7 unforgettable Game of Thrones quotes (and their significance)

When it comes to memorable lines, Game of Thrones has a fair few. Everyone knows “winter is coming.” There are other significant lines from the series, lines that apply as much to the lives of people today as they do to characters in Westeros. They are quotes that we can live by. Let's look at the top seven most unforgettable quotes from the show, and explore why they matter.

“When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.”

Cersei Lannister said this to Ned Stark in Game of Thrones season 1, episode 7, before Ned’s death. Cersei had grown used to the world of King’s Landing. She knew what it took to remain in power, and she knew Ned was too much of a loyal person to keep up with her.

The quote reminds us that we need to be ready for everything the game of thrones throws at you. Even Cersei was outmaneuvered in the very end.

“What is dead may never die.”

This is the first part of the House Greyjoy motto. Most people stop here, but the motto continues: “but rises again harder and stronger.”

This reminds us that we can’t be afraid of death. After all, the dead won’t die. If we make major sacrifices in life, we can end up being much stronger in mind and body. This is significant when it comes to Theon Greyjoy, who metaphorically died when he was tortured by Ramsey Bolton. However, he rose up stronger and was able to get Sansa Stark away from Ramsey's clutches, and then sacrificed his life to help the fight against the Night King.

“What do we say to the God of Death? Not today.”

When Ned Stark realized that Arya wasn’t like Sansa, he made sure she got the lessons she needed to thrive. That led him to hire Syrio Forel, her “dancing instructor” who taught her how to sword-fight. He shared this quote with Arya, setting her up for a life of fighting against the God of Death.

Arya kept having to deal with deady situations. She was held captive, she lost her sight, and she even went up against the Night King and survived. As a girl, she accepted that today was not the day she would die, and she lived by this mantra as a woman.

“If you think this has a happy ending, you haven’t been paying attention.”

Ramsey Bolton said this while he was torturing Theon Greyjoy in the show's third season. Looking back, it’s like he was talking right at the viewer.

After all, the stories on Game of Thrones didn’t have traditional happy endings. While Sansa became Queen of the North, it wasn’t without a fight. While Arya did end up becoming a Faceless Man, it wasn’t without sacrifice and hardship. Jon Snow’s fight against the Night King and then Cersei wasn’t everything he expected it to be. None of the Starks really ended their journeys in the ways we hoped they would. To be honest, none of the characters really did. We should have been paying attention.

“Always keep your foes confused. If they are never certain who you are or what you want, they cannot know what you are like to do next.”

Littlefinger wasn’t one to trust, but he did have some brilliant lines. This quote makes it clear that he knew what the game of thrones was all about. While he ended up losing, it’s because his own quote was used against him.

This quote is significant because Littlefinger ended up tricked. He tried to get Sansa to act against Ayra and Jon, only to end up with Bran and Ayra working with Sansa to take out Littlefinger and prevent him from causing more chaos.

“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."

We spend our whole lives trying to avoid our flaws. We’re always worried that someone will see them and use them against us. Tyrion Lannister knew that better than anyone, and he realized how to turn it on its head.

He would always allow people to underestimate him because of his stature. Yet he was the smartest man in Westeros, and he regularly found his way out of trouble. When you accept your flaws, you’re able to see how you can use them to your own advantage.

“The lone wolf dies but the pack survives.”

This is a popular Stark quote, uttered by a couple of characters throughout Game of Thrones. Alone, they will die one by one. When they are together, they remain strong. Don’t let others come between you and your loved ones, or you will all be weakened.

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