Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) follows the journey of brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric, who use alchemy to seek restoration after a tragic human transmutation costs them their bodies. The series delves into profound themes of equivalent exchange, the ethics of ambition, human suffering, and redemption amid war and loss.
This curated collection of 25 quotes highlights these elements through iconic moments, balancing intense battles with reflective peace, and spanning key arcs like the early quest, Ishval revelations, homunculus confrontations, and the climactic Gate explorations.
Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost
Episode 1 (Those Who Challenge the Sun)
Alphonse Elric
Narrates the core law of alchemy, underscoring the brothers’ initial naive faith in equivalent exchange before their devastating failure, setting the emotional tone for their sacrificial journey.
Alchemists are scientists. So they don’t believe in an uncertain existence like God. Isn’t it ironic that people like us are closest to God?
Episode 1 (Those Who Challenge the Sun)
Edward Elric
Challenges false miracles in Liore, revealing Edward’s scientific skepticism and budding moral compass, connecting to themes of hubris in playing divine roles.
A lesson without pain is meaningless. For you cannot gain anything without sacrificing something else in return
Episode 3 (Mother)
Edward Elric
Reflects on their mother’s resurrection attempt, emphasizing growth through suffering and highlighting Edward’s maturation from impulsive youth to resolute seeker.
See Rose, this is what happens when you try to bring back what’s dead
Episode 3 (Mother)
Edward Elric
Warns against forbidden alchemy post-failed transmutation, evoking raw grief over their mother’s loss and reinforcing the irreversible cost of defying natural laws.
Don’t let them worry you Rose, you forget that the Sun God Leto blessed me with the Philosopher’s Stone
Episode 1 (Those Who Challenge the Sun)
Father Cornello
Exposes religious deception in Liore, symbolizing corrupted faith and the brothers’ early disillusionment, tying into broader critiques of blind devotion.
No, you don’t understand. You must destroy us. There is nothing for the defeated but death—that is our rule
Episode 22 (Created Human)
Number 48 (Slicer, Older Brother)
In a tense lab confrontation, underscores homunculi despair and artificial life’s tragedy, deepening Alphonse’s identity crisis and themes of humanity’s worth.
I’m not killing anyone. That’s not what I do
Episode 22 (Created Human)
Edward Elric
Refuses to end the Slicer brothers’ suffering, showcasing his compassionate resolve amid battle, advancing his development beyond vengeful alchemist.
Full Metal Alchemist! Take your brother and get out of here!
Episode 14 (Destruction’s Right Hand)
Scar
Aids the Elrics during a homunculus ambush, revealing his conflicted anti-alchemist stance, bridging themes of vengeance and reluctant alliance.
Hey, listen, I’ve got a hostage here. Is everyone forgetting about that?
Episode 34 (Theory of Avarice)
Greed
Holds Izumi captive in Dublith chaos, injecting dark humor into a brutal fight, illustrating Greed’s opportunistic nature and the arc’s escalating homunculus threats.
I’m… PISSED OFF!
Episode 34 (Theory of Avarice)
Izumi Curtis
Breaks free to fight Greed, channeling maternal fury in a peaceful hometown turned battlefield, highlighting her mentorship’s emotional depth and resilience.
The reason you’re still around, the only reason I haven’t killed you is that we were told not to
Episode 40 (The Scar)
Envy
Taunts Edward in a vengeful clash, exposing homunculi obedience and personal grudge, intensifying themes of inherited sins from the Ishval arc.
Your metal body isn’t the one I’m after!
Episode 40 (The Scar)
Wrath
Battles Alphonse with childlike glee, revealing his twisted immortality, evoking horror in a quiet moment of doubt and connecting to artificial existence’s pain.
There is no such thing as perfection. This world itself is imperfect. That’s what makes it so beautiful
Episode 13 (Fullmetal VS Flame)
Roy Mustang
Consoles Hawkeye after a flawed plan, in a rare peaceful exchange, emphasizing acceptance of flaws and Mustang’s growth toward humane leadership.
Don’t give up on me yet, Al
Episode 22 (Created Human)
Edward Elric
Comforts Alphonse amid soul-binding fears in Lab 5, a heartfelt brotherly vow during crisis, reinforcing their unbreakable bond against isolation’s despair.
Be careful, brother! He’s a homunculi just like the others!
Episode 34 (Theory of Avarice)
Alphonse Elric
Warns Edward during the Greed skirmish, showing his protective instincts in battle, highlighting his development from dependent to vigilant partner.
I don’t need your help!
Episode 14 (Destruction’s Right Hand)
Edward Elric
Defiantly rejects Scar’s aid in a subway fight, embodying prideful independence, yet evolving toward recognizing limits in the pursuit of redemption.
A man who inflicts suffering cannot rest. His guilty mind won’t allow it
Episode 48 (Goodbye)
Scar
Confesses war traumas in a serene Reole moment before sacrifice, marking his arc from destroyer to redeemer, tying into forgiveness amid Ishval’s scars.
Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return… In those days, we really believed that to be the world’s one and only truth
Episode 1 (Those Who Challenge the Sun)
Alphonse Elric
Opens the series with alchemical tenets, laced with foreshadowed irony, capturing the brothers’ innocent optimism before themes of cosmic deceit unfold.
You must destroy us. He’s your brother
Episode 22 (Created Human)
Number 48 (Slicer, Older Brother)
Urges mercy killing in emotional plea, mirroring the Elrics’ fraternal tie, amplifying Alphonse’s existential turmoil in the homunculi revelation arc.
Way to bring your trouble home with you, Fullmetal, really nice
Episode 27 (Teacher)
Roy Mustang
Teases Edward upon reunion in Dublith, a light peaceful jab amid tension, underscoring Mustang’s mentorship role and the series’ blend of humor with duty.
Nothing’s perfect, the world’s not perfect, but it’s there for us, trying the best it can
Episode 50 (Death)
Winry Rockbell
Comforts Edward in a tender automail session, reflecting on imperfections post-trauma, advancing her growth and themes of human endurance.
Brother, it turns out the Philosopher’s Stone may very well be real
Episode 8 (The Philosopher’s Stone)
Alphonse Elric
Shares discovery in Central, sparking hope amid ethical dread, a pivotal peaceful moment that propels their quest and exposes alchemy’s dark underbelly.
Your only solace from my wrath will be damnation!
Episode 15 (The Ishbal Massacre)
Scar
Declares judgment on alchemists in flashback fury, channeling genocidal rage, central to his vengeful arc and the series’ exploration of war’s cycle.
I want my body back, Brother. I want to be able to feel what you felt
Episode 8 (The Philosopher’s Stone)
Alphonse Elric
Expresses longing in a vulnerable talk, weighing humanity’s sensations against survival, deepening their emotional rift in the stone pursuit arc.
Get up! I’m about to show you how outclassed you really are
Episode 50 (Death)
Edward Elric
Rages against Envy in climactic battle, cathartic release of accumulated grief, symbolizing his triumph over despair and full embrace of equivalent exchange’s toll.
