The release of Persona 5 was widely anticipated by JRPG fans all over the globe, and the multiple delays only increased its hype even further. Therefore, when the game was finally released in 2016, fans were floored by the sheer level of quality that was on display from the get-go. From the art style to the combat, Persona 5 had it all and then some.
Of course, it would be impossible to talk about the draws of Persona 5 without mentioning its rich cast of diverse characters. Each and every member of the main cast is special in their own right, and Ryuji Sakamoto is no exception to this golden rule. Serving as a part of the classic first friend trope seen in Persona 3 (Junpei Iori) and Persona 4 (Yosuke Hanamura), Ryuji is a memorable character in his own right. Here are ten quotes from the lovable doofus of Persona 5 that end up being some of his best dialogues.
10 "No... That's What You Are..."
Full quote: "No... That's What You Are... All You Think About Is Using People... You're The Real Scumbag, Kamoshida!"
Kamoshida is the first villain that players encounter in Persona 5, and this perverted gym teacher wastes no time in creating a bad impression from the get-go.
Consequently, when Ryuji ends up giving this horrible person a verbal smackdown, one can't help but cheer along with this supposed delinquent. Ultimately, this celebration is rather short-lived since the protagonist and Ryuji end up almost getting expelled after getting into Kamoshida's face one too many times.
9 "Stop Lookin' Down On Me With That Stupid Smile On Your Face!"
Given the fact that Ryuji has constantly been given the short end of the stick throughout his life, it's only a given that he was close to reaching his breaking point after being chastised by the people around him time and time again.
Therefore, when he finally reaches his breaking point and awakens his Persona, the line Ryuji utters shows the pent-up frustration that had been built up inside him for the longest time.
8 "... You Gotta Do Stuff For People Beyond Just Yourself If You Wanna Succeed."
A player can't really be faulted for assuming that Ryuji's nothing more than a rebellious brat who likes to go against the system time and time again. However, this is a gross misassumption that doesn't do justice to the impressive depth of this character as a whole.
When Ryuji ends up uttering these surprisingly wise words, one can't help but be taken aback at the fact that it was he of all people who ended up being so level-headed.
7 "I Guess Now That I'm Thinkin' About It, Tryin' To Fit In Is A Real Pain In The Ass."
Ryuji's Confidant ends up being one of the better side stories in Persona 5. His constant need to be acknowledged and fit in with the rest of the gang is something that constantly pulls him back.
Eventually, Ryuji starts realizing that changing himself in order to fit in makes absolutely no sense. Ryuji understands that there's more to life than just trying to be accepted by the people around him.
6 "... But Hangin' On To The Past Ain't Gonna Help Anythin'..."
Full quote: "... But Hangin' On To The Past Ain't Gonna Help Anythin'. I'm Just Gonna Focus On Bein' Myself Now... On Bein' Free."
Ryuji's past with Kamoshida included a massive argument that led to the entire track team's relevance waning in Shujin Academy. This leads to a situation where he constantly feels guilty for dragging the entire track team down with him, but the fact of the matter is that he was feeling guilty for absolutely no reason.
After hanging out with Joker multiple times, Ryuji realizes that there's absolutely nothing to be gained from hanging on to and feeling guilty about his actions in the past. It's only after he starts focusing on the present that he actually starts turning over a new leaf.
5 "Who're You Livin' Your Life For?..."
Full quote: "Who're You Livin' Your Life For?... Maybe You Should Stop Tryin' To Live For Them, And Just Try Livin' For Yourself."
One of Ryuji's friends from the track team who ends up hating him after his bust-up with Kamoshida is Takeishi, a student who was striving to relive the glory days.
During a particularly heated exchange with a dispirited Takeishi who was constantly hungry for acknowledgment, a struggle that Ryuji had dealt with personally, the Phantom Thief ends up questioning his friend's motivations and advises him to think for himself instead of appeasing others. It's a powerful line that shows how much Ryuji has matured over time.
4 "Whip 'Em, Persona!"
Ryuji's Persona has numerous powerful physical attributes, which makes it quite entertaining — and definitely less SP-intensive — to use him in battle.
This enjoyment of using Ryuji in battle is further enhanced by the fact that he constantly has a quip to say every single time his Persona is unleashed. This particular quote is quite a treat to listen to regardless of how many times it's repeated.
3 "Yeah? Well, Too Bad For You — I'm Done Runnin' Away From My Problems!"
After Maruki ends up trapping the members of the Phantom Thieves in limbo, the trio of Joker, Akechi, and Kasumi try their hardest to revert Dr. Maruki's changes.
However, it was clear that the Phantom Thieves didn't have a poor resolve either, and ultimately got over the illusion that they'd been cast under. Ryuji ended up declaring his need to face the truth in a dramatic manner, which ended up making this scene all the more memorable.
2 "Wherever You Decide To Be, That's Where You Belong."
As Joker and Ryuji start developing an unbreakable bond, the latte finally starts understanding that he doesn't need to go out of his way to fit in with people.
Rather, the first thing Ryuji needed to do was decide his own goals. Doing this would ultimately lead to him finding a place where he belonged, as opposed to hunting down a comfort zone without any clarity of one's own aspirations.
1 "But I've Realized Now..."
Full quote: "But I've Realized Now... As Long As I'm Bein' Myself, I'll Always Have Somewhere I Can Fit In."
Self-acceptance is something that many people struggle with, and Ryuji is no exception. In fact, the main reason why he's so conflicted in the first place is that he always beats himself up for dragging his friends down due to his own personal conflict with Kamoshida.
So, when he finally realizes that he needs to prioritize himself and not conform to others, Ryuji ends up turning over a leaf — quite literally, given that his Persona Captain Kidd transforms into Seiten Taisei!