Where the Wild Things Are quotes are some of the most memorable and enduring lines in children’s literature. Written by Maurice Sendak, these words have captured the imaginations of children and adults alike.
Are you a fan of “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak? If so, you know how powerful and inspiring the book is.

The story follows Max, a young boy who travels to a magical land of wild creatures, and it has been beloved by readers of all ages for more than 50 years.
Where the Wild Things Are quotes are some of the most iconic lines in literature and film. Maurice Sendak’s beloved 1963 children’s book, and the subsequent 2009 movie adaptation, have captivated readers and viewers of all ages with their unique, magical story and unforgettable characters.
From Max’s famous proclamation, “Let the wild rumpus start!”, to the touching farewell, “Don’t go. I’ll eat you up, I love you so.” Where the Wild Things Are quotes are as timeless today as when they were first penned.
In this blog post, we’ll look at 63 of the most inspiring and unforgettable “Where the Wild Things Are” quotes that will stay with you forever.
Let the wild rumpus start!
―Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are
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63 Where the Wild Things Are Quotes That Will Stay With You Forever Click To TweetQuotes from the book “Where the Wild Things Are”
The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind
and another
his mother called him “WILD THING!”
and Max said “I’LL EAT YOU UP!”
so he was sent to bed without eating anything.
―Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

That very night in Max’s room a forest grew
and grew-
and grew until his ceiling hung with vines
and the walls became the world all around
and an ocean tumbled by with a private boat for Max
and he sailed off through night and day
―Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

and in and out of weeks
and almost over a year
to where the wild things are.
―Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

And when he came to the place where the wild things are
they roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth
and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws
―Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

till Max said “BE STILL!”
and tamed them with the magic trick
―Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

of staring into all their yellow eyes without blinking once
and they were frightened and called him the most wild thing of all
―Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

and made him king of all wild things.
“And now,” cried Max, “let the wild rumpus start!”
―Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

“Now stop!” Max said and sent the wild things off to bed
without their supper. And Max the king of all wild things was lonely
and wanted to be where someone loved him best of all.
―Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

Then all around from far away across the world
he smelled good things to eat
so he gave up being king of where the wild things are.
―Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

But the wild things cried, “Oh please don’t go-
we’ll eat you up – we love you so.”
And Max said, “No!”
―Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

The wild things roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible
and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws
but Max stepped into his private boat and waved good-bye
―Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

and sailed back over a year
and in and out of weeks
and through a day
―Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

and into the night of his very own room
where he found his supper waiting for him
―Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

and it was still hot.
―Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

3 Best Quotes from Where the Wild Things Are with their meanings
‘Let the wild rumpus start!’

These powerful words from Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are, invite readers to let their imaginations run wild.
Max, the young hero of the story, boldly proclaims these words and embarks on a fantastic journey filled with wild things, adventure, and ultimately, self-discovery.
‘I’ll eat you up!’

One of the most iconic lines from Maurice Sendak’s beloved children’s book Where the Wild Things Are is “I’ll eat you up!”, which has become a popular catchphrase among fans of the book.
In the story, the main character Max has a wild imagination and uses the phrase to express his passion for adventure and excitement.
When Max is sent to bed without dinner as punishment for misbehaving, he imagines himself traveling to a mysterious island inhabited by large, wild monsters known as the Wild Things.
When Max meets the Wild Things and introduces himself, they instantly accept him and exclaim “I’ll eat you up!” in joyous welcome.
The phrase has become widely recognized and is often used as a fun expression of affection among family and friends. Although it may seem threatening on the surface, “I’ll eat you up!” is actually a way of saying “I love you!”.
In this way, the phrase serves as an inspiring reminder that love is bigger and more powerful than fear and that we should always be ready to embrace those who love us with open arms.
‘I love you the best.’

These three simple words hold so much power. They are the words of a declaration of love, of pure and unconditional affection for someone.
In the classic children’s book Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, these words come from Max to his newfound friends, the wild things.
When Max is alone in his room, he creates a world of wild things, a world where he can be free and accepted.
As Max encounters these creatures, he soon develops strong relationships with them and offers them his love.
After all the wild things agree to crown Max as their king, they cry out in unison “Oh please don’t go – we’ll eat you up – we love you so!” In response, Max boldly declares “I love you the best”, which symbolizes his newfound sense of belonging and security.
This moment is significant because it serves as an uplifting reminder that we can find love in the most unexpected places.
Even when faced with uncertainty or even danger, love can always be found if we look hard enough.
Max shows us that no matter who we are or what we have been through, we can always find solace in the words “I love you the best”.
Quotes from the Movie “Where the Wild Things Are”
The sun’s not dead. It’s just nighttime. ―Max

No. Forget it. I’m not going to step on your head just to make you feel better. ―Carol

Yeah, but happiness isn’t always the best way to be happy. ―Judith

So wait, you exploded their heads? ―Ira

You don’t care and just stand there and whisper to each other about me like you always do. ―Carol

It needs seven Douglas’s, no more, and no less. ―Max

The snowplows left some snow across the street… and I dug a hole into it. ―Max

What he’s saying is, will you keep out all the sadness? ―Douglas

We haven’t had a dirt clod fight in a long time… ―Douglas

I don’t apologize to owls. They’re stupid. ―Carol

Yeah! You hear that? Start rumpusing, lazy. ―Judith

You guys never think this is me, but this is really me. ―Judith

I guess if that’s not going to happen, I’ll probably just end up eating my feet off. ―Carol

Frozen corn? What’s wrong with real corn? ―Max

No, no it was crazy already. I’m eliminating the crazy. Isn’t anyone on my side? ―Carol

Is she the one you were mad at when you were smashing stuff? ―Max

What happened? Somebody stepped on your head? ―K. W.

You know what I say, if you’ve got a problem, eat it. ―Judith

Alright, we’re gonna have a war! We’re gonna clobber each other. ―Max

Things are getting crazy here. This thing’s dangerous. ―Judith

… the sun is the center of our solar system. It’s the reason all the planets are here. Its warmth gives us sunlight, makes our planet liveable. ―Teacher

And I’m the only one who cares enough to do this. ―Carol

That’s it. Tear ’em all down. Tear ‘em down. Come on! We’ve got a few more to go over here. ―Carol

That was fun. We forgot how to have fun. ―Carol

Oh, it’s that dog. Don’t feed it, it’ll just follow you around. ―Carol

The sun, after all, is just fuel burning ferociously… ―Teacher

I have powers from another land. From ancient times. Don’t make me show you. I had to show these Vikings once. ―Max

How does it know which brains to cut out? ―Alexander

I’ll help. I’m good at finding sticks. ―Alexander

Small is good. My powers are able to slip right through the cracks. ―Max

Who else wants to lend a hand? ―Carol

Don’t talk to me like that. You’re just a fence. Go play with your own fence friends. Now move out! ―Max

I bet his houses are funny looking. ―Ira

If I was stranded on a deserted island and could only take one thing, it would be Douglas. ―Carol

Let the wild rumpus start! ―Max

Don’t go. I’ll eat you up, I love you so. ―K. W.

You gotta get inside it, the lava’s coming. ―Max

I’m sure by that time the human race will have fallen to any number of calamities… ―Teacher

Biters aren’t so bad, eaters are the one’s I just can’t stand. ―K. W.

Claire, it’s almost dinner! Get your stuff off the table, please. ―Mom

I thought you said if anybody got in here we didn’t want, the fort would automatically cut their brains out. ―Carol

He just wants attention. Don’t give him the satisfaction. ―Carol

Well, he only makes it harder. And it’s hard enough already. ―K. W.

Yeah. I’m still sorta dizzy and my eyeballs feel loose. ―Ira

No, I’m just tired and there’s been some stuff here at home…. So what can I do to fix this? ―Mom

Claire and her stupid friends smashed my igloo. ―Max

Hey Douglas, get the goat. Knock his legs out! ―Max

It was supposed to be a place where only things you wanted to have happen would happen. ―Carol

Quotes You’d Love to Tweet
Let the wild rumpus start! ―Max Click To Tweet Don’t go. I’ll eat you up, I love you so. ―K. W. Click To Tweet He just wants attention. Don’t give him the satisfaction. ―Carol Click To Tweet Hey Douglas, get the goat. Knock his legs out! ―Max Click To TweetAbout the Author
Maurice Sendak‘s classic 1963 children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are, has enchanted readers of all ages for decades.
Through the book, Sendak paints a vivid world of imagination and adventure.
With his creative writing and whimsical illustrations, Sendak takes his audience on an unforgettable journey full of lessons about self-expression, love, and resilience.
Summary of the Book “Where the Wild Things Are”
Written by Maurice Sendak and first published in 1963, Where the Wild Things Are is a beloved classic of children’s literature.
The story follows Max, a mischievous boy who escapes his bedroom after being sent to bed without supper.
After setting sail on a boat, he finds himself on an island inhabited by wild things – large, strange creatures that are both fierce and loving.
Max soon makes himself king of the wild things and enjoys all sorts of wild adventures with them.
But when he begins to miss his family, Max decides it’s time to leave and return home. Despite missing their beloved leader, the wild things bid Max farewell with a joyous rumpus.
The story offers lessons about courage and exploration, as well as the importance of family.
With its powerful imagery and delightful narrative, Where the Wild Things Are has delighted generations of readers since its initial publication and continues to capture the imaginations of children and adults alike.
About the Movie “Where the Wild Things Are”
Based on the classic children’s book by Maurice Sendak, “Where the Wild Things Are” is a 2009 fantasy drama film directed by Spike Jonze.
The movie stars Max Records as Max, a young boy who creates a world of his own in which he is the ruler of a group of creatures known as the “Wild Things”.
The story follows Max’s adventure as he befriends the monsters and learns to find peace within himself.
The film was written by Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers and produced by Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, and Vincent Landay.
It also stars Catherine Keener, Mark Ruffalo, Lauren Ambrose, James Gandolfini, Catherine O’Hara, Forest Whitaker, and Paul Dano.
It was released in 2009 to critical acclaim and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film.
Since its release, “Where the Wild Things Are” has become an instant classic and is beloved by fans of all ages. Its visually stunning world and heartwarming story have left a lasting impression on viewers, making it one of the most beloved films of recent years.
Download Best Where the Wild Things Are Quotes
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Conclusion
Where the Wild Things Are is a timeless story of adventure, friendship, and imagination that has stood the test of time.
These inspiring quotes bring to life the heartwarming and thought-provoking lessons of the story.
We hope this collection of quotes inspired you to remember the power of love, exploration, and joy in your own life.
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You can also visit Wikipedia to learn more about the film “Where the Wild Things Are.”
Thank you for reading!