Entertainment

Emma Watson Character Quotes Fans Should Revisit

by Vannessa Jackson

By now, you may have heard that Emma Watson is taking a break from acting. I know, the news comes as quite a shocker to me as well. But I suppose it's not all bad news, considering she's taking a break to focus on her feminist pursuits and to really understand herself better. Regardless, the world needs a bit of time to cope with the absence of Watson on screen for a while. And the best way to do that is to reflect on the Emma Watson character quotes that have made a huge impact on our lives. After all, she's not just inspirational off screen; even her worst characters can be very wise.

In her career, she has always strived to play strong characters with a strong point of view, and it shows. Her work never lacks some beautiful sound bites that we share with our friends for years to come. Or even print out and paste on our walls for instant inspiration. No matter what you do with them, you have very well become a better person because of the characters she plays. I know I have. With so many films to choose from, it's hard to narrow down a single quote that really speaks to the inspiration that she presents in every film she's in, but I've certainly tried.

1. “The Truth Is That You Don’t Think A Girl Would Have Been Clever Enough!”

I really loved the character of Hermione Granger, both in the Harry Potter books and in the Harry Potter movies, because she really wasn't afraid to tell it like it is. Whenever Harry needed a swift kick into the right gear, Hermione was always there to give it to him. That's an attitude I think all women could and should possess a little more of.

2. "No, I’m Not [Going To Work At The Ministry Of Magic], I’m Hoping To Do Some Good In The World!"

Not every amazing Hermione quote made it into the movies, and not all of them should be forgotten. This basically sounds like the words uttered by every single college senior at some point. We all want to change the world, and Hermione gave us the courage to do it.

3. "Why Do I And Everyone I Love Pick People Who Treat Us Like We're Nothing?"

Truer words have never been spoken. I think all women have had this conversation with ourselves at some point, consciously or subconsciously. If you haven't seen the movie, the answer to this question was, "We accept the love we think we deserve."

4. "I'm A Firm Believer In Karma And I Think This Situation Is A Huge Learning Lesson For Me... I Want To Lead A Country One Day For All I Know."

Yes. I love this quote from Nicki in The Bling Ring so much. Mainly because she doesn't say she is going to, but merely flippantly suggests the fact that it's a logical possibility. We all need to live like running the country someday is our Plan B.

5. "You Chose Mercy. You Chose Love. He Has Given Us A Second Chance. Be A Father, Be A Grandfather. Help Us To Do Better This Time. Help Us Start Again."

If you ever need a one-minute pep talk from Emma Watson, just turn on this scene from the film Noah. There is no better cure for feeling like you're not worth anything than hearing Emma Watson tell you that you can do it, because you can.

6. "You Can't Just Sit There And Put Everybody's Lives Ahead Of Yours And Think That Counts As Love."

I'll say it again: preach. That, my friends, is the key to living a happy and satisfied life. Sometimes we need to put ourselves first and demand some respect. Also, if you haven't seen Perks of Being a Wallflower, stop everything and go watch.

7. "Welcome To The Island Of Misfit Toys."

Another quote from Perks of Being A Wallflower, because I could write another article on what a badass feminist Watson's character Sam was. I like to say this to myself when I walk into situations where I feel uncomfortable, because I think we all need to remember that we're all just misfit toys.

8. "If You're Going To Kill Harry, You'll Have To Kill Us Too!"

This quote was famously taken from Ron in the books and given to Hermione in the movies, but there was nothing more inspirational than the way Hermione stood up for herself and her friends. As people, we need to stand up for each other more, and Hermione was the perfect example of that.

9. "Do You Think There's A Bit Of Light Somewhere In The World? I Think There Is. You Just Need To Know Where To Find It."

Princess Pea in The Tale of Despereaux is one of Watson's more unfamiliar characters, but she has a lot of great words of wisdom to provide. It's a great reminder that, even with all the bad stuff that happens in the world, there are still some redeeming qualities to be found.

10. "We Can't Just Stand Here. Who's Got An Idea?"

Hermione knows a thing or two about taking action, which is something we could all take a lesson from. Sometimes you have to bust out an idea and hope it sticks.

11. "Let's Go To Paris!"

While she may have been referring to robbing Paris Hilton's house in The Bling Ring, I think every good woman can agree that Paris is always a good idea. The city, not the person. Treat yourself.

12. "You Have To Realize Who You Are..."

There may be no greater lesson that we all must learn in life than being who you are, no matter what. While Hermione was talking to Harry, I think this is a lesson that applies for all women.

13. "C'mon. Let's Go Be Psychos Together!"

Your vibe attracts your tribe, and no one knew this better than Sam in Perks of Being a Wallflower. Finding the same like-minded psychos to hang out with can make life that much better.

14. "I Want Adventure In The Great Wide Somewhere... For Once It Might Be Grand To Have Someone Understand I Want So Much More Than They've Got Planned..."

OK, so Watson hasn't uttered these words yet, but she is playing Belle in the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast early next year. Nothing screams feminist inspiration more than Belle, and I can't wait to see how she will make the character her own.

Emma Watson gave us some incredible female characters over the years, and now it's her time to use her powers for good. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us in the next few years. It's bound to be inspiring.

Images: Warner Bros. Pictures; Giphy (14)