Marvel: 7 of the Best MCU Quotes
Now that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has entered its Phase 4, there is plenty of material to look back on and feel nostalgic about. With that in mind, let’s take a look at seven of the best MCU quotes from the last decade of films.
Best MCU quotes: “I am Iron Man”
Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) line at the end of Iron Man, “I am Iron man,” launched the MCU as we know it today. It’s after this, of course, that Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) decides to recruit him for the Avengers Initiative. And it’s an important moment in superhero history as previously, heroes had largely tried to keep their identities a secret.
It’s also an important character moment for Tony. He is nothing if not a showman, and coming forward as Iron Man is the ultimate moment in the spotlight. At the time, it seems like he’s doing it for the fame. He is, after all, still at the “genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist” stage of his character development. But maybe, underneath that, the line also foreshadows the fact that Tony isn’t one to shy away from the dangers associated with being a superhero.
“‘Til the end of the line”
When it comes to the best MCU quotes, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) does not disappoint. This is one of the most touching lines in the MCU. It comes from Captain America: Winter Soldier, during Steve and Bucky’s (Sebastian Stan) final fight scene. Steve tells Bucky, still programmed as the Winter Soldier, that he’s not going to fight him. Bucky continues to hit Steve, and the latter tells him he’d better finish the job because “I’m with you, ‘til the end of the line.” That gets through to Bucky, who stops beating his friend.
It’s a moment that really shows us the depth of their friendship. And it demonstrates how deeply Steve believes in Bucky, even when others might think he’s a lost cause.
“I got red in my ledger”
This line happens in the first Avengers movie. Natasha (Scarlett Johansson) is talking to an imprisoned Loki (Tom Hiddleston). She tells him, “It’s really not that complicated. I got red in my ledger, I’d like to wipe it out.”
This line really sums up so much of Nat’s motivation throughout the MCU. And we finally see this played out in Black Widow. Particularly when it comes to the full circle loop involving Dreykov’s daughter, whom Loki mentioned in the same scene.
“Wakanda will no longer watch from the shadows”
This line comes near the end of Black Panther. It’s T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) who says it, when he’s explaining why he wants to reveal the existence of Wakanda to the rest of the world. He feels their scientific advancements could be used to aid the disadvantaged worldwide.
It’s important to the MCU because Wakanda’s involvement in any of the events that take place after Black Panther would not have been possible had T’Challa not made this decision. And it shows the compassion and open heart that T’Challa is known for.
“What is grief if not love persevering?”
This is one of Vision’s (Paul Bettany) lines from WandaVision. It comes during a flashback magically induced by Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn). Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) is recalling a moment with she is grieving over the loss of her brother Pietro (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and he is trying to comfort her.
It’s really a touching moment, and it shows how deeply Vision cares for Wanda. It also demonstrates how deep his humanity is. The line is beautifully written and highly memorable.
“I didn’t do it for him”
This line is definitely one of the best MCU quotes. It comes at the end of Thor: The Dark World. Loki is supposedly dying, and Thor says he’ll tell Odin about his brother’s heroism. Loki replies “I didn’t do it for him.” While the impact of this line is somewhat mitigated when we find out that Loki hasn’t died after all, there still seems to be some degree of truth in his words.
Loki’s entire character struggle is founded on the feeling that Odin doesn’t believe him to be worthy. And so much of what he does is an attempt to prove himself to his adoptive father. Therefore, for him to have a moment of clarity in which he potentially realizes he doesn’t need that approval is significant.
In terms of memorable Loki lines, it’s rivaled by “I am burdened with glorious purpose” from Avengers. And “a bit of both” from Loki, in which the variant version of the God of Mischief reveals his bisexuality.
“A family is forever”
This is another one from WandaVision, meaning the show has two of the best MCU quotes. It comes during the finale. Wanda has released her magical hold on Westview, New Jersey, which means she is about to lose Vision (again) and her sons. But before they disappear, she says to her boys, “You know, a family is forever. We could never truly leave each other, even if we tried.”
This is poignant on multiple levels. First, in Wanda’s experience, a family is very much not always forever. She loses her parents, then her brother, then Vision. She even loses members of her Avengers family. A family that is forever is what she wants most of all but has not yet found.
Additionally, the line could maybe hint at some multiverse shenanigans involving her sons. Loki blew open the door on the multiverse. And we expect Wanda and Loki’s actions to probably have ramifications in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Perhaps we’ll see alternate versions of her boys at some point?
