Summary

• The best quotes from The Color Purple show that Celie understands that others will try to hold her down and keep her from being who she wants to be.
• The dialogue explores the many deep and complex themes at play in Steven Spielberg's 1985 movie.
• Performance from the cast, including Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey, have ensure the many memorable quotes in The Color Purple remain timeless.

The powerful and profound The Color Purple quotes showcase why Steven Spielberg's drama resonated with so many viewers. Based on the novel by acclaimed author Alice Walker, follows the story of Celie (Whoopi Goldberg), a Black woman living in the early/mid-20th century, as she navigates racism, loss, and abuse while finding inner strength. As with many of Spielberg's period dramas, The Color Purple strikes a chord between heartbreaking depictions of darker times and moments of inspiring triumph, both of which are seen in the most memorable The Color Purple quotes.

With the new 2023 musical adaptation of The Color Purple, there has been an increased interest in the 1985 version which, despite its Best Picture nomination, is one of Spielberg's lesser-known movies. With a cast that includes Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Oprah Winfrey, the movie is filled with complex characters with compelling journeys highlighted by some memorable lines. These powerful quotes from The Color Purple show why Spielberg's 1985 version remains so influential.

The Color Purple is available to stream on Paramount+

10 "Folks Don't Like Nobody Being Too Proud, Or Too Free."

Celie (Whoopi Goldberg)

This quote from The Color Purple comes when Celie (Whoopi Goldberg) overhears Mister (Danny Glover) and his father discussing the ionate and happy-go-lucky Shug Avery (Margaret Avery). Old Mister has an issue with her because she is apparently too self-absorbed and free-spirited.

Celie realizes that many people in the world try and hold others down and keep them from being who they want to be. It also resonates with her as it is how she has been treated her whole life, being made to feel worthless. Though it may not have hit her at that moment, it becomes important later and leads her to realize that she doesn't need to listen to all those people who discourage her, and that she can simply prove them wrong.

9 "Don't Let Them Run Over You. You Got To Fight."

Nettie (Akosua Busia)

Keeping with the film's theme of fighting against oppression, Celie's sister, Nettie (Akosua Busia), has some advice when she's living with Mister. She tells her that she has to fight for her needs and that she shouldn't let people walk all over her. Not poetic or layered, it is instead a simple and powerful message of strength that directly addresses the themes of the movie. It's important to stand up against people who get in the way. Though it takes Celie decades to get to this point, the wise words from her beloved sister Nettie help her to one day become her own person.

8 "'Til You Do Right By Me, Everything You Think About Is Gonna Crumble."

Celie (Whoopi Goldberg)

In a moment of sheer bravery and confidence by the literary heroine, Celie, in this big-screen adaptation, Mister is told off for emotionally and physically abusing her for years. Miss Celie and Miss Shug Avery become dear friends and decide to move away together, and this finally allows Celie to leave her terrible relationship with Mister which she was forced into by her own father.

What's beautiful about this moment is that Celie is often forced to remain quiet as people yell at her and insult her for no reason. Finally, she gives it right back and tells her abusive partner that things are going to change. It is a triumphant and crowd-pleasing moment, and makes for one of the most memorable The Color Purple quotes.

7 "Nothing But Death Can Keep Me From It."

Nettie (Akosua Busia)

One of the many beautiful relationships in The Color Purple comes from the bond between Celie and her sister, Nettie. Early on in the film, Nettie is forced to separate from Celie so that she can pursue a better life. Celie makes incredible sacrifices throughout the film, like dealing with abuse from her partner, who wasn't ever really in love with her.

At a tear-jerking moment when Nettie runs away, she delivers the line, "Nothing but death can keep me from it," referring to the letters she will send to Celie while she's away. In one simple piece of dialogue, viewers witness the strength of the relationship between the two sisters, who are determined to stay in for as long as they live.

6 "Everything You've Done to Me, Already Done To You."

Celie (Whoopi Goldberg)

In the same scene where Celie and Shug (Margaret Avery) move away from Danny Glover's antagonist character, Mister, Celie delivers this final powerful assessment of who he is. As they're driving away and Mister desperately attempts to get them to stay, Celie is able to point out to him that there's a reason why Mister is as terrible as he is.

Celie acknowledges that Mister has not had an easy life either, and this is perhaps why he has treated her so poorly. This The Color Purple quote may seem like Celie is excusing Mister's behavior, but she's not. She's revealing something about him that he had perhaps not considered and shows that she has more humanity in her than he does.

5 "Everything Wanna Be Loved. Us Sing And Dance And Holla Just Wanting To Be Loved. Look At Them Trees. Notice How The Trees Do Everything People Do To Get Attention ...Except Walk."

Shug (Margaret Avery)

Shug Avery is a perfect example of a happy-go-lucky, free-spirited person. However, that doesn't mean she isn't intelligent and thoughtful. When Celie and Shug are walking through nature after having become great friends, Shug expresses to Celie that everything in the world just wants one thing most of all: to be loved. Even with a little bit of humor in her observation, Shug is able to touch on a profound idea at the center of the story, that people just want to be loved. This one simple fact explains a lot about the behaviors of the story's characters, who act out due to the deeper need for acceptance and comion.

4 "When I See'd You, I Knowed There Is A God. And One Day I Was Gonna Get To Come Home."

Sofia (Oprah Winfrey)

There are several strong female characters in The Color Purple, and one of them is portrayed by the legendary Oprah Winfrey. The character is Sofia, a fierce woman who marries Mister's son, Harpo. While at first she clashes with Celie, as time goes on, they become friends.

When Sofia stands up to the town mayor's racist wife, she is forced to spend time in jail and then servw as the mayor's wife's maid. Despite all the extremely unfair things Sofia has to go through, she tells Celie that she sees her as a source of hope that one day she will get to come home and be reunited with her family. This is just one of many touching moments between two female characters in the film.

3 "See Daddy, Sinners Have Soul Too."

Shug (Margaret Avery)

Toward the end of The Color Purple, Shug reunites with her father, who has expressed disapproval of her flashy lifestyle. Marching into her father's church where he is the pastor, Shug sings her heart out, accompanied by a gospel choir. She gives him a big hug and tells him this line. He accepts it warmly, and they are reunited.

The meaning of this quote encapsulates an important message of this movie. Even the people who seem terrible can do the right thing and change for the better. This applies to Mister, as he eventually helps Celie reconnect with Nettie at the end of the film. It also applies to Shug, who berates Celie at the beginning of the movie and, by the end, is her most ive friend.

2 "I Think It Pi**es God Off If You Walk By The Color Purple In A Field And Don't Notice It."

Shug (Margaret Avery)

Another excellent moment from Celie and Shug's walk with nature occurs when Shug delivers one of the most iconic The Color Purple quotes, saying that it's a shame to be surrounded by the color purple and not appreciate it. While it is true that Shug really appreciates the color purple, this quote is about so much more.

The sentiment truly being expressed is that it's a shame to be a living thing on this earth and not appreciate the beauty that surrounds everyone. This is further true because there are so many terrible things that occur throughout the story. Therefore, it is even more important to appreciate rare moments of beauty.

1 "I'm Poor, Black, I May Even Be Ugly, But Dear God, I'm Here! I'm Here!"

Celie (Whoopi Goldberg)

There are several fantastic quotes made by Celie as she and Shug leave Mister for Memphis, with this one being the most powerful. Mister once again tries to exert his dominance over Celie by insulting her. However, this time, she takes his insults and shows him how little they matter. He can see all the flaws in her that he wants, but it doesn't take away from the fact that she is still a human being who deserves better. This sums up another touching theme in The Color Purple. The world can disrespect and put down people, but it cannot convince them they are less or that they don't matter.