Heidi Quotes

Heidi: Aunt Dete! What - what do you want here?

Dete: Where's your grandfather?

Heidi: He's up on the mountain, cutting some logs.

Dete: Now you get on your coat and mittens. We're going away.

Heidi: I don't want to go away!

Dete: What?

Heidi: I want to stay here. I love the Grandfather, and he loves me. It's my birthday and we're going to have a party. Look.

[showing Dete a pair of shoes with a dark goat and a light goat sewn on them]

Heidi: He made me these for a present. There's Swanli and Bearli. And we're going down to the village to get sausage and butter because the Grandmother and Peter are coming.

Dete: Well, he won't mind you going on a little trip with me.

Heidi: Where?

Dete: Just to Frankfurt. You can come back whenever you like.

Heidi: I don't want to go to Frankfurt.

Dete: You will do as I say! Where are your clothes?

Heidi: I've got to ask the Grandfather first.

Dete: Where are they?

Heidi: [pointing to the closet] In there.

Dete: Now, there's nothing to worry about. We'll have a sleigh ride to Mayenfeld, and a nice trip on a train. And I'll buy you a present for your birthday.

Heidi: And can I come right back, in time for my party?

Dete: Now, didn't I tell you you could?

Heidi: Can I bring some soft rolls for the Grandmother? You see, she hasn't many teeth and can't eat her black bread.

Dete: Oh, yes. Come! Hurry up! Hurry up!

Heidi: First, I must go up the mountain and tell the Grandfather where I'm going.

Dete: There isn't time. We might miss our train! I'll send word back to him!

Heidi: But I'd rather tell him myself. Do you think if I put my birthday shoes by the fire he'd know I'm coming back soon?

Dete: Yes, yes, of course. Now, come along!

Pastor Schultz: I do not know this Adolph Kramer, but the village thinks that the child should be taken away from him.

Blind Anna: You have just come to Dörfli, Herr Pastor, or you'd understand why.

Pastor Schultz: They say you have known Kramer for 50 years. What sort of a man is he?

Blind Anna: Who knows? He was a grand young man, except for his wild temper. And his son grew up just like him. Tobias wanted to marry a girl from Mayenfeld. Adolph disliked her and forbade it, but the boy married her just the same and brought her home. Adolph turned them away in a rage and told Tobias never to come back until he'd given up the girl.

Pastor Schultz: But why should the village hate him and fear him so?

Blind Anna: Feuds and weeds grow quickly, Herr Pastor. The people of the village sided with the boy and the father cursed them and went and built himself a hut on the mountain. Since that day, he's never spoken to a living soul.

Pastor Schultz: Frau Anna, is the child safe with him?

Blind Anna: God knows. Living alone like that has made him a strange creature.

Heidi: [Church bells chiming] I like to hear the church bells, don't you, Grandfather?

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: Get to bed.

Heidi: Shall I say my prayers out here with you?

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: I told you to go to bed!

Heidi: Yes, Grandfather. I think I'll go to bed now, Grandfather. Good night!

Heidi: May I go with Peter today? It may be the last time before the snows.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: All right. All right. But be back early for your lessons.

Heidi: I will. Are you sure you can get along without me?

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: I'll try.

Elsa: Hello.

Heidi: Oh! Have you come to see us?

Elsa: Yes, dear.

Pastor Schultz: I am Pastor Schultz.

Heidi: How do you do, Pastor Schultz? How do you do, Frau Schultz?

Elsa: Oh, no. I'm Fräulein Elsa, the schoolmistress.

Heidi: Oh. You'd make a very nice Frau Schultz.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: I ask the Herr Pastor to forgive the words I said on the mountain.

Pastor Schultz: The words are forgotten, neighbor. This is a happy day for all of us. I - I hope we shall see you here often.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: What do you say, Heidi?

Heidi: Well, I think everybody really ought to go to church on Sunday and I think there ought to be a Frau Schultz.

Andrews, the Butler: [indicating Heidi] Where did you pick up THAT?

Dete: That is my niece.

Andrews, the Butler: How unfortunate for the poor child.

Heidi: Are you the king here? You look like a king.

Andrews, the Butler: Ah, little Fräulein, if only the rest of the world could see through your eyes. Hmm, quite a personage, under that extraordinary hat.

Heidi: How do you do, Fräulein Rottenmeier?

Fräulein Rottenmeier: What is your name?

Heidi: Heidi.

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Heidi? Ridiculous. What name did they give you when you were baptized?

Heidi: I don't remember that.

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Are you being impudent?

Dete: No, Fräulein. She didn't understand. She was baptized Adelheid.

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Hmm. She looks too young. How old is she?

Dete: She's older than she appears. She's nearly eleven.

Heidi: Aunt Dete doesn't tell the truth. I'm eight years old today.

Fräulein Rottenmeier: [Heidi yawns at the dinner table] Adelheid! Did I actually see you yawn? I'm horrified!

Klara Sesemann: Don't scold her. She's had such a hard day.

Fräulein Rottenmeier: I am trying to be patient, Klara. But it is the height of impropreity to yawn at the dinner table. A yawn at any time is a sign of disrespect and lack of control. It shows that the attention is wandering and that the young person is not interested in the improvement of her mind.

[Klara giggles]

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Oh!

[Heidi has fallen asleep]

Pastor Schultz: You're going for the child?

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: I am.

Pastor Schultz: You're not walking all the way to Frankfurt? It's over 100 miles!

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: I shall get there.

Villager 1: Wait, neighbor.

Franz: Let us lend you enough for your railway fare.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: That's kind of you, Franz, but my legs will carry me. And I have money to bring us back on the train.

Villager 2: Auf Wiedersehen.

Villager 3: Goodbye.

Villager 4: Good luck, Adolph.

Pastor Schultz: God speed to you, neighbor.

Klara Sesemann: Oh, Papa! I'm so glad to see you!

Sesemann: Oh, darling. Klara, what has happened? I expected - That is, Fräulein told me - But you haven't looked so well since your accident.

Klara Sesemann: Of course. Because I've been so happy. It's Heidi.

Sesemann: Heidi?

Klara Sesemann: My little companion. Thank you a thousand times for letting me have her.

Sesemann: But, uh, Fräulein seems to think she excites you beyond your strength.

Klara Sesemann: I like to be excited, and she makes something funny happen all the time. Oh, Papa, she's the dearest little thing.

Sesemann: Well, my darling, something has had an amazing effect on you.

Klara Sesemann: I didn't have much to look forward to before. Now, when I wake up, I think, "I'm going to spend the day with Heidi!" I don't see why Fräulein doesn't like her.

Sesemann: Nor I. It's very odd.

Andrews, the Butler: This, sir, is Fräulein Heidi.

Sesemann: How do you do, Heidi?

Heidi: How do you do, Sir Gracious?

[falls trying to curtsy]

Heidi: I didn't do it very well. Shall I try it again?

Sesemann: No, I don't think that could be improved upon.

Heidi: Shall I get ready to go home now?

Sesemann: No. I have another Christmas present for you: a home with us as long as you live.

Heidi: No. I couldn't do that.

Sesemann: Why not?

Heidi: The Grandfather's been waiting for me such a long time.

Klara Sesemann: Oh, Heidi, I hoped you wouldn't want to go now.

Sesemann: But, don't you want to stay here with Klara and be her little sister?

Heidi: Yes. I'd like to be that but I've got to go home.

Klara Sesemann: Papa, I told Heidi you'd let her go if she wanted to.

Sesemann: But you don't understand, dear. You'll be my own daughter. You'll - You'll have clothes like Klara's, everything just like hers, and grow up to be a great lady. Now, wouldn't you like that?

Heidi: No, thank you. I want to go home to my grandfather.

Sesemann: I can't let you do that.

Heidi: But Klara promised!

Klara Sesemann: I...

Sesemann: I'm sorry, Heidi. Someday you'll understand.

[Heidi leaves]

Klara Sesemann: Papa, I did promise you'd send her home.

Sesemann: But dear, you don't know what her grandfather's like. Dete told me that he was a very brutal man feared by everyone. No, Heidi will be much happier here with us.

Heidi: No! No! You musn't take him away! He's telling the truth! He is my grandfather! My really and truly grandfather! Please! Please, let him go!

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Come on! Don't be hysterical!

Heidi: Grandfather!

Police Captain: You will be needed for the trial. You may take your child home.

Heidi: I am not her child! She's a bad lady! She tried to sell me to gypsies! Please. Please, let the Grandfather take me home. He didn't mean to do anything bad. I'll work hard and pay back for everything he broke. So will Swanli and Bearli.

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Pay no attention to her. She'll be all right when I get her to bed.

Heidi: I won't go with her! She broke my snowstorm and sent my Aunt Dete away so she couldn't take me home to the mountains! If you don't believe me, just ask Herr Sesemann. He'll tell you the truth.

Police Captain: Herr Sesemann? What has Herr Sesemann to do with this?

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Nothing. Nothing at all.

Heidi: He has, too. Aunt Dete brought me there to play with Klara, and I taught her how to walk.

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Oh, this is ridiculous.

Police Lieutenant: Now, just a minute.

Police Captain: Well now, lieutenant?

Police Lieutenant: Perhaps we'd better send for Herr Sesemann.

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Oh! Absurd! We... Well, we visited the Sesemann house tonight. Christmas, you know. My sister's governess there. It would be highly improper to disturb Herr Sesemann at this hour.

Police Lieutenant: I think you'd better wait until we hear what Herr Sesemann's got to say.

Heidi: Grandfather! Grandfather!

Police Captain: You broke out of the Rittenstrasse jail. You took a sled that did not belong to you. You stole that child!

Heidi: He didn't steal me!

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: I tell you, she's mine!

Police Captain: Silence!

Police Lieutenant: Herr Captain, we have found the woman.

Police Captain: Good, bring her in. Is this your child?

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Yes, yes, Herr Captain.

Heidi: No, I'm not!

Police Captain: And is this the man who struck you in the street and took her away from you?

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Yes.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: She's lying! I don't know who she is or what she's doing, but Heidi is mine!

Police Captain: That's enough! You will be held for trial!

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: You stupid fools! Can't you see what you're doing?

Police Captain: Lock him up!

[Heidi has let the organ grinder's monkey into the house - the organ grinder appears at the door]

Organ Grinder: I want Louise!

Andrews, the Butler: You want what?

Organ Grinder: Louise! My monkey!

Andrews, the Butler: Monkey? You've been misinformed. This is not the zoo!

[first lines]

Dete: [discovering Heidi undressing in the street] Heidi! Put those on!

Heidi: Oh, not everything. I'm so hot!

Dete: Well, keep on your Sunday dress, and your coat. Hurry up.

Heidi: Oh, all right.

Peter the Goat Boy: Everybody knows you can't turn your back on Old Turk.

Heidi: Well, Old Turk isn't much of a gentleman. What's your name?

Peter the Goat Boy: I'm Peter, the goat general. Who are you?

Heidi: I'm Heidi, and I'm going to live with Adolph Kramer, my grandfather.

Peter the Goat Boy: Live with him? Aren't you scared to?

Heidi: Why should I be afraid of my grandfather?

Peter the Goat Boy: You'll find out. If ever he gets good and mad at you, he'll probably cut your head off, like this.

Heidi: Oh.

Dete: I'm Dete, the sister of Gretchen, who married your son Tobias. I've brought their orphan to live with you. I've taken care of her for six years, but I've got a job in Frankfurt now, rich family, and I can't be bothered with her any more. I know you hated Tobias and Gretchen, but you've got to take their daughter just the same.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: Get out of here!

Dete: Here she is. Her name's Heidi.

[Dete leaves]

Heidi: How do you do, Grandfather? I'm very glad to see you.

Heidi: Grandfather! I found my bed. I'll sleep on the hay. But, I suppose I ought to have a sheet and coverlet.

Heidi: [louder] I say, I suppose I ought to have a sheet and coverlet.

[her grandfather ignores her]

Heidi: Well, I've always had a sheet and coverlet, but if there aren't any, I could sleep under the hay.

Heidi: [seeing goats] Are these ours, Grandfather?

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: Mmm-hmm.

Heidi: What are their names?

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: Swanli, Bearli.

Heidi: [to the goats] You don't look much like a swan, and you don't look anything like a bear, but I think you're a beautiful goat. I wonder if you give black milk.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: You can milk Bearli.

Heidi: But I don't know how to milk a goat.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: Well, then it's time you learned.

Elsa: You're mending your grandfather's coat. How nice.

Heidi: It's his Sunday coat, but he never wears it. He doesn't go to church.

Pastor Schultz: Perhaps we could persuade him to go. Would you like that?

Heidi: Pastor and Fräulein Elsa have come to see us. Isn't that nice?

Pastor Schultz: Good day, neighbor.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: Well?

Pastor Schultz: We've come to ask about the child.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: Go inside, Heidi. Save your breath. I have nothing to say to you.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: I'll not send Heidi to school.

Pastor Schultz: What will you do with her, then?

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: She will thrive up here with the goats and the birds.

Pastor Schultz: What will she learn from them?

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: At least she will learn no evil.

Pastor Schultz: That's hardly enough schooling for a child.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: I'll teach her all that's necessary.

Pastor Schultz: Then you will teach her religion, too?

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: The mountains will be the only religion worth having, as I have found out.

Pastor Schultz: Come back to Dörfli, neighbor. This is no life up here for you and the child, at enmity with God and man.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: I know what they think of me in Dörfli, and they know what I think of them. It's better that we keep apart.

Pastor Schultz: I should not like to appeal to the law.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: Heidi shall not go to school or to church either. That is final.

Pastor Schultz: I'm sorry, neighbor. May God help you.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: And if any man tried to take Heidi away from me, God help HIM.

Heidi: I used to go to Sunday school when I lived in Maienfeld. Are you going to be my Sunday school teacher, too?

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: We'll have our first lesson now.

Heidi: I'd like to read THIS story. Shall I? "A certain man had two sons, and the Y-O-U-N-G-E-R..."

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: Younger.

Heidi: "... and the younger of them said to his father, ''Father, give me the P-O-R... '" These are pretty hard words. Perhaps you'd better help me.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: "'Give me the portion of goods that fall unto me.' And he divided unto them his levy, and the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country

Heidi: You know this story by heart.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: Yes, by heart.

Heidi: Does the son ever go home to his father?

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: "And the son said, 'Father, I have sinned against Heaven and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring forth the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet for this, my son, was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.'"

Pastor Schultz: If a man have a hundred sheep and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine and goeth into the mountains and seeketh that which hath gone astray? And if...

[Heidi and her grandfather enter the church. Pastor Schultz pauses]

Blind Anna: Peter, what is it?

Peter the Goat Boy: The Grandfather and Heidi have come to church.

Pastor Schultz: And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoices more of that sheep than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

Peter the Goat Boy: Here comes the Grandfather now.

Blind Anna: So the old eagle has come down from his perch.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: It was lonely for Heidi.

Blind Anna: Adolph, you're an old fraud.

Adolph Kramer, The Grandfather: Don't give me away.

Fräulein Rottenmeier: [reading] "The quality of a young lady's breeding is indicated by her deportment when elders are present. At such times, her manner should be sedate and diffident."

Klara Sesemann: It's time for them to be here, Fräulein!

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Remember, Klara, no excitement. You're still an invalid. "The habit of interruption should always be frowned upon. The well-bred young lady always waits until her elders are silent."

Klara Sesemann: I wonder what she'll be like.

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Your father expects a healthy, unspoiled mountain child of your age to share your studies. Personally, I think the whole plan is a mistake.

Klara Sesemann: Papa thought it might be good for me to have a playmate.

Fräulein Rottenmeier: But you have me. Don't I give you my entire time and devotion?

Klara Sesemann: Yes, and it's very kind of you, but I don't have much fun.

Fräulein Rottenmeier: That's enough! You will take that impossible child back!

Dete: You'll have to give me more expense money then, and the fifty marks Herr Sesemann promised.

Fräulein Rottenmeier: You dare to speak to me like that? I'll not give you one pfennig.

Dete: You'd better. I've brought just the kind of child Herr Sesemann asked for. Unless you have your own reasons for not wanting her.

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Get out! And take your wretched niece with you!

Dete: All right, but you'll give me the money, or I'll write to Herr Sesemann. You think I don't know what your little game is? A rich widower and his sick child. You don't want Klara to get well, not yet, not until you've made him think his little darling can't live without you. Now you can get rid of the impossible child yourself! Sell her to the gypsies for all I care!

Heidi: I'm afraid the Grandfather will be worried. He didn't know I was going away, so I must go back tomorrow.

Klara Sesemann: Didn't Dete tell you?

Heidi: What?

Klara Sesemann: That you're to live here with me.

Heidi: No, she didn't tell me.

Klara Sesemann: You see, my mama's dead, and my papa's business keeps him in Paris most of the time, and I haven't anyone to play with.

Heidi: I can't live here! I'm going back to the Grandfather right away!

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Indeed you are.

Klara Sesemann: No! I like her!

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Andrews will take you home in the morning.

Klara Sesemann: No! I want her to stay!

Fräulein Rottenmeier: That is for ME to decide. I know what is best for you, Klara.

Klara Sesemann: No! No! Papa sent for her and you've got to wait till he comes home!

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Klara, you're not strong enough for this excitement. You'll make yourself ill.

Klara Sesemann: YES, I WILL! I KNOW I WILL IF YOU DON'T LET ME KEEP HEIDI!

Heidi: But, Klara, I can't stay!

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Quite, dear.

Klara Sesemann: Isn't Heidi the funniest little thing? I'm so glad she's going to stay.

Andrews, the Butler: Is she?

Klara Sesemann: Yes, but she doesn't know it. The poor dear thinks she's going home today. But she'll be happier here, don't you think so? And I'll have some new dresses made for her.

Andrews, the Butler: Do you think you could manage a new hat?

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Such conduct is inexcusable! She shall be punished severely!

Klara Sesemann: Don't you touch her or I'll write papa!

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Oh... I'm sorry, dear. Don't excite yourself. I'd forgotten it might upset you. Adelheid, you shall spend the rest of the day in your room.

Heidi: But I can't do that! Aunt Dete is going to take me home!

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Your aunt went away this morning.

Heidi: She... went away? But she's coming back?

Fräulein Rottenmeier: No, she's not. I discharged her.

Heidi: But she's got to take me home!

Fräulein Rottenmeier: I'm afraid not. She cares nothing about you. She told me to sell you to the gypsies.

Klara Sesemann: Oh, Fräulein, don't!

Fräulein Rottenmeier: I doubt whether you will ever see your Aunt Dete again.

Klara Sesemann: Andrews, what is she like?

Andrews, the Butler: Highly intelligent. Don't be mislead by the hat.

Andrews, the Butler: Ah, what we need is strategy.

Heidi: Can I get it for you?

[Fraulein Rottenmeier catches Heidi trying to sneak out of the house]

Fräulein Rottenmeier: What does this mean?

Heidi: You mustn't stop me!

Fräulein Rottenmeier: [Heidi tries to run, but Fraulein Rottenmeier grabs her] What have you got in that hat?

[takes a dinner roll out of Heidi's hat]

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Oh? So you were running away?

Heidi: I wasn't running away! I was just going home by myself!

Fräulein Rottenmeier: Andrews, throw these rolls in the dust bin.

Heidi: Oh, no! They're for the grandmother! She can't eat her black bread!

Fräulein Rottenmeier: [to Andrews] And throw that wretched hat in the dust bin too.

Heidi: Oh, no! Not my hat! I need that to go home!

Fräulein Rottenmeier: That is all, Andrews.

[Andrews leaves]

Fräulein Rottenmeier: [Heidi tries to run, but Fraulein Rottenmeier grabs her]

Heidi: If you stop me, I'll run away again! I can't stay here! There aren't any pine trees or any mountains and the grandfather doesn't know where I am! You've got to let me go!

Fräulein Rottenmeier: [shakes Heidi] Stop this nonsense! You're not going home until I send you! Now you march upstairs!

[Heidi walks up the stairs to her room]

Fräulein Rottenmeier: If you leave your room again today, you'll be whipped!