The Best Iroh Quotes In Avatar: The Last Airbender

Perhaps the wisest character in Avatar: The Last Airbender, Iroh had one of the best narrative arcs of any character in the entire show. The eldest son of Fire Lord Azulon and older brother to Fire Lord Ozai, Iroh was once heir to the throne and the highest-ranking General in the Fire Nation.

However, after losing his son and the resulting failure of the conquest of Ba Sing Se, Iroh turned over a new leaf and began travelling the world. By the time he returned, he was a changed man, one who deeply believed in the Avatar’s cause and the return of balance to the world. Accompanying Zuko in his exile, Iroh drops golden nuggets of wisdom throughout the show, from which we pick ten of the best.

10

“While It Is Always Best To Believe In Oneself, A Little Help From Others Can Be A Great Blessing.”

Season 2, Episode 15: Tales Of Ba Sing Se

Iroh isn’t stingy when it comes to sharing his wisdom, and that shows during his outing during the Tales of Ba Sing Se episode. He helps multiple strangers along the way, including a thief who was attempting to rob him at knifepoint.

Instead of beating him up (which he could’ve done easily), Iroh sympathised with the thief and sat him down to share a pot of tea with him. After hearing the thief’s story, Iroh offers the man some advice and motivation and even ends up teaching him how to fix his combat stance.

9

“Is It Your Own Destiny? Or Is It Destiny Someone Else Has Tried To Force On You?”

Season 2, Episode 17: Lake Laogai

Throughout the show, Zuko has shown how obsessed he was in his mission to restore his honour after being exiled from the Fire Nation for speaking out against Ozai and losing an Agni Kai. Iroh comes with him and gently nudges him to think for himself and what he wants from his life.

There are various moments when Zuko is at a crossroads, struggling to decide what is the right thing to do. Iroh confronts him when he finds Appa, questioning him about what he’ll do and telling him to think of the long term. Zuko repeatedly mentions desiring to find his destiny, but Iroh sees the conflict within Zuko, basically saying that he could make his destiny without the pressure from Ozai and Azula.

8

“There Is Nothing Wrong With Letting People Who Love You, Help You.”

Season 2, Episode 8: The Chase

In a chance encounter, Toph becomes separated from Team Avatar and runs into Iroh. While the rest of Team Avatar is being chased around by Azula and her friends, Toph gets to take a break while sharing a cup of tea with Iroh.

The two have a calm and cordial conversation, with Toph getting some things off her chest, including ranting about being seen as helpless just because she’s blind. Naturally, Iroh was able to get her to see things clearly, telling her that her friends only wanted to help out of genuine care for her.

7

“Perfection And Power Are Overrated. I Think You Are Very Wise To Choose Happiness And Love.”

Season 2, Episode 20: The Crossroads Of Destiny

In the finale of Season Two, Aang gets his turn for an impromptu therapy session with Iroh. The two go down a tunnel together in a bid to save Katara and Zuko and end up having one of the best exchanges in the series.

Aang had recently chosen to leave Guru Pathik due to his feelings for Katara and divulged his insecurities over his skills as the Avatar. As the Avatar, he knows he is responsible for controlling the Avatar State, and he had lost his chance to master it with the Guru’s help. Instead of chastising him, Iroh instead applauds Aang, saying he’s wise for choosing to be happy and in love over being powerful, which is a major theme of the show.

6

“Understanding Others, The Other Elements And The Other Nations Will Help You Become Whole.”

Season 2, Episode 9: Bitter Work

After Iroh is injured at Azula’s hands, he wakes up to badly brewed tea (courtesy of Zuko) and a request from Zuko for more intense firebending training. Azula is a firebending prodigy, and Zuko is constantly reminded of the skill gap between them and wants not to be caught off guard by Azula again.

Zuko fails to bend lightning despite an explanation and demonstration, and Iroh decides to teach him a method to redirect lightning instead. But before he does so, he gives a detailed rundown of all four nations and what makes them strong. Iroh gives a small hint of his true loyalties in this dialogue, saying that every nation has something unique to offer that we should appreciate and seek to learn from.

5

“If You Look For The Dark, That Is All You Will Ever See.”

Legend Of Korra: Season 2, Episode 10 – A New Spiritual Age

Although this quote is from Legend of Korra, it’s worth it to add it to this list. We never thought we’d see Iroh again, but it’s a pleasant surprise when Iroh appears to guide Korra in the Spirit World.

Iroh brings Korra to a tea party with other spirits, but Korra’s four-year-old self throws a tantrum, causing all the spirits to turn dark. Iroh was quickly able to calm Korra down, showing her that if you always see the positive side of things, then that’s what you’ll find, but if you continue to view things negatively in life, then the world will reflect your perception.

4

“In The Darkest Times, Hope Is Something You Give Yourself. That Is The Meaning Of Inner Strength.”

Season 2, Episode 5: Avatar Day

Zuko is at the lowest point of his life at this point in the show. Despite being an exile, Zuko was still a prince, and yet he has been stripped of what remaining resources he has and is now on the run from Azula. Without coin and reduced to living like a peasant, it’s understandable that Zuko is at the end of his rope.

Iroh pleads with Zuko not to lose hope, giving one of the most profound quotes in the show by asking him to find strength within himself. Zuko is still resistant to Iroh’s words and ends up walking away.

3

“Pride Is Not The Opposite Of Shame, But Its Source.”

Season 2, Episode 9: Bitter Work

The ninth episode of Book Two is filled with some of the best of Iroh’s lines in the whole show. As mentioned above, Zuko repeatedly fails to bend lightning. He is visibly confused and irritated at his constant failures and doesn’t know why it keeps happening.

Iroh mentions earlier that those who bend lightning must have a tranquil mind, which Zuko doesn’t have. Zuko is filled with unresolved anger and hurt that Iroh says he must clear up first, to which Zuko responds that he’s as prideful as ever and doesn’t feel ashamed at all. Iroh hits back with some of the most profound lines ever, saying that Zuko must truly humble himself to heal his inner demons.

2

“No. She’s Crazy And Needs To Go Down.”

Season 2, Episode 9: Bitter Work

In an unexpected one-liner, Iroh shows how he feels about his deranged niece Azula. Although you might think he’d lobby for family unity like Zuko assumed he did, Iroh surprises us with his deadpan, straight-to-the-point sense of humour.

Instead, Iroh seriously advises Zuko that Azula must be ‘taken down’ immediately, pulling no punches by calling her mad. Zuko is surprised and uneasy with Iroh’s response, but he is right – as he always is.

1

“I Was Never Angry With You. I Was Sad Because I Was Afraid You’d Lost Your Way.”

Season 3, Episode 19: Sozin’s Comet, Part 2 – The Old Masters

In one of the most tear-jerking and emotional scenes in the series, Zuko and Iroh finally reunite on the eve of the final battle. Predictably, Zuko is filled with guilt for siding with Azula in the finale of Book Two and betraying his uncle.

Iroh had broken out of his prison several episodes back, and Zuko finally made his decision to side with the force of good. Although he was scared Iroh would never forgive him, we know Iroh only wants what’s best for Zuko and was happy that he chose the path of the righteous and was able to free himself from Ozai’s grasp.