HBO’s Game of Thrones series was a blockbuster right off the bat. It brought a different kind of flavor compared to the usual fantasy TV series. There was a lot of gritty darkness that permeated the show, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.
With its twists and turns, intrigue, well-developed characters, and great dialogue, there’s a ton of memorable quotes and scenes from the show.
Best Game of Thrones Quotes
We’ve made it easier for you guys by making a list of some of the best and most memorable quotes the show has to offer. Check them out below!
“Winter is coming.”
Eddard Stark (or pretty much everyone)
Ned Stark had a lot of great lines during his extremely short time on screen. This one in particular offers solid advice for procrastinators and extreme live-in-the-moment types like myself. Planning ahead might not be recommended all the time, but it sure beats going into situations unprepared.
“A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone.”
Tyrion Lannister
Tyrion already knew that Westeros would never see past his dwarfism. He couldn’t do anything about it; there was no cure. So he focused on the things he could improve, sharpening his wit and cleverness and using them as his main weapon.
“Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.”
Tyrion Lannister
There will always be people who’ll give you bad experiences, and the more they see you get hurt, the more they will push. Showing that you’re unaffected and making their mockery your own thing will tell them that they don’t have any power over you.
“The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. If you would take a man’s life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die.”
Ned Stark
In the show’s context, Ned talks about leaders needing to bear the responsibility that comes with execution. In a broader sense, this quote talks about bearing responsibility for your actions and decisions, especially if you’re in a leadership role. Passing your mistakes onto someone is just bad principles.
“What do we say to the Lord of Death? Not today.”
Syrio Forel
Throughout history, we humans have displayed a great talent for survival in almost any situation, and this extends to less tangible stuff. When we’re faced with the hardships of life, whether it’s the stress of work or the depression of being hurt, we’ve been steadfast.
“Any man who must say ‘I am the king’ is no true king.”
Tywin Lannister
There’s been a lot of times when people use their authority as a way to get what they want. But that doesn’t earn you the respect of your colleagues. Its a fast way of earning their enmity. Let your experiences and skills prove your opinions and decisions, rather than enforcing them through your position.
“You need to take your enemy’s side if you’re going to see things the way they do.”
Tyrion Lannister
Staying blind from the adversity’s strategies and plans can be a sure way of failing. You encounter setbacks, lose morale, and can’t bring your full potential to the table. The “adversity” here isn’t strictly another person, but any challenges that you may encounter along your journey. Knowing how these things work and how they affect you makes it easier to counter them.
“We are going to leave the world better than we found it.”
Daenerys Targaryen
Sadly, Daenerys didn’t follow through on this one. In the end, she turned into the almost megalomaniacal dragon queen. That doesn’t mean we should let the quote die though. We’re only on the Earth for a short time and we should do our best to improve it and sustain it for the next generations.
“Power resides where men believe it resides. It’s a trick, a shadow on the wall. And a very small man can cast a very large shadow.”
Varys
Varys is the one character in GOT who knew the most about how power works. It wasn’t an inborn ability, but a concept granted by belief. Translated into the real world, we often limit ourselves in our goals and pursuits because we don’t think we’re all that. But people have also exceeded themselves and proven time and time again that our powers are directly linked to how we see ourselves.
“I failed. Good. Now go fail again.”
Sir Davos
A lot of us struggle to get past our failures, often giving up after the first one. But life is a series of failures; it’s how you gain experience and become a better person. Sure, some things are just not for you, but that takes a fair bit of failure to know for certain. Pushing through those mental blocks is a good way of unlocking your full potential.
” Everybody dies, sooner or later. Don’t worry about your death. Worry about your life. Take charge of your life, for as long as it lasts.”
Petyr Baelish
The world can definitely be a cruel place. As such, we live by avoiding risks and locking ourselves in our comfort zones. But there’s a lot we can experience in life, and only a finite amount of time to do it. Before you die, do something worthwhile for you and your family.
“The past is gone for good. You can sit here mourning its departure or you can prepare for the future.”
Petyr Baelish
We often get stuck in the past—replaying it, wondering what we could have done better. But while we do that, the present keeps moving on, and with it, the opportunities and experiences we could have had. When we acknowledge the past while still moving forward, we can better prepare ourselves for our future.
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The Man who doesn’t read lives only one.”
Jojen Reed
Books are a great way of enriching the mind. They’re gateways to the past, other worlds, and into the minds of others. When you read, you not only gain information but also understand a person’s feelings and thought process.
“Don’t get me started on the gravy. Very difficult to get right. See, a lot of people give up on the gravy. You cannot give up on the gravy. No gravy, no pie. Simple as that.”
Hot Pie
Hot Pie is a man passionate about his food, as you should be. Food is one of the wonders of the world, able to take you on a wide range of flavorful adventures. We often ignore how food influences our daily lives. Go on a food trip and explore more cuisines. Consider it as a reward for getting this far in life.
Watching Game of Thrones
Much like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, Game of Thrones is definitely going down in history as one of the best modern fantasy series. It’s cemented itself in our collective memory and formed a thriving fandom eager to consume more.
Though the ending didn’t do much justice to the story, the series is still a great piece of entertainment to watch. If you’re still on the fence about watching it, hopefully some of these quotes will inspire you to finally pull the trigger.
Do you have a favorite Game of Thrones quote? Share it in the comment section below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
