Summary

  • Walter White delivers some of the most memorable quotes in Breaking, showing the duality of the character.
  • Walt's increasing power allows him to become more ruthless, intimidating even the most dangerous criminals.
  • Many Walter White quotes highlight his journey to being a more powerful drug lord while also showing his downfall where he realizes what it cost him.

The best Walter White quotes from Breaking Bad remind fans of the show why Walter (Bryan Cranston) was one of the most compelling protagonists on television for years, with longtime viewers never knowing whether to root for him or despise him. His slow and scary descent from a timid high school chemistry teacher to a drug lord that no one dare cross was riveting through every episode of the series. With memorable Walter White quotes, it didn’t take more than a few words and a menacing look to have even the most hardened criminals shaking in their boots.

Many of the best Breaking Bad moments and quotes belong to Walter because, aside from the fact that he's the main character, the part of Walter White is a clearly defined dual role. He's both the thoughtful family man known as Walt and the ruthless criminal kingpin that he dubs Heisenberg. As a result, he gets the lion's share of speeches and monologues throughout Breaking Bad, becoming more commanding and frightening with each passing season. The best Walter White quotes range from hilarious to chilling.

Breaking Bad is available to stream on Netflix

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30 “My Name Is Walter Hartwell White. I Live At 308 Negra Aroya Lane, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87104.”

Season 1, Episode 1, "Pilot"

Walter White with the video camera in the opening scene of Breaking Bad

“My name is Walter Hartwell White. I live at 308 Negra Aroya Lane, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87104. To all law enforcement entities, this is not an admission of guilt. I am speaking to my family now. Skyler, you are the love of my life. I hope you know that. Walter Jr., you’re my big man. There are going to be some things that you’ll come to learn about me in the next few days. I just want you to know that no matter how it may look, I only had you in my heart. Goodbye.”

The first scene in Breaking Bad is not only Walt's first words in the show, but also contains some of his most memorable — his (as he believes at the time) final words to his family. Funnily enough, Walt says them while believing that the police are about to close in on him and that they will be his last. As such, they're an invaluable insight into his character that many fans may have missed as the opening is so action-packed.

Walt's first thought about his wife, Skyler (Anna Gunn), also seems very sweet at first but the fact that he has to "hope" that Skyler knows that he loves her rather than him knowing that he's proved that to her says a lot.

Walt's refusal to admit wrongdoing or guilt is here from the word go. Walt's first thought about his wife, Skyler (Anna Gunn), also seems very sweet at first but the fact that he has to "hope" that Skyler knows that he loves her rather than him knowing that he's proved that to her says a lot. He also has a caring and personal nickname for his son (RJ Mitte), his "big man", but this shows how Walt infantilizes his son and that Walt is fully aware the whole time of what his actions could do to Walter Jr.

29 "These Doctors Talking About Surviving. One Year, Two Years, Like It's The Only Thing That Matters."

Season 1, Episode 5, "Gray Matter"

Walt embracing Skyler from behind in the kitchen in Breaking Bad

While it was hard to feel sorry for Walt once his Heisenberg persona kicked in, the first season of the series does present him as a much more sympathetic character. While his way of dealing with his cancer diagnosis led to a lot of bad decisions, his heartbreaking admission to his family about why he doesn't want to seek treatment is understandable in some way.

In one of the more hearbreaking yet poignant Walter White quotes, Walt explains that he wants to experience the best of life while he has it. He doesn't want to spend the last years of his life in a hospital, too sick and too tired to experience any of it. It is also a sign that Walt's life is not previous to him, and he is more interested in what he can leave behind. This feeds into his powerful ego and takes a twisted journey into his descent into the criminal world.

28 "It Can Be Done Exactly As I Want It. The Only Question Is, Are You The Man To Do It."

Season 5, Episode 8, "Gliding Over All"

Bryan Cranston as Walter White standing in his home in Breaking Bad

The more power Walt gets, the more ruthless he becomes. It gets to a point where what he is willing to do is something that does not even occur to other ruthless people. Uncle Jack and his band of violent neo-Nazis are brought in on a job to take out all of Mike Ehrmantraut's former men who are now serving prison sentences. In order to ensure that each of the loose ends is tied up, Walt wants the hit carried out simultaneously across multiple prisons, something Jack assures him isn't possible.

The way Walt doesn't flinch when he stands by his plan and challenges Jack to see it through shows there is no one left who intimidates Walt. His callousness is even more memorable given that the scene in which his plan is carried out is one of Breaking Bad's most disturbing moments.

27 "Because Your Boss Is Going To Need Me. 6353 Juan Tabo, Apartment 6."

Season 3, Episode 13, "Full Measure"

Walter White looking angry in Breaking Bad

While Walt did eventually die at the end of Breaking Bad, he also managed to escape death more than any other character on the show. In some cases, it was pure luck that allowed Walt to walk away with his life. In other cases, he outsmarted his enemies and proved he was willing to resort to some shocking tactics.

When Walt and Jesse become a problem for Gus Fring's operations, Walt is taken and planned to be executed. He agrees to call Jesse and lure him into a similar trap, but instead sends Jesse to kill Gale Boetticher, thus leaving Gus with no backup cook. It is not often Mike is taken by surprise but the look on his face when Walt says Gale's home address solidifies that Walt got one over on them — and thanks to the chilling delivery by Bryan Cranston, it remains one of the most harrowing Walter White quotes.

26 "You Kill Me, You Have Nothing. You Kill Jesse, You Don't Have Me."

Season 4, Episode 1, "Box Cutter"

Walt's plan to have Gale killed and thus protect himself is a smart one, but Walt knows he hasn't fully secured his safety. What follows is an incredibly intense scene in which Walt and Jesse are brought before Gus with their fates left in his hands. Walt is a man who feels he can talk his way out of anything but he also talks when he is nervous.

As Gus silently dons a Hazmat suit and prepares a box cutter, Walt begins explaining why it is impossible to kill him and Jesse. However, there is a sense that Walt is trying to convince himself as much as he is trying to convince Gus.

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25 "I Know You Despise Me And I Know How Much You Want To See Me Dead. But I'm Willing To Bet There's A Man That You Hate Even More."

Season 4, Episode 13, "Face Off"

Mark Margolis as Hector Salamanca looking angry in Breaking Bad

Just like taking out Gale, Walt has a talent for coming up with a brilliant plan just when it appears that he is cornered. This requires him to take some big risks, but they often pay off as when he visits Hector Salamanca to form an alliance. Hector knows Walt is responsible for the death of his nephew Tuco and has tried to have him killed in the past.

Of course, the way he words it is what makes this one of the most memorable Walter White quotes.

Walt knows this, but he also knows that Hector and Gus share a history that might be even more contentious. Walt uses the old adage "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Of course, the way he words it is what makes this one of the most memorable Walter White quotes. In the end, this unlikely alliance is what gives Walt victory over Gus.

24 “Right Now, What I Need, Is For You To Climb Down Out Of My Ass. Can You Do That? Will You Do That For Me, Honey?”

Season 1, Episode 2, "Cat's in the Bag"

Walter White talking to Skyler in the Breaking Bad episode "Cat's in the Bag"

Some of Walter White's comments towards Skyler throughout the entire series are really memorable, especially when his facade slips. This one particularly showcases that his arrogance and audacity know no bounds — not even his wife of many years is spared.

Skyler wants to know where Walt has been, and it's not that unreasonable of a request in reality, because, while dealing with the knowledge of his cancer diagnosis entirely by himself, Walt has been producing and selling methamphetamine as well as committing murder. It's not only one of the first Walter White quotes to give a glimpse of the emergence of Heisenberg, but it's one of the most memorable early pieces of Breaking Bad dialogue, and it provides a taste of the cold and secretive husband that Walt will become.

23 "It's Always Been One Step Forward And Two Steps Back."

Season 2, Episode 11, "Mandala"

Walt talking with Hank in the Breaking Bad episode "Better Call Saul"

While Walt was trying to build his empire, he kept facing challenges at every turn. It took some time for Walt to find his footing, but as he continued to transform through the series, he finally gained the power he so craved. Though the show is famously slow to start, it does an excellent job of making the viewer want Walt's criminal empire to happen.

Walter White quotes like this remind fans that the show's writers were very conscious of frustration over the build-up, and the payoff speaks for itself.

This works brilliantly later as the audience then sees the chaos and death that happen because of it. Walter White quotes like this remind fans that the show's writers were very conscious of frustration over the build-up, and the payoff speaks for itself.

22 "I Missed It."

Season 3, Episode 10, "Fly"

Walt falling asleep in Breaking Bad "Fly"

Breaking Bad's divisive "Fly" episode may not move the bigger plot points forward in significant ways, but does feature some terrific moments with the two main characters. As obsession and lack of sleep begin to wear on Walt, he gets surprisingly honest with Jesse as he tells his young partner that his cancer is in remission and he is not going to die as originally thought. While Jesse takes this as good news, Walt laments that he missed the perfect time to die.

This Walter White quote is a rare moment of self-reflection from Walt

He is almost talking to himself as he tries to pinpoint where that moment might have been, after earning enough money for his family, but before Skyler found out. This Walter White quote is a rare moment of self-reflection from Walt where he is finally able to admit that whatever plan he had set out to make had failed, and he was now stuck with a mess.

21 "Because I Say So."

Season 5, Episode 1, "Live Free Or Die"

Walt and Mike facing off in Breaking Bad

Walt kills a lot of people in Breaking Bad, but it is his defeat of Gus Fring that really changes him. Gus was seen as this untouchable king of the meth world who killed the cartel and wiped out all of his enemies. Yet it was Walt who ultimately defeated him and the victory goes right to his ego. Walt begins to think he is untouchable and the smartest man alive.

It is a stunning transformation from the meek man in the pilot of Breaking Bad.

After carrying out their plan to destroy evidence in the police locker, Mike rightly questions if it worked. Walt's response suggests that he is right because he is always right and everything he says should be taken as fact. It is a stunning transformation from the meek man in the pilot of Breaking Bad.

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20 "I Told You Skyler, I Warned You For A Solid Year: You Cross Me, And There Will Be Consequences."

Season 5, Episode 14, "Ozymandias"

Walt on the phone in the Breaking Bad episode "Ozymandias"

This Walter White quote is actually one of the few that stems from a moment when he was looking out for someone else and not being self-serving. While speaking to Skyler on the phone, knowing that authorities were listening in, he says this line to her. Though they may be things that the worst part of him wanted to say, the reason Walt says this is that he wanted the police to think that Skyler had no knowledge of what was really going on in his criminal empire, giving her a fighting chance.

Walt did a lot of bad things, but when everything comes crashing down, he seems to remember that he started all of this to protect his family.

19 "We Tried To Poison You. We Tried To Poison You Because You’re An Insane, Degenerate Piece Of Filth, And You Deserve To Die."

Season 2, Episode 2, "Grilled"

Tuco holding a gun to Jesse's head in a scene from Breaking Bad, Walt looking on from behind.

Tuco Salamanca was Breaking Bad's first villain and made for a very effective one as his violent and sudden outburst added tension to any scene he was in. It was that behavior that drove Walt and Jesse to attempt to poison Tuco. Walter White defiantly said these words to an already-enraged and unstable Tuco as he has a gun to Jesse's head.

While it is a risky thing to admit to a murderer, the distraction that they cause gives Jesse just enough time to hit Tuco in the head with a rock and, in the scuffle, get a hold of one of Tuco's guns and shoot him. It's Hank who actually kills Tuco though, as he shows up at Tuco's hideout unexpectedly as he's searching for Jesse, prompting one of Breaking Bad's most intense shootouts and the first of many Salamanca death scenes in the series.

18 “I Have Spent My Whole Life Scared, Frightened Of Things That Could Happen, Might Happen, Might Not Happen, 50 Years I Spent Like That.”

Season 2, Episode 8, "Better Call Saul"

Walt talking with Hank in the Breaking Bad episode "Better Call Saul"

“I have spent my whole life scared, frightened of things that could happen, might happen, might not happen, 50 years I spent like that. Finding myself awake at three in the morning. But you know what? Ever since my diagnosis, I sleep just fine. What I came to realize is that fear, that’s the worst of it. That’s the real enemy. So, get up, get out in the real world and you kick that bastard as hard you can right in the teeth.”

This Walter White speech is given when he's speaking to his brother-in-law Hank (Dean Norris), and while it seems like right-minded words of encouragement on the surface, fans were able to realize that this was another poor piece of advice from Walt that was just hiding his own issues.

Hank is struggling to cope with panic attacks after his shootout with Tuco Salamanca (Raymond Cruz) and then seeing the cartel's brutal tactics in El Paso and exhibits symptoms of PTSD. Walt insisting that Hank get back in the game rather than seeking help inevitably leads his dutiful and upstanding brother-in-law to his death at the hands of Walt's own scheming.

17 "Run."

Season 3, Episode 12, "Half Measures"

Walter White at night standing on the street in Breaking Bad standing in the dark, looking uo at someone with a scary look on his face.

This Walter White quote may just be one word, but it's also among the most powerful. After Walt runs over two rival drug dealers and shoots one of them point-blank, he looks to his partner Jesse (Aaron Paul) and utters this word. He knows that they are both out of their depth now and that things are only about to get worse.

It's an act of selflessness that shows that, despite everything that has happened, Walt had some humanity left at that point. Walt cared about Jesse and wanted to make sure he not only made it out safely but also didn't have to deal with the ugliest parts of the job.

16 "I Won."

Season 4, Episode 13, "Face Off"

Walter White from Breaking Bad on the phone, a bandage over his nose.

Not all the most memorable Walter White quotes are part of long diatribes or speeches. Walt was sometimes a man of few words who could get his point across with a short statement and a menacing look. This is just what he did when he called Skyler on the phone to reassure her that the conflict, drama, and violence had come to an end because he had finally succeeded in his plan to kill Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito).

The joy on his face as he proclaims victory to Skyler, especially since the words are more for himself than for her, showed just how deeply Walt had fallen into his obsession.

Walt felt so much of his life had been wasted through indecision and cowardice, so the joy on his face as he proclaims victory to Skyler, especially since the words are more for himself than for her, showed just how deeply Walt had fallen into his obsession.

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15 "This Is Not Meth."

Season 1, Episode 6, "Crazy Handful of Nothin'"

Walter White showing Tuco the fake meth in Crazy Handful Of Nothin' in Breaking Bad.

Throughout season 1 of Breaking Bad, Walt is still seen as totally out of his element in the meth game. When the character of Tuco Salamanca is introduced, it seems like there is no way Walt can stand toe-to-toe with such a madman. However, Walt has more guts than it initially seems. More importantly, he is the smartest man in the room and uses that intelligence to get the upper hand.

While visiting Tuco with a new package of crystal, the drug dealer mocks Walt for foolishly coming to him with more meth which Tuco will obviously take. However, thanks to his knowledge of chemistry, he has made something else entirely and informs Tuco it is not meth before throwing the tiny explosive.

14 "No Matter What Happens, No More Bloodshed, No Violence."

Season 1, Episode 6, "Crazy Handful of Nothin'"

Bryan Cranston as Walter White looking frustrated in Breaking Bad

The episode in which Walt stands up to Tuco is the birth of Heisenberg in many ways, as Walt shaves his head and dons his iconic black hat for the first time. However, the climactic ending of the episode is juxtaposed with the opening moments. As Walt and Jesse regroup of start up their operations again, Walt gives a speech about how things are going to be different and violence has no place in their business.

Walt is doomed to go down this violent path from the beginning, no matter what he tells himself.

However, the speech is intercut with quick glimpses of the aftermath of Walt's meeting with Tuco later on. It is somewhat funny as it undermines Walt's entire point about no more violence. However, it also is a sign that Walt is doomed to go down this violent path from the beginning, no matter what he tells himself.

13 "If You Believe That There's A Hell, I Don't Know If You're Into That, We're Already Pretty Much Going There, Right?"

Season 5, Episode 7, "Say My Name"

Walter White from Breaking Bad looking at Jesse, saying something to him.

Walt had a way of manipulating Jesse and convincing him to stick around even when Jesse began to have reservations about things. One such time was when the pair witnessed coldhearted Todd (Jesse Plemons) shoot an innocent boy on a bike simply because he came across them in the desert.

In order to try and prevent Jesse from retiring from their drug operation after this, a tailor-made Walter White speech was employed to remind Jesse that cooking meth was the only thing he's excelled at, and Walt also reminds Jesse that the two of them have killed before. Walt was definitely being manipulative, but he wasn't totally wrong here either.

12 "Well, Technically Chemistry Is The Study Of Matter. But I Prefer To See It As The Study Of Change."

Season 1, Episode 1, "Pilot"

Walter White in the pilot episode of Breaking Bad, standing by a chalkboard in chemistry class.

This Walter White quote, spoken in the pilot episode of Breaking Bad to Walt's students while he's teaching a chemistry class, establishes the premise of the entire show. The line explains what chemistry is all about but, in a way, it also foreshadows Walt's own personal transformation.

There was a lot more subtle meaning behind this comment than may have been first apparent.

Using chemistry, Walt not only found himself changing his financial position and setting his family up to be taken care of after he was gone, but he also saw it change his personality, confidence, desire, and obsession with power. There was a lot more subtle meaning behind this comment than may have been first apparent.

11 “ I Am Not In Danger, Skyler. I Am The Danger. A Guy Opens His Door And Gets Shot, And You Think That Of Me? No! I Am The One Who Knocks!”

Season 4, Episode 6, "Cornered"

Bryan Cranston as Walter White delivering Breaking Bad's "I'm the one who knocks" scene

One of the most famous monologues in Breaking Bad, the most well-known Walter White speech, and one of the most iconic Breaking Bad quotes in general. The line is often quoted as simply “I am the one who knocks” or “I am the danger.”

This was the first time that Skyler truly got to see what her husband had become.

Walt says this in response to Skyler begging him to turn himself in for his own safety after she fears some of his dangerous associates might target them. Walt's ego is hurt by this idea as he angrily insists to her that he is the one who should be inspiring fear in others. This was the first time that Skyler truly got to see what her husband had become. The terrified look on her face combined with the sheer evil in his villainous eyes said more than even his words could.

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