Since its original manga debuted in 2018, Jujutsu Kaisen has swiftly carved its niche in the fandom space. Based on Gege Akutami's mega-successful manga of the same name, Jujutsu Kaisen — or JJK — has exponentially grown its audience with its anime adaptation, providing a quality shonen successfully treading the fine line between super-powered spectacle and deep introspection. As the show continues to establish itself, it's not just its breathtaking battles keeping JJK at the fore of anime culture's consciousness, but also its profound pearls of wisdom passed among its rich cast of characters.
From the thought-provoking words of enigmatic characters like Satoru Gojo to emotional declarations from JJK's earnest protagonist Yuji Itadori, each new episode in the show's still-young run is peppered with memorable exchanges that linger beyond its conclusion. With fans awaiting JJK's next batch of episodes, now is the perfect time to revisit JujutsuKaisen's most impactful quotes and exchanges that helped etch the show into the annals of modern classic shonen.
10 "Love Is The Most Twisted Curse Of All."
Satoru Gojo
Gojo's trademark charismatic demeanor is on full display in this quote. His irreverence makes him an enigmatic mentor to Yuji and other students, providing comedic quips and aloof leadership as they navigate the world of curses.
Gojo's rebellious streak and free-spiritedness lead to kernels of wisdom like this, where he may not have intended his off-the-cuff response to be as poignant as he sounds. Having borne witness to Rika and Yuta's relationship complicating each other's lives and fate, Gojo expounds this as a bit of bittersweet, brilliant advice. Its matter-of-fact approach to love is a reminder that Gojo's poise comes with experience and sacrifice, for better or worse.
9 "I Don't Give A D*** About 'Men' This & 'Women' That!"
Nobara Kugisaki
Nobara has always been sharp-witted and fearless, but this memorable, profane assertion stands out as one of her most spirited displays. Not only does the classic moment serve as an empowering feminist showcase — a too-rare occurrence in shonen — but it also speaks to her place in the show's larger mythos.
The quote continues with Nobara saying "You can keep that sh** to yourselves! I love myself when I'm pretty and all dressed up! And I love myself when I'm being strong!" Her declaration of agency isn't just defiant towards her opponent, Momo, another woman; it's a larger stance regarding the curbed expectations she's on the receiving end of because of her femininity. She can be beautiful and fierce as a combatant and jujutsu sorcerer, it's up to everybody else to handle her as she is.
8 "No One's Allowed To Take Youth Away From Young People."
Satoru Gojo
Just when you think Gojo's confidence may be his downfall, he takes a moral stance that affirms his place as a fan favorite. As a teacher with unflinching support for his students, he often serves as a bridge between his pupils and jujutsu sorcerer leadership. This contemplative quote showcases what guides his mentorship and his ability to empathize with his students.
Jujutsu higher-ups only want to produce the most powerful and obedient sorcerer. While Gojo isn't necessarily unaligned with them, he refuses to execute that mission at the expense of someone's youthful freedoms. This belief stems from his own broken childhood, making it all the more heartfelt and endearing.
7 "The Accumulation Of Those Little Despairs Is What Makes A Person An Adult."
Kento Nanami
Nanami's reluctant leadership bolsters Yuji during his jujutsu training, giving the protagonist a steady and respectable beacon to emblemize. Although he's not a teacher, Nanami remains emotionally invested in Yuji, hoping to protect him from repeating the same mistakes he did when he was younger.
Nanami's conflicted past is a double-edged sword. While it helps inform his role as an advisor, it instills inherent prejudices toward younger people. This quote comes at the intersection of his conflicting ideologies, a melancholic but seasoned share to act as a cautionary tale about the freedoms that get pruned away as you age. Given Nanami's fate and where he stands with the next generation of sorcerers when he meets them, the exchange carries extra meaning.
6 "I Know You Had Your Hardships, Mechamaru, But Having More Hardships Doesn't Make You Right."
Panda
Don't be fooled by Panda's appearance. Not only is he not an actual Panda (his appearance is part of his curse), but he can quickly turn from cuddly to bestial when needed. Even then, when his tusks unfurl and his rage ensues, he is still among the most knowledgeable figures in all of Jujutsu Kaisen.
Panda's wherewithal comes from his unique upbringing, a revived and mutated corpse, brought to life by Masamichi Yaga. Panda transposes the lion's — or, in this case, bear's — share of trials and tribulations he experiences trying to assimilate into his new life and form into wisdom and a strong moral compass. It's unsurprising, then, that Panda can both see through Mechamaru and identify his true insidiousness and speak to it eloquently.
5 "Any Hierarchy Other Than Strength Is Boring."
Ryomen Sukuna
Sukuna's ruthless reputation as King of Curses precedes him. He's a power-hungry figure in Jujutsu Kaisen, a central antagonist committed to furthering and maintaining his strength by any means necessary. Here, he demonstrates his cut-throat personality and dominant streak, harkening back to what is commonly referred to as "the banality of evil."
Sukuna's words are intimidating but also call into the conflicting morality of Jujutsu Kaisen. All that matters to Sukun is strength and survival. While there are no lengths he wouldn't go to secure it, the mission is not dissimilar to jujutsu sorcerer leadership.
4 "Dying To Win And Risking Death To Win Are Completely Different."
Satoru Gojo
Gojo is urging Megumi to be more calculated in his approach when he says "Dying to win and risking death to win are completely different." It's another instance of Gojo's teacherly wisdom being showcased in Jujutsu Kaisen, with the white-haired fan favorite emphasizing perseverance and appreciation for life as important qualities for every jujutsu sorcerer.
Gojo has seen too many allies and young folks rush into danger without any precision and pay the ultimate price. Protecting the world as a jujutsu sorcerer is as worthwhile and difficult as any, but it's up to Gojo to help clarify for his students the difference between someone risking their lives for something they believe in and being reckless about something they believe in. One can't fight a good fight if one doesn't first protect themselves.
3 "Life Simply Flows."
Mahito
Jujutsu Kaisen is no stranger to sad moments and character deaths, much to the delight of Mahito, its sinister antagonist. His unsettling words, "Life simply flows," are uttered with malice and nihilistic intent, a greater signifier of his disturbing worldview. For Mahito, if life is a current of unending energy, then what's to lose if he takes one away from an innocent human or opponent? It's "simply flowing" from one place to another.
Analyzing Mahito's quote alone, the sentiment can potentially have a comforting effect. In JJK's frequent investigation of death's inevitability, many characters get lost or are put at risk. "Life simply flows" can soothe that inevitability — both in the show and in real-life experiences.
2 "I Want The Confidence To Feel Like It's Okay To Live."
Yuta Okkotsu
Jujutsu Kaisen's profound exploration of forging a found family through unlikely circumstances helped cement it as a beloved shonen. Yuta perfectly encapsulates the yearning to belong that motors JJK. Haunted by the specter of his dead childhood best friend, Yuta's tragic past dictates the self-isolation that he tries to transcend with this declaration.
Not only is this an inspiring Jujutsu Kaisen quote in a vacuum, but it's also a heartfelt and triumphant declaration for Yuta. His longing to break free from the shackles of his loneliness is emblematic of JJK's larger themes and a microcosm for its emotional depth.
1 "I Don't Know How I'll Feel When I'm Dying, But I Won't Regret The Way I Lived!"
Yuji Itadori
Coming from an early exchange between Masamichi and Yuji this line continues to resonate with fans years after it was first uttered. Its impact is two-fold, firmly showcasing both Jujutsu Kaisen's reliable blend of equally deep-feeling action-packed sequences and Yuji's unwavering determination.
Yuji himself is burdened with having to strike a healthy balance between his curse and his humanity. The context loads the full exchange with poignancy, with Yuji prioritizing conviction and goodwill above all else. The rallying cry highlights Yuji's greater purpose and alludes to the existential conflicts that propel the rest of the series. Perhaps paramount though, Yuji's concessions regarding the temptation to blow off destiny in favor of luxury or manga-reading humanize him and make him relatable to JJK's audience.
