The series Kakegurui didn't have to be on Netflix for long before it took the Western audience by storm, and its popularity has seemed to only grow since- and for good reason. The high-stakes, no-rules environment that breeds within the walls of Hyakkaou Academy is too unpredictably action-packed to look away from. Each member of the series' cast is strong, driven and complete with their own set of complex motivations that sometimes not even the main character himself understands.
Unsurprisingly, a series that revolves so strongly around highly intelligent characters getting into each others' heads and manipulating them is complete with many strikingly memorable quotes. While Yumeko does take up much of the spotlight due to her out-there personality and unstoppable gambling streak, that doesn't mean there aren't others in the academy who are given their time to shine as well.
10 "Someone controls your life, so what? Put some wins under your belt and turn the tables. It's no reason to give up your ambitions!" -Itsuki
In an all-out gamble against Yumeko, Kaede bets his entire life and ends up on the losing end of such a high-stakes bet. His life plan is initially given to Yumeko, but she states that she gives it to someone who would make much better use of it, being Itsuki- a girl who'd harbored affection for Kaede until he turned on her.
Even then, after she exacts her revenge, she has a soft spot for him and tries to drive him forward with this striking quote. It's a good reminder that even when not everything about one's life is in your control, there's still things one can do to help turn the tables.
9 "I despise people who move the goalposts because they think they can't win." -Yumeko
No matter what risks might lay in front of Yumeko, she's never one to allow them to frighten her. She can see through her opponents' schemes no matter how great of a reputation they might have or how unbeatable they seem.
Naturally, this makes her the kind of person who gets easily fed up with those who refuse to take opportunities in their own lives. She states this chilling line to Yumemi after she accepts defeat from one of her childhood idols well before their competition is over.
8 "As they say, the less you know, the better you sleep." -Runa
Hyakkaou Academy isn't exactly known for having the most pristine record of any high school. Kirari, the president, designed it to be like her personal fishtank- she wanted to watch the students struggle to fight to survive. There are many secrets within the school's walls, and depending on what's bet, students could give up their freedom or their very lives if they lose.
That's exactly what makes this particular quote from council member Runa especially chilling. It's especially in contrast with her overly-cutesy appearance and manner of speaking.
7 "The amount of money one owns ultimately decides the victor. It's a rule that forms the basis of a capitalist society!" -Yumeko
Although not every single factor in life is dictated by how much money one has, it's certainly the deciding factor for what kind of experience students have at Hyakkaou Academy. It also rings true when it comes to who holds the most power in society, as it's usually the wealthiest and most 'influential' people.
This quote also shows that Yumeko is much more intelligent than simply a gamble-crazy maniac who doesn't put thought into anything else. She understands how much power she holds inside the academy by default simply because of the ludicrous amount of money she possesses.
6 "All according to plan then, huh? But you know, every time things look like they're gonna go well, there's definitely always trouble moving in the background." -Runa
Runa plays a different role than most of the other characters fans see, as she's the leader of the Election Committee in charge of making sure matches proceed neutrally. Because of this, she often plays as a spectator to all sorts of matches that take place within the academy, and she's seen luck go from blessed to cursed in an instant far too many times.
It's typically always when one feels most comfortable in life that they sadly have the rug pulled out from beneath them, and it's a cruel life lesson that defies her childish appearance.
5 "I dislike situations where I know for sure if I'm going to win or lose. Because it's not really gambling." -Yumeko
Everyone within the series gambles for different reasons, ranging all the way from pleasure to pure necessity. Yumeko is a special case in that she gambles simply for the sake of gambling itself, and doesn't care what the outcome is even when it's deprived her of basic human rights thanks to the academy's housepet system.
A gamble simply isn't a gamble if one knows for certain they're going to win or lose, and it's easy to assume that Yumeko said this to someone trying to tip things in their favor. What makes this quote so memorable is that it was directed at Midari, who at the time was trying to lose on purpose, showing that she isn't okay with rigging matches even if it's to her benefit.
4 "They say humans are irrational creatures... gambling doesn't get them anything, they only lose something. But even so, we still gamble. We do that because we enjoy the risk." -Kirari
Part of what makes things like gambling so interesting to watch is the fact that, at least rationally, there shouldn't really be a reason for humans to want to gamble. People are typically fully aware that odds are always in the house's favor, and there's a chance someone's entire savings could vanish in an instant without them earning anything back.
Despite this, though, people still flock to casinos- and it's this cold, calculated logic that Kirari uses. She knows that people will still choose to risk everything, even if it's a completely insane decision, and she gets great amusement from watching things unfold.
3 "To make your ambitions come true, you have to take risks."
Yumeko isn't capable of feeling fear in any form. This isn't an exaggeration, either- at one point, she admits that she feels slightly bad that she doesn't feel bad about ruining others' lives through gambling, and she's never scared that anything may happen to her own.
She's completely aware that in order to seize victory, or even obtain the success that one wishes, they have to put something on the line. This can apply to pretty much everything in life and isn't exclusive to gambling, and Yumeko compares it to how pro athletes have to give up their childhoods to devote to training.
2 "You're finally granted a chance to get even! And if you don't take it... then you're no better than a puppy who cowers when someone takes the leash off."
During a two-against-two match with Mary, the two of them bear witness to a school bully harassing a girl named Nanami and forcing her to give him information out of fear. She's presented with the opportunity to not only get back at him but come out above him in the match's rankings, but she hesitates.
This isn't something that Yumeko can stand for, and it leads into this pretty memorable quote of hers. It seems harsh, but it also pushes Nanami into finally standing up for herself and remembering how good it can feel to do so.
1 "My life is mine! They can't have it!" -Mary
Although Mary starts out as an extremely tsundere seeming side character, she develops into one of the strongest figures in the entire series. She goes from being at the top of the academy's food chain to falling lower than anything, and manages to claw her way back out of debt by finding a loophole in one of the games' rules.
When she's at her lowest point, the academy writes up a life plan for her, one that she promptly rejects. She tears it up alongside a defiant shout, stating that even if the plan meant she wouldn't ever struggle with uncertainty, she'd never let her life be in anyone else's hands.