21 Best Attack on Titan Quotes from Eren, Mikasa & More

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Anime expert Dianté Richard discusses his favorite speech in the entire series

Co-authored by Dianté Richard and Glenn Carreau

Last Updated: August 19, 2026 Fact Checked

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Top 10 Quotes

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Quotes About Life

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Quotes About Freedom

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Eren Quotes

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Mikasa Quotes

Anyone who’s seen or read Attack on Titan knows it’s one of the most intense (and dark) stories in the anime world. And, naturally, that means it’s got some really poignant, thought-provoking quotes! For this article, we partnered with an anime expert to help us choose some of the most iconic quotes from Attack on Titan and why they’re so significant. Plus, we’ll explore quotes from some key (or fan-favorite) characters, like Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman. So, without further ado, let’s dive in!

The Most Iconic & Intense AoT Quotes

Anime expert Dianté Richard says his favorite quote comes from a moving speech given by Commander Erwin Smith: “The courageous fallen! The anguished fallen! Their lives have meaning because we, the living, refuse to forget them!” Other memorable quotes include:

“If there’s anyone who can bring about change, it’s someone capable of giving up what matters most.” –Armin Arlert
“There is no truth in this world. Anyone can become a God or a Devil; all it takes is for someone to claim that to be the truth.” –Eren Kruger
“Give up on your dream and die. Lead the new recruits into hell.” –Levi Ackerman
“I don’t like the terms ‘good person’ or ‘bad person.’ Because it is impossible to be entirely good to everyone or entirely bad to everyone.” –Armin Arlert
“If you win, you live. If you lose, you die. If you don’t fight, you can’t win!” –Eren Yeager

Section 1 of 5:

The 10 Best Quotes from Attack on Titan

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1
“Those who can’t abandon anything can’t change anything.”It might be a sad truth, but there is truth in Armin’s words—one learned from his leader, Erwin. In this quote, Armin is essentially saying that only people willing to make immense sacrifices (and even sacrifice their own humanity) are the ones who can make a real difference. That’s the price of change…and the price of victory.
- Full quote: “If there’s anyone who can bring about change, it’s someone capable of giving up what matters most. In particular, people who are capable of abandoning their humanity when forced to rise above monsters. Those who can’t abandon anything can’t change anything.” –Armin Arlert
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Dianté Richard, who goes by D-Rich online, is an anime & cartoon expert. Dianté has 6 years of experience creating YouTube content about anime, cartoons, & television.
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“There is no truth in this world.”Kruger’s statement echoes the idea that truth itself is not absolute; it is what people believe and what they claim to be the truth, which are not always the same things as fact and reality. And, as Kruger claims, anyone can shape the way others perceive them through words and deeds. Truth is what people claim to be true; it’s filtered through human perception and psychology.
- Full quote: “There is no truth in this world. Anyone can become a God or a Devil; all it takes is for someone to claim that to be the truth.” –Eren Kruger
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3
“Give up on your dream and die.”Levi says this to a dying Erwin, making the decision between reviving either Armin or Erwin. He ultimately revives Armin, recognizing the depth of Erwin’s guilt and the weight that rests on his shoulders from being a leader. With this quote, he’s basically choosing to give Erwin an honorable death and preventing Erwin from realizing his dream of reaching the basement of Eren’s home.
- Full quote: “Give up on your dream and die. Lead the new recruits into hell.” –Levi Ackerman
- Erwin had a lifelong obsession with reaching the basement, determined to uncover the truth of the world and prove his father’s theory right. In Levi’s mind, Erwin would lose his motivation after achieving this, hence the quote above.
4
“I don’t like the terms ‘good person’ or ‘bad person.’”Here’s another Armin quote, one that shows off his intelligence, not to mention his nuanced perspective on life. He doesn’t see things in absolutes—right, wrong, good, evil. In that way, he’s pretty world-wise! He says this to Annie Leonhart (who is a villain herself), explaining that everyone has their own reasons for the way they act, and they can’t really be judged “good” or “bad.”
- Full quote: “I don’t like the terms ‘good person’ or ‘bad person.’ Because it is impossible to be entirely good to everyone or entirely bad to everyone.” –Armin Arlert
5
“The only one who can destroy the titans is the devil himself.”Floch Forster says this when advocating for Erwin Smith, revealing an almost fanatical devotion to achieving victory at any cost. Floch is saying that he believes Erwin is capable of victory because of his pragmatism and capacity for ruthless calculus—and that he, Floch, is thus determined to revive Erwin. Failing that, Floch later becomes Eren’s devotee as a Jaegerist, seeing Eren as another “devil” to secure victory.
- Full quote: “The only one who can destroy the titans is the devil himself. And my mission…is to bring the devil back to life!” –Floch Forster
6
“It doesn’t matter how cruel the world can be.”Eren’s drive and determination are undeniable—whether or not you perceive them as good or, ultimately, negative traits. And this quote from the first season shows just how consistently determined Eren is, from the beginning to the bitter end. He’s talking to himself here, spurring himself onward as he plugs the breach in Trost’s gate. ^{[1]
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- Full quote: “We’re born free. All of us. Some don’t believe it, some try to take it away. To hell with them! …Fight to live, risk it all for even a glimmer of real freedom! It doesn’t matter what’s waiting outside the gate, or what comes in! It doesn’t matter how cruel the world can be, or how unjust! Fight. Fight. Fight. FIGHT!” –Eren Yeager
7
“As long as we continue to fight, we are not beaten!”This is a shorter quote from Miche Zacharius, a section commander in the Scout Regiment, right after he senses titans nearing Wall Rose. Attempting to comfort Nanaba, he encourages her to keep on fighting and resist falling into despair. While titans devour Miche in the ensuing battle, the last bits of wisdom he left behind still ring true.
- Full quote: “Only when a person stops fighting do they lose. As long as we continue to fight, we are not beaten!” –Miche Zacharius
8
“If you don’t fight, you can’t win!”Eren says this to Mikasa in a moment of need, in which he needs her help, and Mikasa is facing internal conflict. And, upon hearing his words, Mikasa is spurred into action—saving Eren’s life in the end. With this quote, he’s telling her to push past her fear and fight, even if victory isn’t assured…because it’s only impossible if she doesn’t fight at all.
- Full quote: “If you win, you live. If you lose, you die. If you don’t fight, you can’t win!” –Eren Yeager
9
“You’re fine as you are. So talk in your own words.”Here are some thoughtful insights from Ymir, in which she essentially encourages Sasha to be herself—and take pride in who she is. And Ymir definitely isn’t the easiest person to get along with, but in this instance, she uses her characteristic brusqueness for good. While Sasha is trying to look proper and formal in front of her peers, Ymir tells her not to be someone she isn’t.
- Full quote: “You’re gonna care what other people think and be someone you’re not your whole life? You’re fine as you are. So talk in your own words.” –Ymir
10
“Choose whatever you’ll regret the least.”Captain Levi has more than one pearl of wisdom in Attack on Titan, but this is definitely one that stands out. There’s no doubt that Levi is blunt and abrasive, but he’s wise, too; with this quote, he tells his squad that all choices have consequences, and to live with them, you just have to pick the option you’ll regret the least and trust yourself, no matter what comes after.
- Full quote: “No one knows what the outcome will be. So choose whatever you’ll regret the least.” –Levi Ackerman

Section 2 of 5:

Attack on Titan Quotes About Life

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Mikasa Ackerman hasn’t had an easy life; her parents died terribly, and the Yeager family took her in until their deaths, after which she and Eren were both orphaned. She knows the world is full of ugliness and cruelty, but despite everything, she’s still able to recognize its beauty, too. And she maintains her faith in the world through her love for her friends.^{[2]
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“Everyone had to be drunk on something to keep pushing on.”Kenny Ackerman (Levi’s uncle, and Mikasa’s relative, too) says this, reflecting his lifelong pursuit of power and inner ruthlessness. He’s seen just about everything and understands that everyone needs a reason to live—but, at the same time, believes that reason “enslaves” them. Kenny, on the other hand, refused to be tied down by anything in the world.
- Full quote: “Everybody I’ve met was all the same. Drinking…women…worshiping God, even…family…the king…dreams…children…power… Everyone had to be drunk on something to keep pushing on. Everyone was a slave to something.” –Kenny Ackerman
3
“One day or another, everyone you care about eventually dies.”Hange says this to Mikasa and Eren, attempting to help them come to terms with their friend’s death—albeit in their own blunt way. With this quote, Hange explains that death is an inevitable part of life, and even when one recognizes that, facing it personally is impossible to prepare oneself for. It’s a harsh truth, but one that Eren and Mikasa needed to hear.
- Full quote: “You understand, don’t you? One day or another, everyone you care about eventually dies. It’s something we simply can’t accept. It’s a realization that could drive you insane.” –Hange Zoë
4
“Their lives have meaning because we, the living, refuse to forget them!” This comes from Commander Erwin Smith's famous speech during the Battle of Shiganshina District (Season 3, Episode 16). In this deeply honest speech, Erwin addresses the grim reality of what they’re about to do and openly admits his plan is essentially a suicide mission for all of them. He argues that a fallen comrade’s life has meaning because the survivors live on to remember them. Anime expert Dianté Richard says this is one of his favorite quotes in the whole series and one of the coolest moments in AoT by far.^{[3]
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- Full quote: “We all die. But does that mean our lives are meaningless? Does that mean that there was no point in our being born? Would you say that of our slain comrades? What about their lives? Were they meaningless? They were NOT! Their memory serves as an example to us all! The courageous fallen! The anguished fallen! Their lives have meaning because we, the living, refuse to forget them! And as we ride to certain death, we trust our successors to do the same for us!” -Erwin Smith

Section 3 of 5:

Attack on Titan Quotes About Freedom

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Eren Yeager says this, disparaging the idea of being ignorant and comparing it to being trapped or stuck. If freedom lies in knowledge and understanding, then confinement lies in ignorance. An ignorant person is unable to free themselves from the forces of manipulation, misinformation, and bias, which means they’re doomed to make the same mistakes time and time again.
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“On the other side of the sea…is freedom.”Eren, Mikasa, and Armin are finally able to stand at the seaside by the end of the third season—and, at the same time, they have a new understanding of the world and the people living across the sea. Looking out across the abyssal sea, Eren contemplates whether killing their adversaries across the sea would free them all, while musing on his past obsession with the idea of freedom itself.^{[4]
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- Full quote: “Beyond the wall, there’s a sea. On the other side of the sea…is freedom. That’s what I always believed. But I was wrong. On the other side of the sea are enemies. Hey…if we kill all our enemies over there, will we finally…be free?” –Eren Yeager

Section 4 of 5:

Attack on Titan Quotes From Eren Yeager

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“What’s so good about giving up?”Once again, Eren demonstrates his disdain for ignorance and despair—and the determination that drives him throughout the series. To him, escaping a dark reality isn’t worth losing one’s hope or will to fight; there’s no sense in giving in, because that’s the only time in which defeat is a hundred percent assured. And he isn’t right about everything, but he’s right about that!
- Full quote: “What’s so good about giving up? Is it better to escape from reality, to the point where you’re throwing away your hope?”
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“I want to be her one and only for the rest of my life!”This quote might not seem particularly iconic. Still, it stands out among the many other things Eren says, because here, he’s actually talking like a teenager (which, after all, he is). It’s hard to remember that Eren is still a kid under the weight of everything he’s done, but here, he has a genuine and, honestly, petulant reaction to the idea of Mikasa moving on from him!
- Full quote: “No…I don’t want that! I don’t want her to find someone. I want to be her one and only for the rest of my life! And after I die, I want her to be hung up on me for at least ten years.”

Section 5 of 5:

Attack on Titan Quotes From Mikasa Ackerman

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1
“I am strong.”We all know Mikasa is strong (and love her for it), but sometimes she doubts it—which is why moments like this are so meaningful. With this quote, Mikasa acknowledges her own strength and determination…to the point that she’d be willing to continue on as a lone soldier, and she’d still take on every titan in the world. Now that’s impressive!
- Full quote: “I am strong. Stronger than all of you. Extremely strong. I can kill all the titans out there, even if I am alone.”
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“Sometimes a single death can save many lives.”Sacrifice is one of—if not the—main themes in Attack on Titan. And Mikasa understands the necessity of sacrifice better than most. When she says this, she’s actually threatening a man at Trost to get him to back his wagon up…and after her deadly-serious words, he’s more than willing to do as she says!
- Full quote: “If you think it’s natural for people to sacrifice their own lives to save others, surely you understand that sometimes a single death can save many lives.”
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“I’ll live, no matter what!”When she says this, Mikasa believes Eren to be dead, which very nearly drives her to give up, too. But what ultimately pushes her to keep fighting is the knowledge that, if she died, Eren’s memory would disappear, too—and that, more than anything else, is unacceptable to her.^{[5]
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- Full quote: “Once I’m dead, I won’t even be able to remember you. So I’ll win, no matter what. I’ll live, no matter what!”

Join the Discussion...

What are your favorite Attack on Titan quotes?

Dianté Richard
Anime Expert and Cosplayer

The most popular quote is Erwin's speech in season three when they are fighting against the Beast Titan. I love it so much. The best part is at the end of the speech, where Erwin says something like, "We the living refuse to forget the fallen," then, "As we ride into certain death, we trust our successors to do the same for us." It's such an epic moment.