Context

This line is spoken by Peter Pan (voiced by Bobby Driscoll) in the film Peter Pan (1953), directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, and Hamilton Luske.

Before some children learn the directions to their house, they learn how to get to Neverland, a wonderful place filled with pirates, children with no bed times, and Native American stereotypes. In the Disney film Peter Pan, Wendy Darling is sad that her father wants her to focus on more "practical" things and not play-act stories with her younger brothers. Luckily, she runs into immortal child Peter Pan and his fairy sidekick, Tinkerbell, and gets to actually live the adventures she imagined. Hurray for wish fulfillment.

The simplicity of the directions to Neverland (or vagueness…there are millions of stars—how do you know which one is the second?) really sounds like something that a child would make up. Basically, if you make it through the night, you can be a super cool hero, fight pirates, and escape your drab turn-of-the-century British life.

Sounds good to us.

Where you've heard it

There are tons of theater, film, and animated adaptations of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, so odds are you've been exposed to at least one. It's also a fun (or slightly mean) thing to tell someone if you aren't able to give them real directions.

Additional Notable References:

• "Second Star to the Right" is the title of a Once Upon A Time episode where the Darling family and Smee appear.
• Captain Kirk quotes this line in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) just before he and the original crew of the Enterprise go on one last trip. Definitely bring the tissues for this quote.
• British singer/songwriter Kate Bush uses this line in her 1978 song "In Search of Peter Pan."

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Only the king or queen of all cynics could find this quote less than magical.