love?’
Pooh: ‘You don’t spell it; you feel it.’
Here, Winnie the Pooh is teaching his best friend Piglet that love is not about words; it’s a feeling. Similarly, it is shown with actions and not just words.
Not that Piglet needs telling, though – as another quote in the story goes, ‘Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude.’
- How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. – Winnie The Pooh
This quote teaches us to show gratitude, even during difficult times. Saying goodbye to someone or something you love is hard, but to have and to love at all, is a privilege that not everyone gets to experience.
- A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside. – Winnie the Pooh
Even having just one person to turn to during times of difficulty can make all the difference to how you feel, and when facing things alone, it can feel like the sweetness from your day is missing! This quote reminds us of just that!
Equally, the best day is only as good with a friend to share it with.
- The most important thing is, even when we’re apart… I’ll always be with you… – Winnie the Pooh
Another reminder that love and loyalty are felt with the heart and mind and do not necessarily require physical presence. Two people do not need to be in the same room to think about, care and love one another.
- Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart. – Winnie the Pooh
Sometimes, the little things are more meaningful to us than the bigger things – although we can occasionally forget this in favor of flashy and more expensive items. This quote reminds us to remember the little things we may take for granted!
- Any day spent with you is my favorite day. So, today is my new favorite day. – Winnie the Pooh
Share this quote with someone you love, and let them know that their presence means the world to you!
- Love is taking a few steps backward, maybe even more… to give way to the happiness of the person you love. – Winnie the Pooh
Sometimes, we need to take a step back and put aside our desires in favor of those belonging to the ones we love. This is not to say this is a permanent situation, but relationships are all about give and take.
There will be times when you need to step back and times when the other person will need to step back in favor of your happiness. Mutual respect and understanding are vital in maintaining solid friendships or romantic relationships.
- If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you. – Winnie the Pooh
This one is self-explanatory. Sometimes, we feel like we don’t want to face the world alone without that one other special person in our lives, whether that’s a partner, a friend, or a family member.
- A friend is someone who helps you up when you’re down, and if they can’t, they lay down beside you and listen. – Winnie the Pooh
A great thing to teach children is that sometimes, all we need to do to show love and friendship is to be a shoulder to cry on and listen to what is bringing the other person down. Not every situation needs advice to be shared or suggestions to be made. Sometimes, you need to be there to simply listen and comfort.
- After all, one can’t complain. I have my friends. – Eeyore
Lovers of the Winnie the Pooh books will know that Eeyore can sometimes be a little more pessimistic than his forest friends, but even Eeyore accepts that when one has true friends that care, life is genuinely better.
- It isn’t much good having anything exciting if you can’t share it with somebody. – Winnie the Pooh
So true! You can have all the belongings in the world, but they don’t feel quite as remarkable if there is no one to share them with or no one to share in your joy. After all, happiness cannot be bought!
- Piglet: ‘We’ll be friends forever, won’t we, Pooh?’
Pooh: ‘Even longer.’
Acquaintances come and go, but true friends last a lifetime and beyond. Winnie the Pooh and Piglet are great examples of this.
- I’m never afraid with you. – Winnie the Pooh
With the right person by your side, fears begin to dissipate. True friends will forever lift you, encourage and make you feel invincible. Keep true friends close to your heart; you’ll never feel scared or alone!
- It’s so much more friendly with two. – Piglet
Piglet always shares the sweetest catchphrases. Being alone is beneficial to all of us and should not be dismissed, but sometimes, it’s nice to share whatever we are going through – positive or negative – with someone we love.
Winnie the Pooh Quotes on Kindness and Empathy
- ‘I don’t feel very much like Pooh today,’ said Pooh.
‘There, there,’ said Piglet. ‘I’ll bring you tea and honey until you do.’
When we, or someone we love, feel a little downcast, sometimes all it takes is a kind gesture, like being present or lending an ear over the phone. It’s incredible how one person can completely change the course of someone else’s day by simply showing some kindness and empathy. This a great skill that both children and adults should learn.
- A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference. – Eeyore
Ultimately, we never 100% know what others are going through, in the same way, that no one knows 100% how we feel or what we are going through. However, as Eeyore says, we know that showing kindness, consideration, and thought for others can make all the difference to their day. Remember that just because someone carries a load well doesn’t mean it is not heavy, and showing empathy can make all the difference.
- A hug is always the right size. – Winnie the Pooh
Because who doesn’t love a hug when they are feeling down?
Winnie the Pooh Quotes on Optimism
- The nicest thing about the rain is that it always stops. Eventually. – Eeyore
An excellent reminder for those, both young and old, that life is full of both ups and downs, but the good news is that the bad times don’t last forever – in time, everything will work itself out.
- It never hurts to keep looking for sunshine. – Eeyore
Even Eeyore, the pessimist, knows that it never hurts to keep looking for happiness and sunshine!
- When life throws you a rainy day, play in the puddles. – Winnie The Pooh
Excellent advice for those days when everything seems to be going wrong! Just like how kids like to play in the puddles when it rains, adults can also live life in the same optimistic way. Finding the fun in a negative situation, or at least looking for the positives, can completely turn your mood around.
Stuck in a traffic jam? Take the opportunity to learn from an inspiring podcast. Missed a deadline? Take it as the catalyst you sought to start heading to work earlier. These are just examples, but remember there is always a silver lining to every rain cloud and a puddle to play in.
- I’m only a little black rain cloud, pay no attention to little me. – Little Black Rain Cloud Song
A tiny blip or inconvenience is no reason to ruin an otherwise pleasant day. Whether a child or adult, it’s always worth picking your battles, and if something does crop up that causes a little anxiety or frustration, keep positive, shake it off, and pay no attention to it longer than is necessary. Like a rain cloud, pay no attention – or rather, play in the puddles!
- I wonder how many wishes a star can give. – Winnie the Pooh
This one is open to interpretation by the reader.
If referring to mindset, for example, this can be interpreted as being open-minded about the number of opportunities that arise from a particular life event or achievement.
- Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday. – Winnie the Pooh
A simple reminder that if you set a goal in your mind and keep working at it, you will get there one day. This is a great one for children to remember if they are working towards excelling at a sport or acing an exam.
Winnie the Pooh Inspirational Life Quotes
- I must go forward where I have never been instead of backward where I have. – Winnie the Pooh
- I always get to where I’m going by walking away from where I have been. – Winnie the Pooh
It’s important to always move forward in life, to always strive to be better people, do better and overall, live happier lives. Winnie the Pooh reminds readers of this with these two quotes and that moving backward will never take the reader to new places!
- Don’t underestimate the value of doing nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering. – Winnie the Pooh
A personal favorite. While it’s great to strive to hit new goals and reach new highs, we all need a break sometimes, and the value of doing nothing can be underrated! In a world where many of us live in a constant rat race, it’s worth scheduling a little quiet reflection time for self-love, relaxation, meditation, and calmness. Doing nothing has its benefits!
- When you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you Think of Things, you sometimes find that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it. – Winnie the Pooh
There are times when we may have a great idea and feel quite excited about the journey we are about to embark on… until we share it and receive the opinions and thoughts of others. This is perfectly normal, even in the fictional world of Hundred Acre Woods.
Pay no attention to the opinions of others, and disregard any judgemental comments. This could be particularly relevant if changing careers or starting a new business. Remember, it wouldn’t be worth discussing if it weren’t a meaningful idea! Keep moving forward with whatever you set your mind and heart on doing!
- What’s wrong with knowing what you know now and not knowing what you don’t know until later?’ – Winnie the Pooh
This quote is all about being satisfied with what you have and what you know at the current time. Things can always be learned, goods can always be bought, and changes can always be made. Sure, there is no guarantee of tomorrow, but sometimes, it’s worth just sitting back, taking stock of what we have and know, make plans for the future, and trust that when the time is right, they will enter our lives at the exact moment they should.
- When speaking to a Bear of Very Little Brain, remember that long words may bother him. – Winnie the Pooh
- It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like, ‘What about lunch?’ – Winnie the Pooh
We all communicate with others intending to be understood. Yet, sometimes, we can overcomplicate things by saying more than is necessary or using words that somehow overwhelm the meaning of what we are trying to say. When this happens, our message is lost, and the likeliness of our message inspiring change will be low. Speak plainly, and say what you mean without any hidden meanings or complicated words, and the message will be much better received.
- If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear. – Winnie the Pooh
If a friend appears distracted when you are conversing, there may very well be a reason, especially if that person is typically very attentive. It’s not a reason to take it personally!
Pooh reminds us to be patient and that they may have something on their mind that is keeping them preoccupied. This, after all, is what friends are for – to notice when things don’t seem right, to be patient, and perhaps lend an ear to get anything they need off their chest. Remember, there may come a day when the roles will be reversed!
- If the string breaks, then we try another piece of string. – Owl
As the wise character of Owl says, don’t get discouraged when things don’t work out on the first attempt. It may just be a case of trying to get to where you want to go differently! Just think of Thomas Eddison, who made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts to invent the lightbulb. He never gave up but instead did what Owl would have wanted – and used ‘another piece of string.’
- Just because an animal is large, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t want kindness; however big Tigger seems to be, remember that he wants as much kindness as Roo. – Winnie the Pooh
This a friendly reminder that no matter how tough someone appears or how intimidating they may come across, everyone wants to be treated with kindness and respect. Tigger may be the largest animal of the group of friends, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want as much kindness as the young and playful baby Roo.
- Poetry and Hums aren’t things which you get; they’re things which get you. And all you can do is to go where they can find you. – Winnie the Pooh
Taken from ‘The House at Pooh Corner,’ this is another Winnie the Pooh quote, which takes some thought to be interpreted. To do so, let’s assume ‘hums’ to be a short melody hummed through closed lips.
Here, Winnie the Pooh talks about how poetry and hums, both of which require inspiration to strike, are not things that can be forced, but rather, they just come to us at the right moment. In the same way, for example, visiting a specific location can instill a sense of awe and inspire us in ways other places have not. If we struggle to feel inspired or for creativity to strike, we must change our surroundings and submerse ourselves in places where inspiration can find us!
- When you go after honey with a balloon, the great thing is to not let the bees know you’re coming. – Winnie the Pooh
More excellent advice for older children and adults: when going after a goal or target, it’s best to keep your plans quite close to your chest so as not to attract any unwanted attention, opinions, or derailments which may cause interruptions on your journey!
- You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes. – Winnie the Pooh
This is an excellent reminder from dear Winnie the Pooh that things don’t always fall into our laps! Sometimes, success comes from leaving our comfort zone, and this quote encourages readers to do just that!
- If it’s not here, that means it’s out there. – Winnie The Pooh
This a simple quote to remind readers that if what we are seeking isn’t in the place we are searching, then it’s time to change things up a little and search elsewhere! This could be applied to dissatisfaction in a job, a position at work, or with a partner! What we are searching for is always out there somewhere, and it takes being open-minded to head out and find it.
- “Hello, Rabbit,” he said, “is that you?”
“Let’s pretend it isn’t,” said Rabbit, “and see what happens.”
“I’ve got a message for you.”
“I’ll give it to him.” – Rabbit and Winnie the Pooh
This quote can be confusing since Rabbit is pretending to be someone else, but let’s make it easier. Replace the words’ you’ and ‘him’ with Rabbit; it will make much more sense.
The fictional character of Rabbit is known to be the natural leader of the bunch and the one who tries to organize and direct others. In this scene, he is doing just that and doesn’t seem to want much interaction from others! It’s his way of asking for some quiet time without being too abrupt!
- When all else fails, take a nap. – Winnie The Pooh
There are days when we need to take a step back and take it easy. The days when things don’t work out according to plan, when the day’s goals aren’t being reached, and when it feels like everything is going wrong, don’t let it get you down. Use it as a sign to step back, take a break, and de-stress. Whatever needs doing today will still need to be done tomorrow, and you can attack your goals with a clearer mind.
- My spelling is Wobbly. It’s good spelling, but it Wobbles, and the letters get in the wrong places. – Winnie the Pooh
Meg Waite Clayton is a New York Times bestselling author of no less than eight novels, and as she puts it, ‘Like Pooh, my spelling is Wobbly. When I was a kid, every teacher I ever had urged me to write legibly and at the proper slant and to pay more attention to my spelling. That may have been the beginning of thinking the one thing I was no good at was writing.’
To us, this quote has little to do with spelling but more about not giving up on something just because we aren’t good at it to begin with! Just like Meg Waite Clayton, her ‘wobbly spelling’ did not discourage her from persevering, honing her love of writing, and going on to become a much-loved international author!
Winnie the Pooh Quotes on Adventure
- When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen. – Winnie the Pooh
Just like the previous quotes in this article, we are motivated to keep moving forward rather than backward and to change our current way of living if we are looking for different opportunities to come our way. And so, whenever you see someone making significant changes in their life or ‘putting on their Big Boots’ as Pooh says, you know a great adventure is about to happen to them, and that’s an exciting thought!
- As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen.- Winnie the Pooh
We all come across that one person where anything can happen when we are around them. The friends that are so motivated to bring about change, to achieve great things, and to bring those around them up on their wild adventure. In this quote, Winnie the Pooh sums up those emotions perfectly!
- I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost. – Winnie the Pooh
This quote is a clever way of saying, ‘Just because I know where I am and what I am doing, it doesn’t mean what is happening around me makes sense’. This can be applied to many real-life situations, whether at school, in the place of work, or even in financial markets!
Alternatively, this quote could also be about self-awareness in that it’s good to know what you know, but just as important to know what you do not know.
- People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day. – Winnie the Pooh
A great reminder that nothing is impossible, with an added sense of humor. Here, Pooh proves that nothing is impossible, and he does the impossible every day!
- ‘When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,’ said Piglet at last, ‘what’s the first thing you say to yourself?’
‘What’s for breakfast?’ said Pooh. ‘What do you say, Piglet?’
‘I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?’ said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully. ‘It’s the same thing,’ he said.
This conversation is an excellent example of how we can all enjoy the little things, even if it’s as simple as a good breakfast!
- Could you spare a small ‘smackerel’? – Winnie the Pooh
This may be slightly confusing initially, especially since ‘smackerel’ is not a real word outside the Winnie the Pooh universe.
It is a word invented by A. A. Milne and combines ‘smack’ and ‘mackerel,’ with ‘smack’ referring to a taste or flavor and ‘mackerel’ typically referring to a fish. However, this information does not say much and still doesn’t make much sense!
What might be more helpful is knowing when Winnie the Pooh himself uses the phrase ‘smackerel’! The answer – is whenever he sticks his hand in the honey pot!
So what does this quote mean? It is just about Winnie the Pooh reaching out and asking if anyone could spare a small amount of honey! Interpreting that further, we can take this quote to mean that it’s always worth asking for what we want! After all, if we don’t ask for something, the answer is an automatic ‘no’!
Winnie the Pooh Quotes on Self-Love and Individuality
- The things that make me different are the things that make me, me. – Piglet
- The most wonderful thing about Tiggers is, I’m the only one. – Tigger
In these two separate quotes, Piglet and Tigger remind us of the beauty of individuality and that the things that make us different are the things that make us special!
- You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. – Christopher Robin
Ending this selection of top Winnie the Pooh quotes with a personal favorite – a reminder that you, dear reader, young or old, are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
This article originally appeared on Hello Sensible.
LAST UPDATED ON:
07/08/2023
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Sarah is a syndicated freelance writer and editor of Dukes Avenue. She founded Dukes Avenue in 2018 as a creative outlet while working at a London hedge fund. What initially started as a small blog has become a widely read luxury lifestyle online publication targeted at the modern woman, with content curated to inspire readers to live their best and most fulfilled lives. Sarah has lived in London, Malta, and, most recently, the United Arab Emirates and uses her travels and experiences to inspire much of the content.
