"Every path has a price."
The Last of Us - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
I swear.
— Joel Miller
Context:
In the final scene of Season 1, Episode 9 ("Look for the Light"), after Joel has rescued an unconscious Ellie from the Firefly hospital, she asks him to swear that his story about the Fireflies having given up on a cure is true. He looks her in the eye and swears, cementing his lie.
Meaning:
This is the definitive, devastating lie that concludes the first season. It represents Joel's ultimate choice: to save Ellie from the truth of what he did at the hospital and preserve their relationship, at the cost of her agency and a potential cure for humanity. It is a moment heavy with the weight of his love and his immense selfishness.
When you're lost in the darkness, look for the light.
— The Fireflies (Marlene)
Context:
The phrase is seen written on walls and is spoken by Firefly leader Marlene. It serves as both a beacon of hope for survivors and the ideological justification for the group's extreme actions. The first episode is also titled "When You're Lost in the Darkness."
Meaning:
This is the motto of the Fireflies and a central recurring motif of the series. It represents the core theme of finding hope in a desolate world. However, the series complicates this simple message, showing how the pursuit of that "light" can lead to morally dark actions, such as the Fireflies' willingness to kill Ellie for a potential cure.
I was never afraid before you showed up.
— Bill
Context:
In Season 1, Episode 3 ("Long, Long Time"), Joel reads a letter Bill left behind after he and Frank have died. Bill explains that for years he was content and safe on his own, but meeting Frank gave him something precious to lose, and therefore, something to truly fear.
Meaning:
This line, from Bill's final letter to Joel, encapsulates the central theme of his episode and the series as a whole. It signifies that true fear isn't about the monsters outside, but about the prospect of losing someone you love. It redefines strength, not as solitary survivalism, but as the vulnerability that comes with deep connection.
You're right. You're not my daughter. And I sure as hell ain't your dad.
— Joel Miller
Context:
In Season 1, Episode 6 ("Kin"), after arriving at his brother Tommy's settlement, Joel tries to hand off responsibility for Ellie. During a heated argument, Ellie confronts him about his plan, and he lashes out with this line to create emotional distance.
Meaning:
A deeply painful moment where Joel, terrified by his growing emotional attachment to Ellie and the fear of failing her as he failed Sarah, tries to push her away. The line is cruel, but it comes from a place of fear and love, highlighting his internal conflict and the depth of the bond he is trying to deny.
Endure and survive.
— Ellie Williams
Context:
Ellie shares this phrase with Sam in Season 1, Episode 5 ("Endure and Survive") after they bond over the "Savage Starlight" comic books. The phrase becomes synonymous with her character's fighting spirit.
Meaning:
This phrase, taken from a comic book, becomes Ellie's personal mantra. It symbolizes her resilience and her youthful attempt to make sense of the brutal world she inhabits. It's a simple but powerful expression of the grim determination required to keep going when all seems lost.