The first episode of the Pokemon anime aired in Japan in April 1997. That episode introduced you to Ash, Pikachu, Professor Oak, and other memorable characters. Since then, the show has introduced memorable characters like Misty, Brock, Team Rocket, May, Max, Dawn, Serena, Lillie, and countless others.
In addition to having great animation and awesome opening theme songs, Pokemon has also had some great quotes spoken by its cast of characters over the years. Ash Ketchum is an incredibly dedicated and persistent protagonist, so he's made some inspiring declarations of intent and professions of loyalty. In other words, Ash and his friends have said some cool stuff, and we are going to look at some Pokemon quotes still worth living by.
Updated July X, 2023 by Kyle Laurel: The Pokemon anime as we know it is over, and the last few episodes definitely gave us a few gems. With decades of episodes to revisit and remember, it's given us another perspective on some of the best things said. Here's an updated list with some newer quotes to keep us inspired!
14 "There's No Sense In Going Out Of Your Way To Get Somebody To Like You."
This first quote comes from Ash Ketchum himself, and it teaches us to have more pride in who we are. Ash has always been a brash and energetic kid, and he rarely shows any self-consciousness or concern that others may not like him.
We can all learn from this 10-year-old kid and just be who we are without trying too hard to be a more likable or popular version of ourselves. We should just be who we are meant to be, and we shouldn't try to change that for the sake of what other people will say.
13 "It's Lavender."
This quote comes from James of Team Rocket after Meowth says, "Don't worry your blue little head." James corrects Meowth by telling him that his hair is actually lavender-colored.
This small exchange actually makes a strong point; we should always be proud of who we are. We shouldn't let misconceptions about us go unattended. If your hair is lavender and someone calls it blue, you should correct them. That's your lavender hair, and you shouldn't let anybody take that away from you.
12 "All The Things That Happen Each Day...Every One Of Them Matters."
As you'll soon see, the last episode of Pokemon Journeys and the anime as a whole is an absolute goldmine of great quotes. In fact, most of them come from Ash's monologue (or dialogue with Pikachu) about what it means to be a Pokemon Master.
This particular tidbit comes as Ash talks about why he wants to continue having adventures. By continuing to explore all corners of the Pokemon world, he exposes himself to many everyday experiences that can shape his character. Thus, he can't take any days for granted, and neither should we.
11 "Everybody Makes A Wrong Turn Once In A While."
In Pokemon Heroes, Ash and his Totodile were on pace to win the Tour de Alto Mare, a water chariot race, until they veered off-course thanks to Latios misdirecting them. After not finishing the race, Totodile was visibly apologetic, but Ash wasn't bothered as he uttered this gem.
Ash was a compassionate Trainer who wouldn't chew his Pokemon out for making mistakes, and that's something anyone can apply to themselves. No matter how hard we try, no one's perfect, and we aren't going to win everything in life. And that's OK.
10 "Do You Always Need A Reason To Help Somebody?"
Yet another quote from Ash Ketchum that challenges the idea of only helping somebody when there is something to be personally gained from it. There's hardly a more straightforward representation of his character, and it's part of why Ash can be such an admirable protagonist.
We should always be happy and willing to help people, and we shouldn't need an inclination or reward to do so. We're all human beings, and we all have our low points. The world would be a better place if there were always people there to help us at our low points.
9 "Hey, I'll Use My Trusty Frying Pan As A Drying Pan."
This one comes from Brock during his time as one of Ash's traveling partners, and it's one that's lived on in meme lore. He says this while he, Ash, and Misty are caught out in the rain at a dismal point in their journey.
Brock then puts his frying pan over his head and says these iconic words. Not only is it funny and creative, but it also shows us how to use what we have to make the best out of difficult situations. Brock could have just sat there soggy and sad, but he instead used his frying pan as a makeshift umbrella.
8 "I Wanna Make Friends With All The Pokemon In The World. That's Gotta Be What It Means To Be A Pokemon Master."
In his aforementioned monologue in Pokemon's last episode, Ash concludes that he hasn't completed his goal of becoming a Pokemon Master despite becoming Champion of the Pokemon world. Rather, he wants to make friends with every single Pokemon because that's gotta be what completes his mission. That's gotta be, he says. He isn't quite sure yet.
Maybe we aren't quite sure what it really means to do what we do. And Ash, in the final moments of the anime, shows there's no pressure to be sure right away, or even at all, as long as we're doing what we love and doing it with compassion.
7 "You See, Sometimes Friends Have To Go Away, But A Part Of Them Stays Behind With You."
Ash is no stranger to saying goodbye to friends. Over the course of the series, he's had to endure difficult goodbyes with traveling partners going their separate ways; those of Misty and the Alola gang come to mind. He's also had to release several of his partner Pokemon, whether leaving Greninja in Kalos for the region's safety, Butterfree leaving with his new mate, or releasing Pidgeot in its home of Viridian Forest.
However, this quote shows us that, even if those friendships are split apart by miles and miles of space, that doesn't mean they're over, or they never meant anything. We all leave little parts of ourselves with our friends.
6 "From Now On, I Swear I'll Never Run Away And Leave My Friends Behind Again. No More Excuses."
Contrary to the other quotes listed here, this quote comes from Ash's time as a beginner, specifically at a low point in his journey, when his carelessness put his then-Metapod in danger. This one is a declaration of intent from Ash to show that he won't abandon his friends anymore, and is probably a formative experience that would turn him into the selfless, compassionate Trainer he's known to be.
We should all stand by our friends through even the most intimidating challenges. Friends are there for one another through thick and thin, and Ash Ketchum would come to understand this after his initial rookie mistake.
5 "When I Become A Pokemon Master Someday, You'll Be There, Right?"
Here's one to finally drive home the friendship theme of the last few quotes. This was Ash's last important line of dialogue in the anime, and fittingly enough, he said it to Pikachu. It reaffirmed what Ash has stood for throughout his time as the protagonist. No matter what happened, his partnership with Pikachu has endured since day one.
That's what the bestest of friends do, and that's what we can do with the ones we love. Ash's journey, as linear as it looks sometimes, was rocky, and his friends and Pokemon stuck by his side the whole way. The power of friendship is a cheesy plot trope, but it's reassuring to have, and fulfilling to live by in real life.
4 "A Caterpie May Change Into A Butterfree, But The Heart That Beats Inside Remains The Same."
Thanks to the process of evolution, the Pokemon series involves many transformations. However, the truth is that human beings evolve in their own way, as well. Beyond the physical process of growth and getting older, people change their personalities, tastes, and attitude over the years.
Despite that process of transformation, there is still at least a part of that same person underneath. In the same way that Butterfree is still Caterpie deep down, or a Snorlax is just a big and sleepier Munchlax, we are all just the culmination of all our past selves. It takes knowing that to make the changes to ourselves, we need to make them over time.
3 "You Can't Expect To Win Every Single Battle..."
Here's a quote that shares a similar sentiment to Ash's quote to Totodile, and it's one Ash heard near the beginning of his journey. The full version of this quote is: "You can't expect to win every single battle, but love's worth fighting for, and if you're brave and courageous and never quit, you can come out a winner, just like me."
This comes from Brock, and it's a particularly important one to hear after a defeat in battle. Battle losses will come, but as long as we don't stop trying to better ourselves, overcome obstacles, and remember the importance of love, we will never truly have lost.
2 "I See Now That The Circumstances Of One's Birth Are Irrelevant. It Is What You Do With The Gift Of Life That Determines Who You Are."
Mewtwo's quote in Pokemon: The Movie is one of the most recognizable in the franchise for a reason. After battling with Mew and prompting the other clone Pokemon to attack their donors, Mewtwo finally comes to this important realization and understands that the twisted nature of his creation doesn't have to define him.
This is something that everyone can learn from. Even if one had a rough upbringing or came from a broken place, that doesn't mean that they have to be defined by it. Actions and decisions determine who we are. It's about the destination and not the starting point.
1 “We Do Have A Lot In Common...
This line also comes from Pokemon: The Movie and is delivered by Meowth of Team Rocket. The full quote is:
"We do have a lot in common. The same earth, the same air, the same sky. Maybe if we started looking at what’s the same instead of looking at what’s different, well, who knows?”
What Meowth says here is incredibly poignant and easily earns the top spot on this list. Despite the many differences all of us have from one another, we will always have more in common deep down. We all live on the same planet and have the same needs. If we can just ignore the difference and focus on the similarities, maybe we can make this world a better place.