The Best Quote From Each Member Of The MCU’s Guardians Of The Galaxy

The Guardians of the Galaxy are perhaps the most quotable characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with almost every line of dialogue that comes out of their collective mouths being nothing less than pure gold. Thanks to James Gunn’s amazing knack for ensemble casts, the Guardians of the Galaxy movies are easily the MCU’s best written. The characters’ iconic lines even bleed over into their appearances in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, as well.

It’s hard to parse out a single best quote from each member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, with so many thought-provoking and hilarious lines from each of them. However, the best dialogue from each member is able to highlight their core characteristics while also either being memorable, making a point, or simply being too funny to forget. Even if some quotes from Guardians of the Galaxy aged poorly, there’s no denying that the motley crew of spacefaring superheroes have a ton of personality.

10

“Sometimes, That Thing You’re Searching For Your Whole Life…It’s Right There By Your Side All Along.”

Star-Lord, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Peter Quill stands with Drax, Rocket and Gamora at Yondu's funeral in Guardians of the Galaxy 2

Even though Star-Lord is essentially the “main character” of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is the team’s installment that focuses on him the most. After meeting and battling his biological father, Ego the Celestial, Peter Quill realizes that Yondu was his true Dad just before he sacrifices himself to save him. Saying a few words in remembrance, Quill gets choked up in a confusing metaphor discussing how Ego tried to appeal to him by morphing into David Hasselhoff.

It’s hilarious to watch Peter trip over his words at such a poignant moment, but he ends his speech quite sincerely. His final quote on Yondu really hits the nail on the head for the found family themes that proliferate the entire Guardians of the Galaxy series. It’s clear here that he isn’t just talking about Yondu, but the Guardians of the Galaxy themselves, who he views as family.

9

“I Have Lived Most Of My Life Surrounded By My Enemies. I Will Be Grateful To Die Surrounded By My Friends.”

Gamora, Guardians of the Galaxy

Gamora watching Peter Quill dance in Guardians of the Galaxy

Just like Peter Quill and the rest of the Guardians, Gamora goes through a similar arc of being an outcast who slowly learns to appreciate her newfound place in a close-knit team. Once the daughter of Thanos, Gamora was abducted from her massacred homeworld and made into a peerless assassin, becoming the most dangerous woman in the galaxy. It’s clear that the loneliness of this position eventually begun to wear on her, though she begins Guardians of the Galaxy as quite a prickly person.

She finally shows a small moment of vulnerability at the end of the first film, as the team discuss how going up against Ronin is a suicide mission. Gamora seems to gladly welcome the idea, saying that she prefers dying next to her friends to living amongst her enemies as she had done all her life. It’s a small moment, but one that opens up a much wider stream of character growth to occur from, and a big step in the original Gamora’s arc.

8

“It’s Okay, Quill, I Can Take It!”

Drax, Avengers: Infinity War

Drax being threatened by Iron Man

The comedic relief in a team made up of characters that could be the comedic relief, it’s fitting that Drax the Destroyer’s best line is a bit of a punchline. However, the line also betrays a deeper meaning that cuts to the core of Drax’s character and how he views himself. Surprisingly, the quote actually stems from Avengers: Infinity War during Drax, Star-Lord and Mantis’ scuffle with Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Doctor Strange.

After being outdone by Tony Stark, Drax finds himself staring down the barrel of a dangerous-looking energy cannon, with Iron Man using his as leverage to force Peter to let Spider-Man go. Drax gives Peter the ok to fire away, assuring him that he can take the hit. This is a funny delivery by David Bautista’s amazing character on its own, but it also hints at how Drax sees himself: tough, durable, but ultimately expendable should it ever come down to him or his friends.

7

“I Just Wanted A Sister!”

Nebula, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Nebula speaking to Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Nebula is an underappreciated MCU character who gets some of the best development in the entire franchise. Like Gamora, she grew up as a steward of Thanos raised from adolescence to be an unflinching assassin. Unlike Gamora, however, Nebula didn’t exactly excel in this role, and slowly had half of her body painfully replaced by cybernetic parts as punishment for her failures against her sister. This led to a sense of animosity that was finally able to be unleashed when Gamora rebelled against their father.

Confronting her sister in battle for the last time in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Nebula loses once again, frustrating her to no end. This final failure allows her to make the breakthrough that her hatred for Gamora was really just disguised admiration, only ever wanting a companion while Gamora was merciless in her constant victories over Nebula. This stunning explosion of emotion is enough to quiet Gamora and make her re-examine her attitude towards her sister, beginning the long healing process for both of them.

6

“Kick Names, Take Ass.”

Mantis, Avengers: Infinity War

Drax and Mantis in Infinity War

One half of the primary comic relief duo alongside Drax, Mantis is another later addition to the Guardians of the Galaxy who doesn’t get a lot of profound dialogue. In fact, most of Mantis’ whole character exists to be in the service of others thanks to her empath powers. This idea is examined and comes to a conclusion when she takes off on her own at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Mantis’ lilypad metaphor given to Quill in this movie might be her best line, but she doesn’t technically say it, using Drax as a mouthpiece.

In terms of lines she actually says, her answer to Iron Man when asked what her and Drax are good for is simply too hilarious not to acknowledge. The confidence with which she messes up a saying meant to make the two of them seem tough is only made funnier by Drax’s immediate back up, agreeing “That’s right.” as the words have barely left her mouth. It’s hard to imagine the MCU ever coming up with a better pair of comedians than these two.

5

“I Love You Guys.”

Groot, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

groot from guardians of the galaxy vol 3

Groot is the only Marvel Cinematic Universe character famous for only saying one line over and over again, the famous quote “I am Groot“. Though the other Guardians are somehow able to glean an entire language out of this phrase said in various inflections, he does occasionally pepper in other words into his vocabulary. Most notably, he reassuringly tells the team “We are Groot” before his tragic death and rebirth in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Even more shockingly, Groot actually forms a sentence that doesn’t include his own name in it at all in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Close to the film’s ending, as it seems like the Guardians as the MCU knows them are disbanding forever, Groot earnestly tells his team, “I love you guys“, making for a jarringly unexpected but tear-jerking moment. Something about the sincerity and casualness with which Vin Diesel delivers this line really hits hard.

4

“The Name’s Rocket. Rocket Raccoon.”

Rocket, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon in MCU's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

If Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is Peter Quill’s movie, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is certainly Rocket Raccoon. Throughout the entire series, a running gag is made of Rocket’s own lack of knowledge about his own species, going on to loathe being called a raccoon. This self-loathing is finally addressed in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, when Rocket finally decides he’s done running from his past and confronts the High Evolutionary head on.

In an incredibly satisfying moment, Rocket manages to get the drop on his villainous creator, who shriekingly calls him his old designation, 89P13. Freeing himself from the High Evolutionary’s telekinetic grasp, Rocket cocks one of his beloved guns and simply states his real, full name to the antagonist, sending him flying with the pull of a trigger. Not only does this coincide with the satisfying defeat of the vile High Evolutionary, but it also caps off Rocket’s character arc in the film, no longer ashamed of his identity.

3

“Don’t Be Rash!”

Adam Warlock, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Adam Warlock Don't be rash scene

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 introduces another character that eventually goes on to join the fabled cosmic superhero team, Adam Warlock. Like Rocket, Warlock is an artificially-created life form meant to have a singular purpose bestowed upon him by his creators. Warlock spends the movie figuring out his own path and rebelling against his programming, but makes a lot of jokes along the way, acting like an overgrown child because he was literally born yesterday.

His best line comes out when Gamora uses his newfound emotions against him, holding his new pet “weird thing” at gunpoint and threatening to shoot it. Immidiately after Gamora finishes making her threat, Adam Warlock insists “Don’t be rash!“, instantly making for the second of his two iconic memes to come out of the movie. Something about the speed with which Warlock changes up his attitude the second his precious cuddly buddy is at risk is adorable and hilarious at the same time.

2

“No Matter How Many Times Quill Betrays You, You Protect Him Like That None Of The Rest Of Us Matter.”

Kraglin, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Kraglin looking confused in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Like Mantis, Kraglin is very much a supporting character in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, usually only getting dialogue in response to other characters. Played by Sean Gunn, the second-in-command of the Ravagers eventually does become a member of the Guardians himself, making an attempt to master Yondu’s original prototype fin and whistling arrow. However, the one chance he gets to speak for himself happens in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

After being betrayed by his adoptive son yet again, Yondu is willing to laugh off the incident with a light punishment. Kraglin is the first to pipe up that Yondu is being too easy on Star-Lord, saying he holds him in higher esteem than the rest of the Ravagers. It’s here that Kraglin finally gets to give a hint of his true feelings, clearly jealous of Yondu’s love for Peter compared to himself. It’s nice to see a character that ends up being the butt of a joke most of the time stand up for himself.

1

“One Thing Even мудак Soviets Never Do Is Call Me ‘Bad Dog'”

Cosmo, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

new powers cosmo spacedog

Slowly going from a background character to an integral part of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Cosmo the space dog is a wonderful new addition to the team in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. After humiliating Kraglin with her telekinesis, Kraglin calls her a “bad dog”, something she takes extreme offense to and spends the entire film trying to get him to take back. The scene in which she exhaustedly explains her backstory and her hatred of such a title over a game of cards is by far her best bit of dialogue.

Cosmo describes how the Soviets were awful to her, sending her to her death in a space capsule that presumably subjected her to the cosmic forces granting her powers and intelligence. But as bad as the Soviets were, even they never called her “bad dog”, a grave offense that Kraglin alone had committed. Only in the Guardians of the Galaxy series can you expect to find a telekinetic space dog cursing her co-worker out in Russian.

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