Warning: The following contains spoilers for Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is full of compelling heroes, but Scarlet Witch is one of the most interesting. She's more powerful than she's often given credit for and that power has only grown since she was introduced in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
WandaVision finally put Wanda in the spotlight, making her an even more fascinating character with a complex journey. Throughout her time in the MCU, that complexity has shown in her many quotes that range from funny to intimidating to heartbreaking, just like Wanda herself.
Updated on May 16th, 2022 by Amanda Bruce: Wanda Maximoff has gone from one of the youngest Avengers recruits to one of the most interesting characters in the MCU. WandaVision allowed a deep dive into the character and her relationship with Vision. Her journey into grief and darkness continues in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Looking at her path through the MCU provides the audience with a compelling character and some truly fascinating Wanda Maximoff quotes.
Wanda Tells Her Villain Origin Story In Age Of Ultron
"We Wait For Two Days For Tony Stark To Kill Us."
She has been through so much in the MCU that fans might have forgotten Wanda started out as an antagonist. And much like the complexity that would come to define the character, Wanda's grudge against the Avengers is a compelling one.
She and her brother tell Ultron of how their home was destroyed and their parents killed when a missile manufactured by Stark Industries landed in their complex. The idea of these young children trapped in the rubble, waiting for the bomb in front of them to explode explains her anger perfectly.
Wanda Tries To Downplay Her WandaVision Actions
"Look, We've All Been There, Right? Letting Our Fear And Anger Get The Best Of Us. Intentionally Expanding The Borders Of The False World We Created."
Wanda Maximoff doesn't have a problem acknowledging her wrong doings, but she often attempts to downplay them. That's true in WandaVision when her actions of controlling the entire town are revealed, but she hasn't yet been confronted by Agatha Harkness about her own magic.
Wanda always has her own justifications for her bad deeds, and that can make it difficult to sympathize with the character as much as the audience still understands her grief and the many tragedies that have befallen her.
Wanda Echoes A WandaVision Line In Multiverse Of Madness
"You Know, A Family Is Forever. We Could Never Truly Leave Each Other, Even If We Tried."
Because she's already lost so much family, the family Wanda builds in WandaVision is incredibly important to her. When the Darkhold allows Wanda the possibility of seeing her sons again, she can't let it go. As a result, the Wanda of Earth-838 has a lot of the same experiences with the boys that Wanda did in Westview. She even uses one of her WandaVision quotes in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.
This line echoed in the movie demonstrates that the Wanda of every universe is fully committed to her family. No matter the circumstances or the reality, her sons are a part of her, which likely explains how Wanda managed to create versions of the sons she really has in another world.
Wanda Doesn't Relish Making Enemies Of Allies In Multiverse Of Madness
"The Hex Was The Easy Part; The Lying, Not So Much."
Though Wanda embraces the magic she learns from the Darkhold, allowing it to corrupt her in an effort to get her children back, she doesn't actually want to make enemies of those she considers allies. Wanda and Stephen Strange don't know each other very well, but they know one another's involvement with the Avengers and respect one another's magic.
As Wanda points out to him, she doesn't relish lying to him to get what she wants, but she sees it as a necessity. Wanda gives him (and Wong) an out repeatedly before she attacks, and her admitting she doesn't want to lie to him is the first time.
Wanda Is Motivated By Motherhood In Multiverse Of Madness
"I'm Not A Monster; I'm A Mother."
Though the Darkhold ultimately corrupts Wanda, she isn't motivated by a quest for more power or to rule. She doesn't want her prophesied throne. Instead, she just wants her children.
One of the repeated quotes in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness is that Wanda isn't a monster, but a mother. She firmly believes that trying to get her children back justifies everything she's doing until America Chavez allows those same children of Earth-838 to see Wanda as the Scarlet Witch, terrifying them. It's only then that she realizes just what she's become.
Wanda Calls Out Doctor Strange's Hypocrisy In Multiverse Of Madness
"You Break The Rules And Become A Hero. I Do It And I Become The Enemy. That Doesn't Seem Fair."
This particular Scarlet Witch quote made it into the trailer for the Doctor Strange sequel, and it is definitely one that landed with the character's fans. No hero in the MCU has followed the rules all the time, but Wanda's rule breaking is the one most often called out - often because hers is the most dangerous.
Like Doctor Strange, however, the Scarlet Witch uses magic to get what she wants, breaking the rules of being the hero. Even later in the movie, Strange dreamwalks despite the danger of it, breaking another one of the same rules Wanda does in the name of stopping her.
Wanda Explains Vision In WandaVision
"You Are My Sadness And My Hope. But Mostly, You're My Love."
Given his tragic death in Avengers: Infinity War, there were many questions about how Vision was brought back to life in WandaVision. It was ultimately revealed that Wanda herself created him with her powers.
In the finale, this new Vision asks Wanda where he comes from and what he is. She gives a heartbreaking explanation that makes it clear that he comes from the best and worst parts of her but is mostly the deep love she still feels for Vision. It's a beautifully tragic scene.
Wanda's Connection To Vision Grows In Infinity War
"I Just Feel You."
Even before Wanda and Vision met, they shared a unique connection. The Mind Stone was central for both of them as it gave Wanda her powers and gave Vision life. This connection ultimately leads to a tragic end, but it remains something they shared from the beginning.
In Avengers: Infinity War, Vision begins noticing the stone's reaction and has Wanda use her powers to see if she can feel anything, but she responds, "I just feel you." It is a touching line that becomes heartbreaking when she loses him.
Wanda Becomes Scarlet Witch In WandaVision
"I Don’t Need You To Tell Me Who I Am."
WandaVision not only explores Wanda as a character in a deeper way, but it also has her finally embrace her persona of Scarlet Witch. When Agatha Harkness explains to Wanda the power she has and tries to take it from her, Wanda proves she is not as helpless as she seems.
After luring Agatha into a trap and defeating her, she thanks her for the lessons on her witchcraft. But she adds that she knows exactly who she is and implies the Scarlet Witch has been within her forever.
Wanda Says Goodbye In WandaVision
"We Will Say Hello Again."
Wanda and Vision went from one of the most unexpected MCU romances to one that surprisingly worked to one that was devastating to fans. The fact that Wanda has had to see Vision go so many times has been heartbreaking for the character.
In the finale of WandaVision, as Vision once again faces demise, he points out that they have said goodbye many times before which makes Wanda believe they will see each other again. It is an emotional moment and could hold promises for the future.
Wanda States The Obvious In WandaVision
"We Are An Unusual Couple..."
This particular Wanda Maximoff line probably wouldn't have been very memorable if fans had only heard it said by Wanda in the first episode of WandaVision. Elizabeth Olsen's delivery of the line, perfectly in sync with the 1950s sitcom style, however, makes it noticeable. It's also one of the most often used lines to promote the series in its original advertising campaign.
There's no denying that a woman with superpowers and a man created from vibranium are an unusual couple. WandaVision allows fans the chance to actually see them as a couple, something the movies of the MCU didn't get much time to explore.
Wanda Takes Revenge In Age Of Ultron
"Do You Know How It Felt? It Felt Like That."
Wanda is one of the few characters in the MCU that has allowed writers to explore just how people deal with grief and trauma. Initially, Wanda responds angrily and violently.
She joins Hydra's experiments because of her anger at Stark Industries for the role they played in killing her parents. Wanda allies with Ultron for the same reason, and then, when Ultron is responsible for killing her brother Quicksilver, she literally rips his heart out. The line only makes Wanda's pain more visceral for the audience.
Wanda Confronts SWORD In WandaVision
"Is This Yours?"
WandaVision has proven to be a fascinating exploration of Wanda's grief in the MCU as well. She doesn't take too kindly to anyone encroaching on her happy ending.
When S.W.O.R.D. interferes with Wanda's life, she doesn't allow them to get too close, using her power to grab and nullify a missile, sending it right back to the agents. It's clear that Wanda is not someone to be trifled with as she tosses the weapon at them and boldly asks, "Is this yours?" Elizabeth Olsen's delivery of this line reminds the audience that, despite Wanda's status as a hero at the time, she can be incredibly menacing.
Wanda Calls Out Hawkeye In Civil War
"You're Pulling Your Punches."
Early in her time with the Avengers, it's clear that Hawkeye becomes something of a mentor to Wanda. It's he who convinces Wanda to join the Avengers, and he also helps her get to Captain America when the team takes sides concerning the Sokovia Accords.
In Captain America: Civil War, Wanda has already deferred to Hawkeye so much that her interrupting his altercation with Black Widow makes the audience chuckle, but it also shows that Wanda isn't messing around. Not only does she use her ability to move Black Widow away from her teammate, but she reminds Hawkeye that this is a real fight for her. It's not just a group of friends messing around.
Wanda Is In Control In WandaVision
"Don't Worry, Darling. I Have Everything Under Control."
In addition to showcasing the acting talents of Paul Bettany and Elizabeth Olsen, WandaVision has also shown audiences what a powerhouse of talent Wanda Maximoff is. Sure, she's shown she can tap into raw power in a fight, but her creating a happy ending for herself and Vision is a massive undertaking.
Though Vision has his doubts (and suspicions) in Westview, Wanda works overtime to make sure that things work out just so. She really does have everything under her control — most of the time.
Wanda Uses Fear As A Weapon In Age Of Ultron
"Everybody's Afraid Of Something."
When dealing with superheroes, it's easy to forget there are humans beneath the masks and capes. This quote from Avengers: Age of Ultron reminds viewers that their favorite heroes are, in fact, human though — and that all of them have the same hopes and fears as everyone else.
And Wanda proves her statement true when she manages to send the Avengers team into their own worst nightmares later in the film. The human tendency to feel afraid only makes Wanda that much more powerful.
Wanda Meets Ultron In Age Of Ultron
"Sooner Or Later, Every Man Shows Himself."
Another gem from Age of Ultron, Wanda says this line when Ultron comments on her inability to see inside his mind. But even if Wanda can't take the easy route to understand Ultron's motivations, she's firm in her belief that people's true colors come out over time. And Ultron proves that theory correct.
Wanda's sentiment rings true outside of the MCU, too, as people do have a tendency to show who they truly are as time goes on. Hiding oneself only works for so long.
Wanda Sees Tony As A Threat In Age Of Ultron
"Ultron Doesn't Know The Difference Between Saving The World And Destroying It. Wonder Where He Gets That From."
While many fans of the Avengers team won't agree with this quote from Age of Ultron, it does offer up a new perspective on what our MCU heroes are actually doing for the world. It's undeniable that they've made fatal mistakes over the course of the Infinity Saga, and Wanda points that out in a brutally honest way.
Comparing the Avengers to Ultron may not be totally accurate, but it does leave fans to wonder whether their heroes should be asking more questions before rushing in to save the day.
Wanda Becomes An Avenger In Age Of Ultron
"It's My Job."
Hawkeye's sentiment in Avengers: Age of Ultron that, once Wanda walks outside to help them, she's part of the Avengers, is a powerful one — but she has her own equally captivating moment later when she agrees to protect the core while the others help vacate innocent people.
"It's my job," Wanda tells Hawkeye, emphasizing that she's officially on the team — and that she's willing to make big sacrifices for the good of others. This is the first time Wanda truly proves herself worthy of being a hero, but it's certainly not the last.
Wanda's Powers Grow In Civil War
"You Guys Know I Can Move Things With My Mind, Right?"
This is one of Wanda's more comical lines in the MCU, uttered during Captain America: Civil War when Cap has her scoping out an area that may be targeted by their enemies. As he outlines all the issues they could run into, Wanda reminds him that she can move objects with her mind -- highlighting that there's not much reason to stress when they have her abilities working for them.
This quip is funny, but it also emphasizes how powerful Wanda really is. Who needs to worry about blocked exits and bullet-proof vests when you have telekinesis?
A New Wanda Emerges In Civil War
"I Used To Think Of Myself One Way, But After This, I Am Something Else. And Still Me, I Think."
After Wanda loses control of her powers attempting to contain an explosion — resulting in several casualties — she's left reeling from the event, as well as the fact that the public seems to pin the entire blame on her. Vision tries to make her feel better, leading to a heart-to-heart between the two.
During their conversation, Wanda admits that she's become something else with her powers. But she also acknowledges that she's still the same person somewhere underneath, something that can accurately be said about any of the heroes in the MCU — or anyone who finds themselves given extraordinary power.
Wanda Accepts Her Fears In Civil War
"I Can't Control Their Fear, Only My Own."
With the general public afraid of Scarlet Witch, Tony Stark more or less puts her on house arrest, leaving Vision to make sure she doesn't go out in public. But when Hawkeye arrives to ask for her help, she overtakes Vision, insisting that she can't control anyone else's fears — only her own.
And by accepting that she'll make mistakes and choosing to be a hero anyway, she overcomes her own fears. It's one of Captain America: Civil War's strongest moments, and it shows Wanda truly coming into her own.
Vision's Sacrifice Is Too Much In Infinity War
"That's Too High A Price."
Captain America gets a lot of credit for refusing to sacrifice one innocent life to save many, but Wanda was the first person to assert that destroying Vision was "too high a price" during Avengers: Infinity War.
Sure, Wanda's a bit biased when it comes to Vision, but her sentiment still drives home the notion that even one innocent life is too much to sacrifice. Of course, it's a sacrifice she still winds up having to make — but she and the others exhaust every other possibility before doing so.
Wanda Reminds Thanos Who She Is In Endgame
"You Will."
Watching Wanda take on Thanos and nearly crush him on her own is enough to make fans believe she's one of the most powerful characters in the MCU, but it's the dialogue that truly makes this moment in Avengers: Endgame a treat. When she tells him that he "took everything" from her, he responds by saying he doesn't know who she is.
"You will," she tells him before wrecking him — and had he survived, he most certainly would have remembered her as a formidable opponent. Talk about a power move.
Wanda Consoles Clint In Endgame
"She Knows. They Both Do."
At the end of Avengers: Endgame, Wanda, and Hawkeye have a heartfelt discussion about their lost loved ones, with Hawkeye wishing that he could let Natasha know the Avengers won. "She knows," Wanda tells him. "They both do."
This sentiment gives weight to the notion that Natasha and Vision are still a part of the Avengers, even if both characters are dead, and it suggests that they're still watching out for their former teammates somewhere. It's a tearjerker scene, but it ends the movie on a hopeful note, even after all the devastation that occurs.