Actor Zuko quotes from Avatar: The Last Airbender

Orange is such an awful color.

Zuko

You're so beautiful when you hate the world.

I don't hate you.

Zuko

I don't hate you, too.

Chapter 2: The Headband

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I hear you've been to see Uncle Fatso in the prison tower.

Zuko

That guard told you, didn't he?

No, you did. Just now.

Chapter 2: The Headband

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Zuko

It smells like old lady in here.

Gee, I wonder why.

Chapter 5: The Beach

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Zuko

I guess you wouldn't understand, would you Azula? Because you're just so perfect.

Well yes, I guess you're right. I don't have sob stories like all of you. I could sit here and complain how mom liked Zuko more then me, but I don't really care. My own mother thought I was a monster... [is silent for a moment] She was right, of course, but it still hurt.

Chapter 5: The Beach

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[to Zuko and Mai, who have been arguing] Calm down, you guys! This much negative energy is bad for your skin; you'll totally break out.

Zuko

Bad skin?! Normal teenagers worry about bad skin! I don't have that luxury! My father decided to teach me a permanent lesson - ON MY FACE!

Sorry, Zuko, I--

Zuko

For so long now I thought if my dad accepted me, I'd be happy. I'm back home now, my dad talks to me, he even thinks I'm a hero! Everything should be perfect, right? I should be happy now, but I'm not. I'm angrier than ever and I don't know why!

There's a simple question you need to answer, then. Who are you angry at?

Zuko

No one! I'm just... angry.

Yeah, who are you angry at, Zuko?

Zuko

Everyone! I don't know!

Is it Dad?

Zuko

No, no.

Your uncle?

Me?

Zuko

No! No, no, no!

Then who? Who are you angry at?

Answer the question, Zuko.

Talk to us!

Come on, answer the question.

Come on, answer it.

Zuko

[makes their fire blaze] I'M ANGRY AT MYSELF!

Chapter 5: The Beach

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(After explaining their great-grandfather Sozin's history to Zuko)

In the end, he died a very old and successful man.

Zuko

But how did he die?

Chapter 6: The Avatar and the Fire Lord

Didn't you pay any attention in school, Zuko? He died peacefully in his sleep; he was ancient.

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Iroh

You have more than one great-grandfather, Prince Zuko. Sozin was your father's grandfather. Your mother's grandfather was Avatar Roku.

Zuko

(in shock) Why are you telling me this?!

Iroh

Because understanding the struggle between your two great-grandfathers can help you better understand the battle within yourself. Evil and good are always at war inside you, Zuko. It is your nature, your legacy, but there is a bright side. What happened generations ago can be resolved now by you. Because of your legacy, you alone can cleanse the sins of our family and the Fire Nation. Born in you, along with all the strife, is the power to restore balance to the world.

Chapter 6: The Avatar and the Fire Lord

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Zuko

After I leave here today, I'm going to free Uncle Iroh from his prison, and I'm going to beg for his forgiveness. He's the one who's been a real father to me.

[Laughs] That's just beautiful. Maybe he can pass down to you the ways of tea and failure.

Zuko

But I've come to an even more important decision. I'm gonna join the Avatar, and I'm going to help him defeat you.

Really? Since you're a full blown traitor and you want me gone, why wait? I'm powerless. You've got your swords. Why don't you just do it now?

Zuko

Because I know my own destiny. Taking you down is the Avatar's destiny. Goodbye.

Coward! You may think that you're brave enough to face me, but you'll only do it during the Eclipse. If you have any real courage, you'll stick around until the sun comes out. Don't you want to hear what happened to your mother?

Zuko

What happened that night?

My father, Fire Lord Azulon, had commanded me to do the unthinkable to you, my own son, and I was going to do it. Your mother found out and swore she would protect you at any cost. She knew I wanted the throne, so she proposed a plan; a plan in which I would become Fire Lord and your life would be spared. Your mother did vicious treasonous things that night. She knew the consequences and accepted them. For her treason she was banished.

Zuko

So she's alive.

Chapters 10 & 11: Day of Black Sun

Perhaps.... Now I realize that banishment is far to merciful a penalty for treason. Your penalty will be far steeper.... (The eclipse ends, and Ozai strikes Zuko with lightning, only for Zuko to direct it back to him, knocking Ozai off his feet)

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Zuko

For so long, all I wanted was you to love me, to accept me. I thought it was my honor that I wanted, but really, I was just trying to please you. You, my father, who banished me just for talking out of turn. My father, who challenged me, a 13-year-old boy, to an Agni Kai. How can you possibly justify a duel with a child?

(bitterly) It was to teach you respect.

Zuko

It was cruel! And it was wrong.

Then you have learned nothing.

Zuko

No, I've learned everything! And I had to learn it on my own. Growing up, we were taught that the Fire Nation was the greatest civilization in history and somehow, the war was our way of sharing our greatness with the rest of the world. What an amazing lie that was! The people of the world are terrified by the Fire Nation! They don't see our greatness - they hate us! And we deserve it. We've created an era of fear in the world. And if we don't want the world to destroy itself, we need to replace it with an era of peace and kindness.