Constantly listed as one of the most beloved characters in the popular anime Black Clover, Yami Sukehiro is the hilarious irascible yet loving leader of the Black Bull magicians in the Clover Kingdom. Armed with a sharp tongue and hot temper, what makes Yami so lovable is the juxtaposition between his cranky attitude and his fatherly advice, making him fully rounded and extremely relatable.
Whether he's berating his mentees or knowing just when to encourage them with motivational monologues, Yami will always be one of the most delightful characters in Black Clover.
The Value Of Persistence
"Even If You Think You Might Lose, You'll Be Fine As Long As You Don't Give Up. Surpass Your Limits. The A Path Will Open Up For You."
When Yami isn't telling his young cohorts to shut up and leave him alone, he's often giving them motivational words of encouragement on the popular dark fantasy anime. One of his most common refrains is pushing Asta and the rest to be the best they can be by breaking through their ceiling of potential.
In one of his most rousingly inspirational quotes, Yami instills confidence in the Black Bull squad by teaching them the value of persistence and perseverance. It's lines like this that prove that, underneath his gruff facade, Yami is a loving father figure who wants the best for his squadmates.
An Echoed Refrain
"Surpass Your Limits. Right Here. Right Now."
The notion of surpassing one's limits is a refrain Yami often tries his best to instill in Asta and the other Black Bulls. In the previous quote, Yami spoke about the prospect of overcoming one's doubts in the future. Here, he demands his squadmates to forget about potential and self-actuate immediately. It's all part of the evolution of making the Black Bulls more confident and courageous.
By demanding such a tall task, Yami also implies that he believes that Asta and the others are finally ready to tap into their potential and truly ascend to heroic greatness. Short, sweet, and to the point, it's one of Yami's most memorable lines.
One Good Turn Deserves Another
"Protect Whatever Is Precious To You. One Day It'll Lead You To Protect Something Else."
Another invaluable piece of advice imparted by Yami to his squadmates, the Black Bull captain lets his gruff guard down and teaches the squad to always preserve and safeguard what matters most. This is important because, while the squad shares one common goal in defeating the Dark Triad, each person does so for different reasons based on their personal history.
The quote also proves Yami, for all his flaws and seemingly dispassionate demeanor, is far shrewder than he lets on. The implication in the quote suggests that investing in the present will pay priceless dividends in the future.
A Call To Arms
"This Was The First Time I've Seen Royalty That Was Labeled A Failure...If You Feel Like Fighting Against It All, Come With Me."
In the beloved demon anime, the battle between nobles and commoners plays a key role. Most Black Bull members who hail from a royal background are disallowed from looking down on commoners as inferior, a rule Yami firmly instills.
During Noelle's night training, she recalls how her family shunned her for killing her mother during childbirth. This prompts the quote from Yami, who emotionally supports Noelle by rebuking her family's disgrace and vowing to fight against the perceived injustice.
What Matters Most
"In The End, The Most Important Thing About A Magical Knight Is...Magical Power."
During their time together, the Black Bulls forge profound allies, kinships, and even romances with one another. While much of their power comes from the collective unit as a whole, Yami is quick to remind the young mages what truly matters. Their inherent mana.
The line resonates because each character's form of magic is intrinsically linked to their back story, meaning that what lies at the heart of the Black Bulls' magical resources reveals profound truths about who they are and what the future holds.
Hilarious Threats
"If You Die, I'll Kill You. That's All!"
What's a roster of memorable Yami quotes without his hilariously cranky side? In of the all-time funniest lines the powerful time-traveling anime character ever spouted, he perfectly articulates a normally nonsensical threat that adds up in the realm of Black Clover. That is, characters can die and be revived through magic.
On one hand, Yami is such a loving father figure that he can't help but impart uplifting words of encouragement. On the other, he is highly demanding and extremely hot-tempered when things don't go his way. In demanding Asta and the others to surpass their limits, he makes a ridiculous threat that perfectly encapsulates his character dichotomy.
Proudly Boastful
"Mr. Destiny, Huh? I Hate That Bastard's Guts. Who Would Even Pay Attention To Him? I Would Tear Him Apart And Do Whatever I Want."
The full gamut of Yami's conceited obscenity is found in a single line that couldn't be more memorable. He curses, he implies envy, he insults, and best of all, he brags about being the biggest badass in the galaxy.
Upon facing Mr. Destiny after the Red Threat of Fate is activated, Yami rudely dismisses the warrior's status and has no problems imagining himself victorious in a tussle. The brash self-aggrandizing is part of what makes Yami so lovable.
Shading Noelle
"I Like Strong Women, You Know. But There's Nothing Wrong With Relying On Others Sometimes, Right?"
One of the most amusing dynamics in the show is the love-hate relationship between Yami and Noelle. Fans of the show know about Yami's penchant for beautiful and strong-willed women, but here he tries to tamp down Noelle's budding fortitude by advocating for teamwork.
While Yami isn't wrong about the immense value of working together as one and having the humility to accept help from others, he's also hedging his bets a bit by ensuring he stays in control.
Hostile Gratitude
"Yeah, Yeah, Glad To Know How Much You Missed Me. Now Shut Up, Will Ya!"
In a quote that brilliantly captures his polarizing attitude on the superb supernatural slice-of-life anime, Yami voices hostile gratitude to his young mages after he returns from a long absence, during which Asta and the others thought he died. He takes immense pleasure in knowing how much the Black Bulls were concerned for his safety and whereabouts, yet quickly dashes the sentiment with a mean-spirited demand.
The laconic line delivery is made even funnier by Yami's trademark cigarette dangling from his lip as he utters it, showing how cool and casual he is one voicing love and hate in the same sentence.
Yami The Procrastinator
"Eh, It's Future Yami's Problem."
One of Yami's most relatable and endearing qualities is his laziness and tendency to procrastinate. He'll often put off till tomorrow what he could to today, which constantly creates problems for himself and the Black Bulls.
In a line that echoes how Yami feels about pressing issues, he goes full third-person in a way that also intimates his sense of self-worth. Indeed, Yami would much rather drink, smoke, and collect wild beasts than take on time-sensitive responsibilities. The funniest quotes often have a modicum of truth buried inside them, and Yami proves as much.