Highlights

  • The God of War series offers profound quotes that cover a broad range of emotions, from philosophical to funny.
  • The evolution of Kratos as a character is highlighted through meaningful quotes, showing his growth and change throughout the series.
  • The series features iconic and memorable lines that resonate with players and showcase the impactful storytelling within the games.

Video games have consistently demonstrated their potential as impactful and meaningful art forms, particularly in the realm of dramatic storytelling. The God of War series, known to most if not all of us, stands as one of the most successful series in gaming history.

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Offering profound quotes that resonate deeply, the God of War series covers a spectrum of emotions — be it philosophical, loving, inspirational, or even funny. It has gifted the gaming world with some of the most iconic and enduring lines.

Updated on January 11, 2024, by Mohamed El Ouardighi: As the series expands with each new release, we witness more of this incredible storytelling and are graced with additional quotes from Kratos and his companions. From beautiful lines that illustrate the evolution of our characters over time to heartbreaking quotes that reveal even the best among us can still face challenges, our list now has a few more entries.

This list contains spoilers for the God of War series. You are warned.

21 "Open Your Heart"

Kratos telling Atreus to open his heart, in God of War Ragnarok

The impact of this line - this whole speech, really - comes from two different sources. First, it's not used just once - it's something Faye tells Kratos, and then Kratos tells Atreus. Second, and most important, is that it contradicts the mentality Kratos had earlier, which was even used in God of War 2018 promotional material, where Kratos tells Atreus to close his heart to their enemies' suffering.

Kratos admitting he was wrong, acknowledging that his son's power comes from caring for others, and telling him to open his heart to others' suffering showed how much Kratos has grown compared to his days as a servant of the Gods.

20 "Death Can Have Me When It Earns Me"

Kratos in God of War Ragnarok.

A very powerful line, and one that indeed feels earned by the character, if you consider that he has died three times and has gone to two different after-lives.

The funniest part of all this is that, despite how powerful the line is, even being used for promotional material of Ragnarok, this is just something he drops during a conversation with Freya while you're traveling.

19 "This Is What 'Sorry' Looks Like"

Sindri, with blood over his armor, in God of War Ragnarok

He helped us with everything we needed. He gave all he could, even after he lost everything. Granted, it's not Kratos' nor Atreus' fault, but if losing Brok wasn't a terrible thing itself, the true tragedy of death is the pain it causes to the living.

And seeing Sindri go from an innocent, caring person to a completely broken man who wants revenge for Brok's death is just too sad to see. The line describes his state perfectly, as well as breaks our hearts.

18 "This Is The Point Where I Forgive You Or I Kill You"

Freya and Kratos shaking hands God of War Ragnarok

This quote also works as a silly meta joke from the developers, as most people likely thought the same when reaching this point in the story. Still, this quote marks the turning point for Freya, after she focuses her hatred on the person that deserves it, Odin.

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After all, he put her through, and realizing Kratos isn't the one to blame, even if his involvement caused her pain. Thus, the Greek God of War and the Norse Goddess of, well, many things, unite in their fight against the All-Father.

17 "To Catch A Fly From The Ass Of Zeus Is Not Worth My Time, Hermes!"

Kratos ripping Hermes' right leg in God of War 3

Leave it to Kratos to bring class and subtlety to an argument! When confronted by Hermes, the two engage in a tit-for-tat that has Kratos utter this surprisingly comedic quote before giving chase.

Kratos' words seem fitting when he finally catches up with Hermes and dispatches the snide God by cutting his legs off, thereby granting him the Boots of Hermes.

16 "Zeus! Your Son Has Returned! I Bring The Destruction Of Olympus!"

Kratos, wielding the Blade of Olympus, on top of Gaia's shoulder, in God of War 3

Kratos' unwavering quest for vengeance didn't stop at the original Greek God of War, especially following Zeus's betrayal. Recognizing that his true foe was the reigning God supreme of Olympus, Kratos pressed forward to his singular goal of killing his own father.

This quote sums up Kratos' focused rage and purposeful madness better than any other. In open defiance of powers theoretically far beyond his own, Kratos was ready to bet the entire farm on his own blood thirst.

15 "From This Night Forward, The Mark Of Your Terrible Deed Will Be Visible To All. The Ashes Of Your Wife And Child Will Remain Fastened To Your Skin, Never To Be Removed."

And old oracle, who cursed Kratos of carrying his family's ashes, from God of War

This quote comes courtesy of the Village Oracle, a woman in service to the Goddess Athena, whom Ares despised. He sent his young protegé Kratos to the village to slaughter everyone in the Temple of Athena, which would have permanent consequences.

Not only did Ares trick Kratos into inadvertently murdering his own wife and child, but the ashes of the slain would permanently mark his body as a reminder of the incident, earning him the nickname, "Ghost of Sparta."

14 "If All On Olympus Would Deny Me My Vengeance, Then All On Olympus Will Die!"

Kratos looking at Athena, who ke accidentally killed, in God of War 2

Kratos cared not for the well-being of humanity or the world at large. He was willing to slaughter anyone or anything that got in the way of his quest for supreme vengeance against Zeus.

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This quote demonstrated that Kratos was willing to run the gauntlet, and face down every God of Olympus that dared to put an end to his campaign. In the end, Gods and Demigods alike fell to Kratos' unbridled rage, until only Zeus was left.

13 "I Am What The Gods Have Made Me!"

Kratos and Lahkesis talking before their fight, in God of War 2

This particular quote is a reference to the timeless philosophical debate about the nature of free will, and whether we are truly in control of our own destinies. The concept would come up several times in subsequent God of War games.

Kratos' thirst for vengeance is driven by madness and obsession, with no light at the end of the tunnel, once his quest is complete. Though he would later pursue a new life in Midgard, Kratos' campaign of war against Olympus was, in many ways, a suicide run. It begs the question of who is truly responsible for his actions, even if the answer seems apparent.

12 "Boy!"

Kratos yelling "Boy!" as a joke, from a scene in God of War 2018

Okay, maybe it's not ALL serious in the God of War fandom. 2018's God of War was a most profound and emotionally turn for the series, but that didn't stop fans from turning one simple line into a meme.

Kratos often refers to his son Atreus as "boy" (father of the year right here), and he says it in an unemotional and threateningly deep voice. Fans found this absolutely hilarious for some reason, and a meme was created. Of all the God of War quotes throughout the years, "boy" is probably the most memorable, even if it isn't the most thoughtful or sincere. Such is what you get with the internet.

11 "You Cannot Change. You Will Always Be A Monster."

God Of War 2018 - Kratos Riding With The Spirit Of Athena After Getting His Blades Of Chaos Back

God of War concerns itself with the past and whether or not it's possible to move on from past transgressions. Athena certainly doesn't think so. After returning home to get the Blades of Chaos, Athena's spirit haunts Kratos, and she goads him about pretending to be something he is not—a father, a lover, and a good person.

She proceeds to tell him that he will always be a monster, to which Kratos agrees. However, he also says that he will be Athena's monster no more. It's a wonderful thematic statement, and it perfectly showcases Kratos' progression and development as a character.

10 "Foul Beasts! I Will Send You Back To The Depths Of Hades!"

Kratos fighting the Hydra in God of War

Here we see God of War embracing its inherent corniness. This is a far cry from the 2018 Kratos, and even the 2018 God of War, as this quote reeks of cheese. From the use of the clichéd "foul beasts" to the utter ridiculousness of "I will send you back to the depths of Hades!", this line is just pure, unadulterated nonsense, but that's why we love the early God of War games.

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This is certainly not Shakespeare, but it leaves an impression all the same. At the very least, it shows you how far video game writing has come over the years!

9 "For What You Did That Night, This City Will Be Your Grave."

God Of War Ares boss fight. Cutscene of Ares with flaming head.

It's amazing that such a cool and haunting line like this could come from the same game as the previous entry. This line perfectly encapsulates Kratos' grief, frustration, and quest for vengeance, and it proves that old wounds never truly heal.

It also helps portray Kratos as an unthinking killing machine who will do anything to pursue his quest for vengeance, bloodshed, and further violence. With this line, we all fell in love with Kratos, and we knew that video games had a new antihero.

8 "Tell Him He Is Not Safe While I Walk The Earth."

Kratos approaching a city, from God of War artwork

As if we needed more assurance that Kratos was the baddest dude on the planet, he goes and says one of the most iconic lines of the series to the harpy: "Tell the God of War I am his no longer! Tell him he is not safe while I walk the Earth."

It really doesn't get any cooler or more threatening than that. Here is Kratos, threatening a literal God and indirectly telling him that he will never be safe so long as he is alive.

7 "You Challenge Me, Mortal? A God Of Olympus?"

Poseidon boss fight from God of War 3

God of War 3 has what is perhaps the greatest boss introduction in the entire series. We watch as the absolutely massive Poseidon slowly rises, and when he stands tall, he dwarfs Kratos with his sheer size and might. To make the situation scarier, he growls this iconic line while rising, complete with some spectacular sound design that makes his voice sound unnatural and unworldly.

We've fought some creepy things in the past, but Poseidon takes the cake. He accurately conveys the epic, almost Lovecraftian scope of the Gods, and he is now fondly remembered as one of the greatest boss fights of the series.

6 "In The Direction Of Deer."

Kratos and Atreus hunting a deer in God of War

This is one of the most deceptively funny exchanges from God of War:

Atreus: "What are we hunting?"

Kratos: "You are hunting deer."

Atreus: "What direction?"

Kratos: "In the direction of deer."

It sounds funny, and it is, but it's also a deft representation of the game's themes surrounding adulthood and maturation. It's time for Atreus to accomplish goals on his own, without the help of Kratos, who pushes him in that direction. It speaks to the time in our lives when we must strike out on our own and start doing things for ourselves without the guidance of our guardians.

5 "Don't Be Sorry. Be Better."

Kratos and Atreus traveling through Midgard

This is such a direct and simple line, but it says so much. We're surprised that it's not a common adage. There's a lot of meaning packed behind these simple words. On the surface, Kratos speaks about Atreus' need to be better at what he attempts to do.

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But one could also interpret it as Kratos telling Atreus to be better than he was and avoid the pitfalls that he fell into. It speaks a lot to the pain of growing up and of failing at the things we try. But that's just a part of the learning process. Eventually, we will be better, and we will be better people because of it.

4 "We Are Not Men, We Are More Than That. The Responsibility Is Far Greater, And You Must Be Better Than Me. Understand?"

Kratos holding the hands of his son Atreus God of War

We are familiar with Kratos' history, acknowledging the numerous and sometimes unforgivable mistakes he made in the past. Kratos, burdened by regrets from his old decisions, is determined to prevent his son from treading the same destructive path.

In a reflection of universal parental concern, Kratos, like any father, strives to steer his son away from repeating the same mistakes. This growth and maturity in Kratos over the years emphasize his aspiration for his son to surpass him and become a better individual.

3 "Because You Are Afraid Of It."

Kratos fighting a group of enemies in God of War

When Atreus asks why they would fight something so threatening and imposing, Kratos simply answers, "Because you are afraid of it." It's another simple sentiment, but it also profoundly speaks to the process of getting better and overcoming obstacles.

Kratos knows that there is no better way to get over fear than to face it head-on, and he relays this information to a hesitant Atreus to make him a stronger person. Kratos may not say much, and he may be rather cold and distant, but no one can deny that he's trying his best.

2 "I Killed Many Who Were Deserving And Many Who Were Not"

Atreus is looking at Ktaros God of War

​​​​​​​This iconic scene occurs towards the end of God Of War 2018, where Kratos kills Baldur and faces Freya's confrontation. Freya asserts that Kratos has not changed, drawing on her knowledge of his past. In this moment, Kratos decides to reveal the truth to Atreus about killing his own father.

Confessing such a profound and unsettling truth to his son requires immense courage. Kratos may have kept it hidden, possibly to shield Atreus, but this revelation underscores a significant transformation in Kratos. Witnessing this character development is truly powerful, and it's a scene that personally gave me goosebumps.