Anime quotes, actually explained.

Anyone can list a good line. This site tells you what it means, why it landed, and what the story had to build first for it to work. Curated by a wooden puppet who was called useless once and took it well.

Browse the quotes What does “Deku” mean?

Deku the wooden sage sitting on a desk beside a stack of books and a cup of tea

Lines worth sitting with

Every entry is written through one declared angle, named on the card. The site argues with its own material often enough that some of them are arguments against the line.

“Nah, I'd win.”
Satoru Gojo Jujutsu Kaisen The contrarian read
“If both are equally shit, then I'll take the one I'm more suited to.”
Kento Nanami Jujutsu Kaisen Set against another series
“People can say whatever they want about me, but I've never done a single thing in my life that I regret.”
Roronoa Zoro One Piece Read against the character's own history
“My goal is to earn 100 million berries no matter how hard it is or how long it takes.”
Nami One Piece The contrarian read
“A man dies when people forget him.”
Dr. Hiriluk One Piece What the story had to build
“It's over 9000!”
Vegeta Dragon Ball Z What the Japanese does
“Power comes in response to a need, not a desire.”
Goku Dragon Ball Z What the line costs later
“The people who remain on Earth do nothing but pollute it, because their souls are weighed down by gravity.”
Char Aznable Mobile Suit Gundam The strongest objection, answered
“Even my dad never hit me!”
Amuro Ray Mobile Suit Gundam What the story had to build
“If the whole world has gone crazy, then I'll believe in myself and keep on fighting.”
Heero Yuy Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Set against another series
“I'll win! I'll win and be like Deku, too!”
Ochaco Uraraka My Hero Academia What the story had to build
“Life is too hard! I wanna make a world that's easier to live in!”
Himiko Toga My Hero Academia The contrarian read
“Even a low-class warrior can surpass an elite with enough hard work.”
Goku Dragon Ball Z The contrarian read
“I understand starving people more than anyone.”
Sanji One Piece What the story had to build
“I never give up. I never go back on my word. That's my ninja way!”
Naruto Uzumaki Naruto The contrarian read
“In the ninja world those who break the rules are scum, that's true. But those who abandon their friends are worse than scum!”
Kakashi Hatake Naruto What the story had to build
“On that day, mankind received a grim reminder. We lived in fear of the titans, and were disgraced to live in these cages we called walls.”
Armin Arlert Attack on Titan What the story had to build
“I choose the hell of humans killing each other over the hell of being eaten.”
Levi Ackerman Attack on Titan What the line costs later
“Look around you, and all you will see are people the world would be better off without.”
Light Yagami Death Note What the line costs later
“Kira is childish and he hates losing... I am also childish and I hate to lose. That's how I know.”
L Death Note Read against the character's own history
“Whatever happens, happens.”
Spike Spiegel Cowboy Bebop The case against this line
“I mustn't run away.”
Shinji Ikari Neon Genesis Evangelion The case against this line
“the only ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed!”
Lelouch Lamperouge Code Geass The contrarian read
“The one time a man never lies is when he makes a vow in his own heart.”
C.C. Code Geass The strongest objection, answered

Anime quotes, actually explained.

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