Cowboy Bebop is hailed as one of the greatest anime of all time despite being a mere 26 episodes long. The ragtag team comprised of Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Faye Valentine, and Radical Ed is heavily adored for their endearing pseudo-family dynamic. To this day, the show's popularity remains so intact that Netflix has taken it upon itself to produce a live-action remake.
Another aspect of Bebop that makes it such an excellent watch is the valuable life lessons tucked within the dialogue. Whether they be sharp observations or clever musings, there are enough pearls of wisdom here to fill a philosophy book. Let's take a look at some of the best quotes from the series.
10 Vincent Tackles Death
"I have no fear of death. It just means dreaming in silence. A dream that lasts for eternity." - Vincent Volaju
This one might be considered cheating since it's a quote from 2001's Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, but it's too good to overlook. Vincent makes this statement while goading Spike to pull the trigger and shoot him. Vincent presents an alternative view on death that the majority of people never consider. Instead of allowing the fear of death to weigh you down, why not deem it an opportunity to dream forever? Vincent's quote also implies that heaven and hell aren't options; all that lies beyond the grave is eternal silence.
9 Spike's Hunger Quote
"They say hunger is the best spice." - Spike Spiegel
Though this is a popular idiom outside of anime, Spike delivering these words of wisdom to Jet and receiving a hearty chuckle in return was a memorable moment. There are variants of this line that read, "Hunger is the best sauce/seasoning," but they essentially boil down to the same message — when you're hungry, anything tastes good. Being hungry makes the flavor or quality of one's meal less relevant and it becomes all about quelling your desire. Of course, this isn't solely meant to be interpreted in a literal sense — it's a psychological metaphor regarding desperation and cravings.
8 Faye's Rule In Combat
"You know the first rule in combat? Shoot them before they shoot you." - Faye Valentine
Faye drops this notable quote to a store owner before whipping out a gun and making it rain bullets on a trio of thugs outside the establishment. It's a thrilling moment that practically sums up Faye's entire personality in one electrifying sequence. The lesson is simple— kill or be killed. In this dog-eat-dog world, you have to be the first to pull the trigger before someone beats you to the punch. The anime depicts this in a literal sense, but the concept is more relatable when applied metaphorically.
7 Jet's Thoughts On Death
"Men only think about the past right before their death, as if they were searching frantically for proof that they were alive." - Jet Black
Life and death are recurring topics on Cowboy Bebop and every character has their own unique take on the subjects. This Jet quote plays on the famous presumption that your life flashes before your eyes just before you pass away. However, this musing provides a reason for said occurrence. In that instance, the mind is desperately seeking to reassure yourself that you existed in the first place. Perhaps it serves as a final hurrah — a confirmation that you're leaving a lasting impact or that your life mattered to someone or something.
6 Vicious' Angels And Devils
"Angels banished from heaven have no choice but to become devils." - Vicious
As Spike's main antagonist in the series, Vicious asserts this statement to draw attention to an overlooked cause-and-effect circumstance. The line clarifies the rationale behind why some people turn to a less-than-noble lifestyle to survive. Sometimes the universe kicks you so hard that you retaliate bitterly and with a burning vengeance. Thus, these metaphorical "devils" are conceived. Though this is by no means a justifiable reason for someone to be an awful human being, Vicious' analysis makes sense. Most devils are born reluctantly due to a lack of options.
5 Faye's Take On Solitude
"They often say that humans can't live alone, but you can live pretty long by yourself. Instead of feeling alone in a group, it's better to be alone in your solitude." - Faye Valentine
This is a ubiquitous mentality that borders on sounding like an Instagram quote, but it bears a valid message. Being content with one's own company is vital for a healthy state of mind. Relying on the company of others for validation or fulfillment can be dangerous, especially when one resorts to groups that they don't quite fit in with. Feeling so unwanted or displaced is more detrimental than anything else.
4 Jet Talks Hard Work
"Humans were meant to work and sweat to earn a living. Those that try to get rich quick, or live at the expense of others, all get divine retribution somewhere along the line. That's the lesson. Unfortunately, we quickly forget the lessons we've learned and then we have to learn them all over again." - Jet Black
This may strike as something your parents would say during any given conversation, but, as per usual, Jet has a point. Work hard for what you want and reap the honest benefits. The world is riddled with rich and powerful people whose egotistical tendencies overthrow all sense of humanity. They reach the top by taking advantage of their subordinates and proceed to only get worse. The retribution part isn't as prevalent as we wish it was, but the newer generations are doing their best to hold the corrupt accountable for their actions.
3 Jet Explains The Cycle Of 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
At this point, it's pretty obvious that Jet Black would make a stellar philosopher. He summarizes the human experience and the cycle of life with this sage remark without diving into complex specifics. This includes both the good and the bad aspects of life — the latter moments are inescapable and should be handled wisely. Perhaps Jet would've benefited from a teaching career at his favorite outer-space college.
2 Dr. Londes On Religion
"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
Religion is one of the most polarizing subjects you could possibly discuss, but anime/manga writers love to tackle it nonetheless. Whether God exists or not — and whether there's one deity or multiple creators— depends on who you speak to and how their thoughts correlate with your own personal beliefs. There are so many religions worldwide and it's entirely fair to wonder where the truth actually lies.
1 Spike Spiegel's Most Famous Line
"Whatever happens, happens."
This is arguably the most popular quote to stem from the Cowboy Bebop series. Protagonist Spike Spiegel utters this in a famous scene that gets reposted on social media almost daily. The expression is congruent with a prevalent "go with the flow" mentality that encourages the notion of letting the universe play itself out. It also implies that fighting what's in store for you is futile. Spike's words of wisdom serve as a form of stress relief where you consciously drop the burdens weighing you down and let the world work its magic. What's meant to be will be and you'll end up exactly where you belong.