This collection of Uncle Iroh quotes is a gold mine of wisdom and pointers on how to live a peaceful and happy life.
The Last Airbender is a cartoon TV show that has captured millions of viewers, both young and old, with its storyline, depth of characters, and life lessons embedded in each and every episode.
So if you’re in search of pieces of wisdom from the show’s most beloved uncle, then it’s best if you don’t miss out on this list.
Start reading the full collection below.
And make sure to check out these anime quotes and Avatar: The Last Airbender quotes.
Best Uncle Iroh Quotes
1. “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again. Only this time, more wisely.”
2. “Are you so busy fighting you cannot see your own ship has set sail?”
3. “You are going through a metamorphosis, my nephew. It will not be a pleasant experience, but when you come out of it, you will be the beautiful prince you were always meant to be.”
4. “Even in the material world, you will find that if you look for the light, you can often find it. But if you look for the dark, that is all you will ever see.”
5. “There are reasons each of us are born. We have to find those reasons.”
6. “Is it your own destiny? Or is it a destiny someone else has tried to force on you?”
7. “Good times become good memories, but bad times become good lessons.”
8. “It’s time for you to look inward and start asking yourself the big questions—who are you and what do you want?”
9. “You have light and peace inside of you. If you let it out, you can change the world around you.”
10. “Be careful what you wish for, Admiral. History is not always kind to its subjects.”
11. “You are not the man you used to be. You are stronger, and wiser, and freer than you ever used to be, and now you have come at the crossroads of destiny. It’s time for you to choose. It’s time for you to choose good.”
12. “At my age, there is really only one big surprise left, and I’d just as soon leave it a mystery.”
13. “Many things that seem threatening in the dark become welcoming when we shine light on them.”
14. “You must look within yourself to save yourself from your other self. Only then will your true self reveal itself.”
15. “Follow your passion and life will reward you.”
16. “Life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not.”
17. “It is important to draw wisdom from different places. If you take it from only one place it becomes rigid and stale.”
18. “Sometimes, life is like this dark tunnel, you can’t always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but if you just keep moving, you will come to a better place.”
19. “Destiny is a funny thing. You never know how things are going to work out. But if you keep an open mind and an open heart, I promise you will find your own destiny someday.”
Also read: Anime Quotes
Uncle Iroh Quotes on Making Mistakes and Reflection
20. “It is usually best to admit mistakes when they occur, and to seek to restore honor.”
21. “You must never give into despair. Allow yourself to slip down that road and you surrender to your lowest instincts.”
22. “There is energy all around us. The energy is both yin and yang—positive energy and a negative energy. Only a select few Firebenders can separate these energies. This creates an imbalance. The energy wants to restore balance, and in the moment the positive and negative energy come crashing back together, you provide release and guidance, creating lightning.”
23. “Who would have thought that, after all these years, I would return to the scene of my greatest military disgrace—as a tourist!”
24. “So this is how the great Commander Zhao acts in defeat? Disgraceful. Even in exile, my nephew is more honorable than you. Thanks again for the tea. It was delicious.”
25. “Earth is the element of substance. The people of the Earth Kingdom are diverse and strong. They are persistent and enduring.”
26. “Even if I did defeat Ozai, and I don’t know if I could, it would be the wrong way to end the war. History would see it as just more senseless violence—a brother killing a brother to grab power. The only way for this to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord.”
27. “Yes, you have. You struggled. You suffered. But you have always followed your own path. You’ve restored your own honor. And only you can restore the honor of the Fire Nation.”
28. “Goodbye, everyone. Today, destiny is our friend. I know it.”
29. “We have a chance for a new life here. If you start stirring up trouble, we could lose all the good things that are happening for us.”
Uncle Iroh Quotes on Living and Believing in Yourself
30. “While it is always best to believe in one’s self, a little help from others can be a great blessing.”
31. “In the darkest times, hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of inner strength.”
32. “It is the combination of the four elements in one person that makes the Avatar so powerful. But it can make you more powerful too.”
33. “Sick of tea? That’s like being sick of breathing!”
34. “I always tried to tell you that Pai Sho is more than just a game.”
35. “The only thing better than finding something you are looking for is finding something you weren’t looking for at a great bargain!”
36. “Fire is the element of power. The people of the Fire Nation have desire and will, and the energy and drive to achieve what they want.”
37. “Your critical decision—what you did beneath that lake. It was such a conflict with your image of yourself that you are now at war within your own mind and body.”
38. “Evil and good are always at war inside you, Zuko. It is in your nature, your legacy. But there is a bright side.”
39. “What happened generations ago can be resolved now, by you. Because of your legacy, you alone can cleanse the sins of our family and the Fire Nation. Born in you, along with all the strife, is the power to restore balance to the world.”
Uncle Iroh Quotes on Understanding Others and Extending a Helping Hand
40. “Sometimes, the best way to solve your own problems is to help someone else.”
41. “I was never angry with you. I was sad, because I was afraid you’d lost your way.”
42. “Understanding others—the other elements, the other nations—will help you become whole.”
43. “Forgive my nephew; he is not an initiate and has little appreciation for the cryptic arts. Power in firebending comes from the breath, not the muscle!”
44. “There is nothing wrong with letting people who love you, help you. Not that I love you. I just met you.”
45. “You sound like my nephew—always thinking you need to do things on your own without anyone’s support.”
46. “We’ve had to struggle just to get by, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
47. “Water is the element of change. The people of the Water Tribes are capable of adapting to many things. They have a sense of community and love that holds them together through anything.”
48. “A man needs his rest.”
49. “Things will never return to normal, but the important thing is, the Avatar gives Zuko hope.”
Uncle Iroh Quotes on Feelings and Emotions
50. “Protection and power are overrated. I think you are very wise to choose happiness and love.”
51. “There’s nothing wrong with a life of peace and prosperity. I suggest you think about what it is that you want from your life, and why.”
52. “Pride is not the opposite of shame, but it’s source. True humility is the only antidote to shame.”
53. “Lightning is a pure expression of firebending without aggression. It is not fueled by rage or emotion the way other firebending is. Some call lightning the cold-blooded fire. It is precise and deadly like Azula. To perform the technique requires peace of mind.”
54. “Who knew floating on a piece of driftwood for three weeks, with no food or water, and sea vultures waiting to pluck out your liver, could make one so tense!”
55. “I know you’re not supposed to cry over spilled tea, but it’s just so sad!”
56. “It’s a lovely night for a walk. Why don’t you join me? It would clear your head. Or, just stay in your room and sit in the dark. Whatever makes you happy.”
57. “You should know this is not a natural sickness. But that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying tea.”
58. “Sharing tea with a fascinating stranger is one of life’s true delights.”
59. “Air is the element of freedom. The Air Nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns, and they found peace and freedom. And they apparently had great senses of humor.”
60. “Someone new must take the throne—an idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor.”
Were These Uncle Iroh Quotes Able to Lead You Down the Path of Your Own Self-Mastery?
Uncle Iroh is one of the show’s most beloved characters because of his words of wisdom. Truly, everything he says is worth listening to. In the show, he’s mostly portrayed as Zuko’s uncle who’s constantly trying to help him get over his negative experiences and guide him to grow into a better person. We’ll all benefit from the life lessons Uncle Iroh shares throughout their journey, and in a way, people look at him as a role model they can look up to if they ever need guidance. After all, we all need someone to help us navigate from what is right and what is wrong.
Did you also watch The Last Airbender as a child? Was Uncle Iroh also one of your favorite characters? Let’s talk about it in the comments section below.
