Tokyo Ghoul is an elaborate journey of Ken Kaneki(from A bookworm to a messiah), a half-ghoul not able to belong to either Ghouls or humans.
Given neither talent nor glory, following only tragedy the story of our main hero begins to unfold chapter after chapter. Unable to protect anyone he cares about, melancholy becomes this mysterious man in whom destiny lives like a parasite.
The anime being portrayed as a battle shounen, Tokyo Ghoul’s true wisdom lies in the written word to overcome the despair that lurks within.
The official X (formerly Twitter) account for the Tokyo Ghoul anime has dropped some exciting news: Tokyo Ghoul FES. -PLAYBACK- is happening!
This 10th-anniversary celebration is set for June 8, 2025, at the Tachikawa Stage Garden in Tokyo. Mark your calendars and maybe start hoarding some yen for merch.
To honor this ghoulish milestone, we figured it’s the perfect time to revisit the series’ most unforgettable quotes—because nothing says “celebration” like reflecting on Kaneki’s existential crises and Rize’s eerie charisma.
So, without further ado, feast your eyes on these 40 epic (and slightly unsettling) quotes from Tokyo Ghoul and Tokyo Ghoul: re!
Touka Kirishima Quotes
“Everything… Everything… For the sake of not losing anything, desperately trying to do something. It’s always because I didn’t know what to do that I blindly try to live.” ~Touka
“I’m bad at sorting out my feelings, and although I try to put on a good front I’m just so incredibly immature. And I hate that about myself.” ~Touka
“Even if time has passed, even if our bodies have changed, even if he’d forgotten me completely… As long as he came back home, things’ll be all right.” ~Touka
“I’m not after your empathy. I empathize you. It must be terrible. Trapped by your past, unable to live in the present…” ~Touka
“I make idiotic mistakes, and I’m oblivious to the pain of others because I’m too used to pain myself. But you’re not like that, Yoriko. I feel calmer just by being around you — that’s the kind of presence you have. You’re so, so many of the things I’m not.” ~Touka
Ken Kaneki Quotes
Sometimes you’re confronted with the ugly parts of yourself that you don’t want to see, but books can also tell you a lot about the things you didn’t notice when you’re just trying to get through somehow. ~Kaneki
All losses in this world are due to a lack of ability. If you want to curse something, curse your own weakness. ~Kaneki
Black and blue, turning and over-turning the things I’d chosen countless times, forever repeating the same actions… Ungainly. Awkward. Indecisive. Weak. Endlessly useless. That is what I am. ~Kaneki
Never trust anyone too much, remember the devil was once an angel. ~Kaneki
Why is it that the beautiful things are entwined more deeply with death than with life? ~ Kaneki
I keep it all inside because I’d rather the pain destroy me than everyone else. ~ Kaneki
I am not the protagonist of a novel or anything… I am a college student who likes to read, like you would find anywhere…If for argument’s sake, you were to write a story with me in the lead role…It certainly would be a …tragedy. ~Kaneki
When torture itself is the purpose..what else besides despair is there to feel….Torture without purpose. ~ Kaneki
There’s a lot I would like to ask you…Do you know the sound of a live centipede makes…when it’s in your ear?? ~ Kaneki
I was wrong. I wasn’t eating ghouls. I was the one being eaten. ~Kaneki
Anybody who gets in my way will be nipped in the bud!! ~ Kaneki
You’re wrong. It’s not the world that’s messed up; it’s because of those in it. ~ Kaneki
Every disadvantage in the world could be explained by a lack of competence. ~Kaneki
It was just so damn heavy. It was barbaric. It was for me. My body, my mind It’s all clear now. I was getting sick of all that foul meat You’ll do for now…Okay? ~ Kaneki
Why do beautiful things remind us of death more than life? ~ Kaneki
After everything I have done I was riling myself up with hatred but..more than sorrow more than anger..the emotion rushing through me was despair. ~Kaneki
He is Ainu…Brows shimmering white beard hanging down his chest thatched mat laid outside the house laid softly solemn attus..Blade in hand sharpening, sitting cross-legged, huffing and puffing. His eyes focused.He is God of Ainu Mosir. Perishing the living dead. Nodding to the summer day, the white sunlight, looking down. Simply catching his breath. ~ Kaneki
Trying to save everyone around me…I pushed myself too far. While being reluctant to place the weight of choice on the balance.Pretending to be concerned about others…when I was only thinking about myself. ~ Kaneki
Those with the least to lose..are the stronger. If you don’t want anything to be taken from you..you have to be the one taking. ~Kaneki
Your salvation is sleep and savory pleasant dreams. Good Night Haise,..I am done dreaming. ~ Kaneki
That manager Old Man Kuzen..He wanted me to save you…Why should I save a trash like you?? ~ Kaneki
All the disadvantages in this world are born from individual Incompetence. If you want to curse something curse your own ineptitude. ~Kaneki
The world is like an egg…In order for something new to be born, the existing one has to be broken into pieces. ~ Kaneki
I won’t back, I will only move forward. Like a centipede. ~ Kaneki
If I were to write a novel with me as the main character. It certainly would be a tragedy. Actually, it’s true for everyone…All of us…we are really main characters in a tragedy. ~Kaneki
We all take things and we all deal with something taken from us. That’s all we can do That’s who we are ..Take and be taken…Capture..and be captured..Obey and..be obeyed..do and be done to..Repeated affirmation and denial. Yet..we keep fighting not to lose something. ~ Kaneki
The people and places we love will eventually be forgotten…we will be forgotten..Life is tragic empty even..Yet we continue seeking..continue hoping to be beautiful…Even though we know we will all lose our lives..even though we know we know keep existing. Yet we keep choosing….It’s all that it is ~ Kaneki
Koutarou Amon Quotes
We can’t crush evil with morals. We are justice!! We are morality!! ~Koutarou Amon
I have lost so much in my life…My biological parentsThe illusion of a foster father. Friends my mentor ..what will I lose next?? This is my last bastion…I can’t let his past. ~ Koutarou Amon
I said to myself .”This world is wrong!! and it’s you monsters are the one distorting it!” But to be convinced somebody is wrong without truly knowing them, I can’t imagine that being right. ~ Koutarou Amon
Shuu Tsukiyama Quotes
Live beautifully with your head up high, just like that rose on your chest. ~Shuu Tsukiyama
If you have offhand knowledge about the topics covered in the books then you’re able to enjoy the work on a deeper level. One mere sentence is capable of projecting a variety of visions. ~Shuu Tsukiyama
A tragic life is not being to able to express yourself, a happy life is being able to die as yourself. ~Shuu Tsukiyama
“You don’t need to blame yourself just because you’ve hurt someone, just like when you’re walking you can’t really blame yourself to crush some ants… that’s what being stronger ones means.” ~Shuu Tsukiyama
“I’m not going to protect you by being your shield or armor, but I’ll be the dagger hidden below your pillow.” ~Shuu Tsukiyama
Uta
“Tragedies nowadays aren’t popular, so let’s have more fun.” ~Uta
“We need to have a mask that we never take off.” ~Uta
Juuzou Suzuya Quotes
“If an angelic being fell from the sky and tried to live in this world of ours, I think even they would commit many wrongs.” ~Juuzou Suzuya
“Why should I apologize for being a monster? Has anyone ever apologized for turning me into one?” ~Juuzou Suzuya
“I tried to be normal once, and it was boring.” ~Juuzou Suzuya
I’ve been thinking for a long time now. I’ve always wanted to compare the length of a twin’s intestines. Wonder who’s the longer? You are ghouls & I am an investigator So there won’t be any problem if I kill you right? ~Juuzou Suzuya
Fear is like fire. You can make it work for you, It can warm you in the winter…Light you up when in the dark,…Let it go out of your control it can even devour you. Fear is the friend of Exceptional people. ~Juuzou Suzuya
Seidou Takizawa Quotes
Listen buddy there’s a huge gap between the first palace and the second. Second place is a consolation prize. To appease the losers If somebody is above you..you are just a sore loser. The difference between 100 and 99 isn’t one. ~Seidou Takizawa
When you realize your future has gone to shit ..all you have to do is to live for somebody else. ~Seidou Takizawa
Rize Kamishiro Quotes
All the detriment in the world stems from a lack of individual ability. ~Rize Kamishiro
There’s no such thing as fate. It’s simply a combination of one circumstance and the next. ~Rize Kamishiro
Kuzen Yoshimura Quotes
All acts of taking are all equally evil..we take from the moment we are dropped into life. We take from those around us, even from our own blood..we butcher and kill as long as we live. Life is a continuous commission of sins. ~Kuzen Yoshimura
To live is to constantly Sin. Life is evil itself. I recognize myself as evil. You are too…do you recognize that?? ~Kuzen Yoshimura
Shachi Quotes
A martial art that only takes has no meaning. Mine was meant for this very day.A parent must protect their child. ~Shachi
The fist of God, like flowing water, alters itself into many forms..devoting oneself wholeheartedly is the only path to rising like a dragon and achieving the eye of a tiger! ~Shachi
Aside from the memorable quotes shared previously, here are more noteworthy quotes from these characters.
The god I imagine is not the almighty father rather but a child with extraordinary undeserved power ~Eto Yoshimura
I saw the reaper. He was very beautiful. ~Hairu Ihei
My sister…My hope…In this world full of fatality..only hope is the connection…A seed grows into a flower and that flower drops a seed. Bringing joy to somebody, A cup of coffee.Through them, my flesh my blood ..I will see my sister again. ~Renji Yomo
The most unbearable lie is the one we tell ourselves… ~Toru Mitsuki
To Quote an old dead Pal of mine. Human instincts are nothing to sneeze at. And mine says I am right. ~Itsuki Marude
I have always despised myself for only ever taking from others. At last, I fell like I at last left something behind. ~Kuzen Yoshimura
With this gift of exceptional ability ..comes with great responsibility..of disappearing, If necessary. ~Kuki Urie
The key is to remain cunning. If it’s in the name of justice, any impropriety is permitted. ~Kureo Mado
So, what did you think of our list of Tokyo Ghoul’s most unforgettable quotes? Which one struck a chord (or chilled your spine) the most? Let us know in the comments below!
And if you’re still deciding whether to dive into Sui Ishida’s latest manga, Choujin X, don’t miss our review of Chapters 1, Chapter 2, and Chapters 3 to 7—it might just be the nudge you need to explore his newest dark masterpiece.
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