Oliver Queen quotes from Arrow

Oliver

I have seen people speed and shrink and fly. We watched a friend of ours come back from the dead. That is the world we live in now and I will not stop searching it until we find a way to make you walk again.

Oliver

You are a part of the team, forever and always.

Oliver

[to Diggle] If (Laurel) were here, she'd tell you the same thing that I'm gonna tell you: you can not forget who you are, and we... we can never become them.

Oliver

This, uh... this doesn't seem right. I knew Laurel Lance for... almost her entire life. She was my friend, and I loved her. Before she died, I was.. I was lucky enough to hear her tell me that she loved me, too. Laurel Lance became a lawyer to help people who may have appeared helpless. She wanted to give a voice to the silent. But just being a lawyer wasn't enough. She wanted to do more. For those people, and for this city, because she loved this city so much. By now, everyone knows that Laurel was killed in the Iron Heights prison riot. And while it's true that she was an assistant District Attorney, that's not what she was doing there that night. Before she died, Laurel told me the truth: Laurel Lance was the Black Canary. And for the past few days, I have had to sit and listen to people try and paint the Black Canary as a criminal, She was not a criminal. She was a hero. She was a hero in every way that a person can be. And if Laurel were here, I know that she would expect all of us to live up to the example that she set. She'd want us to save our city.

Oliver

Stop! Stop! Please! I know what you're feeling right now. I'm feeling it, too: a sense of helplessness, of hopelessness. I don't know how we even begin to process what might happen to us right now. But there are a few things that I do know. I know that this city has been through tough times before, and we have pulled through. We survived the Undertaking. We survived the Siege. We survived the Outbreak. And somehow, some way, we will survive this. A friend of mine told me that living in Star City takes a special kind of tenacity. But we do live here. Because this is our home. This. Is. Our. Home. It is our friend, our family, our lives. And we will not, we will not throw those precious gifts away by descending into chaos. We will look to each other for hope. We will cling to each other for strength. And if we do that, no matter what happens, we can all stand here united.

Oliver

[addressing the citizens of Star City] Thank you all for being here. In light of what's happened, I thought it important that we gather as a city and remember those that we've lost. After everything that Star City has endured in the past several years, it would be easy to become immune or desensitized to the violence that purveys our lives. And it would be human to want to respond to that violence with violence. When I think of all the people that I've lost, I remember the choices that I was forced to make in light of those tragedies. Some choices were easy. But the important choices, the choices that were worth making, they were hard. And hard choices require bravery. Fortunately, we live in the home of the brave, and we don't run from hard choices. We rise up and we face tomorrow together. This afternoon, councilwoman Pollard and I met with the city council to pass the Star City Firearms Freedom Act, a policy that respects our freedom and our lives, shows that we can do both. Now we just have to be brave enough to do it.

Oliver

[addressing a press conference] Hey, everyone. I'd like to thank the City Council for conducting these hearings with honesty and integrity. I simply wish that I could have done the same with regard to the Green Arrow's murder of Detective William Malone. When I took the oath of office, I promised to be honest and forthright. I never wanted to be a politician who relied on dirty politics or underhanded tactics. And in the spirit of that transparency, I think I owe everyone an explanation as to why I covered up what the Green Arrow did. I did it in a misguided attempt to protect everyone from the tragic news that the Green Arrow had become a cop-killer. That a man we had put our faith in had failed this city. I didn't think we could afford to lose another hero. But the truth is more important, and the truth is that the Green Arrow has gone rogue. We must disavow him and hunt him and punish him for what he has done. Green Arrow is not a hero. He is what's keeping Star City from being the best that it can be. Thank you very much.

Oliver

[speaking at a press conference] Thank you for being here. I'd like to talk with everyone about my father. [noticing Thea] Our father. Based on further investigation, I can now state definitively that the allegations made against Robert Queen are... true. My father is not here to defend himself, and I cannot find the words to defend his actions. What I can tell you is that nearly ten years ago, in a moment of... of immense courage, Robert Queen chose to sacrifice himself so that I might live. So that I had the opportunity to leave behind a better legacy than he did. So that I might return and one day serve this city. Today, we took a step forward. With help from the Green Arrow and his team, the Throwing Star Killer is now behind bars, and our streets are a little safer. Tomorrow, we'll take another step forward. The day after, we will take another one. Because it is time, it is truly time for us to leave the past in the past, so that our children might inherit the Star City we always dreamed of. The way my father dreamt of a better life for me and my sister.

Oliver

[addressing the Police Academy graduates] Thank you all for being here. In light of the recent attacks on the SCPD, tonight's ceremony is incredibly important. And while we need to mourn the loss of life, I feel the need to mention that this city is better off than it has been in quite some time. Crime is down. Our streets are peaceful. People are not only moving here, they are staying here. And do you want to know why? It's because you help them feel safe. You have chosen a profession. One of the most dangerous professions in the world. Whereas other people run from danger, you run towards it, time and time and time again. And for that, we all owe you a huge debt of gratitude. So, thank you. Thank you for protecting our families, for protecting us, and for protecting our beautiful city. Thank you.

Oliver

[speaking to the state representatives] I need to... I need to inform everyone that the money extorted from us by the cyber-terrorist Cayden James has not been recovered. And to be honest with you, I don't know that it ever will be. Now I promised everyone that... I would find the funds to keep the Metro area running without work stoppages, but... I'm so very sorry, as Mayor, I.... I have failed this city.

Oliver

The name of the island they found me on is Lian Yu. It's Mandarin for purgatory. Now I understand why. The memories, the pain, I've never escaped them. They're always with me, a reminder of what I had to endure, with only one thought, one goal -survive. To save the multiverse, I must become something else. To do that, I have to return where my journey began - Purgatory.

Laurel Lance

Why are you here, Ollie?

Oliver Queen

To apologize. It was my fault. I want to ask you not to blame her.

Laurel

For what? Falling under your spell? How could I possibly blame her for doing the same thing I did?

Oliver

I never meant...

Laurel

She was my sister. I couldn't be angry because she was dead. I couldn't grieve because I was angry. That's what happens when your sister dies while screwing your boyfriend. We buried an empty coffin because her body was at the bottom of the ocean where you left her. It should have been you.

Oliver

I know it is too late to say this but I am sorry.

Laurel

Yeah, I am sorry, too. I had hoped you'd rot in hell a lot longer than five years.

Tommy

By my rough estimate, you have not had sex in 1839 days. As your wingman, I highly recommend Carmen Golden.

Oliver

Which one is she?

Tommy

The one that looks like the chick from Twilight.

Oliver

What's Twilight?

Tommy

You're so better off not knowing.

Oliver

Laurel, you always saw the best in me. Right now, that's what you're doing, looking at me and you wondering if that island changed me somehow, if it made me a better person, It didn't. Stay away from me, otherwise I am just gonna hurt you again, but this time it will be worse.

Laurel

You know what, Oliver. You are wrong, that island did change you, at least now you are honest.

Laurel

How am I supposed to stay away from you if you won't stay away from me?

Oliver

I...

Laurel

What are you doing here, Ollie?

Oliver

My sister took...she put it out to me that I have been distant since I got back and that it would probably be a good idea if I let somebody in.

Laurel

So, you thought to start with the first person you pushed away?!

Oliver

I did that to protect you, and I saw you yesterday and I realized that I hurt you.