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The protagonist of One Piece, Monkey D Luffy in One Piece
Monkey D Luffy in One Piece (Image via Toei Animation)

Top 10 memorable One Piece quotes

Stuart RayBy 8 Mins Read Anime

While popularly known for its cartoony style, gag characters, and consistent punchlines, One Piece has proven its ability to draw in readers with something far deeper. Beneath the surface of this comedic world has unfolded a story over two decades. This is because Eiichiro Oda wove his magnum opus to include larger-than-life characters, emotional moments, a spirit of adventure, and extraordinary worldbuilding.

However, one aspect that gets frequently overshadowed is the depth of the dialog. While some words remain more memorable than others, One Piece features some of the most heart-rending quotes in all of anime. Yet other words have the ability to hype not only its characters up in-universe but fills the hearts of readers with motivation.

“I want to live” and 9 other memorable quotes from One Piece

1. “The flower of friendship can bloom even in hell… One day, I will make that flower bloom again.”

 

The strength of friendship is unparalleled, and as Bon Clay’s heroic sacrifice at the end of the Impel Down arc showed, certain friendships are more valuable than life itself. Previously employed by Baroque Works and participating in horrible crimes with Crocodile’s criminal organisation, Bon Clay progressively improved after meeting the Straw Hat Pirates.

In the ultimate act of sacrifice, Bon Clay stays behind to ensure the Straw Hat Pirates’ safe arrival to Marineford because the events of the Impel Down arc have made him appreciate everything that the Future King of the Pirates Monkey D. Luffy stands for. Inspiring and heartbreaking in equal measure, his closing comments provide the ideal cap to Luffy’s first story arc without his crew.

2. “His power is to rally those around him. Of all the people seeking to conquer the sea, he may possess the greatest talent of all.”

The grand spectacle of war in the Marineford arc pitted all the major players of the world against one another. Although “Fire Fist” Ace was at the centre of the Paramount War, his brother Monkey D. Luffy also found himself in the spotlight after delaying the Whitebeard Pirates’ planned execution.

During the next battle, Dracule Mihawk, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, praised Luffy for his charisma, saying that Luffy’s capacity to “rally those around him” may have been One Piece‘s greatest strength. Although viewers may not have the fictional power of Haki or obtain a the miraculous gifts of a Devil Fruit, they may surely work to bring their community together by sheer will power alone. That would, indeed be poetic, as Haki is literally a manifestation of will in-universe!

3. “I want to live!”

Amongst a crew consiting of members with varying degrees of craziness, Nico Robin is definitely one of the more reserved characters most of the time except for her propensity to crack dark jokes. As the lone survivor of the Ohara slaughter, Robin was compelled to live in secrecy, putting other people’s needs and wants ahead of her own. The Enies Lobby arc, however, altered all of this and finally gave her a cause to desire life, something she had long denied herself.

Her change throughout this arc has been stunning, and there is a reason why fans have remembered it so fondly ever since it first aired. The Straw Hat Pirates hear Nico Robin finally yell a verbal cry of help with a shattered voice that is heartbreakingly real. It sets shivers down our spine to see Luffy and the gang stand against the entire world, with the burning flag of the government signifying a new dawn on the world.

4. “There comes a time when a man must stand and fight, and that is when his friends’ dreams are being laughed at!”

Usopp may not be the most courageous character in One Piece, but that never implies he is too much of a coward to defend his comrades and the values they cherish. This is clear from the moment he shows up in Syrup Village and attempts to stop the selfish and evil Captain Kuro from keeping Lady Caya’s money for himself.

Usopp discusses the value of safeguarding his friends’ aspirations while battling some of the Baroque Works’ most powerful officials. His rallying cry inspires not only his friend Tony Tony Chopper but also all the viewers who love this underappreciated scene from Alabasta. He is truly on hiw way to fulfil his dream of becoming a brave warrior of the sea, although some might argue that he has already reached there!

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

Chopper’s terrible past has so many levels because of Dr. Hiriluk’s bond with the anthropomorphic reindeer. Hiriluk taught the future Straw Hat Pirate the value of life, and despite of his more odd habits or personality qualities, the eccentric doctor left Drum Island with a legacy that will endure for many generations after his demise. Many fans would have forgotten him considering his appearance so early in the story, except for his words – which also tie in with the relevance of his quotes.

Dr. Hiriluk gave a speech that was so moving that Dalton’s face, as well as the fans’, were covered in tears before he passed away from his fatal disease. His passionate defence of the idea that people exist until they are finally forgotten cuts to the heart of the matter and demonstrates just how much One Piece values interpersonal relationships.

6. “If we lose credibility just by admitting fault, then we didn’t have any in the first place.”

The World Government of One Piece is perhaps the most corrupt side in the entire series; they frequently obliterate history, continue to practise slavery, and see other groups as far less than human. Characters like the Marine Admiral Fujitora demonstrate that the marines and by extension the World Government still has some redeeming features, nonetheless.

In the Dressrosa arc, Fujitora and Fleet Admiral Akainu debate whether the World Government even should conceal its most recent illegal deeds. The blind swordsman intelligently and persuasively suggests that the Marines retain openness about their deeds, demonstrating that the government is still capable of striving for integrity.

7. “The new era of daring ones is coming with an unstoppable swell!”

One Piece has multiple allusions to the inevitable nature of change, and most of the time the idea is now presented as a call to action for individuals pursuing noble goals. One such instance is Trafalgar D. Law’s victory over Vergo, which gave rise to one of the best quips in the history of the series.

Law overcomes Doflamingo’s double agent (and the crony of the person responsible for the death of his mentor) by slicing through him and the entire environment they’re in, drawing on his tragic and long history with Vergo. He has the ideal chance to exclaim that the future generation is experiencing a “unstoppable swell” and to incite all of his supporters in the process, as he yells it out to the large kanndscape.

8. “Justice will prevail, you say? But of course, it will! Whoever wins this war becomes justice!”

Donquixote Doflamingo makes a significant appearance alongside the fellow Warlords of the Sea during the Marineford arc. At this point in the story, Doflamingo was still a mystery, but after saying that whoever won the Paramount War would determine what justice looked like, he made it quite clear that he wouldn’t be a minor figure.

His speech is applicable to how history is really written by the victors even in our times.  Doflamingo’s very accurate assessment that “might makes right” emphasises the necessity of mass public participation.

9. “Inherited will, the destiny of age, the dreams of its people. As long as people continue to pursue the meaning of freedom, these things will never cease!”

Gol D. Roger effectively portrayed One Piece‘s ideas about dreams and freedom in his debut appearance in the series. People need a motivator to follow their dreams, and the One Piece is somehow biggest motivator. The pursuit of desire, which is synonymous with the wealth, freedom, dreams, adventure or power are the various ways to reach greatness.

The Golden Age of Pirates was only sparked by Roger’s mention of One Piece. This sent the following generation of explorers and adventurers, as well as the viewers, on a quest for introspection that will lead them to the meaning of freedom itself. As such, it would then manifest in the nature of a new world brought about by the protagonist and his crew.

10. “When you aim high, you sometimes come across fights not worth fighting.”

In all honesty, Blackbeard had a significant impact across the entire Jaya arc. He contributed several of the most memorable lines to appear in One Piece. The fact that they were delivered by a complete alcoholic (or so everyone believed at the time) makes it all the more remarkable. The story is yet praised for how comically yet thematically one of the final antagonists has been introduced

There are, according to both Blackbeard and Luffy, “fights not worth fighting” in the world, Blackbeard admitted as he shrugged off the ridicule being heaped upon him in Mock Town. Even if he may not have meant it in the best way, everyone might benefit to learn the value of turning the other cheek and brushing off unjustified criticism.

 

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Stuart loves anime, writing, and writing about anime. Someday, he hopes to illustrate his own manga from his novel!