Charlotte's Web Quotes
Wilbur the pig is scared of the end of the season, because he knows that come that time, he will end up on the dinner table. He hatches a plan with Charlotte, a spider that lives in his pen, to ensure that this will never happen.
Wilbur: [looking at Charlotte's new web, at the fair] But is is a good word, Charlotte? I mean, is it a TRUE word? I don't feel like I deserve all of the great words you've written about me...
Charlotte A. Cavatica: Then, Wilbur, it's a PERFECT word.
[Charlotte looks at the web, which says "HUMBLE"]
Charlotte A. Cavatica: Then, Wilbur, it's a PERFECT word.
[Charlotte looks at the web, which says "HUMBLE"]
Homer Zuckerman: Well, what can I say about this pig that hasn't already been said? I know a lot of you folks have come out to the farm and you've seen the words, and a lot of you have asked me, 'how could this have happened?'. I don't know, but it has happened... at a time when we really don't see many miraculous things. Maybe we do. Maybe they're all right there around us everyday, we just don't know where to look. There's no denying that our own little Wilbur... he's part of something that's bigger than all of us. And life on that farm's just a whole lot better with him in it. He really is some pig.
Narrator: And so, Wilbur came home to his beloved manure pile in the barn cellar. Around his neck, he wore a medal of honor. In his mouth, he held a sack of spider's eggs.
[Mr. Zuckerman takes Wilbur's medal, polishes it, and hangs it over the cellar doorway]
Narrator: Wilbur no longer worried about being killed, for he knew that Mr. Zuckerman would keep him as long as he lived.
[Mr. Zuckerman takes Wilbur's medal, polishes it, and hangs it over the cellar doorway]
Narrator: Wilbur no longer worried about being killed, for he knew that Mr. Zuckerman would keep him as long as he lived.
Ram: Sheep do not play with pigs.
Wilbur: Why not?
Ram: Oh, it's a matter of status. Sheep, for instance, are highly regarded by Zuckerman, because we furnish him with good quality wool. With pigs, on the other hand, it's just a matter of time.
Wilbur: Time to what?
Ram: Till you're fat enough to kill.
Wilbur: What did you say?
Ram: Oh, everybody knows it. In the fall, you'll be turned into smoked bacon and ham. Just as soon as cold weather sets in, they'll kill you.
Wilbur: Why not?
Ram: Oh, it's a matter of status. Sheep, for instance, are highly regarded by Zuckerman, because we furnish him with good quality wool. With pigs, on the other hand, it's just a matter of time.
Wilbur: Time to what?
Ram: Till you're fat enough to kill.
Wilbur: What did you say?
Ram: Oh, everybody knows it. In the fall, you'll be turned into smoked bacon and ham. Just as soon as cold weather sets in, they'll kill you.
Fern Arable: Oh Wilbur!
[crying]
Narrator: The next day was the saddest one Fern and Wilbur had ever known, for the young pig was taken from his home under the apple tree, and sold down the road to Fern's uncle, Homer Zuckerman.
[truck moves]
Fern Arable: [crying] Goodbye, Wilbur... goodbye Wilbur... goodbye...
[sobs]
[crying]
Narrator: The next day was the saddest one Fern and Wilbur had ever known, for the young pig was taken from his home under the apple tree, and sold down the road to Fern's uncle, Homer Zuckerman.
[truck moves]
Fern Arable: [crying] Goodbye, Wilbur... goodbye Wilbur... goodbye...
[sobs]
Fair M. C.: Ladies and gentlemen, we now present Mr. Homer L. Zuckerman and his distinguished pig!
[audience cheers and applauds]
Fair M. C.: The fame of this unique animal has spread to the far corners of the earth, attracting many vaulable tourists to our great state. You will all recall that day last summer when the writing appeared mysteriously on the spider's web in Mr. Zuckerman's barn. This miracle has never been explained. All we know is that we are dealing with supernatural forces here, and we should all be proud and grateful. In the words of the spider's web, this is "Soooome Pig".
[audience applauds and cheers]
[audience cheers and applauds]
Fair M. C.: The fame of this unique animal has spread to the far corners of the earth, attracting many vaulable tourists to our great state. You will all recall that day last summer when the writing appeared mysteriously on the spider's web in Mr. Zuckerman's barn. This miracle has never been explained. All we know is that we are dealing with supernatural forces here, and we should all be proud and grateful. In the words of the spider's web, this is "Soooome Pig".
[audience applauds and cheers]
Templeton: You're a pig! Pig equals slop. The rat is happy!
Wilbur: My name's Wilbur! Do you have a name or is it just 'The Rat'?
Templeton: Did you say 'just the rat'? For your information, pig: The rat rules! We were here long before your kind and we'll be here long after. So, you just keep that in mind next time you feel like reducing me to just 'the rat'.
Wilbur: You called yourself 'The Rat'.
Templeton: I can call me that. You can't.
Wilbur: My name's Wilbur! Do you have a name or is it just 'The Rat'?
Templeton: Did you say 'just the rat'? For your information, pig: The rat rules! We were here long before your kind and we'll be here long after. So, you just keep that in mind next time you feel like reducing me to just 'the rat'.
Wilbur: You called yourself 'The Rat'.
Templeton: I can call me that. You can't.
Wilbur: [Wilber bangs his head into the fence and runs]
Golly the Goose: [Flies to the fence, lands on it and stops] Run pig! Be free! I would if I could.
Gussy the Goose: [Golly goes back inside the barn] Golly, did I hear you say you would be free if you could?
Golly the Goose: I meant if I were a pig.
Golly the Goose: [Flies to the fence, lands on it and stops] Run pig! Be free! I would if I could.
Gussy the Goose: [Golly goes back inside the barn] Golly, did I hear you say you would be free if you could?
Golly the Goose: I meant if I were a pig.
Narrator: [we hear a rooster crow and a cow moo]
[first lines]
Narrator: This old world is filled with wonders, but to me there is no place more wonderful than a farm in springtime, when the sun is just lifting from the sky line. The air is so sweet and everywhere you look, little miracles are happening. Buds swell into blossoms, eggs hatch, young are born.
[shows duck and ducklings swimming in puddle]
Narrator: Everything's off to a fresh start, and life is good and busy and brand new.
[hen and chicks pass by]
Narrator: Around the barnyard, big families are a blessing. The more the merrier.
[litter of ten piglets are suckling from a sow, A tiny white runt appears]
Narrator: Root and grunt, push and shove, room for everyone. Well, everybody except - the runt.
[runt squealing, Arable picks up his axe]
Narrator: John Arable had been up since daybreak. He'd seen the size of the pig, but he wasn't looking forward to what had to be done.
Fern Arable: [carrying a bowl of eggs]
[cheerfully]
Fern Arable: Good morning, Papa!
Arable: [looks at Fern] Morning, Fern!
[first lines]
Narrator: This old world is filled with wonders, but to me there is no place more wonderful than a farm in springtime, when the sun is just lifting from the sky line. The air is so sweet and everywhere you look, little miracles are happening. Buds swell into blossoms, eggs hatch, young are born.
[shows duck and ducklings swimming in puddle]
Narrator: Everything's off to a fresh start, and life is good and busy and brand new.
[hen and chicks pass by]
Narrator: Around the barnyard, big families are a blessing. The more the merrier.
[litter of ten piglets are suckling from a sow, A tiny white runt appears]
Narrator: Root and grunt, push and shove, room for everyone. Well, everybody except - the runt.
[runt squealing, Arable picks up his axe]
Narrator: John Arable had been up since daybreak. He'd seen the size of the pig, but he wasn't looking forward to what had to be done.
Fern Arable: [carrying a bowl of eggs]
[cheerfully]
Fern Arable: Good morning, Papa!
Arable: [looks at Fern] Morning, Fern!
Fern Arable: [John Arable lifts runt from the newborn litter of piglets] Papa! Papa, stop! Don't kill it! It's unfair.
Arable: Fern! You will have learn to control yourself!
Fern Arable: [crying] Control myself? This is a matter of life and death, and you talk about controlling myself?
Arable: Now Fern, I know a lot more about raising pigs than you do. A weakling makes trouble, now run along.
Fern Arable: But it's unfair! If I had been very small, would you have killed me?
Arable: No, certainly not! A little girl is one thing, a... runty pig is another.
Fern Arable: [Sobbing] I don't see any difference! This is the most terrible case of injustice that I ever heard of!
Arable: Oh? Now I've got a good mind to let you raise this pig, then you'll see what trouble a pig can be.
Fern Arable: Oh Papa, would you - please?
Arable: [Hands the runt to Fern, then she kisses it] All right. He's yours, saved from an untimely death.
Fern Arable: Oh, look at him; he's absolutely perfect! His name is... Wilbur.
[kisses him again]
Arable: A pig doesn't grow fat on kisses and hugs, Fern. Now take him inside and feed him.
Arable: Fern! You will have learn to control yourself!
Fern Arable: [crying] Control myself? This is a matter of life and death, and you talk about controlling myself?
Arable: Now Fern, I know a lot more about raising pigs than you do. A weakling makes trouble, now run along.
Fern Arable: But it's unfair! If I had been very small, would you have killed me?
Arable: No, certainly not! A little girl is one thing, a... runty pig is another.
Fern Arable: [Sobbing] I don't see any difference! This is the most terrible case of injustice that I ever heard of!
Arable: Oh? Now I've got a good mind to let you raise this pig, then you'll see what trouble a pig can be.
Fern Arable: Oh Papa, would you - please?
Arable: [Hands the runt to Fern, then she kisses it] All right. He's yours, saved from an untimely death.
Fern Arable: Oh, look at him; he's absolutely perfect! His name is... Wilbur.
[kisses him again]
Arable: A pig doesn't grow fat on kisses and hugs, Fern. Now take him inside and feed him.
[Charlotte is looking for a new message to write in her web]
Lamb: How about "Pig Supreme"?
Charlotte: Mmmm... no good. It sounds like a rich dessert.
[Templeton walks past with an apple core towards the trough, and Charlotte glares at Templeton]
Goose: How about terrific, terrific, terrific?
Charlotte: Cut that down to *one* terrific, and it will do nicely. I think "terrific" will impress Zuckerman.
Wilbur: But Charlotte, I'm not terrific.
Charlotte: You're terrific, as far as I am concerned.
[Templeton, while holding an orange peel in his mouth, smacks Wilbur's face with his tail and walks off to the trough]
Charlotte: [after glaring at Templeton] And does anybody know how to spell it?
Goose: I think it's T, double-E, double-R, double-R, double-I, double-F, double-I, double-C, C, C!
Charlotte: [Charlotte's remark, from shock back to the goose] What kind of acrobat do you think I am? It would take me all night to write that.
Lamb: How about "Pig Supreme"?
Charlotte: Mmmm... no good. It sounds like a rich dessert.
[Templeton walks past with an apple core towards the trough, and Charlotte glares at Templeton]
Goose: How about terrific, terrific, terrific?
Charlotte: Cut that down to *one* terrific, and it will do nicely. I think "terrific" will impress Zuckerman.
Wilbur: But Charlotte, I'm not terrific.
Charlotte: You're terrific, as far as I am concerned.
[Templeton, while holding an orange peel in his mouth, smacks Wilbur's face with his tail and walks off to the trough]
Charlotte: [after glaring at Templeton] And does anybody know how to spell it?
Goose: I think it's T, double-E, double-R, double-R, double-I, double-F, double-I, double-C, C, C!
Charlotte: [Charlotte's remark, from shock back to the goose] What kind of acrobat do you think I am? It would take me all night to write that.
Fern Arable: [Enters kitchen and puts eggs on the kitchen counter] Here are the eggs, Mama.
Mrs. Arable: [Flipping pancakes] Thank you, Fern.
Fern Arable: What's Papa doing with that axe?
Mrs. Arable: [Poors more batter on pancake griddle] Some pigs were born last night.
Fern Arable: What does he need an axe for?
Mrs. Arable: One of the pigs was a runt, so your father has to do away with it.
Fern Arable: Do away with it? You, you mean, kill it?
Mrs. Arable: Well, yes.
Fern Arable: [shocked] Just because it's smaller than the others?
Mrs. Arable: Don't yell, Fern. The pig'll probably die, anyway.
Mrs. Arable: [Flipping pancakes] Thank you, Fern.
Fern Arable: What's Papa doing with that axe?
Mrs. Arable: [Poors more batter on pancake griddle] Some pigs were born last night.
Fern Arable: What does he need an axe for?
Mrs. Arable: One of the pigs was a runt, so your father has to do away with it.
Fern Arable: Do away with it? You, you mean, kill it?
Mrs. Arable: Well, yes.
Fern Arable: [shocked] Just because it's smaller than the others?
Mrs. Arable: Don't yell, Fern. The pig'll probably die, anyway.
Charlotte A. Cavatica: Wilbur... we're born, we live, and when our time comes, we die. It's just the natural cycle of life.
Wilbur: No! Just climb down, I'll carry you the rest of the way! We'll go back to the barn and I'll take care of you!
Charlotte A. Cavatica: No, Wilbur... I don't even have the strength to climb down.
Wilbur: No! Just climb down, I'll carry you the rest of the way! We'll go back to the barn and I'll take care of you!
Charlotte A. Cavatica: No, Wilbur... I don't even have the strength to climb down.
Wilbur: [singing] Isn't it great, that I articulate? / Isn't it grand? That you can understand / I don't snort, I don't eep, I don't even squeak or squawk / When I wanna say something, I open up and talk, I can talk, I can talk, talk, talk, I can...
Ram: Why don't you keep it down?
Wilbur: I can talk!
Ram: Why don't you keep it down?
Wilbur: I can talk!
Charlotte: The autumn days grow short and cold; / It's Christmas time again. / Then snows of winter slowly melt. / The days grow short, / And then... / He turns the seasons around, / And so she changes... her gown: / Mother Earth... and Father Time.
[words are slowly being reduced to a whisper]
Charlotte: How very special are we... / For just a moment... to be... / Part of life's... eternal... rhyme.
[passes away]
[words are slowly being reduced to a whisper]
Charlotte: How very special are we... / For just a moment... to be... / Part of life's... eternal... rhyme.
[passes away]
Narrator: The autumn days grew short. One evening, just before Christmas, snow began falling, and cold settled on the world.
[we see Fern and Avery sledding down a hill in front of the Zuckermans' barn]
Narrator: All winter, Wilbur watched over Charlotte's egg sac as though he were guarding his own children. And after many long days and nights, the snows melted and ran away.
[we see Fern and Avery sledding down a hill in front of the Zuckermans' barn]
Narrator: All winter, Wilbur watched over Charlotte's egg sac as though he were guarding his own children. And after many long days and nights, the snows melted and ran away.
Charlotte: [after Templeton ignored and distracted Charlotte's meeting, he continues to look for food as a cat approaches the fence] Why don't you try over by the fence, Templeton?
Templeton: Huh?
Charlotte: [innocently] Lurvy dropped half a sandwich from his lunch there.
Templeton: Why, thank you Charlotte...
[goes over to the fence, the cat sees him and tries to pounce over the fence; he flees and the cat leaves]
Templeton: [calling] That wasn't nice, Charlotte!
Charlotte: Perhaps next time I call a meeting to discuss Wilbur's safety, you'll see fit to attend.
Templeton: Huh?
Charlotte: [innocently] Lurvy dropped half a sandwich from his lunch there.
Templeton: Why, thank you Charlotte...
[goes over to the fence, the cat sees him and tries to pounce over the fence; he flees and the cat leaves]
Templeton: [calling] That wasn't nice, Charlotte!
Charlotte: Perhaps next time I call a meeting to discuss Wilbur's safety, you'll see fit to attend.
[Templeton returns from a night of overeating]
Templeton: [hiccups] I'm back.
[Charlotte and Wilbur glare at him]
Templeton: What a night! Never have I seen such leavings! Everything well ripened, seasoned with the passage of time and the heat of the day... Oh, it was rich, my friends, riiiiiich!
[hiccups]
Charlotte: You ought to be ashamed of yourself. It would serve you right if you had an acute attack of indigestion.
[Templeton hiccups agains and pats his stomach]
Templeton: My stomach can handle anything.
Wilbur: Templeton, if you weren't so dopey, you would have noticed that Charlotte's made an egg sac.
[Templeton gazes toward the ceiling and sees Charlotte's egg sac]
Templeton: [hiccups] Hooray for Charlotte.
Wilbur: She's going to become a mother. For *your* information, there are 514 eggs in that peachy, little sac.
Templeton: [sarcastically] This *has* been a night.
[Templeton crawls over to Wilbur's pen and hiccups again]
Templeton: [hiccups] I'm back.
[Charlotte and Wilbur glare at him]
Templeton: What a night! Never have I seen such leavings! Everything well ripened, seasoned with the passage of time and the heat of the day... Oh, it was rich, my friends, riiiiiich!
[hiccups]
Charlotte: You ought to be ashamed of yourself. It would serve you right if you had an acute attack of indigestion.
[Templeton hiccups agains and pats his stomach]
Templeton: My stomach can handle anything.
Wilbur: Templeton, if you weren't so dopey, you would have noticed that Charlotte's made an egg sac.
[Templeton gazes toward the ceiling and sees Charlotte's egg sac]
Templeton: [hiccups] Hooray for Charlotte.
Wilbur: She's going to become a mother. For *your* information, there are 514 eggs in that peachy, little sac.
Templeton: [sarcastically] This *has* been a night.
[Templeton crawls over to Wilbur's pen and hiccups again]
[last lines]
Narrator: Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.
Narrator: Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.
Wilbur: Are you writers?
Charlotte's daughters: No, but we will be when we grow up.
Wilbur: Then write this in your webs, when you learn: This hallowed doorway was once the home of Charlotte. She was brilliant, beautiful, and loyal to the end. Her memory will be treasured forever.
Charlotte's daughters: Ooh, that would take us a lifetime.
Wilbur: A lifetime. That's what we have.
Charlotte's daughters: No, but we will be when we grow up.
Wilbur: Then write this in your webs, when you learn: This hallowed doorway was once the home of Charlotte. She was brilliant, beautiful, and loyal to the end. Her memory will be treasured forever.
Charlotte's daughters: Ooh, that would take us a lifetime.
Wilbur: A lifetime. That's what we have.
[a fly lands in Charlotte's web]
Charlotte: Just a minute, Wilbur.
[she climbs up and wraps the fly]
Charlotte: He'll make a perfect breakfast for me.
Wilbur: [shuddering] Ooooh. You mean you eat flies?
Charlotte: Why, certainly. I eat anything that gets caught in my web. I have to live, don't I?
Wilbur: [nervously] Why, yes, of course. Do they taste good?
Charlotte: Delicious.
Wilbur: LECCH!
Charlotte: Course, I don't really *eat* them, I drink their blood. I love blood.
Wilbur: [gasps] Oh, please don't say things like that.
Charlotte: Why not? It's true.
Wilbur: But it's *cruel*.
Charlotte: Well, *you* can't talk. You have your meals brought to you in a pail. Nobody feeds me. I live by my wits.
Wilbur: It just seems an odd sort of diet.
Charlotte: Do you realize that if I didn't eat them, bugs would get so numerous, they'd destroy the earth? Spiders are really very useful creatures.
Charlotte: Just a minute, Wilbur.
[she climbs up and wraps the fly]
Charlotte: He'll make a perfect breakfast for me.
Wilbur: [shuddering] Ooooh. You mean you eat flies?
Charlotte: Why, certainly. I eat anything that gets caught in my web. I have to live, don't I?
Wilbur: [nervously] Why, yes, of course. Do they taste good?
Charlotte: Delicious.
Wilbur: LECCH!
Charlotte: Course, I don't really *eat* them, I drink their blood. I love blood.
Wilbur: [gasps] Oh, please don't say things like that.
Charlotte: Why not? It's true.
Wilbur: But it's *cruel*.
Charlotte: Well, *you* can't talk. You have your meals brought to you in a pail. Nobody feeds me. I live by my wits.
Wilbur: It just seems an odd sort of diet.
Charlotte: Do you realize that if I didn't eat them, bugs would get so numerous, they'd destroy the earth? Spiders are really very useful creatures.
Narrator: [Six weeks later] Wilbur was what the farmers call a "spring pig", which means he was born in springtime. By the time he was six weeks old, he'd grown so, you'd never have known he started life as a runt. Wilbur had gotten so big, in fact, that John Arable decided that it was time for him he stopped being a pet, and start being a pig.
Arable: [At the Arable house] He's got to go, Fern.
Fern Arable: Papa, no!
Arable: You've had your fun raising a baby pig, but Wilbur's got to be sold. He's not a baby anymore and his brothers and sisters are already sold.
Fern Arable: [Fern starts crying and runs outside] Oh Papa!
Arable: [At the Arable house] He's got to go, Fern.
Fern Arable: Papa, no!
Arable: You've had your fun raising a baby pig, but Wilbur's got to be sold. He's not a baby anymore and his brothers and sisters are already sold.
Fern Arable: [Fern starts crying and runs outside] Oh Papa!
Fair M. C.: [after the quartet sings at the fair] On behalf of the governors of the fair, I have the honor of awarding a special prize of $25 to Mr. Zuckerman.
[audience cheers and applauds]
Fair M. C.: And this handsome bronze medal suitably engraved, to this radiant, this terrific, this - humble pig.
[audience cheers and applauds as the medal is hung around Wilbur's neck]
[audience cheers and applauds]
Fair M. C.: And this handsome bronze medal suitably engraved, to this radiant, this terrific, this - humble pig.
[audience cheers and applauds as the medal is hung around Wilbur's neck]
[after the goose's eggs have hatched]
Wilbur: Congratulations! How many are there?
Goose: There are seven.
Charlotte: Seven is a lucky number.
Goose: Luck has nothing to do with it! It was good management and hard work!
Templeton: [looking at a solitary unhatched egg] Why didn't, uh, this one hatch?
Goose: [gloomily] It's a dud, I guess.
Templeton: What are you going to do with it?
Goose: [sternly] You can have it. Throw it away and add it to that nasty collection of yours! Be careful - a rotten egg can be a regular stink bomb!
Templeton: [patting the egg] I know what I'm doing. I handle stuff like this all the time.
[Templeton rolls the egg away]
Wilbur: Congratulations! How many are there?
Goose: There are seven.
Charlotte: Seven is a lucky number.
Goose: Luck has nothing to do with it! It was good management and hard work!
Templeton: [looking at a solitary unhatched egg] Why didn't, uh, this one hatch?
Goose: [gloomily] It's a dud, I guess.
Templeton: What are you going to do with it?
Goose: [sternly] You can have it. Throw it away and add it to that nasty collection of yours! Be careful - a rotten egg can be a regular stink bomb!
Templeton: [patting the egg] I know what I'm doing. I handle stuff like this all the time.
[Templeton rolls the egg away]
