The Best Quotes from Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle is a manga series by CLAMP. It uses characters from their other series, like Cardcaptor Sakura , but tells a much darker story. It's about a boy trying to save a girl who lost her memories.

Princess Sakura's memories get scattered across different worlds in the form of feathers. Her childhood friend Syaoran has to travel to find them and save her. He is joined by a ninja, a mage, and a small creature named Mokona.

But there’s a catch. To get the power to travel, Syaoran made a deal with the Dimensional Witch, Yuko. The price was his relationship with Sakura. Even if he collects all her memories, she will never remember who he is.

Quotes About Love and Friendship

Love is the main reason for the journey in Tsubasa. But it’s often shown as something painful that requires a lot of endurance. As the main characters travel together, they stop being strangers and become a family.

Syaoran and Sakura's Sad Story

Syaoran and Sakura’s relationship is the heart of the show. Syaoran fights to save the girl he loves, but every feather he finds just confirms she won't remember him. Their story suggests that love is deeper than just having memories of someone.

"But there's one thing you must remember. Whether you want it or not, once you have created bonds between you and other people, those bonds will never disappear."

Yuko's magic can remove memories of names and events. But this quote suggests the emotional bond between people can't be fully broken.

For Syaoran, this idea is a reason to keep going. He paid with his "relationship," so Sakura can't remember him. But he holds on to the hope that their bond is still there on a deeper level.

"My heart is only thinking of one person. Being able to make that person smile makes me very happy. Staying by that person's side makes me very happy.... If that person is happy, I will also be happy. He is different from others. He is special."

Even though Sakura has amnesia, she keeps finding herself drawn to Syaoran. She doesn't understand why she has these feelings for him.

This proves their connection is real, but it's also hard for Syaoran to watch. She is falling in love with him all over again, with no memory that she loved him before. It just shows that her love for him is a core part of who she is.

"Even if I lose this feeling, I'm sure I just... fall in love with you all over again."

This is Syaoran's core belief about their relationship. He is living the reality of this idea, trying to win over his soulmate from the start.

The quote argues that their love is not just based on shared memories. It suggests that they are fated to be together. No matter the world they are in or the memories they lose, they will always find each other.

The Group Becomes a Family

The friendship between the ninja Kurogane and the mage Fai becomes just as important as the main romance. They start out as strangers working together but grow to become inseparable.

"You, shut up!! If you want to die that much, I'll kill you myself! But until that day, you're going to live!"

Fai often tries to sacrifice himself because he hides a lot of pain. In this moment, Kurogane steps in.

His threat is a strange but protective way of saying, "Your life matters to us now." It's a turning point where Kurogane stops just watching Fai's sad behavior and forces him to stay alive.

"I can't do much yet, but even if I can do a little to help... I want to give it all I have! If a person doesn't do anything, they never get any better. Doing one little thing, taking one little step forward... I gotta believe it will help build a better future!"

Early on, Sakura is weak and confused. As she gets her memories back, she decides she doesn't want to be a burden.

This quote shows she wants to be a partner in the group, not just someone they protect. Her determination to help earns her the respect of warriors like Kurogane. It proves the group's bond is about everyone growing together.

Table 1: Analysis of Bond Dynamics in Tsubasa

Quotes About Fate and Choice

The world of Tsubasa is guided by a rule called Hitsuzen . It means "inevitability." The idea is that nothing happens by coincidence. Everything is a chain of cause and effect, and the characters have to fight for their own free will inside this system.

Yuko's Rules for the Universe

Yuko the Dimensional Witch explains the rules of the universe. Her words are often warnings about how cruel the world can be.

"There is no such thing as coincidence in this world. The only thing is hitsuzen."

This is the main rule for the entire CLAMP universe. Yuko is saying that every place the characters visit is a necessary part of their journey.

For the characters, this is both scary and a little comforting. It's scary because it means their suffering might be necessary. But it's comforting because it suggests their journey has a real purpose.

"All who make wishes are the same. When one wish comes into conflict with someone else's wish... then one must make a choice. Either abandon one's own wish... or crush the other's wish for the sake of your own."

This quote shows that making a wish can be selfish. The story is about different people with competing wishes. Syaoran wants to save Sakura, while the villain Fei-Wang Reed has his own goals.

Yuko is saying the world can't make everyone happy at the same time. Wishing for something means you might have to fight someone else for it. This makes the story feel darker than other manga.

"To change yourself means to change the future."

Even though fate seems set, this quote offers a way out. The future is based on who people are in the present. If a person changes, the "inevitable" future can also change.

This is the loophole the heroes use to fight back. The villain can't predict how the characters will grow and change inside. For example, he doesn't expect Kurogane to become caring or for Fai to decide he wants to live.

The Villain's Point of View

"All happiness and all unhappiness... stems from one having a desire. And that is why mankind will always make their wishes."

The villain, Fei-Wang Reed, sees things in a dark way. He thinks that wanting things is the root of all human suffering.

He uses this belief to control people. He sees their hopes and dreams as weaknesses he can use to move them around like chess pieces. He represents what happens when desire goes too far.

"Never lose sight of your wish! And if you want to see the wish fulfilled... you must choose! No matter how painful the choice may be."

Fei-Wang often taunts the heroes with the high cost of their goals. In his mind, pain is just a price to be paid. He challenges Syaoran by saying that saving Sakura might mean destroying other things.

Quotes About Sacrifice

In Tsubasa, nothing is free. Magic, travel, and saving someone's life all have a price. The characters are often defined by what they are willing to give up.

Syaoran Gives Up Everything

"To have the person most important to you forget you completely... It turned out that Syaoran-kun paid the price with his most precious relationship."

This explains the huge price Syaoran paid at the beginning. He didn't just give up Sakura's memories of him. He gave up their entire "relationship," meaning any chance for her to remember him.

It shows he is completely selfless. He saved her life even though it meant he could no longer be a part of it. He values her life more than his own happiness.

"If I can protect, I want to protect."

This simple line is Syaoran's motto. In a world with complex magic and rules, his goal is very clear.

He isn't bragging that he can protect everyone. He's just stating his will to always try. In this story, strong will is often more important than raw power.

Kurogane and Fai's Sacrifices

"For all my life... I've wanted strength. I didn't want those things precious to me to be taken away from me anymore. But, to have strength means to invite disaster to come to you. And strength alone can't really protect you."

Kurogane starts the story obsessed with being the strongest. But this quote shows how much he has grown.

He realizes that just being good at fighting isn't enough. True protection comes from wisdom and relying on others. He learns that his bonds with the group are a better shield than his sword.

"I... I don't want to make anyone unhappy because of their involvement with me."

Fai pretends to be cheerful, but he's hiding deep pain. He believes he is cursed and will bring ruin to anyone who gets close to him.

This quote shows his true feelings. He keeps his distance not because he's arrogant, but because he's trying to protect his new family from his own past.

"Dying for somebody else... That's a whole new question... But you decided to use magic on your own. You involved yourself in their lives."

Here, Kurogane calls out Fai's desire to die. He points out that Fai has already chosen to be a part of their lives by helping them. To die now would be selfish abandonment, not a noble sacrifice.

Kurogane forces Fai to make the hardest sacrifice of all: giving up his own death wish. He demands that Fai choose to live with his pain for the sake of his friends.

Funny Quotes

Even with all the dark themes, Tsubasa has moments of humor. The jokes usually come from the interactions between the serious Kurogane, the teasing Fai, and the chaotic Mokona.

Kurogane, Fai, and Mokona Jokes

"Kuro-rin! Kuro-puu! Kuro-sama!"

Fai and Mokona refuse to call Kurogane by his real name. Instead, they give the tough ninja a bunch of cute and ridiculous nicknames. The joke is how angry it makes the very serious Kurogane.

"Mmm. Your jumper and t-shirt come off easily... but your pants and boxers… I need help getting them off…."

Fai loves to tease Kurogane by saying things that sound suggestive. It's his way of breaking through Kurogane's tough exterior. Kurogane can handle any fight, but he gets flustered by Fai's jokes.

"Mokona has 108 secret techniques!"

Mokona, the small white creature, claims to have a special skill for every problem. The joke is that these skills are often weird or random. But Mokona always seems to have the right one just when the group needs it most.

"I’m just a big softie."

Yuko says this after explaining the terrible price Syaoran had to pay. It's a moment of dark humor. For a witch who deals in souls and fate, her idea of being "soft" is very different from a normal person's.

Key Quotes for Each Character

To understand Tsubasa, you have to understand its main characters. Their words show who they are and what they believe in.

Syaoran's Quotes

• "No matter how painful it might be... I'll do everything in my might! So please, you too, act according to what you believe in!"
  • Syaoran shows his leadership style here. He doesn't just give orders. He wants his friends and even his enemies to follow their own beliefs.
• "Because we knew you were waiting, we did our best so that we'd return."
  • This quote shows that Syaoran gets his strength from Sakura. Knowing she is waiting for him is what keeps him going.

Sakura's Quotes

Sakura can seem passive at times, but her quotes show a quiet strength that grows throughout the series.

• "I will protect you. This time... I won't let you go no matter what!"
  • This is a huge turning point for Sakura. She decides to become a protector instead of just being the one who is protected. She is no longer just a prize to be won; she is a fighter.
• "Doing one little thing, taking one little step forward... I gotta believe it will help build a better future!"
  • Sakura shows her refusal to be a damsel in distress. She believes that even small actions can make a difference. Her positive attitude is a key source of stability for the group.

Kurogane's Quotes

The ninja from Japan is all about honor and strength, but his best quotes show his softer side.

• "My name is..." (Revealing his true name, Youou)
  • Kurogane goes by his title, which means "Black Steel." By revealing his real birth name, he shows complete trust in his friends. He stops being just a weapon and becomes a person to them.
• "Just because you know it [my past]... doesn't mean that my wounds are a weight you have to carry."
  • Kurogane says this to Fai, who feels guilty about everyone's problems. It shows Kurogane's maturity. He owns his own pain and doesn't want his friends to feel responsible for it.

Fai D. Flowright's Quotes

Fai's quotes often switch between hopelessness and a desperate wish to be saved from his past.

• "I said it, didn't I? I wasn't going to die." (Smiling) vs. "I don't want to make anyone unhappy..." (Not smiling)
  • This contrast shows Fai's two sides. The first quote is a lie he tells with a smile to keep people from worrying. The second is the painful truth he feels inside. His journey is about learning to be honest so his friends can help him.
• Quotes regarding Ashura and the Curse:
  • Fai reveals that his magic is cursed to kill anyone stronger than him. This explains why he avoided using it for so long. He wasn't being a coward; he was protecting his friends.

Yuko Ichihara's Quotes

The witch oversees everything and deals in wishes and prices.

• "A price, once paid, cannot be returned."
  • This is a hard rule in the story. There are no take-backs. Every choice has permanent results, which makes every sacrifice feel important.
• "Living things are restrained by Chains: The laws of nature, the flow of time, the vessel known as your body, and the existence called your mind."
  • Yuko says that being human means being trapped by rules we can't change. The villain wants to break these rules. The heroes just want to find freedom within them.

Table 2: Character Philosophies in Quote Form

Conclusion

The quotes in Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle build a story about being resilient. Fate might set the rules, and wishes may have a high price. But the story argues that the connections between people are what truly matter.

Syaoran's dedication, Sakura's hope, Kurogane's loyalty, and Fai's struggle show that friendship can survive almost anything. These quotes aren't just cool lines. They show how the heart can remember what the mind forgets.

In the end, the series says that love is the one thing that can overcome the cruel rules of the universe. It offers a little bit of hope in a world full of tragedy.