The problem with quotes found on the internet is they’re often not true. – Tingle
As we approach the launch of yet another highly anticipated game fromThe Legend of Zelda franchise, it’s hard not to look back at all the games that have come before. Especially if you’ve been there since the very beginning with that golden NES cartridge. Nintendo has created so many great adventures across Hyrule over the past thirty years that it can be easy to find your brain overstuffed with memories of the green-clad kid with the sword and the pointy hat. It’s hard to pick exactly which moment from the franchise is the best, but it’s a bit easier to decide which of themany quotes from the series reigns supreme.
That’s what we’re looking at with this listicle. Revisiting more than 30 years ofZelda history searching for the crème de la crème of quotes wasn’t easy, but it was a blast to find the lines that have truly stuck out over the years. With that, let’s get into the list with a character who really should have received his own game.
10. “We’ll call it… Grooseland” – Groose (Skyward Sword)
There has been a lot of debate over the years on whether or notThe Legend of Zelda should be fully voiced. I get a lot of the points made by those who want to keep all the speech in these games nothing but a bunch of bleeps, bloops, and taps. But I counter those points with Groose, easily the best example of why Nintendo should go all-in on voicing theZelda franchise. This loveable oaf is a goldmine of great one-liners, from braggin’ about his ‘do to when he steps up to keep watch over The Imprisoned. But it’s this line, from when Groose first reaches the surface world, that sticks out.
Part of the appeal ofSkyward Sword is that it’s a prequel to the entire franchise, and many of the series staples are given their backstories here. So when Link and Groose reach the world that will eventually become Hyrule, you might expect a poignant moment when the surface world is given its proper name. Nope, instead, you get Grooseland.
9. “Do not think that this ends here… The history of light and shadow will be written in blood!” – Ganondorf (Twilight Princess)
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker got a lot of unwarranted flack for being too much of a “kiddie” game when it was released on GameCube. Following the misguided reception of that near-masterpiece, Nintendo made sure to make its successor, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, as dark as it can be. And Twilight Princess is one incredibly dark game, at least by Zelda standards. Everything about it, from the art direction to the solemn story at the center of it, is about as far as Nintendo could get from the sun-drenched shores of The Wind Waker. That darkness extends to the dialogue, including this absorbing final line from Ganondorf.
8. “Excuse me, Princess.” – Link (The Animated Series)
Link is a hero of very few words. Except in the ill-fated ’80s cartoon adaptation of the series, where he was a hero of far too many words. The show isn’t good even with the rosiest pair of rose-tinted sunglasses on, but it did give us “Excuse me, Princess,” a line used in the show so often that it’s likely the last thing history will remember from the series before a big black hole swallows the galaxy whole.
7. “Guess what? You got it for free. Are you proud of yourself?” – Uh…the game, I guess (Link’s Awakening)
Most people see Link as a hero, but in truth, he’s been a bad egg since the beginning. InThe Legend of Zelda, he walked around setting fire to dry brush. InZelda II: Link’s Adventure, he followed strange women into their houses for a little power-up, if you know what I mean. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past unleashed the miscreant on the pottery of Hyrule, and in 1993, he reached rock bottom when he discovered how easy it was to steal. While the action brands him a THEIF for the remainder of his dream, it’s the line you read after Link successfully shoplifts that really drills in just how rotten a thing you did.
6. “Sploosh” – Salvatore (The Wind Waker)
Anyone who’s worked in retail or customer service can relate to Salvatore. A failed-artist-turned-shopkeeper, he clearly had bigger plans for his life than running some Battleship rip-off on Windfall Island. The look on his face should tell you he doesn’t have much enthusiasm for his work, and his delivery of “Sploosh” each time you miss your shot has all the energy of a cashier who’s only kind of paying attention to the story the old man at the register is telling them. Arguably, there are more eloquent lines fromThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, but those lines are only said once, whereas you’ll hear “Sploosh” dozens of times as you try to figure out the Squid-Hunt minigame.
5. “Hey! Listen!” – Navi (Ocarina of Time)
Sure, it’s the bane of existence for many ’90s kids, but would you rather I’d given this spot to Fi spouting a bunch of probabilities?
4. “I am Error” – Error (Adventure of Link)
It’s funny that for so many years, people considered the character’s name Error to be an error in translation. That’s what I thought for the longest time until Clyde Mandelin set me straight with his detailed explanation of how the character Bagu is actually the mistranslated one. Still, because it spent so many years as a popular mistranslation, along the lines of “All your base are belong to us,” it’s become a part of the Zelda lexicon.
3. “You’ve met with a terrible fate, haven’t you?” – Happy Mask Salesman (Majora’s Mask)
There is perhaps no line in the series (outside of #1 on this list) that better sets expectations for players than the first words uttered by the Happy Mask Salesman in The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. Something indeed terrible happened to Link just moments before this interaction as he was turned into a Deku Scrub by the Skull Kid in one of the most beautifully dark cinematic moments in series history. From that moment on, players knew thisZelda game would be unlike anything that came before it. But the more you think about it, the more you have to wonder what the Happy Mask Salesman is referring to. Is he talking about Link’s current state as a Deku Scrub or is the terrible fate he speaks of Link’s arrival in Termina? This is a quote with layers, which is why it so easily sticks with players.
2. “HYAA! SEIYAH! HUT! AH! SEI! HAAAA!” – Link (Various Games)
Outside of the realm of bad ’80s cartoons, this is about all Link has said across his various reincarnations. Sure, inThe Wind Waker, he’ll say “Come On!” when he’s walking about with an NPC, but nobody doing a Link impression says “Come on.” They say “HYAA!” “YAH” “HUT” “HUT” “SEIYAH.” Truthfully, I considered this entire list nothing but the various grunts and screams Link shouts when swinging his sword, but I don’t have the energy to be that unfunny anymore.
1. “It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this.” – Old Man (The Legend of Zelda)
“Call me Ishmael.” “124 was spiteful.” “Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy herself flowers.” Those are just a few of the opening lines from the greatest novels of all time, lines that have gone on to become arguably as popular as the books they lead off. Writing the first line of the story, something that’ll hook or intrigue the reader from the very first page is quite the difficult task. For every “Time is not a line but a dimension, like the dimensions of space,” you get several, “The weather beaten trail wound ahead into the dust racked climes of the baren land which dominates large portions of the Noregolian empire.”
Nintendo could have easily missed the mark with the first words spoken in The Legend of Zelda. Video gaming was still in its early years, and most Nintendo games put story and dialogue on the back burner in favor of gameplay. But for The Legend of Zelda, it would have to give players more, more than just setting them on their way without any idea of what to expect. In seven words, Nintendo conveyed everything it needed to about the adventure at hand, and ultimately, the series at large.
At least in English. According to Legends of Localization – Book 1: The Legend of Zelda, the original text is nine words long, translating as “It’s dangerous to go alone. I’ll give you this.” Certainly more polite than we got, but the words “take this” do a better job of illustrating the severity of what players are about to face. Either way, it’s a masterful quote and deserved of its spot at the top of this list.
About The Author
CJ Andriessen
Editor-at-Large – CJ has been a contributor to Destructoid since 2015, originally writing satirical news pieces before transitioning into general news, features, and other coverage that was less likely to get this website sued.
More Stories by CJ Andriessen
FAQs
What is the most famous Zelda quote? ›
- 1 "It's dangerous to go alone! Take this"
- 2 "It's a secret to everybody"
- 3 "Grumble, Grumble"
- 4 "Dodongo Dislikes Smoke"
- 5 "I am Error"
- 6 "MAH BOI"
- 7 "Well excuse me, princess"
- 8 "Hey! Listen!"
Like a river's flow, it never ends... A childish mind will turn to noble ambition... Young love will become deep affection... The clear water's surface reflects growth...”
What is the famous quote from breath of the wild? ›You may not be at a point where you have fully recovered your power or all of your memories, but courage need not be remembered, for it is never forgotten."
Does Zelda have a catchphrase? ›Take this." is a quotation from the 1986 video game The Legend of Zelda for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).
What is the secret quote in Zelda? ›Among the most recognizable quotes is “It's a secret to everybody,” uttered to Link by a Moblin in hiding. Versions of this iconic phrase have become a recurring Easter egg in the Zelda series (and in non-Zelda games, too).
Who does Zelda love? ›Zelda has feelings for Link, and their relationship is rooted deeply in childhood. Forget that The Minish Cap was once the series' origin point; its most interesting feature is developing a romance between Link and Zelda long before Skyward Sword.
What is Tingle's catchphrase Zelda? ›He is known to dress as a fairy. He is also known for his catchphrase: "Tingle, Tingle! Kooloo-Limpah!" Chinkuru, Chinkuru!
What is the quote from Ash Princess? ›Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian || Quotes
"It's safer to live only in the present. To be a girl with no past to yearn for and no future to have ripped away."
Christopher McCandless: I'm going to paraphrase Thoreau here: rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness – give me truth.
What is the famous line from the wild one? ›Johnny : You think you're too good for me. Nobody's too good for me! Anybody thinks they're too good for me, I make sure I knock 'em over sometime. Right now, I could slap you around to show you how good you are and tomorrow, I'm someplace else and I don't even know you or nothing.
What is the quote from keep breathing? ›
Steve Martin Quotes
I've got to keep breathing. It'll be my worst business mistake if I don't.
REDMOND, Wash. — Nintendo announced today that the iconic character Link, star of The Legend of Zelda, has the last name “Mario,” identical to the company's other flagship star, Mario Mario. “Link's full canonical name is and has always been Link Mario,” said Doug Bowser today in a video uploaded across social media.
What are Zelda fans called? ›Zerds is what my family called zelda lovers. or Zovers. VitaTempusN92.
What gender was Zelda? ›Complex Relationship. Link, the main character in “The Legend of Zelda” series is male but is often portrayed in an androgynous manner. He, and Princess Zelda, gender-bend in the series for various reasons.
What is the darkest Zelda story? ›1 Majora's Mask
This game is thematically dark, with the entire world feeling much more on the brink of the true apocalypse than regular NPCs do in most Zelda games.
According to Zelda, Link never speaks because he thinks it is “necessary to stay strong and to silently bear any burden.” If we take the diary at face value, not only does this entry explain that Breath of the Wild's Link is the strong, silent type because he doesn't want anyone to worry about him, but it confirms that ...
Who is the baddie in Zelda? ›Ganondorf Dragmire, also known as Ganon in his demon form, is the main antagonist of The Legend of Zelda franchise. He is primarily the ruler of the Gerudo, holder of the Triforce of Power, and arch-nemesis of both Link and Princess Zelda.
Who is Zelda's boyfriend? ›11 Ocarina Of Time: Zelda's Romantic Feelings For Link
Come the end of the game, it's clear that Zelda has developed some romantic attachment to Link while waiting for him over the course of seven years.
Not in-game. I would bet good money that Skyward Sword-era Link and Zelda did a lot more than kissing over the next few decades, but Nintendo does prefer to keep the series suitable for seven year olds.
Who does Zelda date? ›After seeing his failed attempts to woo Hilda, Zelda starts dating Sabrina's vice principle Willard Kraft, which makes Hilda slightly jealous (though she initially approved, she often accuses Zelda of "stealing" Willard).
What does Ganondorf say? ›
Ganondorf : My country lay within a vast desert. When the sun rose into the sky, a burning wind punished my lands, searing the world. And when the moon climbed into the dark of night, a frigid gale pierced our homes.
Who is the white haired girl in Zelda? ›Impa appears in Ocarina of Time as the loyal Sheikah body guard, or nursemaid, of Princess Zelda. She is depicted as a woman with a sturdy build, short white hair in a small ponytail and red eyes. Her appearance is quite younger than some of the other games she appears in.
What is the Ash Princess full name? ›Princess Theodosia was a prisoner in her own country for a decade. Renamed the Ash Princess, she endured relentless abuse and ridicule from the Kaiser and his court.
What does Ash always say? ›I'm Ash, from the town of Pallet. I'm destined to be the world's number one Pokémon master! I can't be defeated by the likes of you. I'm going to capture and defeat you all! ...
What are 4 quotes from Princess Diana? ›- “It's vital that the monarchy keeps in touch with the people. ...
- “The greatest problem in the world today is intolerance. ...
- “Call me Diana, not Princess Diana.” ...
- “Nothing brings me more happiness than trying to help the most vulnerable people in society.
I saw that I had been selfish and unbending and a giant pain in the ass. He'd built a bridge of privilege for me, a hand-paved trestle to the good life, and I repaid him by chopping it down and crapping on the wreckage.”
What is the sunset quote from wild? ›There is a sunrise and a sunset every day and you can choose to be there for it. You can put yourself in the way of beauty.
Why was the wild one banned? ›The BBFC described the film as a 'spectacle of unbridled hooliganism' and 'potentially dangerous on social grounds'. The Board expressed a genuine fear that the antisocial behaviour and nihilistic attitudes of the film's ultra-cool heroes ('What are you rebelling against, Johnny?
What is a powerful quote from Into the Wild movie? ›- Christopher McCandless : [written into book] Happiness only real when shared.
- Christopher McCandless : When you want something in life, you just gotta reach out and grab it.
- Christopher McCandless : I read somewhere how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong... but to feel strong.
We're gonna stick together, just like it used to be! When you side with a man, you stay with him! And if you can't do that, you're like some animal, you're finished! *We're* finished!
Who is the girl from Keep Breathing? ›
Parents need to know that Keep Breathing is a survival story that contains a lot of flashbacks which include heavy drinking, sexual situations, and language ("f--k," "s--t," etc.). Characters die by drowning and injuries that have caused heavy bleeding. Perilous scenes of surviving in the wilderness are intense.
Who is Link's fish girlfriend? ›Mipha is also known to be in love with Link, promising to heal him whenever and no matter how bad the wound may be. She shyly tells him that after the Great Calamity was dealt with, she wants to spend time with him, like they did in their childhood.
Who is Link's little sister? ›Aryll is Link's younger sister in The Wind Waker.
Who is Link's enemy? ›Ganon is the archenemy of the protagonist Link and originally the leader of the Gerudo, a race of humanoid desert nomads before becoming the ruler of his demons. In his original Gerudo form, from which he can change magically, he is known as Ganondorf.
What is Link's shield called? ›The Hylian Shield goes unnamed in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. It is the traditional Shield borne by the Knights of Hyrule and is commonly used by Link in 3D Zelda games alongside the Master Sword.
Is Zelda A Waifu? ›Princess Zelda has always been one of the pillars of gaming waifus. Beautiful, dignified, and wielding the Triforce of Wisdom, she has spent the last three decades (and then some) capturing our attention as often as she is captured by Ganon.
What is Link's fairy called in Zelda? ›Navi is a fictional fairy who acts as series protagonist Link's navigator throughout the 1998 Nintendo 64 video game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. She was voiced by Kaori Mizuhashi.
Is Zelda Link's sister? ›Ultimately, though, Nintendo has never explicitly stated that Zelda and Link are brother and sister and the only instances where that idea has been explicitly stated in Zelda media are considered to be non-canonical.
Is Link an elf or human? ›Link is a Hylian. Hylians strongly resemble humans, but have pointed ears. They also possess unique psychic and magical abilities. This makes them very elf-like, but they're not elves in the traditional sense.
What is the slogan of Zelda? ›
15 “It's Dangerous To Go Alone! Take This.” (The Legend Of Zelda)
Why does Zelda say do you remember me? ›“Do you remember me?” asks the player if he or she has seen enough of that world, if he or she has cared enough.
What is Link's real name Legend of Zelda? ›According to Miyamoto, it's “Link.” Yes, the hero of time's official full name is Link Link.
What is Zelda short for? ›Zelda is a nickname for the feminine name Griselda, from Old High German grisja hilda, "gray battle-maid". It is also the feminine form of the Yiddish name Selig, meaning "blessed", "happy". Zelda. Gender.
Has Zelda ever kissed Link? ›14 Zelda II: The Loves Of Link's Life
Granted, he's only around 16 at this point, but lore is lore. This of course creates a problem when the other Zelda wakes up at the end of the game and kisses Link.
The inclusion of Hylian language in the Legend of Zelda series has become a defining feature of the franchise, adding a unique and immersive element to the game's world-building and storytelling.
Who is the white hair girl in Zelda? ›Impa appears in Ocarina of Time as the loyal Sheikah body guard, or nursemaid, of Princess Zelda. She is depicted as a woman with a sturdy build, short white hair in a small ponytail and red eyes. Her appearance is quite younger than some of the other games she appears in.
Who is Link's main enemy? ›Ganon is the archenemy of the protagonist Link and originally the leader of the Gerudo, a race of humanoid desert nomads before becoming the ruler of his demons. In his original Gerudo form, from which he can change magically, he is known as Ganondorf.