In Avatar: The Last Airbender, there are many interesting and complex characters that help make the series so successful. However, perhaps one of the most memorable and well-loved characters from the franchise is Zuko, and new and old fans alike were impressed with the way his redemption arc happened.
Because he’s such a complicated character who goes on a long journey of self-improvement, he has a wide range of quotes that are great and memorable, and these range from the funny to the adorable to poignant.
“It’s Like A Silver Sandwich.”
Probably the time when Zuko is the most likable is in the second half of the third season after he joins up with Team Avatar. During this time, he’s adjusting to being a good person, and he’s trying his best to remember things that Uncle Iroh taught him, but he doesn’t always get things quite right.
This full quote is: “Sometimes, clouds have two sides, a dark and light, and a silver lining in between. It’s like a silver sandwich,” and it is both funny and endearing.
“Why Am I So Bad At Being Good?”
When Zuko tries to join the Gaang and offer his help, they understandably don’t trust him much at first. He tries to prove that he’s changed to them, but he ends up making a big mistake when he accidentally burns Toph.
Seeing Zuko struggle to be his newfound self was relatable and a bit sad, but he luckily figures it out.
“You’re So Beautiful When You Hate The World.”
While some fans wish that Zuko had ended up with Katara or someone else, in the canon, he has always been with Mai. They are a great couple in many ways because they are both a bit angry and annoyed at people, but in different ways.
Zuko appreciates Mai’s emo personality, and this quote he says to her is rather cute.
“I Don’t Need Any Calming Tea!”
One of the most memorable season one moments that Zuko has is when he says this line to Uncle Iroh. Zuko is always a bit of a hothead, but this is especially the case in season one when all he wants to do is find Aang and restore his honor.
The way he says this line in such an angry way is a hilarious contradiction to what the words he’s saying actually mean.
“Azula Always Lies.”
In season two of The Last Airbender, Zuko is struggling with which part of himself he wants to be. While he still wants to be like Prince Zuko, he’s now an Earth Kingdom refugee who is seeing the destruction of the war.
He is remembering his childhood in the Fire Nation and what happened with his family, and this line is both rather sad, given his relationship to his own sister, and also revealing about Azula’s character.
“That’s Rough, Buddy.”
Perhaps the Zuko line that fans quote the most is this short sentence. After Sokka tells Zuko about what happened to Princess Yue, he offers these short but simple words of comfort.
It’s a funny scene, and many fans enjoy seeing Sokka and Zuko interact. Not to mention, it’s a phrase that’s easy to put into memes.
“They Don’t See Our Greatness. They Hate Us, And We Deserve It!”
Zuko’s most iconic speech moment is the one he says to his father, Firelord Ozai, during the Day of Black Sun. This is when Zuko decides to leave his old self behind and embrace his good side.
He tells his father about the lie the Fire Nation teaches, saying, “Growing up, we were taught that the Fire Nation was the greatest civilization in history. And somehow, the War was our way of sharing our greatness with the rest of the world. What an amazing lie that was.” It’s a powerful speech and a great moment for Zuko.
“I’m Never Happy.”
Zuko is clearly a character who went through a great deal of trauma at such a young age, so it’s not surprising that he struggles to feel calm and happy. He’s often angry or filled with guilt and shame, so the fact he identifies himself as never being happy makes a lot of sense.
On a lighter note, this line is also rather funny because of its self-awareness and the fact that Zuko rarely ever gets to be happy.
“I’m So Sorry And Ashamed Of What I Did.”
One of the more emotional Zuko moments is when he’s finally reunited with Uncle Iroh after he betrayed him in Ba Sing Se. He comes to Iroh with a lot of guilt and shame and apologizes to him profusely.
It was rough to see him feel so awful, but it was also great to see Zuko take responsibility for his actions and try to finally make Iroh better.
“I Lost Sight Of My Inner Fire, But Now, I Have A New Drive To ... Restore Balance To The World.”
Another great Zuko episode is when he goes with Aang to the ancient Sun God civilization to search for the meaning of fire bending. Zuko learns that he used to fire bends from a place of anger, but he now can use bending for good.
He finally understands that his inner fire isn’t a bad thing, but can instead be harnessed to help others and right the wrongs of his family.