Ranking the Best Bleach Quotes (2024)

Bleach's status as one of the big three titles in anime is due in part to the series being full of memorable lines. The anime is full of amazing quotes that are inspiring and philosophical, while also having its comedic moments too. Some of the best and most memorable quotes in the entire series come from Ichigo Kurosaki, which just further cements his status as one of anime's best protagonists.

Part of the reason why Bleach is one of the most rewatchable retro anime despite its age is that its epic story features such beautiful dialogue that becomes hard to forget. The best Bleach quotes are often proof that those who fight for what they believe in will always come out on top, with Ichigo proving this sentiment on his journey as a Soul Reaper.

Updated on August 7, 2024, by Natasha Elder: As Bleach is returning with their third season of Thousand-Year Blood War in October of this year, we thought it would be appropriate to take another look at what makes the show great, including the quotes. We added several new entries to this list, as well as expanded on why previously included quotes are some of Bleach's best. Additionally, we have re-formatted the article to fit with current articles.

15 "If Miracles Only Happen Once..."

Ichigo Kurosaki, Bleach, Episode 58, "Release! The Black Blade, the Miraculous Power"

Ichigo Kurosaki and Byakuya's epic rematch battle was not only one of Byakuya's best fights in Bleach, but also one of the best fights in Bleach entirely. During the fight, Ichigo delivers one of his most memorable lines. Early in the fight, Byakuya warns Ichigo that he will only get a single miracle per battle and that he will regret not slitting Byakuya's throat when he had the chance.

Later, Ichigo would taunt Byakuya with this iconic Bleach statement after deftly avoiding his attacks. Ichigo then appears behind Byakuya and asks him what a second miracle would be called before stabbing him for a satisfying moment that shows how skill and perseverance truly matter. It is through his persistent efforts, not a miracle, that Ichigo overcame Byakuya and ultimately won this fight. While this moment was epic, there are quotes that stand out more due to their deeper meaning, which is why this line remains at the bottom of this list.

14 "This Thing in My Hand Is the Heart?"

Ulquiorra Cifer, Bleach manga; Chapter 354, pages 2-4

Bleach's Espada of Emptiness, Ulquiorra Cifer, was one of the most memorable antagonists in Bleach, and he delivered a particularly emotional quote during his death scene. Ulquiorra's cold exterior and indifferent attitude at times made him seem heartless, but he appeared to have a striking revelation as he lay dying. Ulquirroa’s deeper contemplation about hearts and worthiness made him a Bleach villain that fans loved.

It may have come too late for him, but Ulquiorra realizing he could be entrusted with a heart resulted in a show of emotion that was a beautiful moment for the character. Even if it came in his last moments, his dying declaration added further complexity to an amazing character. His final assessment and inspection of the heart in his hand is very in character in its calmness, but still adds depth in an intriguing way.

13 "The Difference in Ability, What About It?"

Ichigo Kurosaki, Bleach manga; Chapter 347, pages 15-16

When facing Ulquiorra Cifer, Ichigo delivered an amazing line about not giving up even when the odds were against him. There are often parallels between Ichigo and his villains in Bleach, and that includes being too stubborn to give up. Despite the fact that he often faces villains who are more powerful than him on the surface, his determination lets him eke out the wind.

At the end of the day, this level of perseverance is what made Ichigo so powerful and able to take on the evil antagonists in the series. This Bleach quote shows Ichigo's determination and perfectly illustrates the power that comes when one believes in themselves. Additionally, it alludes to the fact that leaving before trying means that one will never grow. It is only through taking challenges on that one will improve.

12 "Revenge Is Just the Path You Took To Escape Your Suffering."

Ichigo Kuroskai, Bleach: Hell Verse

Bleach's story is often driven by tales of revenge, and Ichigo is a smart enough character to recognize that many of those he faces are being fueled by a desire for vengeance. With this Bleach quote, Ichigo is easily able to get into his opponent's head and play top-tier mind games, which is one part of why he's considered the greatest shonen protagonist.

This Ichigo quote also serves as a reminder that there are better approaches to happiness than seeking revenge, as well as better ways to handle trauma. While revenge may seem like an enjoyable path to pursue, there are often better ways to deal with suffering. Ultimately, enacting revenge doesn’t actually result in a respite for the perpetrators, instead letting them dwell in their negative feelings as a form of escape from the pain.

11 "Would I Still Be Able to Say 'I Love You' the Same Way I Do Today?"

Gin Ichimaru, Bleach, Episode 308, "Sayonara...Rangiku"

Gin Ichimaru was one of the most intriguing double agents in Bleach, and part of his complexity is encapsulated in this Bleach quote. This contemplation is an interesting think piece about how personal connection changes one’s reaction to horrific deeds. Additionally, this thought experiment begs the question of how instinct-driven actions differ from those done with forethought.

It is at times difficult to make a truly lasting bond with people, be it friends, family, or other loved ones, and keeping that bond going requires time and effort. Breaking those bonds is a lot easier, and it often only takes one simple action to do irreversible damage. When Gin contemplates this scenario, he is asking himself if one terrible action would be all that is needed to overcome a more extensive history of comradery.

10 "I Just Defeated Them Because I Had to Defeat Them."

Ichigo Kurosaki Bleach manga; Chapter 379, pages 12-13

It is easy to think that anime protagonists are undefeatable, that their power is limitless and their strategies unparalleled. When looking back at Ichigo’s fights, and his series of victories, it is sometimes hard to remember his struggles. Ichigo’s quote is a reminder of the fact that he is often thrown into scenarios with no easy solution, and that he is someone that is doing his best despite the fact he often doesn't have time to plan.

At the end of the day, he fights against, and beats, the antagonists that he comes up against because he has to. There is no getting around the fact that they could deal deadly amounts of damage if he doesn’t stand in their way. Instead of overthinking the situation, or panicking about it, Ichigo just does what he needs to, which speaks to his character’s strength. While this quote is a good summary of Ichigo’s mindset, there are other, more compelling Bleach quotes, which is why this line is ranked at number ten.

9 "A Victor Must Speak Not of the Current State of the World, But of How It Should Rightfully Be."

Sosuke Aizen, Bleach, Episode 310, "Ichigo's Resolution! The Price of the Fierce Battle"

Sosuke Aizen is an interesting case of a good guy turned villain when he became disillusioned with what they were doing due to the lack of true change. However, he took thoughts of change to the extreme, planning on killing the Soul King and replacing him as the crux of reality, thus obtaining control of Soul Society, Hueco Mundo and the human realm. To this end, this quote about looking to the future of the world as a victor is incredibly relevant.

His plans are by no means short-sighted, as he aims to vastly change society for all existence. Similarly, viewers should keep in mind the changes they want to see and work towards those, instead of dwelling only on all the problems of the present. While Sosuke’ goal was villainous, the lesson he imparted about viewing how things should be is valuable.

8 "...It’s Meaningless To Just Fight. I Want To Win!"

Ichigo Kurosaki, Bleach manga; Chapter 110, page 9

Ichigo's best quotes find him constantly pushing himself and being steadily driven to succeed. Villains in anime are often evil for the sake of it, fighting for no other reason than to sow chaos or seek revenge — and it is often the reason for their defeat. Ichigo proves his dedication to acting heroically through this Bleach quote, and he remains determined to live a meaningful life that ends victoriously for him.

It is clear that Ichigo has noble aspirations, and these words to live by have no doubt aided him in achieving his goals. Furthermore, this quote indicates that Ichigo wants to do more than simply survive or fight for survival for the rest of his life. It is only by winning the overall war that he will have the freedom to continue living in happiness.

7 "...The Instant You Find Yourself on the Battleground, Both Sides are Evil."

Shunsui Kyoraku, Bleach manga; Chapter 375, pages 13-14

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As the captain of the 1st Division, as well as the Captain-Commander, of the Gotei 13, it would have been expected for Shunsui Kyoraku to have a very stark view on the morality of fighting, as well as a very serious character. Instead, he is laid-back and loves joking around, even with his enemies. He also has a much more measured view of war than one would expect from someone who is very skilled at it.

The fact that Shunsui acknowledges that both sides engaged in war are ultimately in the wrong for participating is interesting. It is a reminder not only to the other characters in Bleach, but also the audience that no one is wholly in the right when death is involved, and only those willing to claw their way to victory no matter the cost will survive.

6 "'War' Refers to a Conflict in Which Both Sides Fight for Justice."

Hidetomo Kajomaru, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, Season 1, Episode 3, "March of the Starcross"

Hidetomo Kajomaru’s view on war is also intriguing. While he doesn’t have quite the same message as Shunsui, Hidetomo’s comment that both sides of a war believe that they have the moral high ground is an interesting acknowledgment, given the tendency to only believe in the righteousness of one’s own side. This is especially true for a character like Hidetomo, who, as a member of the Gotei 13 prior to his death, the audience is primed to see as a good guy, and thus unequivocally in the right.

This Bleach quote serves as a good reminder to consider the perspective of others. Everyone has reasons for doing the things that they do, but no understanding can be reached without empathy. While altercations are inevitable, some sympathy may be given for those that are only doing what they believe to be justice from their perspective.

5 "There is No Individual Sense of Justice That Can Overrule the Justice of the World."

Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Bleach manga; Chapter 155, page 22

Yamamoto delivers this powerful quote about the importance of upholding the justice of the world instead of the justice of the individual, which would inherently carry biases in it. As the commander of Gotei 13, Yamamoto has lived a long life filled with many battles, and he knew there was power in never backing down, as long as this determination was kept in line with a justice that is beneficial to everyone. This lesson is valuable enough to earn this Bleach quote the number five spot on this list.

Few characters were strong enough to beat Yamamoto in Bleach, and he was considered the strongest Soul Reaper for a reason. Yamamoto's words beautifully illustrate his beliefs and deliver an important message to always fight for what is right. These words also work as reminder to serve the community over the self when possible, as it is only by benefitting the whole that the individual can set up long-term success for everyone.

4 "...Give Me a Strong Blade, and Enough Strength...to Shatter Fate."

Ichigo Kurosaki, Ichigo Kurosaki, Bleach manga; Chapter 0 Side A, pages 8-9

Bleach centers around Ichigo, but he's often joined by his friends in battle. While Ichigo is a self-driven individual who fights for his own cause, he is a good friend as well, and he wants to get stronger to better protect his friends, too. He is even willing to shatter fate itself in order to protect those he loves, and is determined to find the power to change his destiny, as well as that of his friends.

Ichigo finds strength in his friendships, and as a result, he's driven to become stronger himself. It's important for Ichigo to be there for his friends and back them up in their time of need — just like they help him — and this quote nicely illustrates how far Ichigo is willing to go in order to ensure the safety of not only himself, but those around him, as well.

Byakuya Kuchiki, Bleach, Episode 58, "Release! The Black Blade, the Miraculous Power"

Byuakuya's thought-provoking words poignantly illustrate how overconfidence can lead to one's downfall. Perhaps the best part about his words to Ichigo is how arrogantly he delivers them, ultimately proving his own hypocrisy. As Buyakuya confronts Ichigo, he scoffs at the idea of Ichigo truly having a Bankai and arrogantly dismisses Ichigo as being of lowly status.

Despite the delivery of this Bleach quote, in the end, Buyakuya's sentiment ends up being an important reminder to be humble. One shouldn’t count one as victorious until their goals are actually achieved, because it is easy to make mistakes when one is no longer paying close attention. Full effort should always be given, particularly in competitive spaces, even when one believes they are the best. Byuakuya’s quote actually describes Ichigo fairly well, given that he is relatively humble about his skills and yet almost always comes out on top.

2 "I Hate Perfection."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Bleach manga; Chapter 306, pages 4-6

Mayuri Kurotsuchi is proof that even Bleach's villains can deliver thought-provoking words to live by. In a long monologue to Szayelaporro Granz, Mayuri rants about people's desire for perfection and how detestable it is to aspire to be perfect. While this may seem like a weird sentiment at first, it actually makes a lot of sense when he explains his mindset.

With his scientific mind, Mayuri loathes perfection, remarking that if one were to achieve it, there would be no room for improvement. These are very wise words, and they go to show that while striving for perfection may seem like a noble pursuit, in the end it would actually end up being fruitless. Additionally, it is a good reminder that improvement is a natural part of life, and thus one should not be disheartened to find they require improvement in certain areas.

1 "I Want to Protect a Mountain-Load of People."

Ichigo Kurosaki, Bleach manga; Chapter 47, page 11

As with many shōnen protagonists, Ichigo’s primary goal is to protect others. He wants to save not only those close to him, but also innocent strangers that don’t deserve death. This quote perfectly captures Ichigo’s mentality, which is why it is at the top of this list. He knows that he can’t save everyone, but he continues improving to save more than his current limitations would allow.

Knowing one’s limits is key to improving without hurting oneself in the process. Ichigo acknowledges the fact that he is not a super-human capable of accomplishing miraculous feats, but that’s what makes him relatable. He is fallible, but puts himself in the way of danger, anyway, because it is the right thing to do. Ichigo is determined to do his best, and in the process, he will protect a “mountain-load” of people.

Bleach

TV-14

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Bleachrevolves around Kurosaki Ichigo, a regular always-grouchy high-schooler who for some strange reason is able to see the souls of the dead around him.

Release Date

October 5, 2004

Cast

Masakazu Morita , Fumiko Orikasa , Hiroki Yasumoto , Yuki Matsuoka , Noriaki Sugiyama , Kentarô Itô , Shinichirô Miki , Hisayoshi Suganuma

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

17 Seasons

Creator

Tite Kubo

Production Company

TV Tokyo, Dentsu, Pierrot

Number of Episodes

366 Episodes

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu , Prime Video