45 Inspiring "Something Wicked This Way Comes" Quotes

The phrase "Something wicked this way comes" signals an impending shift, often toward darkness or irresistible temptation. Rooted in the chilling prophecies of Shakespeare's Macbeth and immortalized by Ray Bradbury's masterful novel of the same name, these words capture the essential conflict between good and evil, youth and age, and the fleeting nature of time.

Haunting Warnings: Something Wicked This Way Comes Quotes

"The great thing about us, Will, is that we're alive."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Recognizing the preciousness of existence and simple vitality as a defense against darkness.

"Something wicked this way comes."

Author: William Shakespeare (Macbeth)

Benefit: The classic warning of approaching danger, evil, or a profound shift in circumstance.

"The secret to happiness is the abolition of time."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Highlighting the human desire to escape the constraints of age and the inevitable.

"For where else but in the soul of man is the true war waged?"

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Identifying the inner struggle between virtue and temptation as the most crucial battlefield.

"Be proud, Will, to be the target of such dark things."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Finding strength and definition through facing adversity and being tested by malice.

"If you want to live, Will, you want to be awake."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Necessity of vigilance, awareness, and living consciously in a world full of trickery.

"A smell of ozone and wet popcorn and the sea, all at once."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Describing the strange, sensory blend that signals the arrival of the ominous carnival.

"Fair is foul, and foul is fair."

Author: William Shakespeare (Macbeth)

Benefit: The theme of deception, where appearance contradicts reality, confusing moral judgment.

"Oh, the old men, how they love the things that are past!"

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: The melancholic draw of nostalgia and regret for lost youth, a key vulnerability exploited by the carnival.

"The light comes at the cost of your soul."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Warning about the high price of selfish desires and unearned, instantaneous rewards.

"He was a boy who could look at a piece of wood and see a ship."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Celebrating the power and importance of childhood imagination and wonder.

"Don't ask for the moon. We have the stars."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Appreciating what one truly possesses rather than chasing impossibility or unattainable perfection.

"Laughter is the shock absorber of the soul."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: The vital role of joy and humor in mitigating fear and protecting one's spirit.

"Know thyself, Will, for thyself is all thou hast."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Emphasis on self-awareness and integrity as foundational defenses against manipulation.

"The carnival is the sum of all your wishes."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: The realization that temptations are powerful because they exploit deep, unfulfilled personal desires.

Quotes on Time, Age, and Human Nature

"Do you know what hell is? It's when you have all the time in the world to be miserable."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Defining eternal misery not as endless time, but as perpetual unhappiness and regret.

"The only difference between the young and the old is that the old have more to regret."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: A poignant reflection on the burden of memory and the consequences of past choices.

"He remembered how much he wanted to be old, and how quickly it had all vanished."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: A cautionary note on wishing away the present moment and the speed of life's transitions.

"How fine it was to be Will Halloway, twelve years old."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Celebrating the specific, unrepeatable freedom, energy, and perspective of youth.

"Mr. Dark had been waiting for them all their lives."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Understanding that evil is patient and seeks vulnerability consistently throughout existence.

"We are all dying, Will. The trick is to prolong it."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: A darkly humorous but truthful view on human existence and the instinct for survival.

"The carnival doesn't give you what you want, it gives you what you deserve."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Exploring the concept of fate and consequence linked closely to the nature of one's desires.

"Never trust a mirror that smiles too much."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: A warning against vanity, self-flattery, and the danger of superficial self-deception.

"Every step you take is a tiny act of creation."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Empowering belief in continuous self-determination and the constant building of one's life.

"If you run away, you're only running into yourself."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: The impossibility of escaping one's own inner conflicts, thoughts, and responsibilities.

"Out, damned spot! Out, I say!"

Author: William Shakespeare (Macbeth)

Benefit: Demonstrating the overwhelming psychological burden of guilt and inescapable consequence.

"The time, the place, the hour, Will. Don't forget."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Stressing the importance of context, memory, and living fully in the immediate moment.

"The only way to kill it is to ignore it."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Suggesting that sometimes, the best strategy against malice is removing its power by withholding attention or fear.

"The light must be paid for. The darkness comes free."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Understanding that virtue, happiness, and peace require effort, while surrender is easy.

"They wanted to be young again. That was their great, sad, terrible mistake."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: The error of trying to reverse time instead of embracing the wisdom and value of the present stage of life.

Inspiration and Courage (The Fight Against Wickedness)

"It is a lovely day, and we are here to live it."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: A simple, profound affirmation of present joy and existential gratitude.

"Hold the line, Will. Hold the line of summer."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Using the imagery of warmth, light, and natural life as a determined defense against encroaching evil.

"The whispers are always promises. The shouts are always lies."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Distinguishing between quiet, genuine insight and loud, deceptive propaganda or temptation.

"The truth is a thing that is often said in silence."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Valuing deep introspection and quiet realization over outward performance or noise.

"What a terrible thing it is to see a boy without a dream."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Highlighting the necessity of hope, aspiration, and imagination for spiritual and emotional health.

"Only the small fears are real. The big ones are shadows."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Encouraging focus on manageable anxieties rather than paralyzing, overwhelming dread.

"He knew now what the purpose of his life was: to keep Will safe."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: The realization of selfless love and protective instinct as the highest form of purpose.

"Don't let the darkness take your laughter."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: A direct command to maintain emotional resilience and use joy as a weapon.

"Sleep no more!"

Author: William Shakespeare (Macbeth)

Benefit: Capturing the ultimate consequence of a deeply wicked act: the destruction of peace and innocence.

"The Mirror Maze of Time!"

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: A powerful metaphor for the confusing, disorienting nature of memory, regret, and aging.

"And the boy, he laughed, and the darkness ran."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Demonstrating the profound, simple effectiveness of pure, innocent joy and acceptance against evil.

"The time to fear is past, Will. Now is the time to act."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Shifting mindset from passive worry and dread to active courage and decisive action.

"The best way to save face is to keep the lower part shut."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Practical advice on wisdom, patience, and the value of silence over rash speech.

"Death is a carnival ride, Will. We all get on."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: A stark, yet normalized perspective on mortality, urging acceptance of life's finality.

"Evil comes in many shapes. Always smiling."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: A reminder that temptation often appears attractive, pleasant, and highly deceptive.

"When the wheel turns, you can't get off."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: A warning about the irreversible nature of certain choices and temptations once indulged.

"A year of fearing nothing is a year of living dangerously."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Recognizing that a healthy measure of caution and respect for danger is necessary for survival.

"Will, you were born to fight this."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Finding purpose and inherent destiny in the face of inevitable, monumental struggle.

"Only by living can you truly defeat the enemy of time."

Author: Ray Bradbury

Benefit: Understanding that embracing life fully is the only true way to mitigate the fear of aging and death.

Whether drawn from the witch-haunted moors of Scotland or the dust-drenched streets of Green Town, Illinois, the quotes stemming from "Something Wicked This Way Comes" offer timeless counsel. They remind us that the greatest battles are fought within ourselves, that true strength lies in laughter, acceptance of time, and the clarity of a good heart.