Armin Arlert is arguably the smartest character in Attack on Titan, with his quick thinking and well-thought-out strategies proving to be a key factor that helped contribute to humanity’s various victories against the Titans. He might seem like a rather cowardly and weak person at first glance, but there’s no denying the fact that Armin is one of the bravest people around… especially after viewers witnessed his bold sacrifice during the fight against Zeke, Reiner, and Bertholdt.
It helps that Armin has a great way with words, using his talks and speeches to great effect as he lets everyone around him know just how driven and motivated he really is. Here are some of Armin’s best quotes that personify his character beautifully.
10 “You’re Only Resorting To Physical Abuse Because You Can’t Prove That I’m Wrong.”
Armin had been bullied many times as a kid for his idealistic notions and weak stature. However, even after being beaten up so many times, he never faltered or lost sight of his end goal.
Even while getting beaten to a pulp, he always talked down to the people who had to resort to physical violence. After all, their logic was poor, and beating Armin was the only way they could assert their superiority.
9 “Willpower Alone Isn’t Enough In Battle.”
Armin is definitely one of the most strong-willed and bravest people on the show. However, even he knows that isn’t enough to deal with the many threats that humanity faces.
A Titan doesn’t care about a person’s willpower when they’re chomping them to bits. It’s a bleak truth that Armin begrudgingly accepts.
8 “When People Are Faced With A Situation They Don’t Understand, It’s Easy For Fear To Take Hold.”
This is a sentiment pretty much anyone can agree with. After all, the fear of the unknown is one of the most oppressive things anyone can experience in Attack on Titan.
As a result, it becomes important to understand the conflicts that are arising before dealing with them. Jumping into things headfirst without a clue can spell anyone’s demise, especially in the bleak universe of Attack on Titan.
7 “To Surpass Monsters, You Have To Discard Your Humanity.”
At the end of the day, not everyone has the strength to kill anything, whether it be Titans or humans. It takes a herculean effort to will anyone to even try snuffing the life out of anyone.
This is something that Armin wholeheartedly agrees with. In fact, he goes so far as to say that trying to overcome these monsters will inevitably lead to the loss of one’s humanity down the line.
6 “Everyone Can Make A Choice After They Have Learned What It Will Result In… But You Don’t Know What Your Choice Will Result In Before Actually Choosing.”
The phrase ‘hindsight is 20/20’ is something that Armin concurs with. After all, the results of a decision are mostly criticized if its wrong, while good decision-making is praised only after positive results are seen.
There really is no in-between, and there’s no point in having second thoughts about a decision that has already been set in stone. All anyone can do is see these choices all the way to the very end and learn from their experiences.
5 “I Didn’t Lose… Because I Didn’t Run.”
Armin was bullied heavily as a child, but he never considered these beatings to be a loss. This is something that a young Eren questions him about as well after seeing Armin get beat up time and time again.
However, Armin was brave enough to take these beatings without running away. As a result, he never lost… and showed just how brave he really was from the get-go.
4 “We’re Going To Explore The Outside World Someday, Right?”
Armin’s hopefulness absolutely shone in every scene, with his desire to see the world beyond the walls being palpable for everyone to see. It’s moments like these that cement this character as one of the very best in Attack on Titan.
Watching him finally reach the ocean and see its vast expanses is one of the best moments in the entire show. Of course, this achievement is marred somewhat since everyone found out about the truth of their existence.
3 “I Don’t Like The Terms ‘Good Person’ Or ‘Bad Person’ Because It Is Impossible To Be Entirely Good To Everyone Or Entirely Bad To Everyone.”
Morality is a tricky subject that Attack on Titan explores in brilliant fashion. Armin himself states that morality can always be gray, and there can’t really be a black or white side to everything at all times.
Instead, people who want to be good have to accept the fact that not everyone will consider them to be righteous. Similarly, a person who commits heinous actions will still have their fair share of supporters.
2 “A Person Who Cannot Sacrifice Everything, Cannot Change Anything.”
Revolution is a huge part of Attack on Titan, with the inherent need for freedom and hate of oppression leading to many people opting for this course of action. Unfortunately, a big part of a revolution is sacrifice, which some people might not be ready for.
This is a shame since change in society — or anywhere else, for that matter — cannot be achieved without sacrifice. The degree of this sacrifice depends on the extent of change people wish for… and in the universe of Attack on Titan, this sacrifice basically entails death and destruction for the greater good.
1 “I’d Rather Die Than Become A Burden.”
There are times when Armin shows his lack of belief and a faltering resolve, sometimes during critical moments when everyone’s life is on the line. However, it doesn’t take long for him to get his act together and help people out in their time of need.
After all, at the end of the day, Armin hates being a coward. The idea of burdening someone with his presence is so scary that he would rather die than directly impede the people around him.
