The dialogue of Berserk is brilliant, with Kentaro Miura, and later Kouji Mori's guiding hand going into the creation of seinen manga's most prized series. The exceptional writing has evolved alongside the characters and intellectual scope of the series, creating a dynamic experience that's discussed as much for its pivotal moments as it is for its brilliant turns of phrase. As such, the best quotes from Berserk often vary between beholders, but their pearls of wisdom and insight perfectly demonstrate the series' brilliance.

As far back as 1989, Berserk wasn't always as popular or as set up for success as it is today, but it's been immensely quotable throughout all arcs regardless. Once the series found its true footing with the Golden Age Arc onward, it would soon balance its excellent writing with increasingly elaborate and gorgeous artwork. Still, with the series frequently discussed via word of mouth, the best quotes from Berserk are key insights into the characters who speak them, and their surrounding world.

17 "When You Confront Those Who Lurk In The Darkness, You Also Envelop Yourself In It. Good Journey Struggler"

Skull Night to Guts, Chapter #92

After saving Guts yet again from the evil and demonic spirits, Skull Night imparts words of advice to the young man who had just declared war on the demons. As someone who had been fighting them for decades and decades, he told him that as he continued to battle, he too would find himself becoming similar to them, and would eventually lose what made him human.

This couldn't be any truer, as the Guts in Berserk's Golden Age arc and the Guts in that Black Swordsman arc were quite different people. However, as the series went on, he came to find hope and comion, and the deeper he went into the darkness, the kinder he grew, which is the opposite of the Skull Knight's words. This not only shows just how good of a person Guts is but it also sends a powerful message that even in the darkest of times, it is still possible to find hope and become better.

16 "Are You Afraid? One Such as Yourself?!"

Void to Griffith, Chapter #77

Are you afraid? One such as yourself?! Of extraordinary beings such as us? Or perhaps of the future you will follow?

-Void

The Eclipse is an easy source of quotable moments in Berserk, but it also gives a proper glimpse at the God Hand and how well they understand their imposing presence in the series. Griffith, having taken their words to heart while imprisoned, invokes the ceremony that would soon grant him incredible powers in exchange for the lives of his comrades. But at this moment, faced with the visages of four dark angels, Griffith is asked whether he fears the powerful beings in front of him or what he will have to sacrifice to become like them.

15 "Whether It Suits Them or Not, People Yearn For a Dream."

Griffith to Princess Charlotte, Chapter #12

Whether it suits them or not, people yearn for a dream. Sustained by a dream, hurt by a dream, revived by a dream, killed by a dream. And even after being abandoned by a dream, it continues to smolder from the bottom of one's heart...probably until the verge of death...A man should envision such a lifetime once. A life spent as a martyr...to the god named "Dream."

-Griffith

Before the cataclysmic events of the Eclipse, Griffith is introduced as an impossibly ambitious, elite soldier who quickly gets into Midland royalty's good graces. Perhaps his biggest feat of ingratiation comes in how he engages with Charlotte, princess of the kingdom, knowing her strategic value while speaking about his beliefs on the all-consuming dreams of men. The unfortunate thing is that Griffith would soon become warped, twisted, and discard his humanity when given a shot at ruling a kingdom of his own, whether he deserves it or not.

14 "He Died Doing What He Wanted, No Matter What, Right? I Bet He Was Happy."

Guts, Prologue Chapter #2

While Guts was introduced as an unlikable and deranged man with no comion, this scene hinted at his hidden depths, and it was the first time fans got to see his comion. As the priest who gave him a ride asked him about his profession, Guts dropped this iconic line when he found out the priest's son went off to war and died by the sword, something the father thought was utterly meaningless.

Although the series was still in its early stages and much of the plot was still being developed, this line fits well with future scenes. It emphasizes the importance of pursuing one's desires and accepting the consequences that follow. Additionally, these words illustrate how Guts was justifying his current path and trying to feel better about his choices. When compared to the Guts of later stages, it becomes clear that he has evolved from this phase of self-destructive behavior.

13 “There’s No Paradise For You To Escape To.”

Guts to Jill, Chapter #117

Berserk doesn't mince words in how it portrays a dark fantasy world where demonic abominations run amok, yet Guts delivers this in an almost defeated tone. He knows firsthand that the horrors following him never go away, but Jill does not realize the implications of his Brand of Sacrifice. Jill's best friend, Rosine, was susceptible to this corruption, believing Rosine would eventually find a way to help escape her abusive family to live among the elves. But Guts' quote is a way for him to spare Jill the horrors and violence ahead in the Conviction Arc and beyond.

12 "It's All Right. You'll Stand Up. And You'll Start Walking. Soon"

Guts to Griffith, Chapter #36

After Guts defeats Griffith in their duel and Griffith is left stunned, Guts turns his back to leave and as he departs, he thinks about how his friend has larger ambitions and dreams that his leaving will not affect him in the long run, and that he would get up. Spoken during a critical turning point in their relationship, these words encapsulate both Guts’ respect for Griffith’s strength and how he views himself as less than, deprecating himself and underestimating his value to Griffith.

While Guts expresses confidence in Griffith’s resilience, the scene foreshadows the devastating chain of events that follow. Griffith’s dream, built on his ambition and need for control, is profoundly shaken by Guts’ choice to leave. While Guts believes Griffith will get back up, his departure shakes Griffith to his core and leads him to make a rash decision that angers the King beyond reason, leading to his capture and torture for a year, thus ending his and the Band of the Hawks' journey.

11 "But With the Two of Us...My Sword Grew Heavy."

Guts to Roderick and Serpico, Chapter #349

Alone...my own body on the line, I could rough it without regard for how worn out it got. But with the two of us...my sword grew heavy. I could no longer afford to die, and I could no longer handle it all on my own. I set aside my own ways...accepted help from others, and have pushed onward.

-Guts

Part of Guts' character arc is just in how he processes his trauma from the Eclipse alongside the horrors of his childhood. In the Golden Age Arc, Guts was a loner who favored battle to hone his skills, barely being won over by the Band of the Hawk before the ultimate betrayal. In the Black Swordsman Arc, Guts was a malicious, vengeful terror. He's only won over when he was reunited with Casca, where he realized he couldn't put his life in danger anymore, recognizing his latent rage and need to rely on others like Farnese, Schierke, Isidro, and Serpico.

10 "Among thousands of comrades and tens of thousands of enemies, you're the only one. You're the only one who made me forget my dream."

Griffith, Chapter #78

As Void was showing Griffith his life and reminding him of the path he took, Guts emerged and shouted Griffith's name. This was when the future Godhand ed his former friend and how he was the only one to have made him forget about his goals and journey. Reminiscing about their friendship, Griffith finally uttered the word that branded the Band of Hawks and sentenced them to their deaths, as well as engulfing him in a cocoon that led him to become Femto.

It isn't an exaggeration to say that the dynamic between Guts and Griffith is the foundation of Berserk, and this line gives much more depth to their complex relationship. The irony of it is also interesting, as it was Griffith's words that led to Guts leaving the Band and seeking his own dream. Meanwhile, Griffith ended up being the one who lost his way and forgot his ambitions. For such a huge moment that made Guts the vengeful person he is and Griffith ascending beyond the sky, this line was more than perfect and executed very well.

9 "But Even If We Are Tortured or Wounded, We’ll Fight to Survive."

Guts to the Snake Lord, Berserk Anime (1997) English Dub, Episode #1

"You're right, we are mortal and fragile. But even if we are tortured or wounded, we'll fight to survive. You should feel the pain we feel and understand. I am the messenger that will deliver you to that pain and understanding."

-Guts

Guts was a different breed of warrior in the Black Swordsman Arc, being especially brutal while savoring his killing of the Snake Lord. But Guts has an ax to grind with the apostles and the God Hand they serve, as he fully intends to dish out the suffering they gave to his comrades in the Eclipse. The English dub of the 1997 Berserk anime is full of excellent quotes due to liberties taken in translation, but this one hints at the malice in Guts' heart as he tempers the Dragonslayer with the malice of his enemies.

8 “In the End, All That’s Left Is a Pile Of Rust and Scraps.”

Godo to Guts, Chapter #129

The thing about hatred...it's the place where people who can't look sorrow in the eye without waverin' run off to. Even more than a blood-rusted sword, vengeance is somethin' you soak and sharpen in blood. You sink the blade called your heart deep into blood in order to fix the nicks called sorrow. The more you sharpen, the more it rusts, so you sharpen it again. In the end, all that's left is a pile of rust and scraps.

-Godo

A commonly misquoted line, this exchange between Godo and Guts precedes Guts' lowering his guard over time once again. The events of the Eclipse were horrible, and Guts' actions when he left behind his last surviving friends to carry out his vengeance hardened his heart severely. But Godo's speech reminds Guts that, while he was powered by hate in his quest, it's also his way of running away from his trauma, eventually wearing him down to nothing. Guts' face in this arc is even shown as a more unsustainable intensity, which lessens immensely by the Fantasia Arc in comparison.