The 45 Best Anime Quotes of All Time

If you don’t watch anime, you might not expect these shows to have as much depth as they do. However, plenty of animes cover deep themes and dark topics, which create some incredible anime quotes! If you don’t believe me, you’ll just have to watch some of the best animes to decide for yourself.

We’ve put together a list of some of the best quotes you’ll hear when watching your favorite anime. Check them out to see if the shows you love made the list.

Anime Quotes About Friendship and Being Yourself

Lots of anime characters have something about them that makes them unique. Whether it’s a power they’ve developed or they’re simply a societal outcast, they will struggle on their way to self-acceptance. Here are some anime quotes about being yourself and how the right people will support you for being who you are.

“If we were normal, we might not be alive today. And that, my friend, is what gives us the edge we need.”

– Makoto Shishio, Rurouni Kenshin

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“We need to stop living for others. From now on…Let’s live for ourselves!”

– Historia Reiss, Attack on Titan

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“I want you to be happy. I want you to laugh a lot. I don’t know what exactly I’ll be able to do for you, but I’ll always be by your side.” 

– Kagome, InuYasha

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“Thinking you’re no-good and worthless is the worst thing you can do”

– Nobito, Doraemo

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“Do you always want to live hiding behind the mask you put up for the sake of others? You’re you, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

– Ymir, Attack on Titan

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“Helping other people is the best way to make up for your mistakes.”

– Kenshin Himura, Rurouni Kenshin

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“Believe in your own power.”

– Mikasa Ackerman, Attack on Titan

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“I don’t care if no one likes me, I wasn’t created in this world to entertain everyone.” 

– Houtarou Oreki, Hyouka

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“You’re not a good for nothing person. I think that being able to try your hardest to be something is a talent by itself.”

– Alphonse Elric, Fullmetal Alchemist

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“Don’t worry about what other people think. Hold your head up high and plunge forward.”

– Izuku Midoriya, My Hero Academia

Anime Quotes About Strength

Many anime characters must explore the meaning of strength along their journey. Strength comes in many forms. Those who are physically strong need to discover how to become emotionally strong. Those who lack physical strength or endurance will need to develop those skills in order to survive.

Here are some anime quotes on what it means to be strong, in all its forms.

“If you really want to be strong… Stop caring about what your surrounding thinks of you!”

– Saitama, One Punch Man

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“Hard work is worthless for those that don’t believe in themselves.”

– Naruto Uzumaki, Naruto

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“Fear is not evil. It tells you what your weakness is. And once you know your weakness, you can become stronger as well as kinder.” 

― Gildarts Clive, Fairy Tail

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“Like I always say, can’t find a door? Make your own.”

― Edward Elric, Fullmetal Alchemist

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“Push through the pain, giving up hurts more.” 

– Vegeta, Dragon Ball

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“Human beings are strong because we can change ourselves.” 

– Saitama, One Punch

Anime Quotes About Humanity

While many consider animation an art form for children’s shows, anime has a tendency to get dark and philosophical. Here are some great anime quotes from different characters as they pontificate on the idea of what it means to be human.

“Everything has a beginning and an end. Life is just a cycle of starts and stops. There are ends we don’t desire, but they’re inevitable, we have to face them. It’s what being human is all about.”

– Jet Black, Cowboy Bebop

“Life comes at a cost. Wouldn’t it be arrogant to die before you’ve repaid that debt?”

– Yuuji Kazami, The Fruit of Grisaia / Gurizaia no Kajitsu

“Why should I apologize for being a monster? Has anyone ever apologized for turning me into one?”

 – Juuzou Suzuya, Tokyo Ghoul

“Religion, ideology, resources, land, spite, love or just because. No matter how pathetic the reason, it’s enough to start a war. War will never cease to exist… reasons can be thought up after the fact… Human nature pursues strife.” 

– Pain, Naruto

“Those who stand at the top determine what’s wrong and what’s right! This very place is neutral ground! Justice will prevail, you say? But of course, it will! Whoever wins this war becomes justice!” 

― Don Quixote Doflamingo, One Piece   

“Nothing’s perfect, the world’s not perfect, but it’s there for us, trying the best it can. That’s what makes it so damn beautiful.” 

― Roy Mustang, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

“A person can change, at the moment when the person wishes to change.” 

— Haruhi Fujioka, Ouran Highschool Host Club

“A life that lives without doing anything is the same as a slow death.”

 – Lelouch, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

“Remember what you said before? A normal person with a gun will wind up doing something he never thought himself capable of? No one in this world can truly hold himself separate from violence. Guns are literally within reach of anyone. Sadly that’s where we put our faith, in bullets rather than human kindness.” 

– Koko Hekmatyar, Jormungand

Anime Quotes About Death and Grief

Animes sometimes tackle heavy topics. Many feature the theme of death, specifically the fear of it for themselves or watching loved ones experience it. However they interact with death, it always leaves a mark on their character. 

Here are some of the heaviest anime quotes about the topic of death.

“It is at the moment of death that humanity has value.”

– Archer, The Fate Series

“The moon does not mourn over the dead. What it does is shine a light on the truth.”

– Shinichi Kudo, Detective Conan

“Death is simply another stage of our life.”

– Grand Elder Guru, Dragon Ball Z

“To know sorrow is not terrifying. What is terrifying is to know you can’t go back to happiness you could have.” 

– Matsumoto Rangiku, Bleach

“I think death is equally terrible for everyone. Young people, old people, the good, the bad; it’s always the same. It’s rather fair in its treatment. There’s no such thing as a particularly terrible death, that’s why it’s frightening.”

– Sunako, The Wallflower Wiki

“Moving on doesn’t mean you forget about things. It just means you have to accept what’s happened and continue living.”

– Erza Scarlet, Fairy Tail

“When do you think people die? When they are shot through the heart by the bullet of a pistol? No. When they are ravaged by an incurable disease? No. When they drink a soup made from a poisonous mushroom? No! It’s when… they are forgotten.” 

– Dr. Hiruluk, One Piece

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“Man always thinks about the past before he dies, as if he were frantically searching for proof he truly lived.”

– Jet Black, Cowboy Bebop

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“Sadness, happiness, everything. Death gently strips them away.” 

– Banana Fish

Anime Quotes About Cleverness

In many situations, a level head helps characters survive. Here are some anime quotes about how knowledge, intellect, and careful actions can save the day.

“A trick is nothing but a puzzle mankind came up with. If you use your head, you can uncover the logical answer.”

– Shinichi Kudo, Detective Conan

“Whatever you lose, you’ll find it again, but what you throw away you’ll never get it back.”

― Himura Kenshin, Rurouni Kenshin

“Being lonely is more painful than getting hurt.”

– Monkey D. Luffy, One Piece

“Whether a fish lives in a clear stream or a water ditch, so long as it continues swimming forward, it will grow up beautifully.”

– Koro-sensei, Assassination Classroom

“No matter how messed up things get, you can always figure out the best solution.”

– Eren Jaeger, Attack on Titan

Anime Quotes About Bravery

Many animes put their protagonist in situations that require an awful lot of bravery to overcome. Whether it’s facing a multi-headed monster or challenging their own demons, here are some great anime quotes about courage.

“You can die anytime, but living takes true courage.”

– Kenshin Himura, Rurouni Kenshin

“If you don’t like your destiny, don’t accept it. Instead have the courage to change it the way you want it to be.” 

― Naruto Uzmaki

“People who continue to put their lives on the line to defend their faith become heroes and continue to exist on in legend.” 

― Naruto Uzumaki

“Fear is freedom! Subjugation is liberation! Contradiction is truth! Those are the facts of this world! And you will all surrender to them, you pigs in human clothing!” 

― Satsuki Kiryuuin, Kill la Kill

“When you hit the point of no return, that’s the moment it truly becomes a journey. If you can still turn back, it’s not really a journey.” 

– Hinata Miyake, A Place Further than the Universe

“I am the hope of the universe…I am the answer to all living things that cry out for peace…I am the protector of the innocent…I am the light in the darkness…I am truth. Ally to good…Nightmare to you!”

– Goku, Dragon Ball Z

Your Favorite Quotes

Writers of anime have a talent for weaving together complex themes into one show. As a result, animes have a lot more meaningful quotes than you might originally expect.

So what’s your favorite anime? Which show do you think gives us the best anime quotes? Do you have a favorite anime character that always has something insightful to say? Tell us in the comments!