Hunter x Hunter is one of the most beloved anime series of all time, known not just for its amazing storytelling but also for being deeply inspirational. The series follows our main protagonist Gon Freecss, a boy with one big goal: to find his dad, who’s a legendary Hunter. To do that, Gon decides to become a Hunter himself.
Every little aspect of the show is captivating, like the bond between the main four characters (especially Gon and Killua), Meruem’s character development, Hisoka’s unsettling obsession with Gon, the mystery of the Phantom Troupe, and, of course, the intricate Nen power system. But beyond all that, Togashi uses these characters and situations to explore themes like moral ambiguity, enjoying the journey, and discovering what’s truly worth pursuing through some of the most powerful quotes in anime. So let’s take a look at the ten best quotes from the series that have stayed with viewers and deserve to be remembered.
10) “You Shouldn’t Let Appearances Deceive You” – Kurapika Kurta
This line comes during one of the best moments in the Yorknew City arc, Episode 57, “Initiative x And x Law.” When Gon and Killua are captured by the Phantom Troupe, their friends have no choice but to step in. Kurapika, Leorio, and Melody put together a plan to capture Chrollo and use him as leverage to save the boys.
Things take a turn when Chrollo assumes the chain user is a woman after seeing Kurapika in disguise. Kurapika shuts him down with a cold, “Who said I was?” before removing his wig and reminding him, “You shouldn’t let appearances deceive you.” He makes it clear that Chrollo should watch his mouth, because those could end up being his last words.
9) “This Was a Bad Move, Little Ant.” – Netero
This scene takes place in Episode 111, “Charge x And x Invade”, during the Chimera Ant arc. Just minutes before the invasion begins, Netero and Zeno make a dramatic entrance by jumping off a massive dragon and diving straight toward the palace. Neferpitou is the first to sense them and immediately panics at the sight of the enormous Nen dragon descending.
As the dragon makes contact with Neferpitou’s En, the ten-second countdown hits, and the extermination team bursts out from Knov’s dimension. Zeno’s dragon splits into thousands of smaller dragons, forcing Neferpitou to frantically search until they finally catch sight of Netero himself. The moment Neferpitou activates their ability to attack, Netero delivers this ice-cold line: “This was a bad move, little ant,” making it clear he had already anticipated Neferpitou’s reaction and was fully prepared for it.
8) “Just Don’t Die Until You’re Dead.” – Gyro/Welfin
This piece of advice originally came from Gyro, but it’s Welfin who carries it forward and repeats it several times near the end of the Chimera Ant arc. Welfin is a character who transforms from antagonist to anti-hero throughout the series, and he has a deep bond with Gyro. At its core, this quote means not to give up before it’s truly over, or in other words, don’t let your spirit die while your body’s still alive.
The message resonates even more when you look at the Chimera Ants, who kept their human memories. Many of them clung to a purpose or an unfulfilled dream from their previous lives, and that is what kept them going. These words tell us that drifting through life without purpose is its own kind of death, and that real living means holding on to your goals until your very last breath.
7) “I Don’t Care if This Is the End…” – Gon Freecss
This moment comes in the iconic Episode 131, “Anger x And x Light”, when Gon’s usual cheerful personality completely shatters. After a long fight with the Chimera Ants, Gon finally corners Neferpitou, only to learn that his mentor Kite cannot be brought back to life. Pushed past his breaking point, Gon makes the ultimate decision to stake all of his potential on a Binding Promise that enhances his strength to an unfathomable level.
Gon’s final words, “I don’t care if this is the end, so I’ll use everything,” before transforming into his adult form, capture all the rage that had been building inside him. By sacrificing his entire future, including his Nen abilities, just for the chance to destroy Neferpitou, Gon shows how completely grief has consumed him. It’s definitely one of the darkest and most talked-about moments in all of shonen.
6) “A Prayer Comes from the Heart…” – Netero
This moment takes place in Episode 126, “Zero x And x Rose”, during the battle between Hunter Chairman Netero and the Chimera Ant King, Meruem. As their fight continues, Meruem studies Netero’s attack patterns the same way he studied Komugi’s Gungi moves, realizing Netero needs to put his hands together to strike. After enduring so many hits, the King finally cripples Netero by ripping off his leg and arm.
Netero mocks him with a laugh and delivers one of his most iconic lines as he says, “You believe I cannot pray with a single arm? A prayer comes from the heart.” He reminds Meruem that prayer isn’t about having two hands; it comes from the heart. That moment sums up Netero’s unbreakable spirit and sets the stage for his final move, the Zero Hand.
5) “My Rage Will Fade over Time…” – Kurapika Kurta
This dialogue comes in Episode 1, as the characters are on their way to the Hunter Exam site on the ship. It is then that a violent storm comes and leaves most exam applicants seasick; only Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio remain unaffected. The Captain calls them in and asks why they want to become Hunters, with Gon quickly sharing his dream of finding his father, while Leorio and Kurapika refuse to share their reasons.
When the Captain pushes further, Kurapika reveals that he’s the last surviving member of the Kurta Clan and that his goal is to take down the Phantom Troupe. The Captain warns him that it’s a suicide mission, but Kurapika answers by saying, “I do not fear death. I fear only that my rage will fade over time.” His words show just how much his hatred drives him; not even death scares him, only the thought of losing the hatred that gives his life purpose.
4) “Will You Call Me by My Name One Last Time?” – Meruem
This moment takes place between the Chimera Ant King and Komugi. When Meruem first takes over the Royal Palace, he demands board game champions be brought to him as entertainment, easily defeating and killing each opponent with his superhuman intelligence. And then he meets Komugi, the Gungi champion, who becomes the first person to ever challenge him intellectually, and through their games, the ruthless king slowly transforms into someone capable of love and humanity.
After being poisoned by Netero’s atomic bomb, Meruem briefly loses his memories but regains them after finding a piece of Gungi on the ground. Accepting that he’s dying, he abandons the war between ants and humans to spend his last moments with Komugi. The episode ends with Meruem’s last request, asking Komugi to call him by his name, as the two pass away together.
3) “Gon, You Are Light…” – Killua Zoldyck
This touching line from Episode 85, “Light x And x Darkness,” is one of the most heartfelt friendship moments in all of anime. After Kite loses his arm, Killua is forced to knock out an enraged Gon and carry him to safety, blaming himself for leaving Kite behind. But when Gon wakes up in their hotel room and thanks Killua for stopping him, and insists they should go back to save Kite, Killua’s emotions spill over as he says, “Gon, you are light. Sometimes you shine so brightly, I must look away. But even so, is it still okay if I stay by your side?”.
Killua grew up in a family of assassins and was raised to become one, while Gon lived a simple life on an island with his aunt. Gon naturally looks for the bright side in everything, but Killua is quick to doubt, and that isn’t even really his fault, since he’s been manipulated his whole life by his older brother, Illumi. That’s why Gon feels like the light to Killua’s darkness, and through all their adventures together, Killua slowly realizes that life is actually worth living.
2) “Kurapika Is Now Drowning in an Indescribable Emptiness.” – Narrator
This quote at the end of Episode 53, “Fake x And x Psyche,” has become so iconic that it’s sparked countless memes and trends, mostly because of the contrast between the narration and the upbeat music that starts playing immediately after. You’ll find videos of people cosplaying Kurapika floating face-down in pools with this audio playing, or using it to describe everyday inconveniences dramatically. While the memes sure are hilarious, the original moment is actually quite sad in context.
Kurapika is the last survivor of the Kurta Clan, and his goal is to avenge his people and recover their stolen Scarlet Eyes. In this episode, he’s ordered by Light Nostrade to bid on a pair of Scarlet Eyes at the Underground Auction, and ultimately wins them for 2.9 billion as a gift for his daughter, Neon. When Neon lights up with joy at how beautiful they are, completely unaware of the bloodshed behind them, the episode closes with the narrator’s line.
1) “Bungee Gum Possesses the Properties of Both Rubber and Gum.” – Hisoka
How could anything but this iconic line come out on top? It sums up everything fans love about Hisoka, and he repeats it constantly throughout the series, often at the weirdest times. He’ll be in the middle of a fight, they’ll ask how he pulled off a move, and he’ll casually explain before finishing with this signature catchphrase.
Beyond being a long-running meme, this quote highlights just how versatile Hisoka’s ability really is. Bungee Gum can attach to people and objects, mimic both rubber and gum properties, and even act as replacement body parts after Hisoka takes damage. The repetitive nature of this line has made it iconic among Hunter x Hunter fans, and hearing him say it never gets old.
Which of these Hunter x Hunter quotes stood out to you the most? Let us know in the comments!
