Short quotes from Studio Ghibli works: profound words that give us strength

Once something has happened, you never forget it—it’s just that you can’t recall it.NEW!Zeniba 'Spirited Away'

These are Zeniba’s words to Chihiro, who has forgotten her past encounter with Haku.

Humans are creatures who forget many things, so even when something is very important, it’s common to forget it.

But this line makes us feel that, surely, somewhere in our hearts, those things are carefully kept.

Like Chihiro, memories may return when various experiences pile up, or they might resurface in moments that seem completely unrelated.

Instead of despairing over forgetting, if we believe those memories are safely tucked away deep in our hearts, we can cherish them forever.

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SAKI

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Alright, Shizuku. Do it the way you believe. But living differently from others is tough in its own way. Whatever happens, you can’t blame anyone else.NEW!Shizuku's father

It’s a stern yet deeply loving encouragement directed at Shizuku, the protagonist pursuing her dream.

You’re free to choose the path you believe in, but that means you must shoulder all the loneliness, anxiety, and failures yourself.

Even so, if you have the resolve to keep going without running away, it quietly gives you a push to try.

Living in a way that leaves no one else to blame is tough, but in return, you gain the real sense that you’re truly living your own life.

To a wavering heart, it offers practical courage: even if you’re scared, you can trust yourself and move forward.

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kepiko

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Put down roots in the soil and live with the wind. Weather the winter with the seeds, and sing of spring with the birds.Sheeta 'Castle in the Sky'

[Revisiting Iconic Scenes] Iconic scenes with lines and songs – Castle in the Sky: Laputa [Carrying You] – Azumi Inoue

This line, spoken by Sheeta from the film Castle in the Sky, which depicts the mysterious flying island known as the Kingdom of Laputa, appears in the song of the Valley of Gondoa in the story and is said to express the feelings of those who once lived in Laputa.

Although various developments have made our world convenient, it reminds us that, in the end, we are sustained by the power of nature and that living beings cannot survive without it.

Let’s take this opportunity to once again appreciate the blessings of nature through these words.

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I’ve run away enough. I’ve finally found something I have to protect.Howl “Howl’s Moving Castle”

From Studio Ghibli’s Howl’s Moving Castle — Sophie/Howl [Sophie: “Let’s run away. Don’t fight!” Howl: “Why? I’ve run away enough already.”] #shorts

These words were spoken by Howl in Howl’s Moving Castle, which was created based on the British novel Howl’s Moving Castle (originally titled Howl’s Moving Castle) by Diana Wynne Jones.

It’s a wonderfully romantic line about how he stopped running away because he had something to protect.

When we’re on our own, it’s not uncommon to try to avoid trouble by fleeing, but once we have someone we want to protect, the desire to fight and shield that person can suddenly outweigh the urge to run.

It might even be a good phrase to use as part of a marriage proposal.

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There are dangers you don’t need to challenge.Pod “Arrietty the Borrower”

From Studio Ghibli’s The Secret World of Arrietty: Pod [There are dangers you don’t have to challenge.] #shorts

The Secret World of Arrietty, which depicts tiny people living by borrowing things from a human household, creates a mysterious world from the simple premise of a difference in size.

Here’s a line by Pod, Arrietty’s father, that focuses on preventing danger.

Because so many beings are larger than they are, constant vigilance is necessary in daily life; it tells us that avoiding danger—not just confronting it—is crucial for self-preservation.

It leaves the impression of a lesson: we shouldn’t try to face everything head-on; at times, we should also focus on protecting ourselves.

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Endure it even if it’s tough, and wait for your chance.Haku “Spirited Away”

From Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away: Haku — “Even if it’s tough, endure it and wait for your chance.” #shorts

These are the words Haku says to Chihiro in Spirited Away, a film that remained Japan’s highest-grossing movie for nearly 20 years.

He tells her this with the hope that she will endure the difficult time she’s facing so she can turn her parents back to normal and return to her world.

Both adults and children go through periods when they must endure something hard.

Even when the light is hard to see, these words teach us that sometimes it’s necessary to quietly take care of what’s in front of us and keep holding on until the right moment comes, in order to make it through.

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If you’re gonna make a move, see it through to the end!Kamaji 'Spirited Away'

Don't steal other people's jobs!

Spirited Away, which portrays a girl stepping into a world inhabited by eight million gods, drew attention not only for its story but also for its visual expression.

Among its scenes, there’s a line from Kamaji, who gently watches over the protagonist, Chihiro, that makes you seriously reflect on taking responsibility.

If you get involved, it’s only natural not to abandon it but to see it through to the end—and it also confronts us with the reality that acting on a whim might rob someone else of their place.

While foreshadowing what’s to come in the story, it’s a line with the power to make viewers pause and reflect.

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