Through the years, the anime medium has spawned a wide variety of beloved series; however, none are more popular than Dragon Ball Z. The adventures of Goku and the Z Fighters have taken them across galaxies, universes, and even different timelines, and along the way, they've uttered a quite a few memorable quotes.
While Dragon Ball Z isn't necessarily remembered for its dialogue, the high stakes of the series' narrative puts many of its characters in life-or-death situations that force them to act with conviction. These moments provide the perfect opportunity for the Z Fighters to discuss their motivations, and more often than not, their dialogue reveals something about themselves, their opponents, or the shonen genre as a whole.
10 "It's Over 9,000!"
Episode 28 — "Goku's Arrival"
"It's over 9,000!" - Vegeta
Goku is the most well-known character in Dragon Ball Z (and likely the entire anime medium), but it's actually another Saiyan who utters the series' most famous phrase. During the Saiyan Invasion Saga, Vegeta uses a scouter to assess Goku's power level, and the number that he sees surprises both him and his companion, Nappa.
Without using his Kaioken technique, Goku's power level spikes to over 9,000, prompting Vegeta to utter his now-iconic line. As much as modern shonen overuses the power level trope, there's no denying that this scene is a seminal moment in the genre's history. Within the context of the Saiyan Invasion Saga, it's a fantastic demonstration of Goku's growth in the Other World.
9 "Kakarot, Please: Destroy Frieza. He Made Me What I Am."
Episode 86 — "The End Of Vegeta"
"Kakarot, please: destroy Frieza. He made me what I am — don't let him do it to anyone else. Whatever it takes, stop him." - Vegeta
Throughout the Saiyan Invasion Saga, Vegeta's sense of superiority is painfully obvious, making him a natural enemy of Goku and the Z Fighters. However, when Dragon Ball Z's heroes travel to Planet Namek, Frieza's overwhelming strength forces them to join forces with an unlikely figure — the Prince of Saiyans.
Vegeta's alliance with the Z Fighters culminates in his death at the hands of Frieza, but moments before he passes away, the proud Saiyan finally breaks down and shows a bit of vulnerability. He laments the death and destruction that Frieza has caused to the Saiyan race, and in a legitimately touching display, Vegeta begs Goku to stop the alien tyrant from causing any more of the pain that he suffered as a child.
8 "I Am The Answer To All Living Things That Cry Out For Peace."
Episode 96 — "Explosion Of Anger"
"I am the hope of the universe. I am the answer to all living things that cry out for peace. I am the protector of the innocent. I am the light in the darkness. I am truth." - Goku
The Super Saiyan form is teased throughout Dragon Ball Z's first hundred episodes, so when Goku's long-awaited clash with Frieza finally happens, viewers are excited to see if he will achieve the legendary transformation. Krillin's death ultimately serves as the catalyst for the moment, allowing Goku to surpass his limits and gain the upper hand against Frieza.
Overwhelmed by Goku's new strength, Frieza asks the Saiyan what he has become. In a rare display of ego, Dragon Ball Z's protagonist states that he is the universe's answer to evil like Frieza — a statement that still rings true several decades later.
7 "So I Guess It's True After All. Androids Do Experience Fear"
Episode 130 — "The Secret Of Dr. Gero"
"So I guess it's true after all. Androids do experience fear." - Vegeta
The Androids are a huge threat to Earth's safety, and when they first appear in Dragon Ball Z, they seem poised to displace the Z Fighters as the series' strongest characters. Luckily for Earth, the arrival of Future Trunks helps the heroes grow even more powerful, giving them a much better chance against their cybernetic opponents.
In particular, Vegeta's ruthless slaughter of Android 19 proves that the inhabitants of Earth are more than capable of defending themselves. The Prince of Saiyans flips the tables on Dr. Gero and his creation by crushing them in combat, at which point he coldly reminds the pair that their technological enhancements don't make them immune to fear. Although Vegeta slowly transitions away from his villainous tendencies after the events of the Frieza Saga, this Dragon Ball Z quote is an eerie reminder of his bloody history.
6 "It Is Because You Cherish Life That You Must Protect It"
Episode 184 — "Cell Juniors Attack!"
"It is not a sin to fight for the right cause. There are those who words alone will not reach... It is because you cherish life that you must protect it." - Android 16
Most of Dragon Ball Z's cast is extremely battle-hardened, but if there's one exception among the Z Fighters, it's Gohan. The young child usually resists his Saiyan tendencies by taking a non-violent approach to situations, even when his friends' lives are at stake. Unfortunately, Gohan's reluctance to fight causes the Z Fighters several issues throughout the Saiyan Invasion and Frieza Sagas.
The issue comes to a head when Perfect Cell decimates Earth's heroes in an attempt to anger Gohan, prompting an unlikely figure to urge the young Saiyan to action. Moments before his death, Android 16 reminds Gohan that there is no shame in fighting when it is for the right cause — a quote that Gohan continues to draw inspiration from in Dragon Ball Super.
5 "You Were The First Person To Ever Show Me What It Means To Have A Friend."
Episode 191 — "Save The World"
"Gohan, I won't let you die alone out there. Cause kid, you were the first person to ever show me what it means to have a friend." - Piccolo
Compared to the rest of Dragon Ball Z, the Cell Saga is a bit of a unique case; for the first time in the franchise's history, the sequence tasks a hero other than Goku with saving Earth. Gohan and the Z Fighters are forced to defeat Cell after Goku sacrifices his life to save Earth, giving Dragon Ball Z's supporting cast a well-deserved opportunity to leave their mark on the series.
Eventually, Gohan and Cell engage in one final energy clash, at which point the other Z Fighters join the conflict and lend their assistance. Piccolo offers some particularly heart-warming words of support to his closest friend, crediting the young Saiyan with teaching him the true meaning of companionship.
4 "Tell Me: Is It Slavery When You Get What You Want?"
Episode 229 — "Vegeta's Pride"
"Tell me: is it slavery when you get what you want?" - Vegeta
Although Vegeta joins the Z Fighters in the Cell Saga, he's still far from a hero. His bloodthirsty nature is on full display during his clashes with Cell and the Androids, so when Babidi starts manipulating characters with the Majin Mark, the Prince of Saiyans is an easy target.
During the World Martial Arts Tournament, Vegeta starts taking out swaths of bystanders, which prompts Goku to ask if the Prince of Saiyans will allow himself to be controlled by the Majin Mark. Vegeta's response is telling, and it reveals that his actions stem much more from his own desires than the negativity of Babidi's magic.
3 "You've Made Me Proud, My Son."
Episode 237 — "Final Atonement"
"Trunks, there's something you need to know. You've made me proud, my son." - Vegeta
After Vegeta slaughters an untold amount of innocent civilians during the World Martial Arts Tournament, it becomes obvious that the character still struggles with many of the issues that made him a villain in the Saiyan Invasion Saga. However, his sacrifice against Majin Buu is a step in the right direction.
Moments before Vegeta self-destructs in an attempt to defeat Buu, he shares a few words with his son, Trunks. In this scene, the Prince of Saiyans finally tells his child that he is proud of him, demonstrating that Vegeta's time on Earth has changed him — whether he wants to admit it or not.
2 "Fight You? No, I Want To Kill You."
Episode 263 — "A Whole New Gohan"
"Fight you? No, I want to kill you." - Gohan
No character in Dragon Ball history has more untapped potential than Gohan. The soft-spoken Saiyan is raised to be a scholar by Chi-Chi, so after he eliminates Perfect Cell, he slows his training down in order to focus on schoolwork and his relationship with Videl.
However, the emergence of Majin Buu forces Gohan to protect Earth once more. After the Old Kai taps into his latent potential, Gohan confronts Buu and coldly states that he plans to kill the creature for all the pain that it has caused. For Gohan, this level of ruthlessness is extremely uncommon, and it runs completely counter to Dragon Ball Z's trend of heroes fighting for fun.
1 "You'll Have To Learn The Hard Way And Know What It Feels Like To Have Your Life Taken Away Against Your Will — It's Wrong!"
Episode 286 — "Spirit Bomb Triumphant"
"You didn't even show a shred of decency or mercy, and that's why it has to end like this. You'll have to learn the hard way and know what it feels like to have your life taken away against your will — it's wrong!" - Goku
The Buu Saga generally receives less positive reviews than Dragon Ball Z's other narrative sequences, which is a shame, given the plethora of memorable quotes that come from the saga. In fact, Goku utters what is potentially the best line of dialogue in the entire Dragon Ball franchise moments before he uses the Super Spirit Bomb to defeat Buu.
Kid Buu is effectively evil incarnate: a creature so lacking in empathy that it killed Earth's entire population for fun. Goku, completely enraged by the being's disinterest in the lives of others, realizes that he has no other option than to wipe it from existence, which he communicates to Buu as the Super Spirit Bomb disintegrates his opponent's body.