Nothing in The Vampire Diaries is ever simple, and the characters are more complex than meets the eye. Some had significant development throughout the show's eight seasons and others regressed, but no one stayed the same person they were in the pilot episode.
The main characters are put in situations that force them to show their true selves, and each one has a quote that perfectly sums up their personality. However, they also each have at least one line that contradicts their role in the show and the way that they're perceived.
Matt Donavan: "If I Could Compel Myself A Maserati, I Would."
It's likely that Matt wasn't being serious when he said this, but it's odd for him to even joke about taking advantage of vampirism. His hatred for vampires is what drove a wedge between Matt and his friends, as he tends to go to extremes.
Matt is so prideful that he refuses to accept help from supernatural creatures. It's admirable that he doesn't want to cheat his way through school, but it became ridiculous when Matt was willing to die instead of accepting Elena's blood. If he wouldn't even heal himself, it feels safe to say he wouldn't compel himself a car.
Klaus Mikaelson: "I've Shown Kindness, Forgiveness...Pity."
Klaus is one of the most powerful villains in The Vampire Diaries, and while he had some semblance of humanity, "kindness," "forgiveness," and "pity" were never a part of his vocabulary. He did what he wanted to do when he wanted to do it, and didn't care about who got hurt in the process.
Caroline was the only character who made Klaus think about the consequences of his actions, so it makes sense that he went against his nature for her. He has impressive development in The Originals, but it was difficult to find the good in Klaus during his time in Mystic Falls.
Kai Parker: "I Can't Shake How Badly I Feel About It."
Although everyone had figured it out the moment Kai was introduced, he opens up to Damon and Elena and acknowledges that he is a sociopath. Kai was one of the most dangerous characters in the series due to his inability to feel any kind of remorse and it made him completely unpredictable.
Kai admitting that he felt bad for his actions threw viewers for a loop. His entire personality is based on his lack of emotions, so he underwent quite the change when he developed his brother's empathy and compassion. If Kai had said this line before the merge, no one would have taken him seriously.
Alaric Saltzman: "I'm Sorry, You've Reached Somebody Who's Currently Not Operating."
No matter how worn out he was, Ric was always operating. He cared about his friends too much to sit on the sidelines, and he became a parent to Elena and Jeremy. Normal parents struggle to take time off of, and Ric was caught in a world where his kids were in constant danger.
Jenna's death took a toll on him, but he wasn't able to hit the pause button and grieve his girlfriend. With Elena and Jeremy now his responsibility, Alaric was always on call. Even after his death, Ric came back as a ghost to save Damon's life.
Caroline Forbes: "I'm Never The One."
After the first few seasons, this quote became laughable. Caroline became the person that everyone wanted, whether romantically or otherwise. Even Katherine admitted that she would rather spend time with Caroline than with Bonnie.
Caroline had the best love interests in The Vampire Diaries, and the irony of this quote comes from who it was about. Although she was rejected by Stefan in the pilot, Caroline marries him in the series finale. She grows much more confident and self-assured throughout the series and stops letting other people define her worth.
Damon Salvatore: "I Hope Elena Dies."
If Damon could only be summed up by one thing, it would be his love for Elena. There are other aspects of his personality, such as his humor, that make him a popular character, but Damon is such a hopeless romantic that Elena is at the center of every decision he makes.
Damon is lost when Elena isn't by his side, so it's startling to remember that he actively rooted for her death in The Vampire Diaries Season 1. However, their relationship development is just one of several things that make Delena such an alluring couple.
Katherine Pierce: "It's My Turn To Help You Now."
Katherine is known for being selfish, manipulative, and untrustworthy. She does care about certain people, but she never cares about their well-being more than her own. Katherine isn't a "pay it forward" type of person, so this quote completely goes against her personality.
She wasn't gaining anything by putting herself on the line, and it's unusual for her to help someone without an ulterior motive. Locking herself in the coffin with Stefan was one of Katherine's most romantic gestures in The Vampire Diaries, as she proved how important he was to her.
Stefan Salvatore: "I Don't Care About Anything Anymore."
Stefan cares more than anyone else in the show and it's often the source of his misery. Becoming a vampire intensified his personality, and he feels others' grief so strongly that it causes him physical pain.
Stefan's empathy is what defines him, and it's been stated in the show that his heart is pure even in death. While he has a carefree attitude without his emotions, his switch never seems to work as well as everyone else's. There reaches a point in which Stefan can't stop his humanity from making its way back in.
Bonnie Bennett: "I Did It Because I Wanted To."
Bonnie always puts her friends over herself, and the fact that this quote goes against her personality is heartbreaking. She makes the most sacrifices out of everyone in the group, and it's rare for her to do something in pursuit of her own happiness.
While she sticks up for what's right, every decision Bonnie makes comes at a personal cost. Bonnie very rarely gets the opportunity to make genuine life choices, as she's busy helping everyone deal with the latest supernatural threats.
Elena Gilbert: "I've Decided To Go With It. Fly Free, Walk On Sunshine, And All That Stuff."
As Elena even admits, this is a rare thing for her to say. She was grieving her parents' death when the series began, so it makes sense that she was in such a dark place.
While Elena begins to heal and even has some particularly funny quotes in The Vampire Diaries, "flying free" and "walking on sunshine," are not phrases that describe her. All the characters end up suffering loss, but Elena is still among the least energetic of the bunch. Her personality simply isn't as dynamic as the rest of the cast.