Ken Kaneki is one of the most iconic characters in the world of anime and manga. We are pretty sure you have seen him while scrolling through social media sites. His unique appearance, with white hair, an eye patch, and mask, have made him easily recognizable and a popular subject among fans.

Some anime enthusiasts may label him as “emo” or “edgy,” but readers of the manga may have a different perspective on his character and his story.

He starts off as a timid and shy college student, but after a chance encounter with a flesh-eating ghoul, he becomes a powerful and feared ghoul himself. Throughout the series, he struggles with his identity as both a human and a ghoul, and the audience can’t help but root for him as he tries to find his place in the world.

His journey is filled with memorable moments and quotes that capture the essence of his struggles and growth. From his transformation into a ghoul, to his fight for survival, Ken Kaneki’s character development is a testament to the power of resilience and determination.

Today, we are making a list of the best Ken Kaneki quotes to honor his journey and the lessons he has taught us.

Side note: We are sure you have seen a manga panel floating around on the internet that says “I’m tragedy.” You won’t find the quote here or in the manga since it is an edited version and the quote or dialogue is made up.

Ken Kaneki quotes:

“I was wrong. I wasn’t eating ghouls. I’m the one who was being eaten.”

This moment is one of the most important ones in the Tokyo Ghoul anime and manga. In this moment Ken Kaneki is expressing the realization that he is no longer fully human, but rather a being that is half-human and half-ghoul.

This also means that now he’s on the menu for other ghouls, and it’s a bitter pill to swallow. His words are a reflection of the deep internal conflict he feels as he comes to terms with his new identity.

The quote is a metaphor for the idea that one’s perspective can change and that one can be surprised by the roles they find themselves in.

“As my fingers and toes re-grew like fingernails or hair over and over and over and over… and over again, every single time I got the feeling that I truly, truly truly was a monster.”

Ken Kaneki’s monstrous abilities are a constant reminder of his monstrous nature, and he can’t help but feel a sense of self-loathing and disgust. Imagine having fingers and toes that endlessly regenerate, much like how our nails and hair grow back.

This repetition is like a never-ending cycle, and it only serves to emphasize the fact that he is truly a monster. He is truly struggling with the weight of feeling like a monster. But this is his reality, and he must learn to come to terms with it.

“You’re wrong. It’s not the world that’s messed up; it’s those of us in it. Yes, some ghouls walk a path that leaves sorrow in their wake, but just like humans, we can choose a different path altogether. We have a lot to learn, both your kind and mine. We need to stop fighting, and start talking. Because when it comes to the state of the world, you can’t point your finger at ghouls or humans. We’re all to blame.”

He is talking about how sometimes people can do bad things and make the world a sad place. But he also says that everyone has a choice to make good choices and make the world a happy place. He reflects on the state of the world and suggests that it is not the world itself that is “messed up,” but rather the actions of the individuals within it.

He goes on to point out that both ghouls and humans have a lot to learn and that instead of fighting, they should be talking and working together. He also suggests that the state of the world cannot be blamed on any one group of people, but rather that all individuals are collectively responsible.

“You think something like that would hurt, after all I’ve been through?”

Near the end of Season 1, Jason from Aogiri puts Kaneki through a living hell. Jason subjected Kaneki to brutal torture, including cutting off his fingers and toes with pliers and then forcing him to eat them, causing them to regrow. He also inflicted pain by placing a centipede in Kaneki’s ear.

The torture persisted for a total of ten days.

Finally, when Kaneki breaks off this cycle and attacks Jason, he twists his feet in an attempt to break his ankles. This is where the quotes come from.

So when he says, “You think something like that would hurt, after all I’ve been through?” he means that he’s been through a lot already and can handle more difficult things. He doesn’t think that one more thing would hurt him anymore.

“Why is it that the beautiful things are entwined more deeply with death than with life?”

So, the quote is likely referring to the idea that in order to appreciate the beauty of life, one must also accept and understand the inevitability of death.

It’s a bit of a depressing thought, but it’s also a reminder to appreciate and savor the beautiful things in life while we can.

The quote that encourages us to appreciate the beauty of life while also accepting the harsh realities of death and the darker side of life.

“I led me by the hand, as if to fill the niches in the memories in my oozing brain fluid. Without even a destination, we kept walking. Disgusting clouds were floating in the sky. I already know what will happen to me the next time I wake up.”

The quote is a reflection on his state of mind as he wanders aimlessly through the city. Kaneki is feeling lost and uncertain, both physically and mentally. He is leading himself by the hand, as if he needs guidance to navigate through his memories.

The weather is described as “disgusting clouds,” which adds to the overall feeling of unease and discomfort.

The line “I already know what will happen to me the next time I wake up” implies that he is resigned to a certain fate, possibly related to the traumatic events he has experienced.

“Human relationships are chemical reactions. If you have a reaction then you can never return back to your previous state of being.”

Okay, so imagine you have a big jar of special magic potion, and when you mix two different things together in the jar, it makes a chemical reaction happen. And once that reaction happens, you can never go back to the way things were before.

Just like that, when people have a relationship, it’s like mixing different things together and it creates something new and special, and you can never go back to being just friends or strangers again.

“Donato has to keep proving himself. He wants to prove just how valuable he is. Isn’t that the case with you as well? Because you are the same as Donato. All you’re doing is indulging in this twisted self-value that you have to yourself. And if you don’t, you won’t last. Eventually, you will break and become useless. Once that happens, you’ll break and become discarded.”

This quote is a bit different than others. This time, Kaneki is preaching about proving self validity to Haise (Kaneki is Haise, and after his defeat with Arima, he had amnesia).

This implies that Haise’s desire for validation is a form of self-obsession and can be detrimental to his well-being.

The quote suggests that if Haise does not continue to prove himself, he may become broken and discarded, implying that his existence and usefulness are dependent on validation from others.

It’s like playing a game where you have to always be the best, but if you’re not careful, you might lose the game.

“What’s wrong isn’t me, what’s wrong is the world!”

He is expressing his frustration and anger towards the society he lives in, claiming that the problem is not with him but with the world as a whole. He is likely referencing the discrimination and prejudice he and other ghouls face in the series.

He feels that the world is unjust and cruel towards him and others like him, and that the problems he faces are not his fault but rather the result of the prejudices and misconceptions of those around him.

“If you were to write a story with me in the lead role, it would certainly be… a tragedy.”

This quote suggests that Ken Kaneki believes his life is filled with misfortune and struggles and that if his life were to be written as a story, it would be a tragic one.

He is acknowledging that his experiences have been filled with pain and suffering and that they would make for a dramatic and sorrowful story. He recognizes that his story would be one of pain, loss, and sacrifice rather than one of triumph or success.

It also implies that he may see himself as a tragic hero, someone who is faced with difficult challenges and ultimately meets a tragic end.

“All the liabilities in this world are due to the inadequacies of the person involved.”

This quote is a reflection of Kaneki’s belief that the problems and difficulties in life are often the result of personal shortcomings or failures.

He suggests that the liabilities, or negative aspects, of the world can be traced back to the inadequacies of the individuals involved.

It is an expression of Ken’s self-awareness that he himself is not perfect, and he believes that the negative consequences he faces are the result of his own inadequacies.

He acknowledges that the problems he faces in his life as a half-ghoul are due to his own weaknesses and limitations.

“It’s better to be hurt than to hurt others. Nice people can be happy with just that.”

He suggests that it is better to accept being hurt than to hurt others. He is implying that being a good person, who is considerate of others and willing to take the hit for them, is more important than being selfish and causing harm to others.

This also implies that there is a sense of satisfaction and happiness in being a good person and making sacrifices for others. Ken suggests that people who are nice and put others before themselves can be happy with just that, meaning that they don’t need any other rewards or recognition for their actions.

“I’m begging you, don’t make me a killer!”

Ken Kaneki expresses his fear and reluctance about becoming a killer. He is begging Amon not to make him a killer, suggesting that he is in a situation where he is being forced or coerced into taking violent actions.

He implies that he is not comfortable with the idea of taking lives and causing harm to others.

The quote also reflects Ken’s inner turmoil as a half-ghoul grappling with his identity and the moral quandaries that come with it. He is torn between his human side, which values life and compassion, and his ghoul side, which has to fight the CCG officers.

“My severe injuries had healed and the sweet taste of blood coated my mouth. I kept walking, my goal vague…trying to dispel the building unease in my chest… Upon entering an open area was the scent of rotting flowers and in the middle of the flowerbed, he stood… Without anyone saying a thing, without his name given, like an unsolved puzzle falling into place by itself, just by seeing that figure, I–understood exactly who I faced. The CCG’s reaper. The undefeated ghoul investigator.

A cold, vivid gaze. There, stood the God of Death. Why was it that I was seeing beauty in death rather than life? Strangely, I thought he was beautiful… Disoriented, I had failed to comprehend the scene before my eyes. It was not anything like flowers but a large amount of “Death”. Had he done this alone?… It’s a lie… Koma…Irimi…After all that… No matter how I tried to rouse my will to fight with hatred, more than sorrow, more than rage, the emotion that arose within me was despair. Because ‘my turn’ was next.”

Ken Kaneki’s inner struggle is reflected in this quote as he confronts the CCG’s grim reaper, the God of Death. Arima is a powerful ghoul investigator who is known for being undefeated. Ken describes the sensation of his severe injuries healing and the taste of blood in his mouth as he walked with a vague goal, trying to dispel the unease in his chest.

Ken expresses confusion and disorientation as he sees the beauty in death and how he feels that the God of Death is beautiful. He also recognizes his opponent’s strength and realizes he has no chance of winning. He describes the death and destruction caused by the God of Death and how it overwhelmed him.

He expresses the idea that his turn is next, meaning that he is next to die. It also highlights the theme of power imbalances in the series and the psychological impact it has on its characters.

“Never trust anyone too much, remember the devil was once an angel.”

This quote serves as a warning about the dangers of blindly trusting others. He suggests that one should never trust anyone too much, as even the most trustworthy and innocent person may have a hidden dark side.

He uses the metaphor of the devil, who was once an angel, to emphasize this point. He is pointing out that even the most innocent and pure beings can turn to the dark side, and that it is essential to be cautious and not let one’s guard down.