The MCU has a total runtime of over 40 hours. During that time there have probably been over 5,000 pages of nothing but dialogue. That is undoubtedly long enough for it to contain several iconic and memorable quotes by one of the hundreds of characters that fans have seen on screen since 2008.

RELATED: 15 Best Thor Quotes From The MCU

Some quotes are crucial to defining a character, others serve to deliver a message, and there are still those that achieve a level of humor so high they become unforgettable. Between emotional, heartfelt dialogue, fight scene banter, and post-credits stingers, it is particularly difficult to narrow down every spoken line to the best MCU quotes.

Updated on December 12th, 2021 by Matthew Rudoy: Now with the ongoing story of the heroes in Phase 4 and with a consistent stream of new movies and Disney+ series being released, there is more MCU content than ever before. Each new story brings memorable quotes that embody the interconnected and emotional nature of the MCU. Now is the perfect time to look back at some of the most iconic quotes that wrapped up the Infinity Saga in Phase 3 while looking at quotes that are paving the way for the next chapters of the characters' epic adventures. 

Vision Talks About Grief In WandaVision

"What Is Grief, If Not Love Persevering?"

Wanda and Vision in WandaVision

Vision's line about grief is the most memorable quote in WandaVision and has already gone down as one of the most memorable in the entire MCU. Not only do these words succinctly capture the essence of WandaVision's whole story, but it reframes the way that one thinks about grief.

It shows grieving as a sign of strength, a way for love to persevere past death, and in some cases allows someone to love someone even more after they're gone. Even though Wanda's brother Pietro and the Vision she loved are dead, her love for them will always persevere.

Everybody Loves Tony Stark

"I Love You 3000."

Tony Stark's hologram tell his daughter he loves her 3000 in Avengers: Endgame

Tony Stark saved the universe, but the message he left in case of his death shows that he was always thinking about his family. Echoing his daughter's earlier line to him, Tony makes it clear how much he loved her and that even though he is gone, his love for her will never fade.

It is the simplest, but sweetest and most powerful message Tony could leave for Morgan to show how much she and his bond with her meant to him. The line has also come to encapsulate how MCU fans feel about Tony Stark as it is impossible to adequately measure the deep love and appreciation they have for his character.

Loki Gives Thanos A Reality Check In Avengers: Infinity War

"You Will Never Be A God."

Thanos chokes Loki to death in Infinity War.

Loki's best quote in the MCU comes before he is killed by Thanos. Loki knows from personal experience that there is a steep price for going too far to achieve a warped sense of justice. While Thanos feels confident and self-assured about his plan to restore balance to the universe, Loki recognizes the Mad Titan's arrogance.

RELATED: Loki's 20 Best Quotes In The MCU

Loki gets in the last word before he draws his last breath, cementing that Thanos is not a god and never will be, and he is right as Thanos' godlike behavior is ultimately his undoing.

Odin Describes Asgard In Thor: Ragnarok

"Asgard Is Not A Place. Never Was. This Could Be Asgard. Asgard Is Where Our People Stand."

Odin stands on a cliff in Norway about to die

Odin's wise words to Thor is essentially an updated version of the old quote "Home is where the heart is." He helps Thor see that Asgard is defined by its people and not by its location in the universe.

This helps Thor see that he can save his home and his people from Hela, even if it means destroying the place that has been Asgard and his physical home ever since he was born. Even though the planet of Asgard is destroyed, Asgard lives on through its people.

Yondu Has a Father/Son Moment With Star-Lord

"He May Have Been Your Father, Boy, But He Wasn't Your Daddy."

The Guardians of the Galaxy movies have a strong focus on the importance of found family. One of the best moments that demonstrates this is in the sequel when it becomes clear that Yondu was more of Peter Quill's father than Ego ever was.

Ego may be Peter's biological father, but Yondu is the one who raised Peter, was there for him, and shaped him into the man that he became. This makes Yondu Peter's real father and this is only further solidified when Yondu sacrifices his life so Peter can live.

Hawkeye Gets Real In Avengers: Age Of Ultron

"We're Fighting An Army Of Robots And I Have A Bow And Arrow. None Of This Makes Sense."

Hawkeye in Age of Ultron

Long before his Disney+ show, Hawkeye seemed to have something of the short end of the stick. He didn't have superpowers, but he kept finding himself in situations where everyone else did. That's what makes his Avengers: Age Of Ultron line so perfect.

Clint Barton spends his time as a man out of his element. He's always recognized that what's happening is outlandish, but he does the job anyway - just like all the rest of the heroes.

Captain America Gives A Pep Talk in Avengers: Endgame

"Whatever It Takes..."

Tony and Steve prepare to time travel in Avengers: Endgame

There might not always be a consistent leader of the Avengers, but Captain America always manages to inspire them. He does it one more time as his story in the MCU comes to a close.

Avengers: Endgame offered one last team of the original Avengers as they set out to save everyone. Steve Rogers reminded his team over and over that they would do "whatever it takes" to bring back the people Thanos took from them, and that mantra is part of what made the stakes in the movie so high. Every single one of the heroes was willing to lose their lives to save everyone else.

Tony Stark Gives Peter A Harsh Truth In Spider-Man: Homecoming

"If You're Nothing Without The Suit, Then You Shouldn't Have It."

Tony Stark confronting Peter Parker on the ferry in Spider-Man: Homecoming

Tony Stark became his mentor when Peter Parker joined the MCU, but their relationship definitely wasn't smooth sailing. Peter wanted badly to prove himself as great of a hero as the rest of the Avengers in Spider-Man: Homecoming and his repeated attempts put him and Tony at odds.

RELATED: 15 Best Spider-Man: Homecoming Quotes

Though he had been gifted with a technologically advanced suit by Tony, Peter had to figure out just who he was without it. He proved, much like Tony, that all the technology in the world doesn't make a hero. Instead, it's the choices they make.

Captain Marvel Demonstrates Her Confidence

"I Have Nothing To Prove To You."

Brie Larson as Carol Danvers faces the Supreme Intelligence in Captain Marvel

As the first female solo movie of the MCU, it might have felt like Captain Marvel had a lot to prove to audiences, but she directed this sentiment at Yon-Rogg in their final confrontation.

Yon-Rogg tried to goad "Vers" into fighting against him without her powers, trying to get her to prove herself to the Kree operative who had supposedly invested so much time in her. After his betrayal and the way he held her back from being herself, Carol Danvers finally realized she was free to embrace her full power.

Black Widow And Okoye Comes To The Aid Of Scarlet Witch In Avengers: Infinity War

"She's Not Alone."

Black Widow and Okoye help Wanda in Wakanda in Infinity War

When the Avengers take on Thanos' forces in Wakanda, it's a staggering fight. They and their allies in Wakanda are quickly overwhelmed. When Scarlet Witch joined the fight, she was taunted about dying alone in battle by Proxima Midnight, which prompted one of Black Widow's most memorable quotes.

It's a small moment, but a meaningful one. Prior to Wanda joining the team, Natasha was the only female Avenger. She took Wanda under her wing, and the two joined forces with Okoye in battle to push back Thanos' forces. Their small team-up would be echoed later - without Natasha - in Endgame with a whole lot more women and a look at how the MCU had changed in a decade.

Captain America Doesn't Quit

"I Can Do This All Day."

Chris Evans runs as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Age of Ultron

This one goes in the "character-defining quote" category. There is no more memorable Captain America quote to describe Steve Rogers. From being brutally beaten up as a weak kid in alleyways to facing robots and aliens as a national hero, his way of tackling his problems has always remained the same. He is always willing to give his life for the greater good and knows nothing is more important than saving lives.

In other words, no matter how broken, beat up, or tired Captain America is, he's always ready to fight until the very end. After repeating the same quote in three movies to three different opponents, he's made it pretty clear that he can do this all day.

Bruce Banner Reveals His Secret In The Avengers

"That's My Secret, Cap; I'm Always Angry."

Bruce Banner looks over his shoulder in Avengers

The Avengers was filled with insane, jaw-dropping moments but arguably the best character entrance in the movie came from Bruce Banner's last-minute 180-degree turn-into-the-Hulk-and-punch-a-giant-alien-to-pieces turn. In a matter of seconds, Banner went from nervous, nerdy scientist to unstoppable, "badass" Avenger.

It's one of the only times he has managed to remain absolutely calm in the entire MCU. The quote also serves as a crucial part of Hulk's story. By stating that "he's always angry" before transforming into the green goliath, it reveals that Bruce Banner now has total control over the Hulk.

Black Panther Delivers An Iconic MCU Line

"Wakanda Forever!"

Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa in Black Panther doing the Wakanda Forever salute

Following Black Panther's unexpectedly huge success, "Wakanda forever" became the newest addition to the American dictionary. It could be heard everywhere. Fans, celebrities, and world-class athletes spread the Black Panther outbreak with their attempts to replicate the crossed-arms Wakandan salute.

RELATED: 10 Times T'Challa & Nakia Were The Best MCU Couple

This war cry/salute became the movie's unofficial slogan and was loved so much that the Black Panther sequel would be named Wakanda Forever.

Tony Stark Stands Proud As Iron Man

"I Am Iron Man."

Tony Stark says I Am Iron Man.

These four words were responsible for creating the Marvel Cinematic Universe as fans know it. Up until Iron Man, superheroes always had one necessary trait. They needed secret identities. Peter Parker battled with his identity in three movies, Batman fought to never reveal his true self and Pixar's Parr family were ever so careful to keep their powers a secret.

Meanwhile, Tony Stark never comes to experience any of those problems and decides to simply tell the entire world his true identity on national television. It was a perfect end to a ground-breaking movie and an ideal way to showcase both Stark's egotistical and rule-breaking nature and his benevolent, heroic personality.

Tony Stark Reveals The Avengers' Secret Weapon

"We Have A Hulk."

Tony stark saying We have a Hulk in The Avengers

Iron Man first declared the Avengers' possession of a Hulk to intimidate Loki, Earth's biggest threat, during the Battle of New York. Bruce Banner then managed to get himself from New York, to Sokovia, to a different planet, and finally to an Asgardian spaceship accompanied by a now heroic Loki. The God of Mischief then said the same quote himself to intimidate Thanos, the universe's biggest threat.

What was first just a fun, throwaway sentence became something much more significant. It marked Loki's journey from a villainous trickster to an unsung hero. As an added bonus, it also introduced fans to Infinity War's first epic fight scene. A Hulk vs Thanos, which unfortunately ends in an embarrassing defeat for the green giant.

Nick Fury Is A Man Of Vision

"There Was An Idea..."

Nick Fury comes out of the shadows in Iron Man post-credit scene

"There was an idea, Stark knows this, called the Avengers Initiative. The idea was to bring together a group of remarkable people, see if they could become something more. See if they could work together when we needed them to fight the battles we never could."

RELATED: 10 Questions About Nick Fury, Answered

This string of iconic sentences was Nick Fury's final step to succeed in the carefully planned out Avengers Initiative he had worked on since invading Tony Stark's house in his first appearance. Years later, the first Infinity War trailer begins with the same speech. This wasn't just some motivational speech. This is The Avengers. A group of remarkable people, who worked together to become something more and to fight the battles no one else could. It's exactly what they did throughout two Avengers movies, and what they neglected to do in Civil War, which then literally cost them half the universe.

Groot Makes Everybody Cry In Guardians Of The Galaxy

"We Are Groot!"

Groot protects the other Guardians with his body

To an outsider, this quote makes absolutely no sense. For a Marvel fan, this is an extremely rare and cherished occasion. For a character who is only capable of saying the words "'I' and 'am' and 'Groot', exclusively in that order," as Rocket puts it, hearing him add a new word to his limited vocabulary is incredible. Hearing him replace 'I' with 'we' is very intriguing.

Hearing him say, "we are Groot" as one final goodbye while he sacrifices his life to save his fellow Guardians is...mind-blowingly heartbreaking. And yes, according to James Gunn, director of Guardians of the Galaxy, Groot did actually die and the baby/teen Groot fans have seen since Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 is his son.

Tony Stark Makes Loki A Promise

"If We Can't Protect The Earth, You Can Be Damn Well Sure We'll Avenge It!"

The Avengers standing together in New York

This famous quote might have been overlooked at the time as a cool way for the inspiring Tony Stark to intimidate Loki in The Avengers. It is basically impossible for something as meaningful as this to not tie into a future movie. As a matter of fact, years later, Infinity War and Endgame gave this line a whole new meaning.

Surprisingly, fans have rarely ever seen the Avengers... avenge. They avenged the "death" of Phil Coulson in their first movie, which kind of doesn't count due to the events of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Doctor Strange Faces Dormammu

"Dormammu, I've Come To Bargain."

Doctor Strange and the Infinity Stones

This list is full of quotes, crucial to either a character or the MCU as a whole. This one is nothing like that. The sole reason it's being mentioned is that it became one of the most quoted lines in the MCU. And it became just that in a matter of minutes when Doctor Strange trapped the ruler of the Dark Dimension in a time loop punctuated by an endless wave of repeated words.

But this quote is more than just an annoying joke. This strange (pun intended), yet intelligent tactic led to a rarely-seen final act of a Marvel movie that does not center around a fight scene.

Thanos Gives Thor Some Advice In Avengers: Infinity War

"You Should Have Gone For The Head."

Thanos coming through the portal in Avengers: Infinity War

Many consider Thanos as the MCU's greatest villain. One of the contributing factors to that is his memorable dialogue. Infinity War immediately starts with the Mad Titan asserting himself as the ultimate foe. "Dread it. Run from it. Destiny arrives all the same. And now, it's here. Or should I say, I am" he says, as he shows off the Power Stone on his gauntlet.

Even before Infinity War, Thanos sent shivers down our spine in the Age Of Ultron post-credits scene, where he proceeds to put on the Infinity Gauntlet for the first time and menacingly state: "Fine, I'll do it myself." During Infinity War, there are countless other examples of both threatening and heartfelt lines, but one quote combines these two in an unforgettable way. Thanos's quote that killed half the universe. "You should have gone for the head."

NEXT: 20 Best Thanos Quotes From The MCU