Roronoa Zoro is a member of the Straw Hat Pirates, and he is among the best swordsmen in the series. Introduced in Shells Town, Zoro joined the crew after Luffy rescued him from certain death.

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As one of the main characters in One Piece, Zoro receives a lot of screen time. Needless to say, every time he appears on the screen, he makes the audience sit on the edge of their seats. While his talent lies in his swordsmanship, Zoro has provided some of the most iconic quotes in One Piece. Given that there are so many of them, the list will cover the best ones.

Updated on June 15th, 2024, by Suzail Ahmad: Roronoa Zoro doesn't just have sharp blades; his mind is quite sharp as well, aside from his gags. Zoro didn't become an elite fighter by just using his physical strength. In fact, he is one of the few fighters who have honed their skills by training for years.

Whenever Zoro is met with an obstacle, he analyzes his opponent and figures out their weakness, eventually securing the win. Zoro's leadership skills are also underrated, and his words have helped the crew through tough times. Zoro's impactful lines have become rather popular, and there are often debates about his best quotes.

15 "You Do What You Can, The Best That You Can And Then You Turn To The Others And Expect The Same From Them."

Strong Believer In His Friends

In One Piece, friendship plays a critical role. The bonds that the Straw Hats have forged have helped them overcome many difficult situations. They have put their lives in danger to keep each other alive.

In Alabasta, Zoro highlighted the essence of team spirit. He stated that a person should try to do the best they can, which will motivate others around him to do the same. This is a brilliant quote that shows Zoro's maturity and proves that, in Luffy's absence, he is the perfect person to lead the crew.

14 "I Have Found That Fancy Titles Mean Nothing When It Comes To Fighting"

Zoro Knows That Only Skills Matter In Battles

Roronoa Zoro is one of the few characters who have attained success by constantly putting their bodies in danger. Throughout the story, fans have witnessed Zoro getting wounded and avoiding death narrowly, yet he has never been one to be deterred by it.

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Zoro's opponents have been strong and have held prestigious titles, but the swordsman has learned through experience that it doesn't make any difference. What matters is an individual's determination and how far they are willing to go in order to win. In most cases, it is Zoro who is hungrier and more resolute, which is why he is able to pull through in the toughest of conditions.

13 "To Face One Who Is Extraordinary, I Cannot Allow Myself To Be Ordinary."

Understands That He Must Surpass Limits

Zoro's fights have always been intense and full of action, so fans are always eager to see him in battle. His goal is to become the best swordsman in the world, and he knows that he cannot accomplish such a feat without putting in the effort.

This quote signifies that Zoro is aware of the fact that the people standing in his way are exemplary fighters, especially Mihawk. Zoro knows that he has to reach new heights as a swordsman before he can take down the opponents that stand in his way. He has already reached an incredibly high level, but there is still some space left for improvement.

12 "Only I Can Call My Dream Stupid"

Protective Of His Dream

Every character aspires to become great, and the Straw Hats are not an exception. They also have various goals, and every single one is dedicated to accomplishing them. Some of the crew members have dreams that require a lot of hard work and a bit of luck.

In Zoro's case, his objective is to become the best swordsman, which some people may find too ambitious. Whenever someone has tried to mock Zoro's dream, he has clearly stated that only he has the authority to ridicule it. He treats it very seriously and will do everything it takes to ensure that he realizes it at some point in the future. Part of the reason why Zoro and Luffy get along is because the two share dreams that others find too big.

11 “Guess I Might As Well Become The King of Hell”

Refusing To Give Up

The Wano Country arc was the toughest challenge for all the Straw Hats. Every single one of them had to fight strong opponents, and most of them managed to come out on top. Zoro had to battle against King, the right-hand man of Kaido. King's Lunarian traits and his Devil Fruit made it extremely difficult to hurt him.

Zoro had to dig deep to find inspiration from somewhere, and it came from a flashback. He remembered his childhood when he met Shimotsuki Kozaburo, the creator of Enma. The conversation helped Zoro tame the sword temporarily and slice through King's strongest attack. After defeating King, Zoro proclaimed that to maintain his promise of never losing, he would become the king of hell.

10 “If I Die Here, Then I’m A Man That Could Only Make It This Far.”

Understands His Limits

Roronoa Zoro is known for his determination. Since his childhood, Zoro has made it clear that he doesn't care about the opinions of others. He only wants to achieve his goals.

During his adventures with the Straw Hat Pirates, Zoro had many close run-ins with death. In the Baratie arc, Zoro faced Mihawk and was utterly humiliated by the Shichibukai. Despite the injuries that he suffered, Zoro remained resolute, and he reminded everyone with this quote that if he died, there was no one else to blame.

9 “You’ve Underestimated Me, Snow Woman. When You Thought You Couldn’t Beat Me, You Should Have Run.”

Getting Revenge On An Enemy

In Punk Hazard, the Straw Hats had to face not one but several enemies. They had to fight against Caesar, Smoker, Monet, and Vergo. Monet was actually a member of the Donquixote Pirates, and she was acting as Caesar's assistant.

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She did not hesitate to attack the kids or any other person who tried to interfere with the work. Monet got too arrogant because of her Devil Fruit ability and attacked Zoro, but the latter was unfazed. He let her know that she was too cavalier and that she should have run when she had the chance.

8 “Convey My Will To This Blade… Now Let’s See If I Am Able To Cut Steel.”

Shows His Willpower

Even a talented swordsman like Zoro has his limits. In the Albasta arc, Zoro was up against Mr. 1, the second-strongest member of the Baroque Works. Mr. 1 was not an ordinary man. In fact, he had the power of the Supa Supa no Mi. Zoro was struggling to cut through Mr. 1's body with his swords, and if he was unable to beat him, the Straw Hats would be in big trouble.

So, Zoro looked inward to find the willpower to cut through steel. Mr. 1 was still confident that Zoro wouldn't be able to harm him, but he was proven wrong. The swordsman managed to bypass Mr. 1's rigid body and claimed another scintillating victory.

7 “There Is Someone I Must Meet Again. And Until That Day...Not Even Death Himself Can Take My Life Away.”

Not Willing To Die

Considering the number of dangerous characters in the series, it is impossible not to have a run-in with one of them. Zoro suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Dracule Mihawk, and the latter also gave him a massive wound on his torso.

After fighting Hachi in Arlong Park, Zoro's wound reopened, which caused him to lose his balance. The Fish-Man was pleased to see Zoro fall, but his happiness didn't last for long. Zoro immediately got back up and told his opponent that he would not die until he faced Dracule Mihawk again.

6 “Nothing Happened.”

Shows His Maturity

The Thriller Bark was a fierce test of the determination of the Straw Hat Pirates. They had to take down Oars Jr. together, which required a great deal of effort. The fight took the wind out of everyone's sails, especially Luffy's. However, before the crew could breathe a sigh of relief, Bartholomew Kuma showed up at their location.

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Kuma would have killed Luffy if not for Zoro's sacrifice. The swordsman first knocked out Sanji, who had also volunteered to take Luffy's pain. With Sanji out of the way, Zoro pushed his hands inside the pain bubble and took in all the damage that Luffy had received. After Sanji woke up, he was shocked to see Zoro covered in blood. When he asked what had happened, Zoro simply replied, "Nothing happened." This was one of the most powerful moments in the series.

5 “Scars On The Back Are A Swordsman’s Shame.”

Reminder Of His Pride

Zoro is an honorable man and an even prouder warrior. He has fought many opponents in his life, and he will continue to do so until his final breath. One thing that is common in all of his fights is that Zoro never backs down, even if his opponent is stronger.

In the Baratie arc, Zoro and Mihawk's paths crossed for the very first time. When Zoro saw Mihawk, he knew what he had to do, so he challenged the Shichibukai to a duel. The fight was completely one-sided, yet Zoro wanted to lose with his pride intact. So he asked Mihawk to finish him off with a strike to the front.

4 “A Crew With No Respect And A Captain That Doesn’t Demand It Falls Apart Quickly.”

Stepping Up To Protect The Crew

Roronoa Zoro is one of the more sensible and serious characters in the crew. He keeps his cool in the most dangerous situations, which makes him invaluable as a crewmate.

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When Usopp openly challenged Luffy to a fight and tried to take the ship, Zoro reminded his fellow crew members that they must stick with their captain's decision, as doing otherwise could cause rifts within the crew. This served as a crucial reminder for the rest of the crew and made them realize the importance of Luffy's decisions.

3 “I'm Sorry. I Never Pray To God.”

Only Believes In Himself

One Piece consists of many arrogant characters and some of them take things to the extreme by calling themselves "God." In the Skypiea arc, the Straw Hats faced Enel, a megalomaniac who considered himself a god.

After the Straw Hats learned about the existence of a god on the island, some of them cowered in fear. However, Zoro was not ready to let the presence of God affect him. He showed that he believed in his own strength and that whatever he achieved was through his own hard work.

2 “If I Can’t Even Protect My Captain’s Dream, Then Whatever Ambition I Have Is Nothing But Talk! Luffy Is The Man Who Will Become The Pirate King!”

Shows His Love For Luffy

The Straw Hats are like a big family, and they are all very close to each other. Luffy and Zoro have great chemistry between them, as the latter was the first person to join the crew. The two of them have been close ever since, and they trust each other with their lives.

When Kuma was getting ready to take Luffy's life, Zoro begged the Shichibukai to kill him instead. Zoro stated that he also had big ambitions, but they wouldn't mean anything if he couldn't save the man who meant the world to him. This was an extremely important moment in the story, as without Zoro's determination, Kuma would have killed Luffy.

1 “I’ll Become Stronger For Her! Until My Name Reaches Heaven Itself…I’ll Become Stronger!…I’ll Become The Strongest Swordsman In The World!”

The Promise That He Made To His Best Friend

Roronoa Zoro's past shaped his entire character. Oda disclosed the details of Zoro's past not long after the bounty hunter joined the Straw Hat Pirates. The flashback revealed the motivation behind Zoro's ambitions. As a kid, he was a student at Kyoushiro's dojo, and it was there that he met Kuina. Zoro tried his best to defeat Kuina, but she always came out on top.

After Kuina passed away in a bizarre way, Zoro swore that he would make her proud. Since her dream was to become the best swordsman in the world, Zoro took it upon himself to fulfill her dream.

One Piece (1999)

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Fantasy

Release Date

October 20, 1999

Creator

Eiichiro Oda

Studio

Toei Animation

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Netflix , Hulu

See at Hulu