12 Best William Dafoe’s Green Goblin Quotes

Over the years, several iterations of the Green Goblin character have been presented on the big screen. Even though each brought something fresh to the character, many fans agree that Willem Dafoe’s portrayal of Norman Osborn/Green Goblin was the most memorable. In that regard, we dedicate this article to the 12 best William Dafoe’s Green Goblin quotes.

Green Goblin quotes from ‘Spider-Man’ movie

‘Don’t ever be ashamed of who you are.’

Among other things, Norman Osborn was a wealthy businessman and a brilliant scientist. He was well aware of that and considered himself better than most of the population. Norman believed that the mass population of New York exists for the sole purpose of lifting a few exceptional people onto their shoulders. He tried to teach Harry this, and later Peter, but they both disagreed.

‘You are an amazing creature Spider-Man. You and I are not so different.’

Green Goblin admired Spider-Man and his abilities, but he was also aware that Spider-Man was the only one who could mess up his plans of achieving the power and influence he once dreamed of. He saw an equal in Spider-Man and his powers, so he tried to join forces with Peter- together, they would be unstoppable.

‘I chose my path; you chose the way of the hero. And they found you amusing for a while, the people of this city. But the one thing they love more than a hero is to see a hero fail, fall, die trying. In spite everything you’ve done for them, eventually, they will hate you.’

Peter disagreed with Norman because there was one big difference between Spider-Man and Green Goblin – Spider-Man was not a murderer. Peter believed that the city needed a hero and a protector. Norman’s experience was different because everything he built for years and everyone he relied on eventually disappointed him and turned their backs on him. So, he decided to use different methods to achieve his goals.

‘Harry, please. Look at her. Think she’s sniffing around because she likes your personality? Your mother was beautiful, too; they are all beautiful. Until they’re snarling after your trust fund like a pack of ravening wolves.’

Harry wanted nothing more than his father’s approval. So, when he introduced MJ to Norman, Harry was disappointed to hear what his father had to say. In this quote, we can see what kind of person Norman truly is. He does not view people as humans needing affection and love but as opportunists only after money and power. Everyone sees in others the same things they carry on the inside, which is very evident in Norman’s case.

‘I could squash you like a bug right now.’

Norman considered him and Spider-Man exceptional. Together, they could do whatever they wanted, and no one could stop them from doing so. To demonstrate his superiority over Spider-Man, Norman stated that he could easily squash and kill Peter (he was injured and with his back against the wall). However, Norman offered Spider-Man a team-up instead.

‘No one says no to me!’

Spider-Man refused Green Goblin’s offer because it went against everything he believed to be right and worth fighting for. And even before that, it was clear that Norman didn’t take no for an answer very well. When his military funding was revoked, he did not hesitate one second and blasted his competition and everyone he considered responsible. So, now that Spider-Man also said no, he would have to suffer the same faith.

‘The cunning warrior attacks neither body nor mind. Tell me how! The heart Osborn. First, we attack his heart!’

One of the greatest lines in the movie occurred when Green Goblin and Norman Osborn had their monologues. While Norman was scared and rational, Green Goblin was a part of his determined, ruthless, and cunning identity. Green Goblin knew the best way to hurt Spider-Man was by attacking someone he cared for the most. And since Norman discovered Peter is Spider-Man, his next target was Peter’s aunt May.

‘The itsy-bitsy spider went up the water spout. Down came the goblin and took the spider out.’

At the beginning of a final clash down, Green Goblin is flying on his glider and singing, ‘The itsy-bitsy spider went up the water spout…’. ‘The Itsy Bitsy Spider’ is a popular children’s nursery rhyme, and the original verse goes, ‘Down came the rain and washed the spider out.’ However, Goblin adjusted the verse a bit, resulting in one of the most memorable moments in the movie. Green Goblin was ready to take Spider-Man out. Still, first, he made him choose between two impossible decisions.

‘We are who we choose to be.’

Green Goblin believed that only fools chose to be heroes. That is because you never know where some lunatic will come up with a sadistic choice. Goblin put a difficult choice in front of Peter – he had to choose whether to save MJ or a group of little children. Both MJ and the kids were facing their deaths as Norman let them fall toward the ground. Goblin wanted Peter to choose what kind of hero he wanted to be, the one that saves the woman he loves or who puts others’ needs first.

Green Goblin quotes from ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

‘Norman’s on sabbatical, honey.’

When Spider-Man and Doctor Strange accidentally summoned all the villains from different universes, Peter decided to help them instead of sending them back to their Earth to die. Even though the plan progressed nicely, and everyone collaborated well, at some point, Norman became possessed by Green Goblin again, and there was no way that Goblin would let Peter that he takes his power. Goblin did not think that he or anyone else had a condition that needed fixing. According to him, those were gifts, not curses.

‘Gods don’t have to choose. We take.’

As Peter and Norman were working together to find a way how to fix everyone, Goblin was watching from the inside. He saw how Peter struggles to have everything while the world makes him choose. That was unthinkable for Goblin. According to him, Gods did not have to choose. They take. So, Goblin attacked Peter and anyone who opposed him. He was all in to once again feel all the power he thought he deserved.

‘I may have struck the blow, but you are the one that killed her.’

One of the things that no one expected to happen in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home” was to see Aunt May die. Goblin killed her and then tried to make Peter feel guilty for it. May was only trying to protect Peter from the Green Goblin, and the Goblin wanted Peter to know that, to feel that, and to live with that. This quote shows what lengths Green Goblin is prepared to go to make those opposing him suffer.