Few anime capture the journey of self-discovery, courage, and the pursuit of justice quite like My Hero Academia (Boku no Hero Academia). From Izuku Midoriya’s trembling beginnings to All Might’s fading strength and Shota Aizawa’s grounded realism, every line carries a fragment of what it truly means to go “Plus Ultra.”
Let’s revisit 23 unforgettable quotes from the early episodes that remind us why this story continues to resonate with so many fans around the world.
23 Quotes That Define My Hero Academia Season 1’s Spirit
I rewatched (and reviewed) My Hero Academia Season 1, and as I watched, I carefully noted each quote and timestamp. This post is a reflection of a labour of love; the quotes below are English Dub accurate, transcribed directly from the series.
You’re welcome to use the quotes and images; please just credit or tag me if you share them socially. I’m @AllAnimeMag on every platform I’m active on (except Reddit).
A quick guide to quotes by each character:
- Izuku Midoriya (DEKU)
- Katsuki Bakugo
- Toshinori Yag (ALL MIGHT)
- Shota Aizawa (ERASER HEAD)
- Momo Yaoyorozu (CREATI)
- Tenya Iida (INGENIUM)
Izuku Midoriya: the boy who kept believing
From the very first episode, Izuku ‘Deku’ Midoriya stands as the embodiment of perseverance, a boy without power, clinging to impossible dreams.
“Why are you being so mean? You’re making him cry, Ka-chan. If you keep on hurting him, uh, I’ll uh, I’ll stop you myself.” – Episode 1, 00:07
Before Deku could throw a punch, before he had any power at all, his instinct was to step between a bully and his victim. That hesitation in his voice doesn’t weaken the promise. It makes it real. Most of us have felt that trembling certainty that something is wrong, even when we lack the means to fix it. I put together a post exploring this opening line here.
“You can’t go around telling people to kill themselves. What if I really jumped?” – Episode 1, 11:56
This line lands like a stone. Bakugo’s cruelty is casual, throwaway. Deku’s response forces him to reckon with the weight of words. It’s a quiet confrontation that many people who’ve faced bullying will recognise: the moment you realise someone’s carelessness could have destroyed you, and they had no idea.
“My dreams have turned into fish food.” – Episode 1, 12:03
Before the slime villain, Deku’s hero notebook lies soaked and ruined in the koi pond. It’s a small, bitter image. Your dreams don’t always die in explosions. Sometimes they just get waterlogged and sink.
“Couldn’t you see? My world was crumbling. There was only one thing I wanted to hear.” – Episode 1, 15:54
When you’re desperate for validation, you don’t need advice or logic. You need someone to tell you it’s going to be all right. Deku’s plea cuts through every measured, reasonable response All Might could give. Sometimes hope isn’t rational.
“I made a decision that day. No matter what anyone else thinks, I have to believe in myself. And I’ll keep smiling just like him!” – Episode 1, 16:08
After All Might tells him the truth he didn’t want to hear, Deku decides to keep going anyway. That’s the turning point. Not when someone believes in you, but when you choose to believe in yourself despite everything.
“Sometimes I do feel like I’m a failure. Like, there’s no hope for me. But even so, I’m not gonna give up. Ever.” – Episode 1, 21:32
Self-doubt doesn’t vanish when you make a decision. It lingers, whispers, returns when you’re tired. Deku’s honesty here is what makes him relatable. He’s not fearless. He’s stubborn.
“Is it possible to become a hero even if I don’t have a Quirk?” – Episode 1, 21:52
The simplest question in the series. The one that changes everything. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is ask for the truth, even when you’re terrified of the answer.
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve thought that saving people is the coolest thing you can do. I want people to see my fearless smile and feel safe, and be the kind of hero everyone in the world looks up to. Just like you!” – Episode 2, 02:09
There’s no cynicism here, no calculation. Deku doesn’t want to be a hero for fame or money. He wants to make people feel safe. That purity of motivation, rare even in fiction, is what separates him from nearly everyone else.
“Dreams can become reality.” – Episode 2, 22:14
After everything he’s been through, after every rejection and every doubt, this is what Deku learns. Not that dreams are guaranteed, but that they’re possible. That’s enough.
Katsuki Bakugo: pride and fire
Bakugo’s words in the first season reveal both his arrogance and the insecurity burning underneath.
“Don’t lump me in with this bunch of losers. I’m the real deal, but these guys will be lucky to end up as sidekicks to some busted D-lister. Ha!” – Episode 1, 07:38
Bakugo doesn’t just want to succeed. He needs everyone else to fail. That kind of superiority complex usually hides something fragile. When you define yourself by being better than others, you’re only ever one loss away from losing yourself.
“They’ll realise I’m legit, the next big thing. That’s not ego talking; I just know I’m good.” – Episode 1, 11:00
The tragedy of Bakugo’s early arrogance is that he’s not entirely wrong. He is talented. But talent without humility becomes a prison. He’s so focused on proving his worth that he can’t see how desperately he’s trying to convince himself.
All Might & Toshinori Yagi: The Symbol of Peace
All Might’s heroic energy often hides his human fragility. His early words show us both sides of the man behind the smile.
All Might
“Stay out of trouble.” – Episode 1, 17:00
Even in passing, even after a battle, All Might’s instinct is to care. It’s such a small line, the kind of thing a parent might say, but it reveals his nature. Heroism isn’t always grand gestures. Sometimes it’s just checking that someone’s all right.
“Well, it looks like you’re moving around all right. Sorry about that back there. I didn’t mean to get you caught up in my justice-ing. Usually, I pay more attention to keeping bystanders safe, but it turns out this city’s sewer system is pretty difficult to navigate.” – Episode 1, 18:48
All Might apologises. The greatest hero in the world apologises to a random teenager for a minor inconvenience. That humility, that recognition that even heroes make mistakes, is what makes him worthy of the title.
Toshinori Yagi
“There’s plenty of fear behind that smile.” – Episode 2, 06:13
When the muscle fades and the real Toshinori appears, this is what we learn: the smile was never about confidence. It was about defiance. He smiled because he was afraid, not because he wasn’t.
“I’m supposed to be the guy who’s always smiling, right? I’m the Symbol of Peace. People everywhere have to think that I’m never afraid. But honestly, I smile to hide the fear inside. It’s just a brave face I put on when the pressure is high.” – Episode 2, 07:10–07:19
This confession redefines everything we think we know about strength. Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s the decision to smile anyway, to carry on anyway, to protect people anyway. Toshinori’s admission makes him more heroic, not less.
“There are stories about every hero — how they became great. Most have one thing in common. Their bodies moved before they had a chance to think. Almost on their own.” – Episode 2, 21:01
Heroism isn’t a choice you make after careful deliberation. It’s instinct. It’s the reflex that kicks in when someone needs help and your brain hasn’t caught up yet. Deku proves this when he runs towards the slime villain without a quirk, without a plan, without hope.
“Young man, you too can become a hero.” – Episode 2, 22:02
Six words. That’s all it takes to change a life. After a lifetime of being told he couldn’t, after All Might himself said it was impossible, this reversal hits like thunder. Because Deku didn’t change. All Might finally saw what was already there.
“Don’t you give up, it’s time to go beyond!” – Episode 3, 09:33
This becomes Deku’s training mantra, but it’s also a philosophy. Going beyond isn’t about surpassing others. It’s about surpassing yourself, pushing past what you thought you could endure.
Shota Aizawa: harsh truths, hidden kindness
Eraser Head’s lessons cut deep, not because he’s cruel, but because he’s honest.
“It’s cruel to let a kid keep dreaming of something that will never come true.” – Episode 6, 09:24
Aizawa’s philosophy seems harsh until you realise what he’s really saying: false hope is worse than disappointment. If someone truly can’t succeed, letting them chase an impossible dream is a slow, painful way to watch them fail. His bluntness is a form of care.
“The world is full of unfairness. It’s a hero’s job to try to combat that unfairness. If you want to be a pro, you’re gonna have to push yourself to the brink. For the next three years, U.A. will throw one terrible hardship after another at you. So go beyond. Plus Ultra style. Show me it’s no mistake that you’re here.” – Episode 5, 12:20
This speech is Aizawa’s real introduction. He doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of hero work. He doesn’t promise them glory or safety. He promises hardship. And then he dares them to prove they belong anyway.
“You can’t be a pro if you only have one trick.” – Episode 10, 03:48
Versatility matters. A single strength, no matter how impressive, leaves you vulnerable. Aizawa’s lesson applies beyond hero work. Whether it’s skills, perspectives, or coping mechanisms, relying on just one approach makes you brittle.
Lessons from the Classroom
U.A. High’s students remind us that heroism is also about humility and growth.
“One should always start with the basics and devote themselves wholeheartedly to learning.” – Momo Yaoyorozu, Episode 8, 06:29
Momo’s dedication to fundamentals reflects her upbringing, but it’s universally true. Flashy techniques fail without a solid foundation. Patience in the early stages pays off when the pressure’s on.
“Wanting a job and being suited to it are quite different things.” – Tenya Iida, Episode 9, 07:14
Iida’s pragmatism serves as a reality check. Passion matters, but so does capability. The best heroes aren’t just the ones who want it most. They’re the ones who match desire with discipline.
Final thoughts on Season 1’s Quotes
My Hero Academia doesn’t ask us to be flawless. It asks us to move, to act, to care, to believe, even when the world says we shouldn’t.
Because, as every hero learns in time…
Dreams really can become reality.
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