Reiner is one of the most complex and interesting characters in the entire series. His betrayal makes him seem like nothing more than a horrid villain before the truth about his conflicted morality appears front and center. It's only after he interacts with the supposed 'demons' from Paradis Island that he realizes that everything fed to him was nothing short of a complete lie.
As a result, some people consider Reiner to be the real protagonist of the series, especially given the trajectory Eren has taken in the final season. Given the amazing script of Attack on Titan, it's no surprise that this character has his fair share of memorable lines scattered all across the series. Keeping this in mind, here are some of Reiner's best quotes from Attack on Titan.
10 "If I Crush The Devil On Paradis, I’ll Save The World, Then My Parents Will Be Proud To Have Me As A Son."
Propaganda is a powerful tool, compelling people to take actions that don't seem rational in the slightest. It's this mindset that led to Reiner trying his hardest to become a warrior and bring glory to his family.
Of course, it turned out that his father never wanted anything to do with Reiner regardless of his status. At the end of the day, Eldians would remain demons regardless of receiving an honorary status as a Marleyan.
9 “We Are Warriors Chosen To Bring The World’s Judgement Down On Those Demons!”
Eren was right when he said that little kids didn't really know any better when it came to the reality of the world. If these children are constantly told from an early age that certain Eldians are demons, then they'd believe it.
This was true in the case of Reiner as well, who didn't lose sight of his end goal even after Marcel was eaten by Ymir. In his eyes, the only right thing to do was to infiltrate Paradis Island and take the Founding Titan away from these demons.
8 “You Do What You Have To Do. Just Keep Moving. That’s How It Works, Right?”
There was a time when Reiner was the support system of the new recruits that had joined the military. This was especially true in the case of Eren, who genuinely looked up to Reiner.
While this line was mainly said to motivate Eren, it's possible that Reiner was trying to convince himself with this statement as well. After all, he'd seen for himself that the Eldians on Paradis Island were anything but demons.
7 "Damned If I Know What’s Right Anymore. Who Cares, It Is What It Is."
Reiner's moral conflict had made his resolve weak. He wasn't sure whether he was fighting for the right side...or whether there was a right side, to begin with. His delusional nature worried Bertholdt to no end and forced him to reprimand his partner over and over again. After Reiner's final mental breakdown, he decided that he couldn't play both sides anymore.
6 "Yes. Right Here, Right Now, We Settle This Once And For All!"
In a final desperate bid, Reiner asks Eren to come with him and Bertholdt to Marley so that his mission could end without any more needless casualties. This obviously doesn't work, and he breaks down as he reveals his identity as the Armored Titan to everyone.
When Bertholdt asks him whether he's sure, Reiner makes no excuses and launches one final assault to retrieve the Founding Titan once and for all. It's one of the best moments in the anime and proves once again why this anime is just in a class of its own.
5 “I’m Sick And Tired Of Walls."
Season 4 starts with Marley's attack on another fort with high-rise walls. Reiner is sent there along with a bunch of Titans to win the war, with the Armored Titan noticing how the fort is pretty similar to the walls of Paradis Island.
This leads him to utter this line, which indicates just how disillusioned he is with life. It's a poignant moment that hits Reiner's changed psyche following the traumatic mission to reclaim the Founder Titan.
4 “There Were All Sorts Of People There. And We Were There, Too. My Days There Were True Hell.”
During a normal family get-together, Reiner is asked about his time with the supposed demons of Paradis Island. While the Armored Titan starts off with the usual propaganda fed to him by the state, he soon starts contradicting himself by saying that they were essentially just normal people.
The look of horror on his mother's face was indicative of just how effective Marleyan propaganda was. It also showed that, even after all these years, Reiner wasn't over this horrible mission and the consequences it had on his mind.
3 "But...I Wanted To Become A Hero! That’s Why I Always Acted Like Everyone’s Big Brother Too."
During his amazing meeting with Eren in Marley, Reiner breaks down while talking about the moral conflict that's going on in his mind. He feels a ton of guilt at the idea that he essentially carried out the will of a government he doesn't believe in anymore.
However, he always wanted to be a hero and even continued onward with the mission after Marcel's death. He confesses all of this to Eren and shoulders the blame for his mom's death.
2 "I Can’t Stand This Anymore...Just, Kill Me, Please..."
The toll that Reiner's mind took after his failed mission is quite apparent indeed. He feels a ton of guilt over killing innocent people for a cause that was ultimately meaningless.
He finally begs Eren to kill him...but even this wish wouldn't come to pass. Instead, Eren decided to repeat the cycle of hatred and launched an attack on Marley to make them pay for all their sins — at least, that's what most people believe.
1 "Everyone Dies. What’s Left For You...If You Keep On Living?!"
Reiner's fight against Eren in the second half of the last season was a blast to witness firsthand. Both fighters had their own goals and fought tooth-and-nail for what they believed in.
While gaining the upper hand against Eren, Reiner talks about the meaningless nature of their battle and how things are going to end anyway. Perhaps at this point, Reiner truly believes in nothing and just wants this endless cycle of bloodshed and hatred to end.