Wonder Woman is the ultimate iconic female superhero. One of the founding members of the Justice League, she was first brought to life by DC Comics during the Second World War back in 1941.
Her character was created by American psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston. Marston drew his inspiration for the superheroine from the early feminists of the day and is said to have based her appearance on both his wife Elizabeth and his life partner, Olive Byrne.
Back in the earlier part of the 20th century, powerful and ambitious female role models were a rarity, and women who did make it into the limelight were often portrayed as villains. But the arrival of
Wonder Woman shifted that paradigm completely. Here was a strong, assertive, and fearless female who fought for the underdog and sought to bring justice to the world.
“Righting the wrongs, defending America from the enemies of democracy and fighting for downtrodden women and children, in a man-made world, Wonder Woman wins the hearts and leads the youth of America to victory over evil!”
― William Moulton Marston
Since those early days, Wonder Woman’s character has featured in countless comics and a whole host of other publications, as well as two blockbuster movies starring Gal Gadot. William Moulton Marston may have created her, but many incredible authors have continued her story over the years, including the likes of Brian Azzarello, Phil Jimenez, Leigh Bardugo, and Gail Simone.
In whatever incarnation she comes, Wonder Woman is an inspiring role model for both women and men, and her quotes leave us feeling empowered and ready to take on the world.
Below, I’ve gathered 40 of the most inspirational and timeless quotes from the comics and the movies to help you harness the power of your own inner superhero.
Wonder Woman Quotes from the Comics and Other Publications
“As lovely as Aphrodite – as wise as Athena – with the speed of Mercury and the strength of Hercules – she is known only as Wonder Woman.”
― William Moulton Marston, Wonder Woman: The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 2
“When I deal with them, I deal with them,”
― Wonder Woman, The New 52 series Justice League: Trinity War.
“Because no matter how small an act of kindness or generosity or simple positivity you put out into the world, it will make a difference.”
—Wonder Woman
“Please take my hand. I give it to you as a gesture of friendship and love and of faith freely given. I give you my hand and welcome you into my dream.”
—Wonder Woman, #167, Phil Jimenez
“If it means interfering in an ensconced, outdated system, to help just one woman, man or child…I’m willing to accept the consequences.”
—Wonder Woman #170, Phil Jimenez
“We can’t help the way we’re born. We can’t help what we are, only what life we choose to make for ourselves.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Wonder Woman: Warbringer
“Sister in battle,” murmured Diana, “I am shield and blade to you.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Wonder Woman: Warbringer
“And friend.”
“And always your friend.”
“Imagination is just what others use to get things they can’t understand into their heads. Rarely – if ever – do they actually fit there.”
― Brian Azzarello, Wonder Woman, Volume 1: Blood
“You dance differently when you know you won’t live forever.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Wonder Woman: Warbringer
“Maybe it feels easier that way, just being invisible instead of always worrying what people think of you.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Wonder Woman: Warbringer
I’ve seen you play basketball, Theo. He beat you because you’re terrible.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Wonder Woman: Warbringer
“I’m good on fundamentals.”
“And I’m the queen of the Netherlands.”
“A different kind of knight, one who’d chosen to protect the girl the world wanted to destroy; one born to slay dragons, but maybe to befriend them, too.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Wonder Woman: Warbringer
“Sure we do,” said Theo, swatting at a branch. “We get to the spring, Alia gets cured. We argue over the best choice for our We Saved The World victory dance.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Wonder Woman: Warbringer
“I do enjoy your optimism,” said Diana.
“And I admire your ability to lift a car over your head without breaking a sweat and look fine as hell doing it,” said Theo with a bow.”
“We Can’t Help What We Are, Only What Life We Choose To Make For Ourselves.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Wonder Woman: Warbringer
“This enchanted crown that you so coveted shall be upon your brow like a crown of thorns…
― Jill Thompson, Wonder Woman: The True Amazon
… for you will not be able to remove it until you have made up for the ills you have caused.
And until that day, you shall never again set foot on the golden shores of Themyscira.”
“If you need to stop an asteroid, you call Superman. If you need to solve a mystery, you call Batman. But if you need to end a war, you call Wonder Woman.”
― Gail Simone
“If loss makes you doubt your belief in justice, then you never truly believed in justice at all.”
― Gail Simone, Wonder Woman, Vol. 3
“We have a saying, my people. Don’t kill if you can wound, don’t wound if you can subdue, don’t subdue if you can pacify, and don’t raise your hand at all until you’ve first extended it.”
— Gail Simone, Wonder Woman, Vol. 3
“Wonder Woman isn’t only an Amazonian princess with bad-ass boots. She’s the missing link in a chain of events that begins with the woman suffrage campaigns of the 1910s and ends with the troubled place of feminism fully a century later. Feminism made Wonder Woman. And then Wonder Woman remade feminism….”
― Jill Lepore, The Secret History of Wonder Woman
“Girls are also human beings, a point often overlooked.”
― Jill Lepore, The Secret History of Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman Quotes from the Movies
“I used to want to save the world. To end the war and bring peace to mankind. But then I glimpsed the darkness that lived within their light and learned that inside every one of them, there will always be both. A choice each must make for themselves. Something no hero will ever defeat. And now I know that only love can truly save the world. So I stay, I fight, and I give, for the world I know can be. This is my mission now. Forever.”
– Diana Prince.
“The gods made the Amazons to restore peace to the world, and it’s what I’m going to do.”
– Diana Prince.
“What one does with the truth is more difficult than you think. I learned this the hard way, a long, long time ago. And now, my life will never be the same.
– Diana Prince.
“Women seem like sissies because you don’t know their true strength.”
– Diana Prince.
“What one does when faced with the truth is more difficult than you’d think.”
—Diana Prince.
“You are stronger than you believe. You have greater powers than you know.”
—Antiope to Diana.
“I am Diana of Themyscira, Daughter of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. In the name of all that is good, your wrath upon this world is over.”
– Diana Prince.
Power without self-control tears a girl to pieces!”
“And between my prayers, I made a vow that I would always be aware of my strength. And that of my opponents, my friends, and my victims…”
“I’m willing to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.”
– Diana.
Steve Trevor: “This war is—a great big mess. And there’s not a whole lot you and I can do about that. We can get back to London and try to get the men who can.”
Diana: “I am the man who can.”
“Only the fiercest among us even could, and that is not you, Diana.”
– Queen Hippotya.
“I can save today; you can save the world.”
– Steve.
“Now I know that only love can truly save the world. So I stay, I fight, and I give, for the world I know can be.”
—Diana.
“I came here to parley. But do not mistake a desire to avoid violence for the inability to deal it.”
“The war to end all wars! Weapons far deadlier than you can imagine. Whoever you are, you are in more danger than you realize!”
– Steve Trevor.
“When it comes to procreation, men are essential, but for pleasure, not necessary.”
—Diana.
“She was right. My mother was right. She said the world of men does not deserve you. They don’t deserve our help.”
– Diana Prince.
“They’re everything you say they are. But they’re capable of so much more.” .
— Wonder Woman
Steve “This is no man’s land, Diana! It means no man can cross it, alright? This battalion has been here for nearly a year, and they’ve barely gained an inch. All right? Because on the other side, there are a bunch of Germans pointing machine guns at every square inch of this place. This is not something you can cross. It’s not possible.”
Diana “So… what? So we do nothing?”
Steve “No, we are doing something! We are! We just… we can’t save everyone in this war. This is not what we came here to do.”
Diana “No. But it’s what I’m going to do.”
Conclusion
Wonder Woman is the superheroine we all wish we could be. Her power, strength, and all-around bad-ass attitude have been an inspiration for women and girls around the world for years, and this incredible character is set to be around for a long time to come.
Which of these Wonder Woman quotes leaves you feeling the most empowered? Let me know in the comments below!