The second season of My Hero Academia takes us deeper into what it means to forge your own path, to confront your limits, and to recognise that heroism demands more than raw power. From the sports festival’s crucible to the shadows of Hosu City, these quotes capture the season’s essence. Read here to learn more about what happens in season 2.
41 Quotes That Define My Hero Academia Season 2’s Spirit
I’ve transcribed these 41 quotes directly from the English Dub, noting each timestamp. As with the season 1 post, you’re welcome to use these quotes and create images from them. Just credit or tag me: I’m @AllAnimeMag on every platform.
A quick character quote guide:
- Izuku Midoriya (Deku)
- Katsuki Bakugo
- Shoto Todoroki
- Shota Aizawa (Eraser Head)
- Toshinori Yagi (All Might)
- Tenya Ida (Ingenium)
- Stain (Hero Killer)
- Tomura Shigaraki
- Others (Ochaco, Tokoyami, Endeavor, and more)
Izuku Midoriya: pushing past the breaking point
Deku’s second season sees him learning that survival isn’t enough. To become a hero, he must master control whilst standing in the shadow of impossible expectations.
“I just have to hold on and keep going. I have a chance here. I have to reach out and take it. The only way to stay ahead is to take another leap.” – Episode 3 (16), 15:02
When momentum stalls, the instinct is to pause, to catch your breath. Deku knows that hesitation means falling behind. Progress demands risk, even when you’re already stretched thin.
“I have to keep on improving.” – Episode 13 (26), 16:22
No fanfare, no grand declaration. Just a quiet commitment to the work ahead. Growth isn’t dramatic. It’s the decision to keep moving when no one’s watching.
“I’ve still got a long road ahead, but I can see where I’m going. One for all, full cowling. That’s the next step to making this quirk my own.” – Episode 15 (28), 04:49
Understanding your direction matters more than knowing the destination. Deku doesn’t have all the answers, but he knows what comes next. That clarity is its own kind of power.
“I’ve still got a long road ahead, but I can see where I’m going.” – Episode 15 (28), 05:49
Worth repeating because it’s the turning point. Not confidence in success, but confidence in the path itself. Plus I wanted to emphasise this section of Deku’s quote.
Katsuki Bakugo: when pride meets reality
Season 2 cracks Bakugo’s armour just enough to show the insecurity underneath. His quotes reveal someone fighting themselves as much as their opponents.
“Now you know what a future pro looks like. Now move it, Extras.” – Episode 2 (15), 04:36
Bakugo still treats everyone around him as background noise. That arrogance would be easier to dismiss if he weren’t actually talented enough to back it up.
“Whatever your family problems are, whatever you’re feeling, none of that crap matters. Just make sure you don’t hold back.” – Episode 12 (25), 04:16
This is the closest Bakugo gets to emotional intelligence in season 2. He’s not asking for Todoroki’s story. He’s demanding that his opponent honour the fight by giving everything. Plus, I find it fitting and motivating outside of context. This is how I usually interpret a lot of Bakugo’s quotes. I look for the inspirational and motivational inside of the insults and demands.
“It can’t end this way! Now get up!” – Episode 12 (25), 09:58
When your opponent quits, winning feels hollow. Bakugo doesn’t just want victory. He wants proof that he earned it. I took it as, keep going, don’t stop, get up, you can do this.
“Die! Stupid, weakling-mouth germs!” – Episode 12 (25), 23:10
Even in mundane moments, Bakugo’s intensity is absurd. This line is ridiculous, but it’s also perfectly him, and I adore it. I want this passion when I am doing anything.
“I’ll keep fighting. I’ll break myself. Even if there’s nothing left of me, I will win the way I want to. I’ll destroy myself before I accept defeat at your hands. You got that?” – Episode 24 (37), 17:39
Self-destruction as defiance. Bakugo would rather shatter than bend. That stubbornness is both his greatest strength and his most glaring weakness.
Shoto Todoroki: learning to own your power
Todoroki’s arc this season centres on untangling himself from his father’s legacy. His quotes show someone slowly accepting that his power is his own.
“Midoriya opened my eyes during our match, but then I started to doubt myself. I think I now understand a little about why you’re so interested in him. I want to be the kind of hero you are, but my path isn’t as clear as I thought it was. I have a lot to think about, and I still need to settle things with someone very soon.” – Episode 12 (25), 13:35
Todoroki’s confession to All Might is raw and uncertain. He’s not asking for answers. He’s admitting he doesn’t have them yet.
“I started to doubt myself.” – Episode 12 (25), 13:36
Certainty fractures easily. Todoroki spent his whole life knowing exactly who he was fighting against. When that clarity vanishes, doubt rushes in.
“My path isn’t as clear as I thought it was.” – Episode 12 (25), 13:47
The moment Todoroki realises that rejecting his father isn’t the same as finding himself. Purpose can’t be built entirely on opposition.
“Only I can decide my future.” – Episode 14 (27), 15:15
The counterpoint to his earlier doubt. Agency reclaimed. No one else gets to write his story.
“Whenever I’m involved, someone’s hand gets all messed up. Is something wrong with me? Am I cursed? This isn’t a joke. I’m like the Hand Crusher or something.” – Episode 18 (31), 14:04
Dark humour masking genuine anxiety. Todoroki’s fights keep leaving people injured in the same specific way. Coincidence feels like pattern, and pattern feels like fate.
Shota Aizawa: the teacher who sees through illusions
Aizawa’s blunt assessments cut through pretence. His quotes this season remind us that heroism demands sacrifice.
“My well-being is irrelevant. What’s more important is that your fight isn’t over yet.” – Episode 1 (14), 12:05
Aizawa’s priorities are clear. His students’ growth matters more than his own safety. That kind of selflessness defines what teaching really means.
Toshinori Yagi: the weight of being a symbol
All Might’s humanity shows through more clearly this season. His quotes reveal the burden of being both a person and an icon.
“Someone could be injured and calling out for my help anywhere in the world right now, and I would never know about it. I know it’s frustrating, but we’re only human. There will always be people beyond our reach that we can’t protect. But that’s all the more reason to stand tall and smile. So that the symbol of justice is always there, even when I can’t be, a flicker in people’s hearts, whether they be a hero or a villain.” – Episode 25 (38), 19:24
The impossible standard All Might holds himself to, and the impossible grace with which he accepts his limits. He can’t save everyone. So he smiles, hoping that memory will save someone when he can’t be there.
Tenya Ida: duty and grief collide
Iida’s personal tragedy tests his principles. His quotes show someone struggling to reconcile his ideals with his anger.
“You can’t walk around calling people Extras just because you don’t know who they are!” – Episode 2 (15), 04:39
Iida’s sense of propriety clashes with Bakugo’s casual disrespect. Some people are raised to see everyone as worthy of basic courtesy.
“I’m sorry if I made you worry. Everything will be fine.” – Episode 13 (26), 02:38
The reassurance that isn’t quite true. Iida’s calm tone hides the storm building underneath.
Stain: the Hero Killer’s twisted conviction
Stain’s philosophy is brutal and absolute. His quotes reveal someone who believes violence is justice.
“You haven’t even noticed it, have you? This warped society mired by hypocrisy and vanity. That’s fine, I’ll open your eyes, heroes. You will see the world that you’ve created.” – Episode 11 (24), 20:56
Stain’s indictment of hero society cuts to the bone. He sees himself as a teacher, forcing heroes to confront the corruption they’ve enabled.
“I was a fool to think you could offer me anything. It turns out you’re the type of person I hate most in this world. The goals of your league are those of a child. What meaning is there to killing if you don’t have real convictions?” – Episode 14 (27), 09:05
Stain’s contempt for Shigaraki cuts deep. Even amongst villains, purposeless destruction disgusts him.
“What meaning is there to killing if you don’t have real convictions?” – Episode 14 (27), 09:16
The question that defines Stain’s entire ideology. He doesn’t kill for pleasure. He kills for principle. That’s what makes him so dangerous.
“You won’t accomplish anything if you don’t have conviction and desire. Without those, you’ll always be an aimless weakling, achieving nothing. That’s how you got here.” – Episode 15 (28), 09:02
Stain’s assessment of Iida is harsh but not entirely wrong. Desire without direction is just noise.
“I was testing your motives. People always show their true colours when on the verge of death. It’s abnormal, but there is desire. A warped sprout of conviction inside of you. How will it bloom in the end, I wonder? Maybe I’ll let you grow. If you don’t turn out well, I’ll take care of you later.” – Episode 15 (28), 10:43
Stain sees potential in Iida’s rage. That recognition is both a threat and a twisted form of respect.
“When your friend chose to fight me, it guaranteed that the weaker of us would be culled.” – Episode 15 (28), 12:34
Stain’s brutal honesty. He doesn’t pretend combat is fair. The weak die. That’s the rule he lives by.
“Today’s been full of distractions.” – Episode 15 (28), 15:20
Even in the middle of chaos, Stain remains focused. Interruptions annoy him because they delay his mission.
“You false hero! I’ll make this right! These streets must run with the blood of hypocrites! Hero! I will reclaim that word! Come on! Just try and stop me, you fakes! There is only one man I’ll let kill me. He is a true hero. All Might is worthy!” – Episode 17 (30), 20:11
Stain’s final stand reveals his ultimate conviction. All Might is the only hero he respects, the only one pure enough to end him.
Tomura Shigaraki: nihilism searching for purpose
Shigaraki’s quotes this season show someone groping towards understanding what he actually wants. His philosophy is destruction without direction, slowly crystallising into something more focused.
“I like to destroy anything that pisses me off.” – Episode 14 (27), 08:56
Simple. Childish. Honest. Shigaraki’s motivations haven’t evolved beyond petulant rage yet.
“These people think they’re safe, like nothing can harm them. I don’t know if they’re naive or just ignorant. People are getting killed somewhere at this very moment, but these idiots keep smiling, like they don’t have a care in the world.” – Episode 25 (38), 10:13
Shigaraki’s resentment towards civilian complacency reveals his worldview. Safety is an illusion, and those who believe in it are fools.
“Just look at these sheep. Any one of them could use their quirks and start a massacre whenever they wanted, and yet they’re all here, smiling. They think laws and rules will protect them, because they assume everyone has their same morals. “ – Episode 25 (38), 11:44
The chilling mathematics of violence. Shigaraki isn’t threatening. He’s calculating.
“When it comes down to it, I hate basically everything.” – Episode 25 (38), 12:24
The purest distillation of Shigaraki’s character at this point. Universal contempt with no exceptions.
“That’s like a weight off my chest. I see it now, all the dots connected. Why he makes me so angry. Why do you irritate me so much? Everything makes sense. It’s him. The problem is All Might. Yeah, yeah, that’s it. That’s the most rational explanation. I didn’t see it even though it was right in front of me the whole time. What was I worrying about so much? It’s simple. He’s why these morons are able to smile thoughtlessly. They feel so safe because that garbage pro is smiling thoughtlessly too. As if there’s no one in the whole world he can’t save. Oh, I’m glad we had this chat. I feel better. I can’t thank you enough, Midoriya. I don’t need to change my ways after all. Oops, don’t struggle now. Unless you want to die. You want all these people here to crumble as well? You know, it’s really ironic, Hero Killer. I’m your opposite, but you let me live. And now your ideals and convictions will become a stepping stone for me.” – Episode 25 (38), 14:43
Shigaraki’s epiphany. His hatred finally finds focus. All Might is the reason people feel safe. Remove him, and society crumbles. That clarity transforms him from a tantrum into a genuine threat.
Supporting voices: wisdom from the sidelines
The rest of U.A.’s students and pros offer their own fragments of truth.
“Giving up isn’t an option for me!” – Ochaco Uraraka, Episode 9 (22), 04:07
Uraraka’s determination mirrors Deku’s. When you’ve got something to prove, quitting isn’t even a consideration.
“This is my moment! Easy peasy!” – Tsuyu Asui, Episode 3 (16), 08:16
Confidence without arrogance. Tsuyu knows her strengths and trusts them.
“Whatever it takes.” – Endeavor, Episode 6 (19), 05:54
Three words that sum up Endeavor’s entire philosophy. Results matter. Methods don’t.
“Let’s get the party started now, ya dig?!” – Present Mic, Episode 9 (22), 15:16
Present Mic’s enthusiasm is infectious. Even in serious moments, he brings energy.
“It’s no time to wallow.” – Fumikage Tokoyami, Episode 9 (22), 20:00
Action over introspection. Tokoyami’s pragmatism cuts through self-pity.
“Tis skill, not strength, that governs a ship.” – Fumikage Tokoyami, Episode 13 (26), 16:28
Tokoyami’s old-fashioned phrasing belies a modern truth. Raw power without control is useless.
“There are countless things you need to learn.” – Best Jeanist, Episode 14 (27), 12:21
A reminder that hero training never truly ends. Mastery is a horizon, not a destination.
“This is not the kind of roleplay I was hoping for.” – Minoru Mineta, Episode 14 (27), 14:57
Mineta being Mineta. No matter the situation, his mind stays in the gutter. I just found this line fun.
“All women are demons at heart. They just hide their true personalities behind pretty faces.” – Minoru Mineta, Episode 20 (33), 05:25
Mineta’s misogyny remains his most consistent character trait. Not every quote is wisdom. Some are here because they stood out to me or I just found them fun. This is the latter.
“Life is too hard.” – Himiko Toga, Episode 25 (38), 00:45
Two words carrying the weight of Toga’s entire worldview. Reality is exhausting. Fantasy is easier.
“You have a clear goal. Your dedication is admirable.” – Kurogiri, Episode 15 (28), 16:03
Even villains recognise genuine commitment. Conviction transcends morality.
“Don’t mock your mother.” – Inko Midoriya, Episode 12 (25), 22:12
Mothers everywhere, summed up in four words.
“I was forced to choose a different track. Such is life.” – Hitoshi Shinso, Episode 2 (15), 05:51
Resignation masking ambition. Shinso’s acceptance of his circumstances doesn’t mean he’s given up.
“You just sound like an ass.” – Hitoshi Shinso, Episode 2 (15), 04:48
Sometimes the most honest response is the simplest one.
What season 2 teaches us
My Hero Academia’s second season strips away the comfort of clear answers. Heroes doubt themselves. Villains find purpose. Students discover that strength without wisdom is just noise.
The sports festival proves that victory means nothing if you don’t choose it. Hosu City shows that conviction, no matter how twisted, can change the world.
Because heroism isn’t about being the strongest.
It’s about knowing why you fight.
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