When people talk about Dragon Ball, they often think of flying kicks, glowing energy blasts, and huge battles. But the original anime series was more than that, with many small, meaningful moments. Back then, Goku was still a kid; innocent, kind, and curious. He didn’t care about being the strongest in the world. He just wanted to explore, meet new people, and eat good food. Each adventure felt fresh as the show gave us silly jokes, strange gadgets, and emotional lessons. That is what made early Dragon Ball so special. It wasn’t just about fights. It was about the journey. And that’s what fans still remember with love.
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What makes this version of Dragon Ball truly memorable is the words the characters speak. Whether they’re deep, funny, or thoughtful, the quotes are unforgettable. Sometimes, one short sentence tells you more about a character than a full episode. Goku, Bulma, Master Roshi, and even the villains have lines that are still quoted years later, showing us what Dragon Ball was really about. At its core, it was a story about growing up, making friends, and staying true to yourself while exploring the universe. In this article, we’ll look at ten quotes from the original Dragon Ball series. Each one says something real about the characters and life in general.
1) G-O-K-U (Dragon Ball, Episode 1, “The Secret of the Dragon”)
“My name is Goku. G-O-K-U.” is the very first time we hear Goku introduce himself, and it says so much about who he is. When Bulma asks for his name, he doesn’t just say “Goku.” He spells it out, proudly and without a hint of self-consciousness. For a kid who has grown up alone in the mountains with only his Grandpa for company, this is his first step into the outside world, and he meets it with trust, honesty, and curiosity.
While Goku is just being himself in the most sincere way possible, the moment also tells us something deeper about the tone of Dragon Ball. Even though the series is full of powerful fighters and huge battles, it begins with something small and real, a small boy confidently saying his name. That simple line, delivered with a smile, sets the stage for a story about evolving, friendship, and owning who you are.
2) Goku’s Already Made It In the History Books (Dragon Ball, Episode 25, “Danger From Above”)
Yamcha’s line, “Hah! Man! Win or lose, Goku’s already made it in the history books. I have to take my hat off to the kid,” comes during a quiet moment in the middle of action. Goku has just defeated Nam in a hard-fought match at the World Martial Arts Tournament. The crowd is impressed, but this line from Yamcha carries a deeper kind of praise. He is no longer speaking as a rival but as someone genuinely moved by what Goku has accomplished. There is a shift in tone from competition to admiration.
This quote stands out because it shows how far Yamcha himself has grown. Earlier in the series, he was driven by pride and fear of failure. Here, he is willing to step back and give another fighter their due. Goku’s performance has become a reminder of what real progress looks like, Yamcha’s words reflecting that truth with honesty and quiet respect.
3) So Clever, It Amazes Me (Dragon Ball, Episode 28, “The Final Blow”)
This quote is spoken during the final match of the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament, where fighters from all around the world gather to prove their strength. Goku is battling Jackie Chun, not knowing that he is actually Master Roshi in disguise. The fight is intense, and just when it seems Goku might win, he looks up at the full moon and transforms into a giant ape. The crowd panics as Goku loses control.
To stop him without hurting him, Jackie Chun makes a bold move. He destroys the moon. Then, without missing a beat, he says, “With the moon destroyed, it can’t possibly get full again, so Goku won’t turn into a big ape. Heh heh heh. Sometimes, I’m so clever, it amazes even me.”
The line stands out because of how calm and funny it is after something so serious. Jackie just erased the moon, but he treats it like a clever trick instead of a disaster. It shows how Dragon Ball can be wild and lighthearted at the same time. But more than anything, it reveals how Jackie protects Goku and saves the tournament, but keeps the mood easy.
4) The Right Time (Dragon Ball, Episode 31, “Wedding Plans”)
In Dragon Ball, after the Ox-King tells Chi-Chi that Goku is on his way, she immediately imagines a romantic future: falling in love, getting married, and living happily ever after with Goku. When her father questions whether she’s too young or barely knows the boy, Chi-Chi says, “Oh, Daddy. When it’s the right time, you just know it.” Her response is dreamy and confident, as if she is fully convinced that fate is already sealed.
And that’s what makes this quote so memorable: the sheer innocence and certainty behind it. Chi-Chi’s idea of love is romanticized, almost fairytale-like, yet it turns out to be oddly prophetic. It’s funny in the moment, but also serves as a lighthearted yet important step in a relationship that eventually becomes canon.
5) You’ll Always Be Stunned By Someone’s Stench (Dragon Ball, Episode 22, “Smells Like Trouble”)
During the closing moments of Bacterian and Krillin’s match in the World Martial Arts Tournament, the crowd is still reeling from the bizarre spectacle they just witnessed. Bacterian had relied on his unbearable stench to paralyze his opponents, and the fight was more ridiculous than refined. After Krillin manages to win, thanks to Goku reminding him he does not even have a nose, the announcer steps in with a perfectly timed line: “Well, if we learned anything from this match, it’s that no matter how used you are to your own stench, you’ll always be stunned by someone else’s. Now I just hope they can clean up the arena.”
The quote lands with the kind of dry humor Dragon Ball is known for. It takes a silly, over-the-top moment and ends it with a strangely relatable truth. The fight itself was played for laughs, but the announcer’s closing words add a final punchline that sums up the whole mess. It is a reminder that even in the middle of fierce battles, the series never forgets how to poke fun at the weirdness of its own world.
6) Know How to Use a Strong Body (Dragon Ball, Episode 19, The Turtle Hermit Way)
In The Turtle Hermit Way, Master Roshi introduces a new phase of training for Goku and Krillin. After days filled with intense physical work like carrying milk, farming, and swimming through shark-infested waters, he shifts the focus to mental growth. Sitting with a book, he calmly tells them, “Each day we’ll be hitting the books from now until lunchtime. A strong body is pointless unless you know how to use it, and that takes brain power.”
The quote is simple, but it carries weight. In a show full of wild fights and superhuman strength, Roshi reminds his students that power without thought is useless. He is not just teaching them how to fight. He is teaching them how to think. The line speaks to a larger truth in the Dragon Ball world. Real strength comes from the discipline of the body and the mind working together.
7) A Worthless Shell (Dragon Ball, Episode 143, “Battle for the Future”)
In the last match of the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament, Piccolo Jr. uses the Evil Containment Wave to trap Kami inside a bottle. As Kami’s human body, Hero, falls to the ground, Piccolo looks at him with disgust and says, “Just like any other human: a worthless shell.” It is a quiet line, but it shows how Piccolo truly sees the world. To him, humans are weak and unimportant, with no real value, without someone stronger controlling them.
Piccolo wanted to prove that people like Kami, who believe in kindness and teamwork, are weak and pointless. To him, humans were nothing without someone stronger controlling them. But Goku was fighting for the weak who couldn’t fight back. In that moment, it was all about what you believe in, instead of the fight between good and evil. Piccolo believed in control and fear. Goku believed in hope. And that’s what gave his punches meaning.
8) Another Day of Construction Work (Dragon Ball, Episode 20, “The Tournament Begins”)
While Goku and Krillin are getting ready to compete in their first World Martial Arts Tournament, Krillin, a little anxious, wonders if they are truly ready for something this big. Goku, smiling as always, shrugs off the tension and says, “Who knows? Maybe all we have to do is pretend our opponents are like another day of construction work.” The line shows Goku’s simple but powerful way of thinking.
He treats this huge moment with the same attitude he brought to mundane exercises during Roshi’s training. To him, the tournament is not something to fear but just the next part of his journey. The quote reflects his calm focus, his ability to stay grounded no matter the pressure, and the quiet confidence that sets him apart from the very beginning.
9) Arrogance and Fools (Dragon Ball, Episode 17, “Milk Delivery”)
While training Goku and Krillin, Master Roshi gives them some of the hardest physical tasks they’ve ever done. In one of the most well-known scenes, he makes them deliver milk across rough terrain as part of their training. But when Goku says he wants to win the World Martial Arts Tournament, Roshi stops him and says, “You will not go in there with hopes of winning the tournament the first time you compete. To do so would be arrogant! And arrogance is for fools, not warriors!”
This quote shows that real strength takes drive and humility and is a strong reminder of what training is really about. Master Roshi tells Goku and Krillin that going into a tournament thinking you’ll win the first time is foolish. That kind of thinking blocks real growth. What matters is becoming better each day. Goku learns this lesson early, and it stays with him, showing that real strength comes from training hard and being patient.
10) Cracking Spine (Dragon Ball, Episode 21, “Elimination Round”)
The group is packed into the crowded tournament arena to watch the elimination matches. Bulma, too short to see over the heads in front of her, hops onto Oolong’s shoulders without a second thought. As she balances herself to get a better view, Oolong groans under her weight and grumbles, “Great, Bulma. That’s the important thing. I mean, who cares if my spine’s cracking?”
It is a classic Oolong moment that is full of sarcasm, discomfort, and just the right amount of exaggeration. His complaint, delivered while being used as a human ladder, shows how often he ends up stuck doing things no one else wants to do. The line is funny because it is relatable. Everyone else is focused on the excitement ahead, but Oolong is stuck holding it all up, quite literally.
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Image courtesy of Lucasfilm. -
Image Credit: Roditeli Productions -
image courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
