Fun Stuff: Words of the Wise II

Took me long enough, but today's posting will be Part II of my Words of the Wise anime quotes feature! Time for more gems of insight from anime/manga/game heroes both great and small, twisted and good. As with the previous collection, some of these are pulled from fan translations and others from official translations, but the integrity of the statement should be intact in both cases. Please enjoy!


1. "Teachings that do not speak of pain have no meaning, because humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return." -Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist

Why it rules: These are probably my favorite opening lines from any manga, and for a good reason. Not only does this phrase sum up the Elric brothers' struggles with alchemy, which demands "equivalent exchange" in creation and destruction (in other words, something cannot be created from nothing, and sacrifice of some sort is demanded), but it also provides a viewpoint for examining human reactions to pain, which naturally most of us are averse to. Whenever we encounter pain, we do not understand why we must suffer, especially if we believe there is a benevolent God watching over us. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why me? What is the purpose of suffering, the purpose of living a life where all people must suffer? There are thousands of answers to these questions, and most religions, particularly Buddhism and Christianity, believe human suffering is an inevitability brought about by human nature or original sin. Fullmetal Alchemist's idea of equivalent exchange is a fascinating concept to consider under these terms. Love and suffering, joy and anguish, happiness and sorrow often seem to go hand in hand, and sacrifice plays a central role in each of these emotions. Do we suffer because through gaining one thing precious, we are bound to lose something else? By seeking happiness, do we also seek out our own means of suffering? The answer isn't clear, but this quote is definitely worth dwelling over.

The "Fullmetal Alchemist" nearly lost everything important to him in order to regain a lost life

2. "A great love for someone, a great belief in something, a great desire to pass on a hope... if all of these things surpass time itself and create "you," wouldn't that be wonderful?" -Kurisu Makise from Steins;gate
Why it rules: In the time-traveling universe of Steins;gate, the concern arises that every time you change the past, a new "world line" branches off, forming an alternate future while maintaining a beta line where nothing was changed. Mad scientist Okarin has concerns about losing his love interest Kurisu by returning to the beta line and altering both of their experiences, pasts, and futures, but she wisely consoles him by reminding him that no matter how many different times our consciousness exists in this dimension or another, there are terms which define who we are wherever we are, the things that make you "you" and me "me." Even if we are formed by experiences, parts of us remain inherent to who we are, and those are the things that transcend all other changes and make us unique individuals that cannot be replaced by anyone else.

Kurisu's has faith that Okarin will always be Okarin no matter where he is, and that she will always love him

 3. "If there is someone you want to see, you are no longer alone anymore" - Takashi Natsume from Natsume Yuujinchou
Why it rules: Main character Natsume has every reason to feel lonely: due to his ability to see spirits from a young age, he was ostracized by classmates, foster parents, and strangers  who thought he was a liar for seeing things they could not comprehend themselves. But as he realizes as he grows older, the moment you have some precious enough that you desire to see them, you can no longer consider yourself "alone". Even if you are unable to be with them, the desire itself is what matters. A person who is truly alone has no one they feel comfortable turning to or spending time with, but when you have someone who can fulfill these things within you, you carry the thought of them inside of you and are never without that comforting presence from within.

When Natsume came to terms with his relationships with both humans and youkai such as Nyanko-sensei, he no longer felt as isolated as he did as a child

4. "I see. This. Yes. This thing in my hand is the heart" -Ulquiorra Cifer from Bleach
Why it rules: The Arrancar arcs of Bleach had their moments of cheesiness, but Ulquiorra's dying words to Orihime and Ichigo are actually quite beautiful, especially when considered in context. Earlier in the series, he has a rant against Orihime in which he says, "Hearts, you say? You humans are always so quick to speak of such things, as though you carry your hearts in the very palms of your hands... What is this 'heart'? If I tear open that chest of yours, will I see it there? If I smash open that skull of yours, will I see it there?" Granted, Orihime has well-earned a good chastisement, but in this case, her concern with hearts is real, and Ulquiorra's realization that humankind's fixation with a heart and soul isn't about a physical organ, but a summation of our beliefs, love, desires, etc is the moment when he rises above his nature as Arrancar and can at last understand Orihime's forgiveness towards him and desire to protect her friends. The quote is made especially lovely by the fact that he is reaching out towards Orihime with his hands as he says it, and sees his heart as existing in the hand reaching out to a final desire not to die.

Ulquiorra finally learns the meaning of holding a heart in the palm of a hand

 5. "I won't live as long as you have, and I'll never be as powerful. Things like saving the world and fighting goddesses are just beyond me. They're out of my reach. That's why I've always chosen to fight for the smaller things in life and the people close to me. If that means I have to fight you to protect them, then so be it" Sothe from Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Why it rules: Sothe has a bit of a rough time in Radiant Dawn what with being accused of having an uncontrollable Ike-obsession and being tied to the pesky Micaiah, but he has some of the greatest lines of the game, especially when he comes to terms with how powerless he is when facing off against enemies such as Ike himself or the ridiculously powerful Dragon King Dheginsea (the man he is speaking to in this quote). Sothe realizes his limitations and weaknesses better than anyone, but sets them aside in order to protect those most precious to him. He'll do anything to save his homeland and Micaiah, even if it means reaching higher than he is able to reach. There is nothing to be ashamed of in pushing yourself on behalf of the people you care about, and there is grace even in the failure to achieve. Even if you're a small fry compared to greater challenges, if you're defending something or someone you believe in, you can rest assured that you are sacrificing for the right thing.

Micaiah sees value in protecting the small things in life, and Sothe adopts her philosophy as well when he grows older