Best Levi Quotes In Attack On Titan

Summary

• Levi Ackerman is a fan favorite in Attack on Titan for his skills, quotes, and empathy for comrades.
• Levi’s iconic quotes reflect his unique charisma and depth as a character throughout the series.
• Levi’s leadership and emotional moments show his care for his comrades and the impact of war.

Levi Ackerman is one of the best characters in Attack on Titan. He seems pretty apathetic and unlikeable at first before viewers realize the events that made this character who he is. Regardless of the first impression he makes, it doesn’t take long for him to become one of the best parts of the entire show. Watching him slice and dice Titans with utmost finesse always makes for some of the best moments of the entire series.

It helps that this character also utters some of the most memorable lines in the entire series. It’s a combination of his amazing skills, surprising intellect, and unique charisma of his own that makes Levi a highlight of Attack on Titan. Some of the most memorable quotes from Attack on Titan‘s Levi are truly brilliant and showcase the strengths of this series for everyone to see.

Updated on February 22, 2025, by Mati Kent-Nye: It’s easy to see why Levi Ackerman is such a fan favorite. Whether he’s hacking up titans with superhuman agility or offering up memorable quotes, every scene that features him is sure to be a pleasure to watch. From the first series up until the last, he remained steadfast in his devotion to the scouts and his desire to preserve humanity. At face value, he’s cold and callous, but underneath that protective shell lies a man who truly cares for his comrades. With this much-loved series having concluded, now is a great time to look back at Levi’s most iconic quotes.

20

“You Either Will, Or You Won’t.”

A Straightforward Summary Of A Complex Situation

• Season 2, Episode 3 (Southwestward).

Never one for shying away from saying it like it is, Levi is used to being straightforward and candid, especially when it comes to getting through to Eren. When Eren was hesitant to answer whether he believed he would be able to plug Wall Rose using his hardening ability, Levi had these choice words for him.

Levi was quick to rationalize the situation, making it clear that there was nothing to decide. Countless lives were being spent in the fight against the titans, and everything depended on Eren being able to do what needed to be done.

19

“Thanks Guys, I Needed That.”

A Rare Moment Of Humor From Levi

• Season 3, Episode 10 (Friends).

After being punched by the newly crowned Queen Historia, Levi responded with one of his most surprising quotes in the entire series. Instead of retaliating with anger and flipping out at Historia, he found humor in the situation and actually thanked his squad mates, an unexpected reaction that shocked the former scout, who was expecting a much worse reaction.

Throughout the third series, much was learned of Levi’s backstory, including how he was raised by the ruthless Kenny the Ripper, a man who was as distant as he was violent. Despite there being no love lost between Levi and Kenny, as well as being on opposing sides of the war, the death of Kenny clearly took a toll on Levi, especially after only just finding out that Kenny was his uncle. Historia punching Levi made him realize that he wasn’t alone and that he still had friends around him.

18

“We’ve Made Great Strides Today, Soldier. And Tomorrow, Because Of You.”

A Demonstration That Levi Is An Empathetic Leader

• Season 1, Episode 9 (Where The Left Arm Went – The Battle For Trost, Part 5).

As much as Levi appears to be heartless and stone-cold, he has a deep care for the men and women under his command. This was shown relatively early in the first series when Levi comforts a dying scout. When the scout asks if he was helpful and if his death would have meaning, Levi delivers a heartwarming monologue.

Despite the scout dying during Levi’s speech, the smile on his face lets Levi know that his words got through to him in the end, and he was able to give his dying squad mate some peace in his last moments. This was the viewers’ first time seeing Levi as an empathetic leader.

17

“We Can’t Always Carry Our Fallen Comrades Home, But We Carry Their Memory.”

Explains How Levi Honors The Dead

• Season 1, Episode 22 (The Defeated: The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, Part 6).

Levi has seen his fair share of death during his time as a member of the Survey Corps. It’s obviously not been an easy thing to deal with, and most people wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he lost his own nearest and dearest friends while attacking the Titans during an excursion as a member of the Survey Corps.

So, with the amount of death that surrounds Levi, all he can do is honor their memory and sacrifice by trying to take down as many of these gigantic monstrosities as possible. He may look like he doesn’t have any emotions and is pretty coldhearted, but Levi knows loss and pain very well, and he has matured over time to fight and honor the legacy of his fellow brethren instead of mourning them in the heat of combat.

16

“Stay Alive. That’s An Order.”

Every Soldier Is Valuable In This War

• Season 4, Episode 7 (Assault).

Season 4 of Attack on Titan was a dramatic shift for the series, After focusing on the threat of Titans, the new revelations brought to light completely changed the focus of the series. The residents of Paradis Island learned about the true nature of their existence, with Eren joining the dark side and giving Marley a taste of their own medicine.

When the Survey Corps aids Eren during his declaration of war, Levi implores his troops to stay alive. The losses in the fight against the Beast, Armored, and Colossal Titan a few years ago were high, and it took a while for the Survey Corps to regain their manpower. Better than anyone, Levi knows just how valuable every person’s life is.

15

“But I Think… It’s Time To Let Him Rest.”

A Moment Of Mourning And Grief

• Season 3, Episode 18 (Midnight Sun).

Erwin is one of Levi’s closest friends, and the two of them depend on each other to help the Survey Corps thrive. Levi owes everything to Erwin for helping him escape the state of poverty he was stuck in, becoming a loyal soldier and confidant to the commander who always gave everything in the heat of battle.

Their final conversation is a chilling exchange of words where Erwin happily accepts his death and marches along with the scouts in a suicidal attempt to take out the Beast Titan. This distraction allows Levi to sneak up on Zeke and incapacitate him, attaining victory at a massive cost.

14

“The Difference In Judgment Between You And Me Originates From Different Rules Derived From Past Experience.”

A Clash Of Differing Viewpoints

• Season 1, Episode 19 (Bite: The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, Part 3).

Levi doesn’t shy away from putting people in his place if required. After all, the experience he has on the battlefield lets him make informed judgments on a particular situation.

It’s this experience that might make him seem cold and distant at first glance. The truth, however, is that Levi has seen so much death and loss on the battlefield that he’s become used to not letting people know what’s going on in his mind.

13

“So, Just Do The Best You Can And Choose Whichever You’ll Regret The Least.”

Levi Knows No Choice Is Perfect

• Season 1, Episode 19 (The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, Part 3).

Choices in Attack on Titan are rarely black or white. Any decision can potentially lead to victory, innumerable casualties, or both.

This is something Levi is intimately familiar with, especially since his decisions have led to the cost of other people (including his close friends) losing their lives. So, instead of dwelling on the perfect decision, Levi uses this line to recommend just making the one that will lead to the least regrets further down the line.

12

“Some Scouts’ Lives Are More Valuable Than Others. Only Those Dumb Enough To Acknowledge That Join Us.”

Levi Tells Eren A Harsh Truth

• Season 3, Episode 4 (Trust).

Eren is the living example of a soldier who is infinitely more valuable to humanity than anyone else. This is why so many members of the Survey Corps lose their lives to try and protect their greatest asset.

Levi states this line coldly and outright declares that only people who are willing to put their lives on the line to protect the more valuable soldiers around them have the guts to join the Survey Corps. He might be calling them dumb, but, in a way, he is also acknowledging their bravery.

11

“No Casualties. Don’t You Dare Die.”

The Emotions Beneath It All

• Season 3, Episode 14 (Thunder Spears).

Even though Levi might seem coldhearted, the truth is that he cares for each and every one of his comrades. This just doesn’t show on his face, mainly because Levi has been conditioned after witnessing multiple friends and soldiers die in front of his very eyes.

His steely resolve to prevent the unnecessary death of comrades causes him to put his body on the line over and over again. Levi doesn’t use words to show how much he loves his comrades — his actions show the same instead.

10

“If He Betrays Us Or Goes Berserk, I’ll Put Him Down Without Hesitation.”

Willing To Do What Must Be Done

• Season 1, Episode 14 (Can’t Look Into His Eyes Yet: Eve Of The Counterattack, Part 1).

Levi rarely lets his emotions get the better of him. Even in the most tense of situations, he manages to think with a cool and clear head.

This applies to the dynamic he shares with the supposed hope of humanity. Eren might be the best chance Paradis Island has of winning against the Titans, but there’s no way that Levi would let him go wild if he lost control of his powers. This quote showcases this and further highlights just how committed to the cause Levi actually is.

9

“If You’d Chosen To Keep Your Hands Clean, Jean Would Be A Corpse On A Cart Right Now.”

Unflinching In The Face Of Harsh Truths

• Season 3, Episode 2 (Pain).

During the Royal Government arc, the Survey Corps goes up against a mysterious group that uses the 3DM gear with a tweak that allows them to attack humans more efficiently. This, coupled with the fact that they’d become public enemy number one in the eyes of royalty, led to the group hiding out in a bid to figure out the truth of this situation.

This leads to Jean and Armin ending up in a tough situation against these opponents, with Jean being just a second away from meeting his death before Armin saves him by killing his assailant instead. While the mild-mannered blonde is clearly torn up over what he just did, Levi reassures him the best way he can — by straight-up telling him that Jean wouldn’t be among the living right now without his quick reflexes and accurate shooting.

8

“Wait… I Made A Promise To Him… That I’d Kill You No Matter What. I Promised!”

Levi’s Emotions Spill Out

• Season 3, Episode 17 (Hero).

There was a point when Zeke was one of the most heinous characters in Attack on Titan, using his tactics to pretty much decimate the entirety of the Survey Corps and kill Erwin, too. It was a horrifying sight to see the Captain being obliterated with a stone to his gut, and Levi promised him that he’d be the one to avenge his close companion’s death.

While he was successful in capturing Zeke, the Cart Titan appeared out of nowhere to save the Beast Titan, running away as quickly as possible. This angered Levi to no end, who yelled out his promise to Zeke as his prey escaped the clutches of the Survey Corps.

7

“The Only Thing We’re Allowed To Do Is Believe That We Won’t Regret The Choice We Made.”

The Philosophy He Lives By

• Season 1, Episode 18 (Angle).

In life-or-death scenarios, there’s no time to second-guess decisions and try to backtrack on a choice anyone has made. This can result in regret, which can kill even the strongest individual around.

Instead, people should realize that no one’s perfect and believe in the choices they’ve made. It might be the wrong decision, but that can only be confirmed after the aftermath of said choice. Levi is aware of this philosophy, and he uses this quote to say so.

6

“This Is Just My Opinion, But When It Comes To Teaching Somebody Discipline, I Think Pain Is The Most Effective Way.”

A Belief That Violence Has Its Place

• Season 1, Episode 14 (Can’t Look Into His Eyes Yet: Eve Of The Counterattack, Part 1).

The hardest lessons are learned with the most effective methods, and pain definitely fits the bill in this regard. Discipline is an especially important trait that people — especially those in the military — need to inculcate within themselves.

If niceties aren’t enough to make people think seriously about the realities of war, then having this discipline beaten into them is the more effective course of action to take. At least, that’s what Levi has learned from his years of experience.

5

“The Difference Between Your Decision And Ours Is Experience. But You Don’t Have To Rely On That.”

Knows That Experience Isn’t Everything

• Season 1, Episode 19 (Bite: The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, Part 3).

Levi is mature enough to know that simply harping about the experience and the need to accrue it isn’t going to help people at every junction. Sometimes, people who don’t have enough experience need to just rely on their gut for certain decisions.

This is the advice that Levi gives to Eren when the latter thinks about turning into his beastly form to fight the then-mysterious Female Titan. It’s a line that haunts Eren once he realizes that he made the wrong choice.

4

“Give Up On Your Dreams And Die For Us. I Will Take Down The Beast Titan.”

Levi Delivers A Gut-Wrenching Command

• Season 3, Episode 16 (Perfect Game).

Erwin is one of the wisest commanders who graced the Survey Corps with his presence time and time again. He was capable of keeping a cool head in the direst circumstances and could convince his troops to lay their lives down for him, which they did during their suicide charge against the Beast Titan.

When Levi realized that Erwin was willing to give up his life for humanity’s victory, he uttered this poignant line that summarized his commander’s sacrifice. His hatred for Zeke developed ever since, forming a rivalry that would last for the entirety of the show.

3

“I Don’t Know Which Option You Should Choose. I Could Never Advise You On That.”

A Man Who’s Aware Of His Shortcomings

• Season 1, Episode 19 (Bite: The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission, Part 3).

At the end of the day, Levi isn’t the most knowledgeable person around. He is well aware of this, so he never even tries to pretend that the decisions he makes will always hold true.

It’s the kind of responsibility that he doesn’t want, especially if someone follows his decisions blindly. Instead, it’s better for him to just let the person at the heart of it all make the decision they want, with him providing the odd bit of guidance at times.

2

“I Choose The Hell Of Humans Killing Each Other Over The Hell Of Being Eaten.”

Views Human Violence As The Lesser Of Two Evils

• Season 3, Episode 2 (Pain).

The idea of humans killing each other is something that people might not like, but it’s something that they can still fathom. Meanwhile, the oppressive threat of Titans is disturbing and can strike fear in the heart of anyone.

Sure, humanity may have learned more about the Titans over time, but that doesn’t change the fact that humans will always know more about themselves than these all-powerful foes. This is something that Levi agrees with since he decides that he would also prefer the evil of killing humans over the fear of being eaten alive by a monstrous and savage being.

1

“This Is What We Did With The Hearts You Gave”

Gives Meaning To His Friend’s Sacrifices

• The Final Chapters, Special 2.

After helping Mikasa finally put a stop to Eren and quite literally save the world, Levi was reminded of the cost of their victory. Seeing all his fallen comrades of the Scout Regiment before him, he knew they had been watching, and he honored them for making the ultimate sacrifice.

Levi bears the injuries and scars from a war in which he has seen some of the closest people to him die. However, he can be proud of knowing that he saw it through to the end and made his friends proud. Despite the catastrophic losses he has seen, he knows that all the heartbreak that was suffered was worth the pain in the end.