The Story Behind Alice (in Wonderland)'s "Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast"

It was a crisp spring morning in 1862 when the Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson—better known by his pen name, Lewis Carroll—rowed out onto the River Thames with the three young daughters of his friend Henry Liddell. The middle girl, Alice, was ten years old and had a curious mind that thrived on riddles, wordplay, and impossible scenarios. That day, Dodgson began to spin a tale of a girl who tumbles down a rabbit hole into a world where logic is a suggestion and nonsense is the rule. As the boat glided across the water, the story unfolded, and with it came a line that would echo through generations: “Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

A Line Born from a Game of Make-Believe

The phrase first appeared in Through the Looking-Glass, the sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, published in 1871. But the origins of that line trace back to those early afternoons on the river, when Dodgson entertained the Liddell girls with fantastical tales. Alice Pleasance Liddell, the real-life inspiration for the character, loved stories that twisted reality, and Dodgson crafted a world where mirrors could be portals and time could be unraveled.

The specific line emerged during Alice’s encounter with the White Queen, a character who claims to believe in impossible things. It was Dodgson’s playful way of capturing the elasticity of a child’s imagination—a mind unburdened by the rigid expectations of adulthood. The idea of believing in six impossible things before breakfast wasn’t just whimsy; it was a subtle jab at the seriousness of Victorian education and a celebration of the mental freedom children possess.

The White Queen’s Lesson in Imagination

In the scene, Alice meets the White Queen, who is both absent-minded and oddly wise. The Queen tells Alice that she remembers events that haven’t happened yet and encourages her to believe in impossible things. When Alice hesitates, the Queen responds with that now-famous line. The moment is not just a piece of dialogue but a philosophical touchstone: a challenge to adults to rediscover the childlike wonder that makes the impossible seem not only possible but plausible.

Dodgson, a mathematician by training, was fascinated by logic and paradoxes. His writing often danced on the edge of reason and absurdity, and this line is no exception. It’s a logical contradiction—how can one believe in something that is impossible?—yet it feels emotionally true. Children, after all, are natural philosophers who often accept the impossible as a matter of course.

Immediate Reception: A Line That Caught On

When Through the Looking-Glass was published, critics and readers alike were captivated by its surreal charm and linguistic playfulness. The line about six impossible things quickly became a favorite among those who saw in it both a playful jest and a deeper truth. It was quoted in salons, used in debates about education, and even referenced in sermons. The phrase resonated because it so perfectly captured the tension between adult rationality and childhood wonder.

Victorian readers, who lived in an era obsessed with propriety and progress, found the line both amusing and oddly liberating. It gave them permission to step outside the strict boundaries of logic and embrace the absurd for a moment. Teachers and parents began to use it with their children—not as a dismissal of imagination, but as an encouragement to dream.

After Alice: The Line’s Life Beyond the Book

Alice Liddell grew up and lived a long life beyond the pages of the books that bore her name. She died in 1934 at the age of 82, having seen her fictional counterpart become a cultural icon. The line she inspired, however, continued to evolve. It has appeared in everything from philosophy textbooks to motivational posters, from political speeches to science fiction novels.

The phrase has been interpreted in countless ways: as a metaphor for scientific creativity, as a call to embrace uncertainty in faith, as a rallying cry for artists and dreamers. In the 20th and 21st centuries, it has been claimed by feminists, educators, and mental health advocates alike. Each generation seems to find a new meaning in those six impossible things—proof that the line’s power lies in its openness.

A Timeless Invitation to Wonder

Today, the phrase still holds a special place in the cultural imagination. It reminds us that imagination is not just for children. It is a tool for innovation, a balm for despair, and a way to keep wonder alive in a world that often demands rigid certainty.

If you’ve ever felt the tug of something impossible pulling at your heart, there’s no better time than now to explore it. Alice is still here, ready to talk, to laugh, and to remind you that believing in impossible things might just be the most important thing you do all day.

Talk to Alice on HoloDream and ask her what impossible thing she believes in today.