Shonen anime might not be known for its nuance or maturity, but if the genre has developed a reputation for anything, its the ability to generate excitement and motivate audiences. That said, one specific shonen title seems to have figured out how to do both. Eiichiro Oda’s masterpiece, One Piece, has proven that it offers something for everyone.
One Piece expanded upon the conventional shonen formula, allowing it to delve into all sorts of themes and stay relevant for over two decades. On multiple occasions, its characters have made statements that did more than just stick with readers — they inspired a whole generation of anime fans.
Updated on April 11, 2023, by Kennedy King: As One Piece moves into what has been confirmed to be the Egghead arc, fans are reflecting upon the legacy left by Eiichiro Oda’s sea-faring masterpiece. The Wano Arc spawned several fantastic quotes from the Straw Hat Pirates and their allies — in addition to this, it also provided tons of information that, in retrospect, made some of the series’ previous quotes even more poignant.
This article contains spoilers from the One Piece manga.
20 “If We Lose Credibility Just By Admitting Fault, Then We Didn’t Have Any In The First Place.” – Admiral Fujitora
One Piece‘s World Government is arguably more corrupt than any other faction in the entire series — they regularly erase histories, perpetuate slavery, and treat other groups as less than human. However, characters like Marine Admiral Fujitora prove that the entity still possesses some redeemable qualities.
During the Dressrosa arc, Fujitora discusses whether the World Government should perform a cover-up of its recent illicit activities with his superior, Fleet Admiral Akainu. The blind swordsman wisely and eloquently states that the Marines should maintain transparency regarding their actions, proving that the government can still strive for integrity.
19 “Everyone Has Things They Can Do And Cannot Do. I’ll Do What You Can’t Do, And You Do What I Can’t Do.” – Sanji Vinsmoke
Although the Alabasta and Skypiea arcs are pivotal for the Straw Hat Pirates, the Enies Lobby arc is where the group finally grows into a full-fledged pirate crew. Every character plays a significant role in the narrative arc, leading to quality interactions such as the one shared between Sanji and Usopp after the former saves Usopp from Jabra.
Usopp feels particularly insignificant after the events of Water 7, so he openly laments his perceived uselessness to his crewmate, Sanji, after being saved from the CP9 member. Sanji’s response is exactly what his friend needed to hear, and it was a beautiful reminder than everyone is valuable, regardless of their differences.
18 “Scars On The Back Are A Swordsman’s Shame.” – Roronoa Zoro
The samurai code stresses the importance of honor and courage, and few One Piece characters embody these traits more than the Straw Hat Pirates’ resident swordsman, Roronoa Zoro. From his very first appearance, he set the tone for his journey to becoming the World’s Strongest Swordsman.
In his preliminary encounter with Dracule Mihawk, Zoro utters a line that still sticks in the mind of One Piece fans over two decades later. When the Straw Hat Pirate was asked why he insisted on taking a slash to the chest from Mihawk, Zoro stated it was dishonorable for a swordsman to suffer “scars on their back.” Although he decisively lost his clash with the Warlord, Zoro’s words inspired many to face their challenges head-on in life with their heads held high.
17 “There Comes A Time When A Man Must Stand And Fight. And That Is When His Friends’ Dreams Are Being Laughed At!” – Usopp
Although Usopp certainly isn’t One Piece‘s bravest character, that doesn’t mean he won’t stand up for his friends and the things they hold dear. This is evident as early as his first appearance in Syrup Village when he tries to stop Captain Kuro from taking Lady Caya’s fortune for himself.
While fighting against some of Baroque Works’ strongest officers, Usopp expresses how important it is to protect the dreams of his friends. His call-to-action rallies not just his ally, Tony Tony Chopper, but also all the fans who appreciate this underrated sequence during Alabasta.
16 “You Can Pour Drinks On Me. You Can Throw Food At Me… But For Good Reason Or Not, Nobody Hurts A Friend Of Mine!” – Shanks
Shanks is one of the most important characters in the world of One Piece, yet he plays a relatively minor role in the events of its narrative. As a result, his scenes are jam-packed and often contain some of the best one-liners in series history.
During Shanks’ opening flashback, a group of mountain bandits runs roughshod over the Red-Haired Pirate, dousing him in alcohol and dumping plates of food on his head. The legendary pirate simply laughs them off and only springs to action when they mistreat his young companion, Luffy. His display of self-control serves as an example for both the audience and One Piece‘s protagonist.
15 “How Can We Look Any Of You In The Eyes And Say That Wano Is Safe With Us?” – Kozuki Momonosuke
The end of the Wano Arc led many to believe that the island of samurai’s worst days was behind it; however, as established by Momonosuke, that isn’t necessarily the case. The shogun of Wano squares off with Marine Admiral Ryokugyu after Kaido’s defeat, and rather than accepting help from Yamato or other allies, he demands that he take on the threat by himself.
Momonosuke is responsible for Wano’s safety, making his impassioned refusal of outside help an endearing display of his commitment to do something for himself. Relying on friends is a part of life, but so is taking matters into one’s own hands.
14 “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” — Dracule Mihawk
The Marineford Arc demonstrated conflict on a scale that has been achieved very few times in fiction, let alone anime. Even though the Paramount War centered around “Fire Fist” Ace, his brother, Monkey D. Luffy, managed to find himself at the center of events after disrupting the Whitebeard Pirates’ scheduled execution.
Dracule Mihawk, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, acknowledged Luffy’s magnetic personality during the ensuing battle, pointing out that Luffy’s ability to “rally those around him” was perhaps the greatest talent of One Piece. Viewers may not be able to develop their Haki or acquire a Devil Fruit, but they can certainly strive to unite those around them.
13 “We’re Throwing People’s Lives Away, Even Though Every Single Soldier Has A Family Waiting On Them To Return!” — Koby
Even before the audience is introduced to any of the Straw Hat Pirates, they encounter Koby, the lowly deck-hand who has been captured by Alvida and her pirate crew. However, after Luffy demonstrates just how obtainable change can be by defeating Alvida, Koby begins his journey as a Marine.
Koby was called to assist in the Battle of Marineford, and while there, he saw the carnage caused by the unyielding resolve of the warring parties. Each group was losing sight of the importance of life itself, so his desperate plea for Admiral Akainu to think about his soldiers was incredibly impactful for characters and fans alike.
12 “The New Era Of Daring Ones Is Coming With An Unstoppable Swell!” — Trafalgar D. Law
The inevitability of change is touched on several times in One Piece, and more often than not, the concept is presented as a rallying cry for those in pursuit of their lofty ambitions. One such case is Trafalgar D. Law’s defeat of Vergo, which spawns one of the coolest quotes in series history.
Law, whose history with Vergo is as tragic as it is extensive, defeats Doflamingo’s double agent by slicing through him, as well as the entire landscape they’re surrounded by. This provides the perfect opportunity for the captain of the Heart Pirates to declare the “unstoppable swell” developing in the next generation and hype up all his fans in the process.
11 “I Want To Live!” — Nico Robin
The majority of the time, Nico Robin is one of One Piece‘s more subdued characters. As the sole survivor of the Ohara massacre, Robin was forced to live in the shadows, placing her own wants and needs secondary to those of the world around her. However, the Enies Lobby arc changed all this, finally giving her a reason to want the thing she had denied herself for so long: life.
Her transformation during this arc is beautiful, and there is a reason that it has been so well-remembered by fans ever since it originally aired. When Nico Robin’s broken voice finally screams “Take me with you!” to the Straw Hat Pirates, the pure emotion is devastatingly palpable.
10 “You Want To Keep Everyone From Dying? That’s Naive. It’s War — People Die” — Monkey D. Luffy
Monkey D. Luffy may usually present himself as a goofy, unassuming captain, but fans know when push comes to shove, the Straw Hat Captain is more than capable of handling business. Case in point, the wake-up call that he delivered to Princess Vivi during his time in Alabasta Kingdom.
While the princess was (understandably) fretting about the death of her people, Luffy interjected with a cold, yet much-needed statement regarding her naivety. He pointed out the intrinsic link between death and war, reminding us all why the struggle for peace is so important.
9 “Justice Will Prevail, You Say? But Of Course, It Will! Whoever Wins This War Becomes Justice!” — Donquixote Doflamingo
During the Marineford Arc, Donquixote Doflamingo made a major appearance alongside his fellow Warlords of the Sea. Doflamingo was still a mysterious character at this point in the series, but after claiming that whoever won the Paramount War would be the ones who decided what justice looked like, he made it very obvious that he wouldn’t be playing a small role in the narrative.
His speech doesn’t only apply to the world of One Piece — it speaks to real historical bias well. History is written by the victor, as they say, and Doflamingo’s accurate assessment that might-equals-right stresses the need for widespread activisim among the people.
8 “People’s Dreams… Have No Ends” — Marshall D. Teach
As deplorable as he is, Blackbeard is one of the rare One Piece characters who unwaveringly follows an established, consistent philosophy. The Jaya arc centers around the pursuit of seemingly unobtainable goals, teeing up the perfect opportunity for Marshall D. Teach to demonstrate his intimidating resolve.
Teach states that “people’s dreams… have no ends,” a quote that perfectly introduces the concept that Luffy and Blackbeard are opposite sides of the same coin. Despite their polar-opposite moralities, these two are driven by their dreams to an unimaginable degree, and their drive to succeed should motivate anyone who can relate to their aspirations.
7 “Only I Can Call My Dream Stupid!” — Roronoa Zoro
Roronoa Zoro’s dream is to become the world’s strongest swordsman. From the very beginning of One Piece, this goal is at the forefront of his character’s motivation, and he wouldn’t let anyone mock it — not even his future crewmate/rival, Sanji. While still working on Baratie as a chef, Sanji criticized Zoro for chasing his dream, calling him “stupid” for pursuing something so unlikely.
Upon hearing Sanji’s criticism, the former Pirate Hunter bristled at the statement, quickly responding, “Only I can call my dream stupid!” The cook was taken aback, but after watching Zoro’s unwavering commitment during his fight against Mihawk, he realized that the swordsman’s statement spoke to the same mentality that spurred Sanji towards his own dream: discovering the All Blue.
6 “When You Aim High, You Sometimes Come Across Fights Not Worth Fighting” —Marshall ‘Blackbeard’ D. Teach
In all truthfulness, Blackbeard’s entire presence during the Jaya arc was impactful. He provided several of the greatest lines to grace One Piece, and the fact that they came from a completely random drunkard (or so everyone thought at the time) makes it even more striking.
Blackbeard shrugged off the mockery being heaped upon him in Mock Town and acknowledged that there are “fights not worth fighting” in this world. Although he may not have had the best intentions when he said this, turning the other cheek and dismissing unwarranted criticism is a lesson that everyone could stand to learn.
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!” —Dr. Hiriluk
Dr. Hiriluk’s relationship with Chopper added so many layers to the reindeer’s tragic backstory. The future member of the Straw Hat Pirates was taught the value of life by Hiriluk, and regardless of his more eccentric habits/personality traits, the kooky doctor left a legacy on Drum Island that will last for generations after his passing.
Before departing from this world due to his terminal illness, Dr. Hiriluk delivered a speech so powerful it left the face of Dalton — as well as the fans — covered in tears. His impassioned argument that people survive until they are forgotten strikes straight to the core and establishes exactly how much One Piece cares about personal connections.
4 “I Won’t Die, Partner.” — Gol D. Roger
Gol D. Roger’s legacy is larger than life, as it sparked the flames of revolution that will undoubtedly swallow the world of One Piece by the end of its narrative. However, as memorable as Roger’s life was, the moments preceding his death spawned what could potentially be his most poignant quote of all-time.
During the solemn final meeting between the Pirate King, and his right-hand man, Silvers Rayleigh, Roger addressed his impending demise. The greatest pirate of all time knew he was dying, but just like Dr. Hiriluk, he also knew that he wouldn’t be forgotten anytime soon.
3 “One Piece Does Exist!” — Edward ‘Whitebeard’ Newgate
Freedom and dreams are the two concepts that comprise the largest role in the moral structure of One Piece‘s world. The series tends to elevate those concepts above all others, represented most plainly by their attachment to the titular treasure that defines the show.
Whitebeard viewed piracy as the pursuit of freedom, so when death loomed near, he declared that the One Piece was real, assuring that a new generation of Pirates would continue to dream about achieving this freedom. Whitebeard himself might not have pursued Laugh Tale, but this statement signaled his acknowledgment of its importance.
2 “Stop Counting Only Those Things You Have Lost! What Is Gone, Is Gone! So Ask Yourself This. What Is There… That Still Remains To You?!” — Jinbei
After the tragic death of his brother, Ace, Luffy almost lost touch with reality. His shock mostly stemmed from his brother’s passing, but it was also due in part to the reality check he received. He fully believed that he would be able to save Ace, and he was wrong.
It was Jinbei who finally knocked some sense into the crumbling Straw Hat captain. This emotional moment sent many grown adults into a marathon of tears, reminding them to focus on what lies ahead, rather than in the rearview mirror.
1 “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
In Gol D. Roger’s first appearance of the series, he clearly conveyed One Piece‘s thoughts about dreams and freedom. For people to pursue dreams, they need a motivator, and the One Piece is the biggest motivator. The treasure is synonymous with the pursuit of aspiration, and only through this sort of pursuit can one achieve greatness.
Roger’s name-drop of One Piece single-handedly started the Golden Age of Pirates, launching the next generation of seafarers (as well as the show’s viewers) into a journey of self-exploration that will guide them towards the reason for freedom itself.
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