15 Best Deku Quotes in My Hero Academia

Ever since My Hero Academia debuted in July 2014, fans of the series have been enamored with Izuku Midoriya’s inspiring pursuit of the “World’s Number One Hero” moniker. From his humble beginnings as a civilian to his climbing of the U.A. High rankings, the premiere student has provided anime lovers with a litany of empowering quotes.

Whether someone is an aspiring hero, finding themselves in hard times, or simply needing an extra bit of motivation, Deku’s lionhearted words may be what they need to help them prevail.

15 “There will always be people beyond our reach, that we can’t protect. Which is why we have to save the people we can reach.”

Season 3

Here, Deku acknowledges that no one, not even All Might, can be everywhere all at once. There will always be people out there suffering and hurting, who are beyond Deku’s capacity to help. That doesn’t invalidate the work that heroes do, however; if they can’t save everyone, they can at least save those nearby. Every person a hero saves is one less victim that has to suffer, so even saving just one person is still an incredible act of goodness.

Being a hero and doing good isn’t necessarily about maximizing the amount of good that you do; it’s simply important that you make the effort to help those that you can.

14 “Sometimes I do feel like I’m a failure… …But even so, I’m not gonna give up!”

Season 1

There will be times when, despite someone’s best efforts, they will fail, or at least feel like they’ve failed. These can be the most challenging times of all, but what’s important (and what Deku says here) is to continue pressing onward, even in spite of those feelings. One has only truly failed when they give up on their dreams; until then, it’s just more trying. It can be hard to maintain one’s confidence in the face of failure, but even these moments of failure can become valuable learning experiences that help you ultimately to succeed.

Deku’s persistence in the face of adversity is one of his most admirable qualities, and this quote embodies that persistence in a way that anyone can understand.

13 “It’s not all black-and-white. Most things in this world are in shades of gray.”

Season 6

Deku says this to Lady Nagant as she attempts to target him on behalf of All for One. It’s an important quote because it showcases how far Deku has grown; no longer is he looking at things strictly in terms of hero and villain, good and evil. Instead, he’s realized that the world is full of nuance, and that what seems like an evil action can have an understandable motivation behind it. While early Deku may not have considered reaching out to someone trying to capture him, he was instead able to recognize that the heart of a hero still lies inside of her.

It’s important to remember this in real life, too; people have reasons for their actions that you often can’t know, and their motivations might be very different than it appears on the surface.

12 “There are those who have suffered! I wanna be the guy to show them a brighter future!”

Season 4

Here, Deku speaks to not just wanting to help those in need at the moment, but to provide a beacon of hope even for those who’ve already suffered. By helping people, Deku is creating that brighter future, eliminating the villains who would darken those coming days. It’s his way of saying that his dream of being a hero isn’t really about himself, but rather about those who need saving. It’s a selfless sort of dream, one centered on service to others like a hero should.

There will always be those who have suffered, and to provide a guiding light to those folks who need it most is among the most heroic things one can do.

11 “But at that moment… You… You looked like you needed saving.”

Season 1

Deku says this to Bakugo after attempting to rescue him from the Sludge Villain, long before either of them even started training to be heroes. It’s the first indication of the heroic spirit that Deku would come to embody, a justification for helping simply because help was clearly needed. It may have been a reckless move, but it’s what a hero would do, and that’s reason enough to do it. Deku’s words encourage intervening when someone is in trouble, regardless of what kind of trouble that might be. A hero can’t ignore a person in need, after all.

10 “Dreams Can Become Reality.”

Season 1

Seemingly ripped from a Disney movie, Deku’s acquisition of All Might’s One For All quirk comes with this powerful reminder. Through acting courageously and unselfishly, he was able to attract the eye of his hero. After some groveling and subsequent work, Deku is finally accepted to be a hero by the one that matters most to him.

Setting the tone of the series from the very beginning, these kinds of tear-jerking moments invest viewers in the characters immediately. Seeing the underdog protagonist rise to the same playing field as his contemporaries packs a punch. It also reminds that with hard work and determination, anyone can achieve their goals.

9 “All Men Are Not Created Equal.”

Season 1

Sobering truths help ground Deku and allow fans to find him much more relatable. Reflecting back on his self-pity, a young Midoriya realizes this statement was his final setback in life. While he has clearly had a change in his beliefs, this moment serves to both exemplify his growth and his origin.

Physically, mentally and capably, no two people are truly the same. However, when someone pairs their ambitions with a sense of determination and diligence, they can often rise to the same level as their idols if not surpass them.

8 “Hold Your Head Up High And Plunge Forward.”

Season 5

A lesson in both self-help and encouragement, Deku emboldens his fellow students to be the truest form of themselves. While the show’s protagonist often displays incredible feats of strength through combat or by moving objects, perhaps his greatest feat of strength is shown in his ability to lift the spirits of those around him.

Whether plagued by insecurities, self-doubt or anxiety, those who need a reminder about the purpose of life will find motivation in these words. One should not concern oneself with the comments of critics but rather with the potential of their own capabilities. Be bold and courageous, and have fun while doing so.

7 “The Deeper The Darkness, The More Dazzling The Light Shines.”

Season 1

Realizing the grimness of the situation at hand, Deku reminds himself that not all is ever truly lost. With his school under attack and every 1-A classmate in danger, he remembers the importance of remaining fortified. If Deku is going to suffer, he plans to do so for the sake of those around him.

Thankfully, that responsibility does not befall him as All Might arrives just in time to deliver hope to those that were prepared to accept defeat. As one of the greatest anime fight scenes in all of anime subsequently plays out, fans of the series are left in awe at the sheer strength behind this messaging.

6 “To Help Others, You Have To Be Able To Take Care Of Yourself.”

Season 3

Once again offering a powerful yet uplifting reminder to his companions, Midoriya leaves the viewer with another piece of real-world advice. He understands better than anyone else that changing the world cannot begin unless ones changes oneself first.

Deku knows that he must be able to rely on himself first and foremost. Understanding the idea of tending to the garden that one can touch, he begins with tending to himself. After all, how can the world view him as a hero if he is not a hero to himself first?

5 “I Want To Be Strong Enough So No One Will Worry About Me.”

Season 4

Izuku Midoriya, one of the smartest shonen anime protagonists, continuously battles with the concern of those around him. Whether it’s his mother pleading with him to give up his heroic dreams for the sake of her sanity and his own safety, or the apprehensions of his own classmates when it comes to his capabilities, he wishes more than anything else to reassure those around him that he will be OK.

People often wish their loved ones would stay on the safe path instead of chasing risky dreams. In the end, all anyone can do is hope that things will work out for the better and that these contemporary worries will be set to ease someday, regardless of their individual strength.

4 “When The Enemy Becomes Certain Of Their Victory, That Will Be Your Chance.”

Season 3

During his battle against Muscular in one of the best episodes of My Hero Academia, Deku utters this quote to evoke the notion that one should never believe in a “sure thing.” After realizing that help isn’t coming, Midoriya understands that he’s going to have to go this one alone. What ensues is one of the more stressful and heartfelt battles depicted in My Hero Academia.

As the villain, formally named Goto Imasuji, appears to have Deku all but defeated, his cockiness and willingness to gloat rather than assure victory causes his undoing. Midoriya’s resilience and tenacity are as endearing as they are empowering.

3 “A Hero’s Job Is To Risk His Life To Turn His Promises Into Reality.”

Season 3

These words uttered by the seemingly down-and-out protagonist as he prepares to deliver his fight-ending smash are immensely powerful. Through all of the verbal and physical abuse that he has endured up to this point, the young boy he is attempting to save helps to provide with that last bit of motivation that was needed in order to lay it all on the line. If he was going to lose, he was going to do it in style. Thankfully, he didn’t.

A quote that truly captures the role of a hero, this proves that Midoriya does in fact truly understand what it is that he is aspiring to be. Although arguably this moment is what transforms him into a true hero, it’s nice to know that he still doesn’t believe that he is fully there yet. Remaining ever humble yet hopeful, his final words here prove to be just as powerful as the final blow of the bout.

2 “Giving Help That’s Not Asked For Is What Makes A True Hero.”

Season 2

Coming to the rescue of his overly ambitious friend, Ida, who has become blinded by vengeance, Deku begins to embody the teachings of All Might. Understanding that the words of his predecessor have yet to lead him astray, he takes matters into his own hands. Accompanied by his classmates, they arrive just in time to provide Ida with much-needed backup.

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While his actions did go against the requests of both his educators and his class principal, fans of the series can all agree that he made the right decision. While some believe that they are too strong to ask for help, or that they simply don’t need it, the reality is that everyone needs help. Understanding when to provide that help without verbal communication, as Deku reminds fans, is truly the sign of a great hero.

1 “If I Can’t Save The One Small Girl In Front Of Me, How Can I Become A Hero That Saves Everyone?”

Season 4

Easily the most awe-inspiring quote ever delivered by the young Izuku Midoriya is his statement made in the penultimate episode of the Overhaul arc. With no help on the horizon, his ally drained of all powers, and the realization that if things don’t end here, they likely never will, Deku decides that this is the moment he had been waiting for his entire life. He throws caution to the wind, abandoning all concerns for his own safety for the sake of rescuing Eri, the young yet victimized girl who stands at the heart of the narrative.

The moment is so powerful because it shows that Deku’s situation has come full circle. When fans of the series met him, he was a powerless boy, helpless in the clutches of a villain. Here, he is the hero ready to save someone who has no other hope for safety. Prior to delivering one of the the most visually impressive anime fights of all time, he proves that he is once and for all the hero that he once hoped to be.