Death Note is a work that was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump. It tells the story of a genius high school student named Light Yagami who finds a notebook, held by a god of death, in which anyone with a name written in it will die after 40 seconds. He then sets out to kill criminals in order to change the world. Death Note is characterized by its dark worldview, and there are many famous quotes from the beginning to the end. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of Death Note's most famous quotes, ranked in order of appearance.
Death Note Quote Ranking #10: "Investigation is about making assumptions, and if you're wrong, it's okay to just say 'I'm sorry.'"
Source: Death Note ©Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata/Shueisha, VAP, Madhouse, NTV, D.N. Dream Partners
First up, our #10 ranking of Death Note quotes: "In investigations, you make assumptions, and if you're wrong, it's okay to say 'I'm sorry.'" This quote comes from Near, the successor to the world-renowned detective L. Near, who had already identified Light Yagami as Kira, spoke these words to his teammates after pointing out that he was. It's a quote that resonates with L, whom he respects. While this may seem selfish, it could also be seen as a strategy to gauge the other person's reaction by making a first assumption and observing how they will act.
Death Note Quote Ranking #9: "The world is rotten. Those who are rotten would be better off dead."
Source: Death Note ©Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata/Shueisha, VAP, Madhouse, NTV, D.N. Dream Partners
The next Death Note quote, ranked #9, is, "The world is rotten. Those who are rotten would be better off dead." This famous quote was spoken by Light Yagami shortly after he got his hands on the Death Note. It can be said that this quote strongly reflects Light Yagami's belief that the world has long been full of evil people, and that evil people remain evil until they die. However, there have been actual incidents that make these words convincing, so it is difficult to conclude that Light Yagami is completely wrong. You could also say that these words were one of his motivations for trying to change the world with the Death Note.
Death Note Quote Ranking #8: "Let's show them. Justice always prevails."
Source: Death Note ©Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata/Shueisha, VAP, Madhouse, NTV, D.N. Dream Partners
The next Death Note quote is, "Let's show them. Justice always prevails." This famous quote is uttered by L when he first appears as a detective. Until now, L had been working in cooperation with the Japanese police on his investigations without knowing who L really was, but it was only after he became closer to the police and decided to investigate that he finally appeared in front of Yagami Soichiro and others. At first, he seemed like a strange character, but this quote is also important as it confirms that he has a sense of justice and is serious about trying to catch Kira.
Death Note Quote Ranking #7: "No matter what I say, they're all idiots who don't understand..."
Source: Death Note ©Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata/Shueisha, VAP, Madhouse, NTV, D.N. Dream Partners
"No matter what I say, they're all idiots who don't understand..." is another famous line from Death Note. This famous quote was spoken by Light Yagami after Near had completely deduced that Kira was Light Yagami, leaving him with no room for argument. He is expressing his anger at the situation in which no one will listen to him when he tries to win over a few people by advocating his own theory, and it is a memorable quote he thinks to himself. At first, Light Yagami was planning to use the Death Note to reform the world even at the cost of sacrificing himself, just to make it a better place, but before he knew it, he began to consider anyone who opposed him an enemy and kill them, and by this final scene he has already become completely evil. These words, so completely evil, are a quote that will remain etched in your mind in a sense.
Death Note Quote Ranking #6: "Humans are...interesting!!..."
Source: Death Note ©Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata/Shueisha, VAP, Madhouse, NTV, D.N. Dream Partners
Next on our Death Note quote ranking, #6, is "Humans are...interesting!!..." This quote is spoken by Ryuk, the Grim Reaper. Feeling bored, Ryuk dropped the Death Note into the human world to see what would happen. When Light Yagami picked up the Death Note and said he would use it to change the world, Ryuk uttered the following line: "Humans are... interesting!!..." Always trying to have fun no matter the situation, which is very much like a Shinigami and very much like Ryuk.
Death Note Quote Ranking: #5: "Light Yagami, You are Kira."
Source: Death Note ©Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata/Shueisha, VAP, Madhouse, NTV, D.N. Dream Partners
Ranked #5 on the Death Note quote ranking: "Light Yagami, You are Kira." This famous quote is spoken at the end of the film when Near corners Light Yagami during their direct confrontation. In this scene, Near, the genius detective and successor to L, discovers the Death Note's mechanism with the help of Mello, another potential successor, and completely exposes the evidence, marking the conclusion of the long story of the Death Note. L also knew for a fact that Light Yagami was Kira, but was killed by Light Yagami's calculations, so it is also a touching scene in which Near avenges L's enemy.
Death Note Quote Ranking: #4: "I am L"
Source: Death Note ©Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata/Shueisha, VAP, Madhouse, NTV, D.N. Dream Partners
Next up on our Death Note quote ranking: #4 is the line, "I am L." This famous quote was spoken by a man named Ryuzaki when he approached Light Yagami from behind as he was giving a speech at his university entrance ceremony after he had just become a university student. I introduced it as such because it marks the beginning of a plan that kills two birds with one stone: by contacting Light Yagami and introducing himself as L, he not only puts pressure on him, but also by killing him with the Death Note, which will immediately make Light Yagami suspected of being Kira. It is a bold and very simple quote, but those who are familiar with the story will be able to sense the tension in it.
Death Note Quote Ranking #3: "Just as planned"
Source: Death Note ©Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata/Shueisha, VAP, Madhouse, NTV, D.N. Dream Partners
"Just as planned" is another iconic quote from Death Note. This famous quote comes from Light Yagami, who is planning to avoid L's attention by erasing his own memories to prove he is not a suspect in Kira's name. He regains his memories of possessing the Death Note after touching the Death Note, which has been transferred to another person, and is convinced that his plan is working perfectly. His expression at this point is incredibly evil, making it a famous quote that is often used as a joke online. It also showcases Light Yagami's calculating and careful preparation, making it a truly villainous quote.
Death Note Quote Ranking #2: "I thought so... I wasn't wrong... but... well..."
Ranked #2 on the Death Note Quote Ranking is "I thought so... I wasn't wrong... but... well..." These are the final words L uttered before his death. As Light and L collaborate to find Kira, Light manipulates Misa Amane's Shinigami, Rem, to kill L. At that moment, L collapses and is picked up by Light Yagami, and as his consciousness fades, he looks at the grinning face of Light Yagami and says this famous line. It is an extremely regretful statement, and it is one of the most famous lines in Death Note, as it confirms that his deduction was not wrong and shows him admitting defeat.
Death Note Quote Ranking #1: "I will become the god of a new world."
Source: Death Note ©Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata/Shueisha, VAP, Madhouse, NTV, D.N. Dream Partners
Finally, the #1 quote from Death Note is, "I will become the god of a new world." This famous quote is also what Light Yagami said when he got his hands on the Death Note, telling Ryuk what he would do with it. At the time, Light Yagami thought it was wrong to use the Death Note, but he was convinced that the world would not change if he did not use it, and at the same time, he was an innocent child who believed that he could change it. This is a quote that is so typical of Light Yagami, and it is also the line that marks the beginning of the Death Note, so we have given it the top spot.
A Thorough Introduction to the Top 10 Quotes from Death Note! Summary
Source: Death Note ©Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata/Shueisha, VAP, Madhouse, NTV, D.N. Dream Partners
This time, we've ranked the most famous quotes from Death Note. Death Note remains a popular work, adapting itself into various media even after its serialization ended. It is a dark fantasy work that stands out from other manga, and the sophisticated battles of wits are worth watching. It can be difficult to read because it contains a lot of information, but it is worth giving it a read as it is a masterpiece that will go down in history.
