Assassin’s Creed isn’t just one of the most memorable franchises of all time, it’s also one of the most philosophical. Typically, every Assassin’s Creed game features iconic figures of history, epic battles, immersive stories, and references to some of the most meaningful moments that can be traced back more than two thousand years. In this guide, we’re taking a look at that expansive history, bringing the best Assassin’s Creed quotes – some of which are deeply philosophical – to light.

It’s one of the most quotable games of all time, and Ubisoft spared no expense when it came to crafting the scripts for these epic, open-world adventures. From inspirational quotes to lines that make you think deeply about your own existence, there are some Assassin’s Creed quotes that’ll leave you reeling.

Read on to discover the best Assassin’s Creed quotes the franchise has to offer.

Breaking Down The Best Assassin’s Creed Quotes

Here’s our list (in no particular order) of the best quotes from the near-twenty-year history of Assassin’s Creed.

‘Nothing is True, Everything is Permitted.’

Uttered in the very first Assassin’s Creed game in 2007, this quote is by far the most important in this universe for one specific reason: it is the assassins’ creed. It’s the mantra that represents everything that the assassins stand for, embodying the ‘moral ambiguity’ that lies at the very heart of the franchise. It ultimately challenges the notion of absolute truth and highlights the flexible nature of morality within the game’s universe.

‘The Past is Just a Story We Tell Ourselves.’

In Assassin’s Creed III (2012), Desmond Miles takes the time to reflect on the significance of history in shaping our present and future. It’s a line that serves as a reminder that we as humans have the power to shape our own destinies, regardless of the weight of the past. It’s done – it’s just a story that we tell ourselves at this point, and what lies before us is effectively unwritten. It also connects directly to the core concept of Assassin’s Creed: exploring the past in the form of a story.

Read More: All Assassin’s Creed Games in Order

‘We Work in the Dark to Serve the Light.’

Image Credit: Ubisoft

Ezio Auditore, probably the most recognisable character from the entire franchise, first speaks this line in Assassin’s Creed II (2009). It’s the perfect indicator of what the Assassin Brotherhood actually does, how it does it, and most importantly, why it does it. As a collective, the Brotherhood works in the dark – stealthy, mysterious, and at times morally questionable – to serve the light, in pursuit of a better, freer world.

‘May the Father of Understanding Guide Us.’

Now, this is one of the best Assassin’s Creed quotes for one reason. It has been said countless times throughout the history of the series, but there’s one utterance that is truly considered the most memorable. In Assassin’s Creed III, after playing through an introduction stage that lasts a few hours, the player is subjected to a massive, staggering twist, and the words are said: ‘May the Father of Understanding guide us.’

‘In a World Without Gold, we Might Have Been Heroes!’

This Assassin’s Creed quote was called out by Blackbeard in the final moments of his life aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. It’s such an iconic line, but the meaning behind it is deeply philosophical. At that moment, Blackbeard was declaring that if it wasn’t for greed and the existence of riches that led them to pillage and plunder, their desire to seek freedom, adventure, and brotherhood would have made them heroes.

Read More: Which Assassin’s Creed is Multiplayer?

‘Requiescat in Pace.’

It may only be a three-word sentence, but this is one of the best Assassin’s Creed quotes, and any fan worth their salt will hear it spoken exactly as soon as they read it. It was first uttered by Ezio Auditore in Assassin’s Creed II (2009), and from then on, it would be a line repeated after every major kill in Ezio Auditore’s ‘saga’ of Assassin’s Creed games. It’s Italian, and it simply translates to ‘Rest in Peace’, showing that even to his most notorious enemies, Ezio showed respect.

Do you have any other line that you feel better fits the title of ‘best Assassin’s Creed quote’? For more Assassin’s Creed news, check out the rest of the site.