The worlds of knights and dragons are often accompanied by inspiring heroes and intriguing villains. These characters have many quotes to say that stick with viewers long after they have spoken, whether it's because it was enlightening, harsh, or simply hilarious. Here are seven of the best fantasy TV and movie quotes of all time.
7. "It's just a flesh wound!" -Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Monty Python and the Holy Grail is one of those comedies that will forever be timeless. So many of the jokes from this film are still funny to this day, with the situations being so absurd that it makes it impossible not to laugh. One such example of this is King Arthur's encounter with the black knight, where we hear the famous quote of "It's just a flesh wound!"
This quote is largely recited by anyone who has seen this movie. King Arthur's sheer frustration, along with the unyielding knight's indifference to having no arms, is what makes this line that much more hysterical.
6. "Winter is coming." -Game of Thrones
Numerous characters in HBO's Game of Thrones spout various wisecracks and analogies, revealing their morals and unique ways of thinking. However, the show's most iconic saying is one that multiple people share throughout the series. "Winter is coming" is only three words, yet it holds so much meaning for the story as a whole.
It's not just the motto of the great House Stark. It's a quote that describes the main conflict that kicks off the long string of events we see in the show. It's a warning that foreshadows the threat of the White Walkers and why the kingdoms of Westeros must band together to defeat them. This phrase is meaningful both in and out of the universe.
5. "My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." -The Princess Bride
The Princess Bride is a movie that defines the meaning of love and vengeance, with Westley embodying the former and Inigo Montoya transfixed with the latter. Montoya's anger with his father's killer comes to a head when he confronts him in the climax.
Bloodied, beaten, and running low on fumes, Montoya seemed like he would be meeting the same fate as his father when he suddenly staggered back up, continuing to fight and repeating his name. The quote is not only catchy and fun to say, but it also perfectly encapsulates the concept of revenge.
4. "Never forget what you are." -Game of Thrones
We are going back to Game of Thrones for this next one, as there is a golden line said by one of the most beloved characters. In the first season of the show, Tyrion Lannister seems to be much like his family in the way that he presents himself. He comes off as very snarky, taking digs at people and not caring if he insults them.
That facade cracks a bit when he meets Jon Snow, who gets offended when Tyrion makes note of him being the illegitimate son of Catelyn Stark. It is here that Tyrion gives Jon this advice: "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."
This quote is great advice for the audience as well. There are things about us that we simply have no control over, and the world around us can be cruel. Much like Tyrion, we shouldn't deny these parts of ourselves and embrace them instead. This quote is a good lesson for viewers to watch, while also displaying Tyrion's self-confidence!
3. "I have found that it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love." -The Hobbit
Although it is not as amazing as its predecessor, The Hobbit trilogy has many good moments and quotes that warm the heart. One such moment is a conversation between Gandalf and Galadriel in the first of these films. She asks Gandalf why he chose Bilbo Baggins to accompany him.
It is here that Gandalf expresses his disagreement with the notion that great power is what fights back against evil, and that "simple acts of kindness and love" are what push back the darkness.
This, of course, speaks true to real life as well. True change isn't done through large amounts of wealth or force. Helping those around you day after day is what brings about positive impacts.
2. "Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy." -Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is notably known as the film that shifts into a darker tone that the rest of the series follows. Not only do we see the return of Voldemort, but we also witness him kill Cedric Diggory, who was beginning to become Harry's newest friend.
It is during this dark moment for Harry that Dumbledore tells him, "Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy."
What makes this quote so potent is the fact that Dumbledore specifically chooses the word "easy" instead of something like "evil" or "wrong." It speaks to how doing the right thing is often the road less traveled, and that bad deeds are often more convenient. Harry goes through so much pain and hardship throughout the films, but it's thanks to his moral compass that he meets great allies and defeats Voldemort.
1. "That there is some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for." -The Lord of the Rings
Picking only one quote from The Lord of the Rings trilogy was extremely difficult because there are just so many memorable and impactful lines in these movies. However, out of all the quotes I could have picked, there is one that I have always thought about, and it comes from The Two Towers.
Near the end of the film, the long journey that Frodo and Samwise are on has left them battered and homesick. Sauron's ring has been a tremendous weight for Frodo to bear, and he is desperate to give up.
Samwise feels the same way, but that's when he gives a speech to Frodo about the many stories that mattered. He recounts that no matter how bad things got, the heroes in those stories didn't give up, and that the darkness was a passing thing. When Frodo asks what they are holding onto, Sam replies, "That there is some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for."
It's that last line that always manages to tear me up. We have all faced challenges that seemed impossible and made us rethink our choices. This quote speaks to the idea of hope and that all the good in this world should be cherished.
It may not be the most recognizable quote in the world, but it's an iconic one in the fantasy genre, and one that will stay with me forever!