10 Iconic Game of Thrones Quotes We Can't Forget - Ranked

Tyrion is responsible for some of the wisest words in all of Game of Thrones, and this quote cuts right to the heart of his character. The best way to navigate an uncaring world, he suggests, is by staying true to yourself. Words may cut deep, but ultimately, they're just words.

Sean Bean’s character only stuck around for a single season, but in that time he manages to succinctly sum up the importance of having the courage of your convictions. Unfortunately the quote above was uttered just before he had his head removed.

Power is an illusion, suggests Varys, and you don’t necessarily need to be powerful to give the impression you are. Varys himself is a perfect example: physically unimposing, but a born survivor who uses words to work his way to the top.

Like Varys, Tyrion knows the importance of intelligence. His small size makes smarts a downright necessity in order to overcome the prejudice he faces. Whereas warriors brandish blades, his mind is the weapon, and books are how he keeps it sharp.

Daenerys brought the biggest transformation to Westeros in centuries, a genuine revolutionary who sought to smash the system. Sometimes, as she discovers in the show, the only way to change things is to destroy them, casualties be damned.

A quote that will always be relevant, whether you’re debating someone across the political aisle or arguing with a family member over who gets the last Pringle. Seeing from your opponent’s point of view is key to understanding them. Not everyone who disagrees with you is automatically terrible.

You can act the hero and still die, Jorah Mormont argues. It’s a results-based business, and all that matters is surviving by any means necessary, valiantly or not. Game of Thrones is, afterall, set in a cutthroat fantasy land - this isn’t Lord of the Rings. 

With one sentence Tywin Lannister takes down the insufferable King Joffrey, summing up the vital importance of speaking softly and carrying a big stick. The truly secure don’t need to stress how secure they are.

Survival is a matter of keeping one step ahead. For Arya, tomorrow doesn’t matter. It’s all about being present and taking each day as it comes. Dividing up your goals into manageable chunks - like not getting stabbed in the next 24 hours - is a solid piece of advice.

Said by Cersei to Eddard in Game of Thrones’ first season, this quote sums up the entire show: winning in Westeros must come at any cost. Cersei is a woman who’s devoted her entire life to politics, so she knows better than anyone how success rests on a knife edge. The higher the climb, the harder the fall.