A unique blend of science fiction and good old westerns, Shinichiro Watanabe's Cowboy Bebop is an anime that follows Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, and a ragtag team of individuals aboard the spaceship Bebop. Essentially a dystopia where Earth is almost uninhabitable and the remaining planets and moons of the solar system have been modified to support life, this anime depicts a lot of violence.
Extremely popular for its music score, Cowboy Bebop has some absolute bangers that fans have enjoyed since day one. Along with the impeccable actions sequences, music, and animation, the dynamics of the relationships between various characters are of particular note — especially the things they say.
10 Spike's Motivation To Go Back To Julia
"I'm not going there to die. I'm going to find out if I'm really alive." — Spike Spiegel
The first part of the conclusion of the series, "The Real Folk Blues," sees Spike preparing to leave the Bebop to go to his former lover, Julia. Faye Valentine tries to stop him, warning him that it is obviously a trap. Despite her argument that it was nothing but a suicide mission, Spike is adamant about going. The adrenaline rush from love has made people do worse things than walk into a death trap.
9 Dr. Londes' Take On God
"Tell me, why do you think people believe in God? Because they want to. It's not easy living in such an ugly and corrupt world... People are lost so they reach out... God didn't create humans. No, it's humans who created God." — Dr. Londes
One of the more jarring philosophical arguments in the series, these lines are uttered by Dr. Londes, a cult leader with a bounty placed on him. Upon questioning by Spike regarding the methods and motivations of his murder and suicide cult, Dr. Londes justifies himself using this argument.
8 Spike Has One Leg In The Past & One In The Future
"I felt like I was watching a dream I could never wake up from. Before I knew it, the dream was over." — Spike Spiegel
There are quite a few references to Taoism in Cowboy Bebop. While the series also deals with existentialism and philosophy, spiritualism is always present in the background. Spike says this line to Faye Valentine despite her asking him not to because he had never before volunteered to share personal information. Fans believe that the dream that Spike refers to is life altogether.
7 Jet's Take On Life
"Everything has a beginning and an end. Life is just a cycle of starts and stops. There are ends we don't desire, but they're inevitable, we have to face them. It's what being human is all about." — Jet Black
These lines are uttered in episode 25 and have planted the seed of active thinking in the minds of the viewers. Jet goes on about the circle of life and the lack of control that humans experience while living life. Talking about the human experience, he says that both the good and the bad should be valued equally.
6 Spike's One Complaint That Has No Response
"Why do people stay longer in my head than they do in my life?" — Spike Spiegel
Most people may have pondered upon this question more than they care to admit. One of the traits that make Spike a relatable protagonist is his desperate grappling with psychological issues faced by common people. He complains that the people he comes across, like his former lover Julia, stay longer in his mind as he mulls over their relationships than actually residing in his life with him.
5 Going Gentle Into The Night
"Do not fear Death. Death is always at our side. When we show fear, it jumps at us faster than light. But, if we do not show fear, it casts its eye upon us gently and then guides us into infinity." — Laughing Bull
Laughing Bull says this to comfort Spike. Spike lives on the edge and has somewhat let go of his fear of death. Laughing Bull is wise beyond his years. This quote is the embodiment of the existentialism that is the crux of the series.
4 Spike's Hypocritical Take On The Past
"You told me once to forget the past, 'cause it doesn't matter, but you're the one still tied to the past, Spike." – Faye Valentine
Faye and Spike have had a love-hate relationship from the start. Spike despised having strangers on his spaceship, especially "obnoxious" women. He goes on about forgetting the past to Faye to get her to comply and calm down. However, Faye calls him out on his hypocrisy as he is unwilling to let go of his past while demanding the same from Faye.
3 Devils Are Born From A Lack Of Choices
"Angels banished from heaven have no choice but to become devils." — Vicious
Vicious is the main antagonist and has negative parallels with Spike. Vicious' utterance foregrounds the apparent relationship between cause and effect and how no single deed is independent of its circumstances or consequences. He uses this argument to justify the not-so-decent actions he has undertaken to survive in a cruel world where justice is not fair and survival of the fittest is the norm. Irrespective of how many lemons life gives you, being a bitter human being is never justified.
2 After Death There Is Only Silence
"I have no fear of death. It just means dreaming in silence. A dream that lasts for eternity." — Vincent Volaju
Vincent tries his best to provoke Spike into pulling the trigger and ending it all for him. A unique take on death, Vincent thinks of it as more of a freeing event rather than something one must fear and carry around for the entirety of their life. He takes it as an opportunity to dream freely without any hindrance from the world of the living.
1 The Bottom Line Of All Arguments
"Whatever happens, happens." — Spike Spiegel
Even those who have not watched the anime yet have come across this famous quote from Spike Spiegel, the protagonist of the series. Be it a belief in fate or the universe or just a simple lazy or laid-back attitude, this philosophy has been discussed and pondered upon since time immemorial. Embodying the "go with the flow" mentality, Spike believes in letting time take its course, leaving fate to do its work, and not interfering with what is bound to happen.