Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Quotes

"Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange."

Alphonse's opening narration of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, stating the law of Equivalent Exchange that drives the entire story.

"It's a terrible day for rain."

Roy Mustang's words to Riza Hawkeye at Maes Hughes's funeral in episode 10. There is no rain; he is hiding that he is crying.

"A lesson without pain is meaningless. That's because no one can gain without sacrificing something."

Edward's closing narration in the final episode of Brotherhood, revising the law of Equivalent Exchange after everything the brothers have lost and gained.

"The world isn't perfect. But it's there for us, doing the best it can... that's what makes it so damn beautiful."

Roy Mustang's reflection on an imperfect world, expressing the ideals behind his ambition to lead Amestris and protect the people under him.

"I don't need alchemy. I have my friends."

Edward's answer to Truth in the final battle, offering his Gate of Truth as payment to bring Alphonse home. Giving up alchemy is the toll he chooses because he no longer needs it to matter.

"Stand up and walk. Keep moving forward. You've got two good legs. So get up and use them."

Edward's parting words to Rose in Liore early in Brotherhood, after exposing Father Cornello's fake miracles and leaving her without the faith she relied on.

"Equivalent exchange! I'll give you half of my life, so give me half of yours!"

Edward's clumsy proposal to Winry at the train station in the final episode. Winry laughs at him for reducing love to alchemy and offers him all of hers instead.

"If I ever stray from my path, I want you to shoot me, Lieutenant."

The order Roy gave Riza Hawkeye after the Ishvalan war, shown in flashback. It is why Riza points a gun at him in the Promised Day arc when he is about to burn Envy alive.

"That's my answer. Take my Gate of Truth."

Edward closing the deal with Truth: the portal that lets him perform alchemy in exchange for Alphonse's body and soul. Truth calls it the right answer and lets them both go home.

"Who are you calling so short you'd need a magnifying glass to see him?!"

Edward's running gag whenever anyone mentions his height, exploding with insults nobody actually said. It is the comic counterweight to the series' darker themes.

"I'll follow you, even into hell."

Riza's response when Roy asks whether she will keep following him after Hughes' death. Her loyalty is the foundation of everything Mustang's team does afterwards.

"I want money and women, power and sex, status, glory! I demand the finest of everything!"

Greed's introduction at the Devil's Nest in Dublith, laying out exactly what his name promises. By the end of the series, the thing he actually wanted turns out to be friends.

"Even in this body, I'm still me. I still have my heart."

Alphonse working through his fear that his memories were fabricated by Edward and that a soul in a suit of armor might not be a real person. Winry and Ed help him settle it.

"I'm just a housewife!"

Izumi's answer whenever someone asks who she is, usually right after she has thrown an armed man through a wall. The Elrics' teacher is one of the strongest alchemists in Amestris.

"Roy, get yourself a wife already!"

Hughes' constant advice to Mustang over the phone, delivered between showing everyone photos of his daughter Elicia. The joke makes his murder a few episodes later hit that much harder.

"A king is no king without his people. But people without a king would be lost."

Ling's belief about rulership, first stated during the Greed arc and turned against King Bradley in the Promised Day arc. It is the philosophy that makes him a worthy emperor of Xing.