Some of my favorite Pixar Elemental quotes:
I’ve watched Elemental a number of times now, and I have to say that I really love this movie. If you haven’t seen this Pixar film please try to watch it! It’s beautiful and emotional. As a result, it’s not a surprise that a lot of the quotes in this movie resonated with me. Some of the lines from the characters (particularly Wade, but often Ember!) really hit me and stuck with me.
I knew there were enough quotes from this one that I could do a whole blog post about it, so I watched it through for perhaps the 3rd or 4th time and made notes of all the things that spoke to me. Many of them are emotional, but there are a few funny ones as well!
Elemental really has some complex relationships and feelings about life, and I’ve tried to capture some of my personal favorite moments with these quotes (and also have a little design fun making these graphics!). I hope you enjoy – and please let me know if I’ve missed anything!
Insightful and Inspirational Pixar Elemental quotes
“Embrace the light when it burns, because it won’t always last forever.” -Ember
Ember shares that this is the meaning of a word they have only in Fireish – the word “Deshlock.” What a wonderful word to sum up such a great concept. This quote really speaks to me, and I think in a lot of ways it’s because it reminds me of some of the concepts in Soul. I felt like that movie really emphasized living in the moment and enjoying the little things in the day to day. To me, this is saying something similar.
“You don’t have forever to say what you need to say.” – Wade
Staying in the same sort of theme here, with the idea that nothing lasts forever. The context of this one is important and will definitely tug at your heartstrings. Wade is trying to pass on some wisdom to Ember, who is struggling to be honest with her father about her hopes and dreams. Wade has learned only too well that you can’t wait forever, as she shares that his dad died. It can be tough to overcome fear about telling people things that might be difficult, but Wade is right that we don’t have forever.
“When I lose my temper I think it’s just me trying to tell myself something I’m not ready to hear.” – Wade
Though Ember is the one who seems to have more of a hot temper (pun intended), Wade shares that he’s no stranger to it either… though he may be a bit more introspective about it now. I love this quote because it’s something I’ve been trying to learn myself. All of our emotions are important and valid, but if we can think about them a bit and figure out where they are coming from and why, we will probably start to understand ourselves just a little bit better.
“I guess I just say what I feel.” – Wade
We see a lot of Ember’s struggles in the film, but I really think Wade has been through some things too given his perspective. He gives this line in response to Ember’s frustration that he can get a whole stadium to be on his side, and she can’t even connect with one customer at her shop. Wade believes his connection comes from being honest about his feelings, and that’s a pretty powerful thing.
“Why does anyone get to tell you what you can do in your life?” – Wade
Yup, Wade again – he seems to be full of these little nuggets of wisdom! This is when he helps Ember get to see the Vivisteria flower she’s always dreamed of seeing, but never could because other people wouldn’t let her. It’s a great quote in the moment, but I think it speaks to so much more, too. Though Wade is referencing the prejudice that she has faced when he says this, it’s also a great reminder to her that she doesn’t have to let her father decide her whole life either.
Relatable Elemental quotes about the tough things in life
“I’m fire, Wade. I can’t be anything more than that. It’s what I am.” – Ember
Ember has to deal with some really difficult things in this movie, and this sums up a lot of her struggles. I think it’s easy for some people to dismiss this quote (Wade included) by giving platitudes like “of course you can be more.” But Ember is being realistic here. Not only does she have this struggle, she also has to deal with the person she loves not really understanding it. She IS fire, and that does mean certain things. It’s easy for Wade to say “just tell your dad what you want,” but it’s so much more complicated than just that.
One of the things I really love about this quote is that it’s also a positive, affirming statement in a lot of ways. She is owning who she is. Because she’s not wrong – she is fire, and she can’t be “more” than that. She just needs to take that next small step to truly embrace what it means to be fire and what she can do. She can’t change who she is, but she might be able to change what she can do.
“Getting to do what you want is a luxury. And not for people like me.” – Ember
You would think that being fire and water would be enough of a difference between them, but I think this quote really highlights one of the major differences between Ember and Wade, and probably one of their biggest obstacles as a couple. They gave grown up in totally different worlds, and as a result, their perspectives are very different. Getting to do what you want can be a luxury for many people. Even at the end of this film, Ember gets the chance to go to art school – but it’s only because of meeting Wade and a connection this his mom has. I know Ember won’t take that for granted, but so many people would.
“The only way to repay a sacrifice so big is by sacrificing your life too.” -Ember
Wade may have gotten all of the inspirational quotes, but Ember has the raw, tough, emotional quotes. Her biggest struggle in pursuing what she wants is the obligation she feels to her parents. And it’s not a small one – it’s a huge one. Plenty of kids growing up never see the sacrifices their parents make for them, but Ember does. And when you do see that, choosing to do something that’s different than what your parents want for you seems like the hardest thing in the world. Luckily, by the end of the movie Ember realizes that sacrificing herself is not what her parents would truly want for her.
Sweet & romantic Elemental quotes
“When I met you, I thought that I was drowning. But that light, that light inside you has made me feel so alive.” – Wade
I really think Elemental has some of my favorite romantic/love quotes out of any Disney movie. How do people watch this movie without sobbing through at least half of it? As someone who has gone through a lot of struggles, and had that feeling of drowning, it’s very relatable. I also love the idea that Ember has so much passion, a drive to succeed, and that she wants to protect her family and take care of her father no matter what. That’s the light inside of her, and the fact that Wade sees it is so beautiful.
Also, I just love how clever this line is. Wade is water, so it sounds absurd that he could be “drowning.” It makes you think that where he was in life was a really hard spot for even water to feel like he was drowning. And of course Ember has a literal light, but this line is about the light inside of her and her passion.
“You gave me something people search for their whole lives.” – Wade
If this part isn’t a tear-jerker, I don’t know what is! Wade tells Ember this at a moment when it seems like he is facing certain death. He is ready to embrace that because he has experienced real, passionate love. Even if it has to end, he can be thankful in that moment that they shared that together.
“I want to explore the world with you, Wade Ripple. I want to have you with me. In my life. Forever.” – Ember
This is towards the end of the movie, and I love this quote for multiple reasons. Just reading it, you can see the passion that Ember has towards everything, but especially Wade. It’s also an acceptance of not only her relationship with Wade, but also acceptance of herself and who she truly is. In this moment she is allowing herself to do and be what she really wants, and to choose the things that make her happy.
“We changed each other’s chemistry.” – Wade
Wade and Ember should never have been able to be together. On the surface they are literally opposites. Having a relationship where you are so different is not easy! But they were so determined to make it work that they truly changed each other’s chemistry.
Bonus funny quote
“I made you a painting. It’s of a lonely man awash in sadness.” – Uncle Harold
Okay, I will admit this line cracked me up in the movie. Wade’s family is so openly emotional that of course they all gather around, cry, and give him gifts. And the painting of a man awash in sadness is, of course, just a painting of Wade! The humor in this movie was not always my favorite (there were a lot of puns), but this part definitely tickled my funny bone.
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Do you have any favorite Pixar Elemental quotes?
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