It's hard to believe that My Hero Academia is less than a decade old, considering that it's on the road to becoming one of the most popular anime/manga franchises of all time. The series, which follows a group of superpower-endowed teenagers attending an academy for heroes, became an instant hit, rising to success faster than nearly any title before or since.
One of the noticeable strong points of My Hero Academia is the character of Shoto Todoroki, a student who delivers some of the series' best lines -- almost always in reference to either his grudge against his father, his rivalries with others, or his quest for herodom.
10 "It's Not Your Fault, We're Just Playing On Different Levels."
Todoroki is usually nonchalant and unassuming, but he shows his true colors with this quote.
He's not afraid to tell someone when he thinks that he's better than they are. It doesn't come off as mean, just --brutally honest. He is, after all, one of U.A. High School's most capable students.
9 "Never Forget Who You Want To Become."
Since one of Todoroki's main focuses is escaping his troubled past, this quote makes sense for him to say to himself, but it also works as a message of encouragement to his allies.
His motivational pep talk is genuinely inspiring because he knows what he's talking about. He lives it every day.
8 "I Know Just How Much Grudges Like That Can Cloud A Person's Vision."
Noticing Tenya Iida's visible anger over his brother being attacked by Stain, a supervillain, Todoroki advises him not to turn it into a grudge.
Reminiscing on his own past, Todoroki notes that, in his opinion, such grudges are fruitless and only serve to "cloud [one's] judgement" rather than actually help them fulfill their dreams or destiny.
7 "I'll Win With My Mom's Power Alone."
Todoroki eventually learns that the only way he can be fully reconciled with his past is to accept it. However, as a slight to his father, he decides to use only his "Cold" side, which he got from his mother, even though using both his "Cold" and "Hot" sides would make him a much stronger fighter.
He doesn't mind putting in the extra work to become what he wants to become -- and to avoid becoming what his father wanted him to become.
6 "Isn't It A Hero's Job To Save People?"
After Deku, Iida, and Todoroki take down Stain, police chief Kenji Tsuragamae reprimands them for using their Quirks without a license to do so. Todoroki insists that he did the right thing, asking "Isn't it a hero's job to save people?"
In the end, Tsuragamae seems to agree, as he ends up privately thanking them for what they did despite their breaking the law.
5 "If You're Going To Rely On Words Alone, Then They Better Be Incredibly Powerful."
Actions speak louder than words, and that's a point Todoroki is quick to get across with this quote.
Todoroki's claim centers around the fact that in a fight, words are only useful if they can conjure some sort of psychological influence over the opponent. Ultimately, he argues for keeping quiet and focusing on the task at hand.
4 "Bring Your Best, Midoriya. I'm Taking You Down."
Several characters form rivalries with Deku throughout the opening stages of My Hero Academia, by Todoroki is so emotionally invested in his own that it seems exclusionary not to mention it.
Todoroki's sole reason for wanting to defeat Deku is that he wants to prove himself the better fighter -- because he believes himself to be the better fighter. This sportsmanlike attitude makes both the characters, despite their rivalry, worth rooting for as neither bears malicious intent.
3 "Get A Hold Of Yourself. You're An Adult, Aren't You?"
Among Todoroki's most savage lines comes this incredible zinger.
Todoroki is surprisingly mature for someone still attending high school, enough for him to look down on someone older for having a lesser ability to control their emotions.
2 "Whether That's Good, Bad, Or Something In Between... That's Something I'll Have To Think About."
Todoroki thinks of his father, #1 Pro Hero Endeavor, as a dirtbag -- plain and simple.
This leads to several awkward moments between the two, such as when Endeavor praises Todoroki's performance during the Sports Festival (admittedly a bit insincerely), and Todoroki claims the only reason for his success was that during the fight, he completely forgot about Endeavor. Admittedly, as this quote would suggest, even Todoroki himself doesn't know what he should think of that.
1 "I Want... To Be A Hero, Too...!"
During his fight with Deku, Todoroki notices that his rival is actually trying to encourage him to use his full potential. This confuses the audience, but only momentarily sidetracks Todoroki.
In the quote that follows, he applauds Deku's ambition, in the same sentence matching it himself, by publicly declaring his desire to become a hero.