It is no secret that the Dragon Age series has amazing writing. A lot of work is put into the various cultures, regions, and characters. There are even amazing stories within the story. The folklore and books within the universe are just as entertaining.
So of course there are quotes worth mentioning from this game series. Picking out a small list from the thousands of lines is difficult but we tried to get a healthy mix of the funny lines and the more thoughtful ones, as well.
Updated on August 18, 2021, by Juliet Childers: "Andraste's t***!" Elegant quotes like this one always stay with us, don't they? In seriousness, the Dragon Age series has some of the most unique writing in all of games. It's somewhere between the cinematic nature of Red Dead Redemption 2 and your favorite book in the LOTR series with some Leonard Cohen tossed in for good measure. The quote dice bag is full of humor, drama, sadness, and rage just like we humans. Here are more of some of the best quotes from Dragon Age in honor of DA week here at TheGamer.
15 The Mantra Of The Grey Wardens
"In peace, vigilance. In war, victory. In death, sacrifice." — Grey Wardens
It's a simple phrase and one we hear often throughout all of the Dragon Age games due to the importance of Grey Wardens. But the phrase never hit fans so hard as when Warden-Commander of Orlais, Clarel de Chanson, says it at Adamant Fortress.
She had been totally duped by Erimond and blinded by her idealism and desire to do good. It was a sobering recontextualizing of the classic phrase and one that fans won't soon forget.
14 Alistair’s Big Line
“Swooping is bad.” — Alistair in Dragon Age: Origins
Alistair is a character with a big fandom, so of course one of his most popular lines had to be on this list. This quote is made at the beginning of the game when the player first meets Morrigan. Alistair is immediately suspicious to which Morrigan says, “You fear barbarians will swoop down upon you?” To which Alistair just agrees and says in his awkward little way, “Swooping is bad.”
This Alistair quote is most well remembered by the fans. The line at least ties with “Have you ever licked a lamppost in winter?” That one definitely deserves an honorable mention.
13 From Frenemies To Old God Baby Makers
"Great, we have a dog now and Alistair is still the dumbest one in the party." — Morrigan in Dragon Age: Origins
The Witch of the Wilds is always quick-witted and sassy, but this line just perfectly crystallizes how much Morrigan despises Alistair. She doesn't much care for Dog or most other people, of course, but she really doesn't care for the well-meaning if a bit dim at times Grey Warden.
Curiously, both characters can appear in DA: I and, if the Hero of Fereldan chose to "old God baby" strategy, they can oddly discuss how they had to set aside their differences, so to speak.
12 The Plummet To The Abyss
“We stand on the precipice of change. The world fears the inevitable plummet into the abyss. Watch for that moment, and when it comes do not hesitate to leap. For it is when we fall we learn whether we can fly.” — Flemeth in Dragon Age 2
Besides Morrigan, Flemeth is the face of Dragon Age. She has made an appearance in every game and it always seems like she knows far more than she tells. One of her best lines is from Dragon Age 2 when she gives Hawke advice about what to do when the world plummets into a coming unknown force. The quote is beautiful and speaks of risk and bravery.
However, it comes from Flemeth -- a person known to use her daughters to maintain immortality, so it's less moralistic than it is survivalist. Also, many fans liken this to the moment in DA: I where Hawke is left in the Fade (if you make that decision).
11 Sten On Taverns
“Is this some form of mass suicide?” — Sten in Dragon Age: Origins
Sten is a character that is loved for his bluntness. He is rarely afraid to say what he is thinking. It is that aspect about him that leads to this line he says when entering a tavern in Orzammar. What makes the line so funny is that it is a rather ordinary tavern.
There are drunks and it is a little rowdy. Other party members make comments such as "I hope that's the sound of someone being murdered and not singing", but Sten is just so befuddled.
10 Aveline Gets Real About Grief
"No one tells you how to mourn. And when someone says, 'move on,' you take their hand and say 'my choice.'" — Aveline Valen in DA2
Dragon Age 2 gets a ton of flak for repetitive dungeons and not visiting "more than one place". But the game is about Kirkwall and its people just as much as it is about the Hawke family. And this quote perfectly summarizes one of the key themes of DA2: grief.
Fenris must reconcile his perceived loss of family with the truth and the loss of his own bodily autonomy. Merrill must face that losing her Keeper was her fault while still pursuing safe blood magic like she wants to. Varric has to work at not blaming himself for what happens with the red lyrium, etc. And Aveline's quote never stops being relevant, poignant, or comforting.
9 A Qunari On Wisdom
"Believe in whatever you like; absent creators or whimsical gods. Follow prophets or ashkaari, or omens in the earth and sky. You will find wisdom only if you seek it." — Sten in Dragon Age: Origins
A great part of Dragon Age is that the characters are well-rounded. While Sten can be funny, he can also say really deep and thoughtful lines. Sten is known as one of the more close-minded Dragon Age characters due to his Qunari religion where much is absolute.
Despite that background, he says this deep quote about just seeking meaning in the world. He says it does not matter what you believe, as long as you have the will to seek it out. That wisdom is in the journey of belief, not the destination -- a belief fitting for someone who eventually became a Qunari Arishok.
8 Foreshadowing And A Franchise Reference
"I like the stories where the villain was the man beside you the whole time. The best villains don’t see themselves as evil. They’re fighting for a good cause and willing to get their hands dirty." — Varric in Dragon Age: Inquisition
Varric says this quote when discussing how he writes villains to The Iron Bull. What makes this quote pack a punch is that it’s Dragon Age’s villain formula in a nutshell. We see this pattern throughout the whole series!
Loghain betrays the Wardens and his King out of a sense of duty. Kirkwall is one big moralistically grey mess of POV shifting. Then, we get the dual antagonists of Corypheus and Solas who both believe that their causes are righteous and what need to be done. The moment is a nice bit of dramatic irony or "breaking the fourth wall" by the writers.
7 Morrigan On How Men View Women
“Men are always willing to believe two things about a woman: one, that she is weak, and two, that she finds him attractive.” — Morrigan in Dragon Age: Origins
Spoken like a true master of manipulation. Morrigan has managed to keep a cynical personality throughout the series while still having character development in other aspects. For example, now she is raising a son and is being a great mom! Kieran will grow into a man (hopefully?). She definitely would raise him to not fit her line about men from Origins.
Fun fact: the developers had the son of Morrigan's voice actor, Claudia Black, voice Kieran.
6 Alistair’s One-Liners
“That's what I'm here for-to deliver unpleasant news and witty one-liners!" — Alistair in Dragon Age: Origins
Alistair is someone who has dealt with a fair bit of loneliness in his life. Perhaps that's why he depends so heavily on jokes and "lightening the mood" if he senses tension or trouble. Honestly, though, a lot of characters in the series tend to deliver unpleasant news and witty one-liners.
Fans love it as not only a coping mechanism but a way to enrich characters. Alistair, in particular, deals far more in witty one-liners than bad news. According to Morrigan though, his one-liners are far from witty.
5 Isabela On Regrets
“Our mistakes make us who we are.” — Isabela in Dragon Age 2
Isabela says this line when Anders asks her if she has any regrets. He asks if there are any mistakes she would make right. Knowing Isabella, she has made plenty of them. After all, she’s a pirate who lives on the edge. However, she just says that mistakes make us who we are.
Even Anders is impressed as he replies with a bit of a back-handed compliment, “That was almost profound.” But, as a Rivaini outlaw and former slave trafficker due to debt, Isabela knows that no one comes up with pocket Aces in the regret department. It's best to just look forward and learn from your mistakes.
4 It's Too Obvious In Hindsight
“No real god need prove himself. Anyone who tries is mad or lying.” — Solas in Dragon Age: Inquisition
Solas was obviously a bit of stick in the mud when we first meet him in DA: I. But the reveal of him to be the ancient Evanuris "god" Fen'Harel was a top 10 anime betrayal that, in retrospect, everyone should have seen from a mile away.
His stories have so many holes, he's smug about ancient Elven stuff, and he says this about Corypheus. It's funny because Solas is essentially discussing pride here which is what his name means in the Elven language. Perhaps he got tired of lying.
3 Oghren When His Stuff Gets Stolen
“No one touches Oghren’s junk and lives!” — Oghren in Dragon Age: Awakening
If you are lucky enough to have Oghren with you when the Architect kidnaps your party to experiment on, you got to hear this funny line. While escaping you find that darkspawn creatures are wearing Oghren’s clothes and has his weapon. Along with the line about his junk, Oghren also hilariously says, “Hey, that thing has my things!”
The character isn't a fan-favorite like Leliana or Zevran, but his gruff, drunken demeanor still lends some levity to the game with moments like this.
2 It's Almost Like Flemeth Is Talking About Solas...
“Men's hearts hold shadows darker than any tainted creature." — Flemeth in Dragon Age: Origins
Flemeth’s lines deserve a list of their own. Her quotes all have this touch of mystery, fantasy, and wonder that make her deserving to be a major character in Dragon Age lore. Being far older than she seems, Flemeth has seen Thedas through hundreds of years. Seeing so much would make someone wise.
However, Flemeth keeps a ton of secrets. You can tell the things she says are just little musings compared to whatever storm is brewing inside her mind. Still, her lines are fantastical.
1 The Inquisitor's Had It With Y'all
"It wasn't a formally authorized treaty that saved Fereldens people. It wasn't careful diplomacy that ended your inane civil war, it was never about the organization. It was about people doing what was necessary. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a world to save. Again." — Player Character in Dragon Age: Inquisition
The Trespasser DLC puts a bow on the story of DA: I and adds a new wrinkle not before seen in a player character in the series: frustration. Utter and complete non-understanding at how someone who has defied death so many times and done the impossible just as often can be so easily taken for granted.
It's a rare glimpse of "humanity" that not even Hawke really gets in DA2 and it remains one of the most epic moments in the whole series. When the Inquisitor storms out of that room having lost their arm and perhaps their romantic partner AND organization, the players get just as fired up as the voice actor is in the game.