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Throughout the game, several quotes are considered by fans to be the most memorable and iconic in the game. Be it their relevance to the story, banter between characters, or even simple yet impeccable timing, these quotes still resonate with fans of Final Fantasy 10 to this day.
9 “Die and be free of pain or live and fight your sorrow!” - Auron
Throughout the game, Auron usually comes across as the strong and silent type, not saying much in a casual conversation. But when it comes to something important, Auron is there to say it, as is the case moments before fighting Yunalesca in the Zanarkand Ruins.
Auron’s line moments before fighting Yunalesca fits perfectly within the particular part of the story; just as the party has cast aside Yevon due to the lies surrounding it, each character must come to terms with those lies and choose a new path in life for themselves.
8 “What’ll I do if I give up my pilgrimage?” - Yuna
Keeping with the theme of important lines, Yuna delivers this line after she and her party are accused of heresy. Since her first appearance, it is clear that becoming a summoner was Yuna’s greatest ambition, so to see her consider a normal life may be surprising.
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The scene in which this quote takes place shows the player just how much of a burden Yuna has been carrying the whole time, of which Tidus attempts to relieve her. Though Yuna ponders quitting her pilgrimage, as shown in her romantic interlude with Tidus, her sense of duty towards Spira ultimately prevails.
7 “Stay away from the summoner!” - Besaid Villager
Some iconic quotes in gaming can come from the strangest of places. Final Fantasy 10 is definitely no exception to this, as shown by the line “Stay away from the summoner,” said by an elderly village lady to Tidus during his time in Besaid.
While many fans find the delivery of this quote to be quite humorous, it also does a good job of highlighting the distrust the people of Spira harbor towards outsiders like Tidus. The quote later takes on a more positive connotation when the people of Besaid drive away Dark Valefor’s summoner from the village.
6 “You can’t do it, kid.” - Jecht
In addition to helping Yuna with her pilgrimage, the start of Tidus’ adventure in Spira also has him grappling with his complicated upbringing at the hands of Jecht, his blitzball athlete father. Throughout his childhood, Tidus grew up with Jecht constantly putting him down with several variations of the line “You can’t do it, kid.”
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This line was naturally very painful for Tidus to hear as a child in addition to setting up Jecht as being quite the insensitive father. On the other hand, this quote makes it all the more satisfying for players to watch Tidus master the Jecht Shot on the boat ride to Kilika.
5 “Maybe I’ve gotten used to farewells.” - Lulu
Much like Auron, Lulu keeps to herself in casual conversations, usually speaking up in times of importance or revealing Spira’s lore to Tidus and the others. But one notable instance in which Lulu becomes more expressive is in the Cavern of the Stolen Fayth when she reunites with Lady Ginnem, an unsent summoner with whom she used to travel.
After defeating Ginnem’s Yojimbo, Yuna finally sends her to the Farplane, prompting Lulu to remark on how she may have “gotten used to farewells” since she is not as sad as she thought she would be. This quote demonstrates not only a significant bit of Lulu’s past, but how her constant losses have molded her into the person she is today.
4 “I guess I didn’t know anything about the Al Bhed.” - Wakka
Anyone who has ever played Final Fantasy 10 is more than familiar with Wakka’s bigotry towards the Al Bhed. From Operation Mii’hen to his reaction to Rikku speaking Al Bhed, there is no denying that Wakka was initially set off by anything pertaining to the Al Bhed.
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However, after returning from the Zanarkand, Wakka finally admits to Cid that he was a jerk and “didn’t know anything about the Al Bhed.” Given how previously bigoted he was in the game, to see Wakka finally own up to his mistakes is a step in the right direction for his character.
3 “It is better for you to die in hope than to live in despair.” - Yunalesca
The Zanarkand Ruins contain some of the most pivotal moments in Final Fantasy 10’s story, namely revolving around the Final Summoning. The ancient unsent Yunalesca offers to turn one of Yuna’s guardians into the Final Aeon, revealing the truth behind Sin’s immortality in the process.
But when Yuna rejects the Final Summoning, Yunalesca decides to kill Yuna and her guardians, delivering her iconic quote in the process. Given how Yunalesca’s boss fight is notorious for its difficulty, it is safe to say that she had the power to back up her words.
2 “It’s the lightning’s fault…” - Rikku
One of the more comical quotes in the game, Rikku says this quote if she is the last party member to be defeated in the Thunder Plains. In particular, Rikku must be struck by a lightning spell in order to hear the actual line.
The quote itself is a reference to Rikku’s crippling astraphobia, which she developed after an incident involving a similar lightning spell as a child. Although her fear initially got the best of her in the first game, Final Fantasy 10-2 ultimately saw Rikku getting over it in the span of two years.
1 “This is our story! Now let’s see this thing through together!” - Tidus
As the main character of the game, Tidus frequently uses the phrase “my story” in some way during his travels in Spira. This could be mainly due to the fact that returning to his Zanarkand was Tidus’ main priority during the beginning of his time in Spira, displaying some selfishness on his part.
However, when confronting Yunalesca, Tidus noticeably declares “This is our story,” clearly referring to himself and Yuna, instead of just himself. Though it may seem insignificant at first glance, this line marks Tidus’ progression from a childish athlete to a mature hero and guardian.
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