Avatar: The Last Airbender is filled with incredibly sad moments that have caused audiences to tearbend. From the death of Katara's mother to Azula's breakdown, there are plenty of scenes that may break a viewer's heart.
However, it is often a singular quote in a scene that really causes the moment to be crushing. A:TLA is filled to the brim with funny, heartfelt, and inspiring quotes that have become iconic, and it is no different for their sad quotes as well. In fact, there are some lines that are still famous, or infamous, to this day.
Azula (The Beach)
“My Own Mother Thought I Was A Monster."
Since Azula is a cut-throat villain, it's easy to forget that she is also a child who has feelings of her own. While during her childhood she was Ozai's favorite, her mother Ursa clearly favored Zuko. This favoritism had an effect on Azula, as she was made to feel like a monster, despite the fact that she was simply a kid brought up in a violent home.
While Azula claims that she is a monster, and her actions often support these words, it is clear that her mother's opinion of her still hurts Azula to this day. When she admits this to her friends, it's one of her few vulnerable moments, and it's very sad to watch.
Katara (The Southern Raiders)
"Then You Didn't Love Her The Way I Did!"
Losing her mother Kya at such a young age is probably the saddest thing about Katara, as it haunts her throughout the series. When she finds out that Zuko can take her to her mother's murderer, Katara is desperate to make this man pay. When Sokka tries to talk her out of it, saying that Kya was his mother too, Katara yells out this line.
Katara is obviously in an emotional state and doesn't truly mean what she is saying, but it is still incredibly hurtful for Sokka to hear. The moment is shocking, and it shows just how badly these children have been affected by the ravages of war.
Zuko (Sozin's Comet: Part 2)
"I Am So, So Sorry Uncle. I Am So Sorry And Ashamed Of What I Did."
Zuko goes through a big redemption arc throughout the series, and while he is a good person by the finale, he has done a lot of awful things. One of these terrible choices was betraying his Uncle Iroh, which led to Iroh being imprisoned. When the two finally reunite after Zuko has been redeemed, Zuko is so ashamed of himself that he dreads speaking to his uncle.
When Zuko does apologize to his uncle, he breaks down crying, and it's heartbreaking to see how ashamed of himself he is. Their relationship is so vital to the series, that their reunion can't help but bring tears to audiences' eyes. Thankfully, Iroh forgives Zuko instantly, and they are together once again.
Aang (The Southern Air Temple)
"I Really Am The Last Airbender."
Being the last of his nation is one of the saddest things about Aang, and it is encapsulated in this quote. Aang remains somewhat in denial about the fate of his culture throughout the episode, so when he sees the skeleton of Monk Gyatso, he has an emotional breakdown that triggers the Avatar State. Thankfully, Katara is able to calm him down, but Aang remains upset and says this.
Aang's realization is very upsetting to hear since he is only twelve and it suddenly seems like the entire world has been placed on his shoulders. Losing one's entire culture is almost impossible to imagine, but it's a tragedy that Aang must face.
Iroh (The Tales Of Ba Sing Se)
"Little Soldier Boy, Come Marching Home."
Iroh mourning the loss of his son is the saddest moment in A:TLA. But it is the song "Leaves from the Vine" that makes it so heartbreaking, as Iroh sings the song to his late son for his birthday. The song details a brave soldier boy getting to come home after a battle, which is tragic, since Iroh's son never got to do that.
This line in the song is particularly the saddest, as this is when Iroh starts full-on sobbing over his son. Seeing such a cheerful and dignified character break down is shocking to watch, and it is almost impossible not to cry with him.
Yue (The Siege Of The North: Part 2)
"Goodbye Sokka, I'll Always Be With You."
Yue's death was one of the first really sad moments in the series. Her sacrifice leads to the return of the moon spirit, and the victory of the Northern Water Tribe in the season finale. But she leaves behind a mourning Sokka, and he can only cry out repeatedly, "She's gone. She's gone."
But before she fully becomes the moon spirit, she reappears in front of Sokka to say goodbye. She then kisses him and disappears. While the quote gives Sokka some closure, it doesn't stop Yue's death from being incredibly crushing, which this ultimately encapsulates.
Sokka (The Runaway)
"When I Try To Remember My Mom, Katara's Is The Only Face I Can Picture."
The loss of his mother is one of the saddest things about Sokka, but what makes it even more heartbreaking is that since he lost her at such a young age, he often finds it hard to remember her. When he talks to Toph about how overbearing Katara can be, Sokka admits that he has come to rely on it.
Since their mother died, Katara had always looked after Sokka, and Sokka can't help but see Katara's face when he tries to remember what his mother looked like. Sokka hadn't told anyone this before he tells Toph. So this is a very vulnerable moment for Sokka, and it is very sad to hear.
Zuko (Bitter Work)
"Come On, Strike Me! You've Never Held Back Before!"
Zuko's life is filled with sad things, and he often has to face his inner turmoil. For example, when Iroh tries to teach him how to redirect lighting, Zuko is too full of anger and pain to be able to do this technique.
He climbs to the top of a mountain during a storm, and yells at the sky to strike him so that he can practice. The audience can infer that Zuko isn't so much angry at the sky, rather he is angry at all of the suffering that he has gone through. This is also one of the final lines of the episode, leaving it on a somber note.
Toph (The Library)
"I'm Sorry Appa."
The moment that Appa is stolen by sandbenders is a hard moment to watch, but what makes the situation even worse is that Toph is there but can't do anything to save him. She is struggling to hold onto the library, and her sight is impeded by the sand below her feet.
This means that she must make a choice between letting Appa be taken, or letting her friends die. She chooses the former, but states how sorry she is as he is dragged away. This quote is incredibly sad because viewers can feel her guilt in every word, and this guilt hangs over her until Appa eventually returns.
Toph (Lake Laogai)
"He's lying."
Toph has the ability to tell when people are lying, which we first see her use on Jet when he reappears in Ba Sing Se. However, when Jet is fatally wounded in a fight against Long Feng, Toph's skill creates a very sad situation.
Jet's death is already sad enough, as the Gaang must continue on without him. They don't want to leave Jet behind, but Jet reassures them, saying "Don't worry Katara, I'll be fine." He smiles comfortingly at Katara, but as they walk away Toph sadly says to Sokka, "He's lying." Jet's bravery in his own death, and Toph's knowledge of that, makes a truly sad quote.