The most unforgettable quotes from Game of Thrones

When a book series averages 300,00 words, they better be good if you want the readers to love them. Thankfully George R.R. Martin is a master of words, and we can thank him for most of the iconic quotes in the epic fantasy TV series, Game of Thrones. Every season has a plethora of unforgettable moments and quotes that spawned countless t-shirts, mugs, and more merch. Here’s a list of our favorite Game of Thrones quotes from every season.

Season 1

We get our first look into the tense politics of Westeros. You instantly hate a few characters (Joffrey, we’re looking at you) and feel protective about others (the direwolves!). Tragedy strikes as Ned is betrayed and executed, setting off a chain of events that leads to widespread conflict and the rise of new contenders for the Iron Throne.  By the end of the first ten episodes, the scene was set for things to get a whole lot worse.

• “Chaos isn’t a pit. Chaos is a ladder. Many who try to climb it fail and never get to try again. The fall breaks them. And some, are given a chance to climb. They refuse, they cling to the realm or the gods or love. Illusions. Only the ladder is real. The climb is all there is.”
  – Petyr Baelish to Lord Varys as reveals his real and malicious intentions. This makes it clear that Littlefinger is on no one’s side but his own.
• “Never forget what you are, for the world surely will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it and it will never be used to hurt you.”
  – Tyrion Lannister’s advice to Jon Snow on how to deal with people looking down on him because he’s a bastard.
• “What is honor compared to a woman’s love? What is duty against the feel of a newborn son in your arms… or the memory of a brother’s smile?”
  – Maester Aemon to Jon Snow, when he reveals his identity as a Targaryen and makes the younger realize that every decision comes with a price, whether he chooses honor or love.
• “A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone”
  – Tyrion Lannister to Jon Snow in a casual conversation around a fire.
• “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.”
  – Cersei Lannister to Ned Stark when he confronted her for her extra-marital affair. Unfortunately, he let his enemy know his next move, and we all know how that ended.
• “What do we say to the god of death?” Syrio Forel asks Arya Stark, who replies, “Not today.”

Season 2

The War of the Five Kings is in full swing as various factions battle for control. Robb Stark stepped up as the man of the house and declared himself King in the North, Stannis Baratheon challenged Joffrey’s claim to the throne. Daenerys Targaryen tried to amass an army with her dragons steadily growing. Meanwhile, Tyrion Lannister became Hand of the King. Season two is where the power struggles truly begin.

• “Power is power.”
  – Queen Cersei Lannister to Littlefinger when he hints at Cersei and her brother Jaime’s incestuous relations and says, “Knowledge is power.” Cersei swiftly orders her guard to seize him and cut his throat, then orders the guards to step back and demonstrates the consequences if he crosses her.
• “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 to Tyrion Lannister as he explains that Tyrion is meant to do great things, even if it means defying his father and siblings.
• “You know nothing, Jon Snow,”
  – Ygritte to Jon Snow, an unforgettable quote teasing Jon’s lack of experience and knowledge. It becomes their inside joke.
• “Valar Morghulis”
  – Jaqen H’ghar introduces us to this Valyrian phrase which means, “All men must die.”

Read More: Every time George R. R. Martin gave us hope for The Winds of Winter release

Season 3

Season 3 ramped up the intensity! Robb Stark faced setbacks in his quest for victory, while Jon Snow infiltrated the Wildlings beyond the Wall. Daenerys built her army and liberated slaves in Essos. The Lannisters tightened their grip on the Iron Throne, but cracks started to appear in their power. Tyrion dealt with family conflicts, while Jaime underwent a transformative journey. The Red Wedding made us all take 5-7 business days to get over it. With the rise of new alliances and threats, the game of thrones became deadlier than ever.

• “If you think this has a happy ending, you haven’t been paying attention.”
  – Ramsay Bolton to a captive Theon Greyjoy, little did we know this quote would summarize the entire show.
• “The Lannisters send their regards.”
  – Roose Bolton to Robb Stark as he stabs him in the chest at the Frey’s Red Wedding.
• “Any man who must say ‘I am the king’ is no true king.”
  – Tywin Lannister to a furious Joffrey Baratheon in front of his small council.

Season 4

In Season 4 of Game of Thrones, the power struggles intensified. The War of the Five Kings took a toll as Robb Stark and his mother were betrayed and brutally murdered at the Red Wedding. Jon Snow became embroiled in the conflict beyond the Wall, facing the threats of the White Walkers. Daenerys faced challenges in ruling the cities she conquered, while the Lannisters faced internal conflicts. Tyrion’s trial for Joffrey’s murder shook King’s Landing.

• “Tell your father I’m here. And tell him the Lannisters aren’t the only ones who pay their debts.”
  – Oberyn Martell to Tyrion Lannister when they meet for the first time, and Oberyn reveals his intentions to take revenge on those who led to his sister, Elia Martell’s death.
• “They can live in my new world, or they can die in their old one.”
  – Daenerys Targaryen declaring that she is not slowing down in her goal to attain the Iron Throne.
• “So many men, they risk so little. They spend their lives avoiding danger. And then they die.”
  – Petyr Baelish to Sansa Stark as he explains his ambitions of risking everything to have everything.
• “I will not become a page in someone else’s history book.”
  – Stannis Baratheon to Ser Davos pressing him to find houses and men to rally for Stannis’ claim to the Iron Throne.

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Season 5

This season brought even more turmoil and shocking twists. Jon Snow became the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, navigating political challenges and threats from the White Walkers. Arya Stark embarked on a journey of vengeance while Daenerys struggled to maintain control in Meereen. Cersei Lannister faced consequences for her actions, while Tyrion found himself aligned with Daenerys. The Sparrows emerged as a zealous religious group, shaking up King’s Landing. The season culminated in the tragic and unexpected death of a beloved character, leaving viewers stunned and hungry for answers.

• “The powerful have always preyed on the powerless. That’s how they became powerful in the first place.” – Tyrion Lannister to Varys, to which he replies, “Perhaps we’ve grown so used to horror we assume there’s no other way.” The latter reveals that Tyrion can still help the Seven Kingdoms by helping Daenerys win the Iron Throne.
• “Wars teach people to obey the sword, not the gods.”
  – High Sparrow in a conversation with Cersei Lannister as she tries to intimidate him and imply that she doesn’t agree with his ways and ideologies.
• “Kill the boy, Jon Snow. Winter is almost upon us. Kill the boy, and let the man be born.”
  – Maester Aemon to Jon Snow as he urges him to take his title as Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch seriously and have the courage to do what needs to be done for the greater good.
• “I’m not going to stop the wheel. I’m going to break the wheel.”
  – Daenerys Targaryen to Tyrion Lannister, where Tyrion is speaking logically and telling Daenerys to have realistic goals about her cause, but the Mother of Dragons is set on taking back what’s hers.

Read More: Every time George R. R. Martin gave us hope for The Winds of Winter release

Season 6

In what is widely considered the last ‘good’ season, we witnessed the resurrection of Jon Snow and his alliance with Sansa Stark to reclaim Winterfell from Ramsay Bolton. Daenerys set sail for Westeros with her dragons and armies, while Cersei seized power in King’s Landing, leading to a devastating explosion. Arya embraced her identity as a Faceless Man, and Bran delved into the past. The season showcased epic battles, heartbreaking deaths, and pivotal character reunions, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.

• “That’s what I do. I drink and I know things.”
  – Tyrion Lannister to Missandei on the matter of how to make Daenerys’ dragons start eating again.
• “My watch is ended.”
  – Jon Snow to the men of the Night’s Watch as he leaves, making him the first known man to leave the Night’s Watch rightfully.
• “Hold the Door!”
  – Hodor in the revelation which broke every viewer’s heart, his life came full circle the moment we realized what ‘Hodor’ meant.
• “Violence is a disease. You don’t cure a disease by spreading it to more people.”
  – Brother Ray to Sandor Clegane as he’s chopping blocks of firewood in frustration. Ray tries to show the Hound his reasoning for not fighting back against the Brotherhood without Banners and living in peace.
• “A girl is Arya Stark of Winterfell and I’m going home.”
  – Arya Stark to Jaqen H’ghar when he finally accepts her as ‘no one.’ And after months of looking for Jaqen’s acceptance, Arya refuses and goes home.
• “Your words will disappear. Your house will disappear. Your name will disappear. All memory of you will disappear.”
  – Sansa Stark to a bloodied Ramsay Bolton as she leaves him for dead amongst his dogs.
• “My name is Arya Stark. I want you to know that. The last thing you’re ever going to see is a Stark smiling down at you as you die.”
  – Arya Stark to Walder Frey after feeding him a pie made from the flesh of his sons, as revenge for the Red Wedding.

Season 7

The battle for the Iron Throne escalated in this season as Daenerys stepped into Westeros. She and Jon Snow formed an alliance to fight against the Night King and his army of the dead. The season showcased epic battles, dragon warfare, and shocking revelations of Jon’s true heritage. Cersei plotted to maintain her hold on power, while the Stark siblings faced challenges in their reunification. The Night King breached the Wall, setting the stage for a climactic showdown.

• “Leave one wolf alive and the sheep are never safe.”
  – Arya Stark, in disguise as Walder Frey, addresses his men unbeknownst to the fact that they have been poisoned.
• “Tell Cersei. I want her to know it was me.”
  – Olenna Tyrell confesses her crime of poisoning Joffrey to Jaime Lannister after accepting his poisoned wine after the Lannisters defeated the Tyrells.
• “When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives.”
  – Sansa Stark to Arya Stark, quoting their father, Ned Stark.

Season 8

This season marked the final chapter of the series. The battle against the Night King and the Army of the Dead took center stage in a suspenseful and epic confrontation. The survivors turned their attention to the Iron Throne, leading to conflicts and alliances. Daenerys’ descent into madness shocked viewers, culminating in a devastating climax. The fate of major characters was sealed as Westeros’ new era unfolded, wrapping up the series with bittersweet conclusions and leaving fans with a range of emotions.

• “Your mother was Lyanna Stark. And your father, your real father, was Rhaegar Targaryen. You’ve never been a bastard. You’re Aegon Targaryen, true heir to the Iron Throne.”
  – Samwell Tarly finally reveals to Jon Snow his true identity and confirms one of the most popular fan theories.
• “Nothing Else Matters. Only Us.”
  – Jaime Lannister to his sister and paramour, Cersei, as the Red Keep’s walls come crumbling down around them. It is also a call back to season one.
• “What’s West Of Westeros?”
  – Arya Stark to her siblings when asked what she is going to do next.
• “And Who Has A Better Story Than Bran The Broken?”
  – Tyrion Lannisters to the Lords and Ladies present after the Seven Kingdoms are left with no concrete successor to the Iron Throne. He suggest the next ruler should be none other than Bran Stark.

What is your all-time favorite quote from the show or the books? Let us know in the comments.

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