Summary
- Batman’s iconic quotes reveal his determined spirit and unwavering dedication to fighting for justice.
- Through memorable lines, Batman showcases his dark side, his resilience in the face of death, and his relentless pursuit of villains.
- Batman’s no-kill rule, his ability to instill fear, and his ultimate goal of creating a crime-free Gotham are key aspects of his heroic character.
There’s no question that Batman is one of the toughest heroes ever created. Night after night, the Caped Crusader prowls the streets and rooftops of Gotham to keep innocents safe from the many evils lurking around. Over the hero’s many stories, Batman has gotten some great lines in, many of which perfectly encapsulate what makes the Dark Knight such a strong fighter for justice.
Whether speaking about his tenacity or boasting to the villains he fights, Batman has had plenty of iconic quotes that showcase his determined spirit. Read on to discover 25 of the best Batman quotes that reveal just how much of a diehard hero he is.
24 “The World Only Makes Sense When You Force it To”
The Dark Knight Returns #4 by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, Lynn Varley, and John Costanza
During Batman and Superman’s epic fight in The Dark Knight Returns #4 by Frank Miller, Bruce thinks about his parents. “They showed me that the world only makes sense when you force it to…”. This version of Bruce is disillusioned, and in his old age has come around to accept one truth above all else: The world is chaos and it’s a fruitless endeavor to try and find meaning in it.
23 “I Know Pain”
Batman #407 by Frank Miller, Dave Mazzucchelli, Richmond Lewis, and Todd Klein
In Batman #407 by Frank Miller and Dave Mazzucchelli, the Dark Knight shows off just how intimidating he really is by confronting a gunman directly. “You can never escape me. Bullets don’t harm me. Nothing harms me. But I know pain.”. Batman doesn’t use a gun or conventional weapons, but he’s spent his life turning himself into a force that can make the wrong person’s life a living hell.
22 “I’ll Never Come Back”
Batman #650 by Judd Winick, Eric Battle, Rodney Ramos, Alex Sinclair, and Pat Brosseau
Batman finally revealed his feelings about the Joker in Batman #650 by Judd Winick and Eric Battle. Though he admits he’s fantasized about killing the Joker he tells Red Hood “…If I allow myself to go down into that place…I’ll never come back.”. Batman infamously doesn’t kill people, because he knows that once he makes an excuse to kill one villain, he won’t have a justification for not killing more.
21 “You Hurt Him And I’ll Kill You”
Forever Evil #6 by Geoff Johns, David Finch, Richard Friend, Sonia Oback, and Rob Leigh
Everyone knows that Batman has a major no-kill rule. It’s one of the defining aspects of his character. But even Batman has things that will push him over the line. During the events of Forever Evil #6 by Geoff Johns and David Finch, Lex Luthor seemingly kills Nightwing, which immediately pushes Batman over the line, and he legitimately tries to murder Lex in retaliation, before realizing Lex simply stopped Nightwing’s heart and can revive him.
20 “I’m Not A Monster Joseph, I’m Your Boogeyman.”
Justice League: Darkseid War: Batman #1 by Peter J. Tomasi, Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan, Gabe Eltaeb, and Dave Sharpe
The death of Batman’s parents was the most traumatic moment of his life, and for a long time, he never found the person responsible. But during the events of Justice League: Darkseid War: Batman #1 by Peter J. Tomasi and Fernando Pasarin, Batman gains omnipotent knowledge and immediately uses it to track down the man responsible for the Wayne murders. Already in prison, Batman threatens Joe Chill with spreading the rumors that Joe created Batman. It’s a brutal way of indirectly putting Joe’s life in danger, and as Batman says, “I’m not a monster Joseph, I’m your boogeyman.”
19 “Failing and Getting Back Up”
Batman #32 by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Danny Miki, FCO Plascencia, and Steve Wands
During the “Zero Year” arc in Batman #32 by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, Bruce leaves a message before confronting the Riddler one more time. “Maybe that’s what Batman is about. Not winning. But failing and getting back up.” Despite being new and unsure of himself, even a younger Batman recognizes the most important thing he can do as a hero is to never give his enemies the satisfaction of giving up.
Batman isn’t usually one for quips or snappy comebacks, but let it never be said that he doesn’t know how to agitate his foes in the most witty way possible.
18 “A Riddle Everyone Knows the Answer To”
Batman #619 by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Alex Sinclair, and Richard Starkings
When the Riddler revealed he knew Batman’s secret identity, Batman had the perfect response to stop the villain from leaking it in Batman #619 by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee. “A riddle that everyone knows the answer to is…worthless.”. Even with his biggest secret on the line, Bruce is unflappable and shuts Riddler down instantly. It demonstrates just how well Batman knows his villains and why he never has anything to fear from them.
17 “To Mock You”
Joker by Brian Azarello, Lee Bermejo, Mick Gray, Patricia Mulvihill, and Rob Clark, Jr.
In Joker by Brian Azarello and Lee Bermejo, the Clown Prince of Crime snapped and asked why Batman leaves his mouth unprotected while the rest of his face is covered. Not missing a beat, the hero replies “To mock you”. Batman isn’t usually one for quips or snappy comebacks, but let it never be said that he doesn’t know how to agitate his foes in the most witty way possible.
16 “I Think We Can Take Them. Do You Think We Can Take Them?”
Superman/Batman #3 by Jeph Loeb, Ed McGuinness, Dexter Vines, and Dave Stewart
One of the major things about Batman is how he never gives up, no matter the odds. This was best demonstrated during the events of Superman/Batman #3 where the duo head to the White House to confront Lex Luthor. Naturally, Lex isn’t keen on seeing Batman and Superman, and so he unleashes an army of mind-controlled villains on the pair.
What starts out as just fighting Mongol and Solomon Grundy, quickly spirals into a full-on war. As the villains surround them, Batman coyly says to Superman “I think we can take them. Do you think we can take them?”
15 “They’re Mad Because I Know How To Hurt Them”
Justice League #0 by Brad Meltzer, Eric Wight, Dick Giordano, Rob Leigh, and Alex Sinclair
Batman is a man who values control and hates being taken by surprise. Since Batman doesn’t have powers, he’s mostly managed to keep an edge over his villains and allies by creating contingency plans. Naturally, these plans require a great deal of invasion of privacy, and not everyone is happy about it. This led to a confrontation between Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, with the latter two calling Batman out for how much darker he’s gotten over the years. Batman doesn’t seem to really understand their grievances, only assuming that they’re mad, because Batman finally has a way to hurt them if necessary.
14 “Unimaginable Horrors, Unfortunately, Haven’t Been Left To My Imagination”
Batman and Robin #37 by Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, John Kalisz, and Carlos M. Mangual
Batman has seen plenty of tragedy in his life. He’s witnessed several members of his family die, including his parents and his kids. Because of this, there’s little horror left to Batman’s imagination, and in Batman and Robin #37 by Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason, Batman lets some of this horror out, using the Hell-Bat suit, he managed to decimate Darkseid in a fight.
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13 “It’s An Operating Table”
The Dark Knight Returns #2 by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, Lynn Varley, and John Costanza
The Dark Knight Returns #2 by Frank Miller sees Bruce get back into action and take on the Mutant gang. As Batman tussles with the leader in the mud, he informs his foe “This isn’t a mudhole, it’s an operating table. And I’m the surgeon.” Batman knows the human body due to his father’s medical skills and, more importantly, how to damage it. While Bruce usually pulls his punches, he knows damn well how to hit heavy when he needs to.
12 “I Chose This Life. I know What I’m Doing. And On Any Given Day, I Could Stop Doing It.”
Identity Crisis #4 by Brad Meltzer, Rags Morales, Michael Bair, Alex Sinclair, and Kenny Lopez
There aren’t many characters in comics who are as obsessive as Batman. Once he finds a mystery or something else, he often can’t let it go. This has led some fans and even other heroes to assume that Batman has issues with obsession, but that’s never been the case when it comes to being Batman. Bruce explains in Identity Crisis #4 that it’s never been obsession or compulsion that drives him to be Batman, and admits that he could easily stop any day he wants. While this sounds like the justification of an addict, history has shown this is true. The Golden Age Batman for example did eventually retire with Selina Kyle.
11 “Batman and Robin Will Never Die!”
Batman #676 by Grant Morrison, Tony S. Daniel, Sandu Florea, Guy Major, and Randy Gentile
In Batman #676 by Grant Morrison and Tony S. Daniel, a flashforward to Nightwing’s first night out as Batman sees the hero cry out “You’re wrong! Batman and Robin will never die!”. Bruce was presumed dead after the events of Final Crisis. But as Nightwing says, the idea of Batman and Robin is too strong to ever go away for good. No matter what happens in Gotham, there will always be a Dynamic Duo to protect it.
“And When You’re Sitting Here Alone In The Middle Of The Night, Unsleeping In The Dark, Remember — Every Breath You Take You Owe To Me.”
The Joker: Devil’s Advocate by Chuck Dixon, Graham Nolan, Scott Hanna, John Costanza, and Pat Garrahy.
Batman only has two major rules by which he lives. No guns, and no killing. This no-killing rule is so intense that Batman can’t even let other people around him die, even if he’s not involved. When the Joker is sentenced to death by the government due to a murder spree involving poisoned stamps, Batman comes to believe that the Joker is innocent. Even though the Joker certainly deserves the death penalty, Batman can’t allow the Joker to be executed for a crime he didn’t commit. After proving the Joker innocent and saving his life, Batman delivers the chilling line that every breath Joker takes from this point forward is because of Batman.
10 “Hate So Much”
The Killing Joke by Alan Moore, Brian Bolland, John Higgins, and Richard Starkings
During The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland, Bruce is contemplating the Joker and discussing him with Alfred. He asks “How can two people hate so much without knowing each other?” This line tragically sums up Batman and Joker. After all their battles and the animosity that’s built between them, the two nemeses don’t actually know the other person. All Batman knows is that Joker represents chaos, and as Gotham’s greatest defender, it’s up to Bruce to stop him.
In DC’s modern
Batman
series, the “Joker: Year One” storyline has continued the villain’s story immediately following the villain’s iconic
Killing Joke
‘transformation.’ In the process,
revealing Joker’s own training by Batman’s mentor
, making the pair closer than ever before.
9 “Deep Down, I’m Not”
Batman #612 by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Alex Sinclair, and Richard Starkings
In Batman #612 by Loeb and Lee, Batman notes that a brainwashed Superman could easily kill him. But Batman doesn’t worry because “Deep down, Clark’s essentially a good person…and deep down, I’m not.”. Not only is this an amazing display of self-awareness for Bruce, but it also suggests Bruce will always have an edge over Clark. Batman has a dark side that Superman lacks, giving Batman just enough of an advantage to win any potential fight.
8 “And Yet…I’m Still Here”
Batman #20 by Tom King, Danny Miki, Trevor Scott, Jordie Bellaire, Deron Bennett, and David Finch
In Batman #20 by Tom King, Danny Miki, and David Finch, Batman takes on Bane, who boasts that this is the end for the hero. But Batman responds that he hears things like that “Every. Damn. Night. And yet…I’m still here.”. Batman has come close to death numerous times over the years, with several villains promising they’d bring an end to him. But the Dark Knight always finds a way to win, because that’s what DC’s premier crusader for justice does.
7 “With You, All I Need Is A Penny For A Book Of Matches.”
DC: The New Frontier #3 by Darwyn Cooke and Dave Stewart
One of the major parts of Batman’s character is intimidation. Batman doesn’t have powers, so he has to rely on his cunning and intimidation to strike fear into powered beings. Everyone knows that Batman is just human, but everyone also knows that Batman can bring them down. This was best shown when Batman threatened Martian Manhunter in DC: The New Frontier. Batman states that it cost him seventy thousand dollars for a sliver of a meteor to “stop the one in Metropolis.” But for Martian Manhunter, all he needs is a penny for a book of matches to stop him. It’s a simple line, but it practically sends Martian Manhunter into a panic.
6 “And No One Will Have To Be Scared Anymore”
Batman/Planetary by Warren Ellis, John Cassaday, David Baron, and Wes Abbott
In Batman/Planetary by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday, Batman comes across John Black, a reality warper. Due to his trauma of seeing his parents murdered, he can’t stop himself from warping reality. Realizing this, Batman gently comforts John. When John asks how Batman copes with the trauma, Batman tells him that he needs to use the memories of his parent’s love and pass it on to other people. Batman says that continuing their parent’s legacy of love is the only way “no one will have to be scared anymore.”
5 “You Have Eaten Well”
Batman #405 by Frank Miller, Dave Mazzucchelli, Richmond Lewis, and Todd Klein
When Batman introduced himself to Gotham’s criminal element in Batman #405 by Miller and Mazzucchelli, he did so in a haunting manner. The hero dramatically greets the established crooks, saying “Ladies. Gentlemen. You have eaten well.”. It’s dramatic, it’s scary, and it serves as the best introductory line for Batman. It affirms Batman as the new kind of law that’s come to clean up Gotham.