Dragons are one of the most imaginative creatures game designers can put in a video game. But impressive creatures alone don’t make an adventure memorable. Much to BioWare’s relief, that wasn’t the case with Dragon Age: Origins. And it’s not just the spectacle of its heroes, monsters, and grand adventures that makes it work. Considerable effort goes into the writing. Alongside a Best Writing award, players on Reddit continue to praise its in-depth narrative and strong dialogue. Dragon Age: Origins blends wit, emotional depth, and occasional absurdity. Lines rarely feel restricted to moving the plot forward, often making even an ordinary conversation worth remembering.
While it isn’t the loudest fantasy RPG, it’s definitely one of the most quotable. So here are some unforgettable quotes from Dragon Age: Origins that always cut through a dull moment.
The Story of Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon Age: Origins takes place in Thedas, where the newly recruited Warden is tasked with defending the kingdom of Ferelden. He must stop the invasion by monstrous forces known as the Darkspawn. All while uniting divided armies and resolving a civil war that tears the kingdom apart.
For a 2009 video game, Dragon Age: Origins surprisingly holds up well. Early on, you’re swept into a stunning and atmospheric world. As you go further, you can also engage in bone-crushing combat against monsters and dragons. But as conflicts and threats rise, the game’s stakes grow dangerously higher. You can make decisions, but the narrative refuses to give you a free pass. Every victory has a price. Choices are heavy. As the journey draws to a close, the story makes you realize that unity and sacrifice are necessary to eliminate all kinds of threats.
As expected, the freedom and moral complexity bleed into the characters’ dialogue.
Quotes from Dragon Age: Origins
The Warden may be at the heart of the adventure. But the surrounding cast does much of the talking (literally). With that in mind, here are some of Dragon Age: Origins’s most memorable lines:
Alistair
Alistair is a Grey Warden and a companion to the protagonist. He provides the humor to lighten situations that would otherwise be too heavy to handle directly. But deep down, he uses jokes to cover how much he cares. Alistair often thinks about duty and responsibility. So while he’s the source of fun, he’s more than just comic relief. And if you pay attention, the game rewards you for listening when he speaks.
- “I hesitate to wonder”
- “Watch as I thrash our enemies with the mighty power of floral arrangements! Feel my thorns, darkspawn! I will overpower you with my rosy scent!”
- “I like my hair the way it is, thank you.”
- “Join us in the shadows where we stand vigilant. Join us as we carry the duty that cannot be forsworn.”
- “Somebody’s been drinking.”
- “Yes, you’re giggling about darkspawn. So funny, them darkspawns!”
- “Don’t you ever talk? You know, make polite conversation just to put people at ease?”
- “Yes, swooping is bad.”
- “Just so you know, if the king ever asks me to put on a dress and dance the Remigold, I’m drawing the line. Darkspawn or no.”
- “Don’t be ridiculous. If anything, I was wondering if I was too tall.”
- “Bad things happen when I lead. We get lost, people die, and the next thing you know I’m stranded somewhere without any pants.”
- “That’s what I’m here for-to deliver unpleasant news and witty one-liners!”
Morrigan
Morrigan is a Witch of the Wilds in Dragon Age: Origins. She’s also a companion to the Warden. She approaches the world with a sharp tongue, a guarded demeanor, and short patience for sentimentality. Even so, there’s often more behind it than just hostility.
- “We now have a dog and Alistair is still the dumbest one in the party.”
- “Falling on your blade in grief seemed like too much trouble, I take it?”
- “Again with the flattery! Do you not tire from these pointless exercises?”
- “I hate you all!”
- “Have a care where your eyes linger, Alistair.”
- “Oh, excellent! I have been hoping for new prey!”
- “Wonderful! I can sense his terror! Oh, that will make the loving all the sweeter…”
- “Oh, lovely. Shall we next begin rescuing little kittens from trees?”
- “There’s no fool like a drunken fool.”
- “Men are always willing to believe two things about a woman: one, that she is weak, and two, that she finds him attractive.”
- “Without those lessons I would not be here today, as difficult as they might have been.”
- “At least they have chosen freedom over subjugation. Better hardship and danger than slavery.”
Oghren
Oghren is another companion and a dwarven berserker in Dragon Age: Origins. He’s an alcoholic and has a troubled past and personal disappointments. His crude jokes and humor can make a conversation either funny or uncomfortable.
- “Yep, lotta tension around here.”
- “You’re telling me you never gave your blade the ‘ol spit shine?”
- “Why? Has the little pike twirler taken offense?”
- “I keep telling him pike’s are for sticking things at long range, aye? Horses and such. Not for twirling like a sissy girl.”
- “Oh sod it. Under the robes: pants? No pants?”
- “All right. Stonewall me. I’ll find out one way or the other.”
- “Ha. Strange is your wife turning out to prefer the ladies.”
- “But that dog ruined it when he stole my pants. But I’ll show him. I don’t need my pants, anyway.”
- “I’ll soak it in the lye now. Have it your way, Miss Squeamish.”
- “Let’s show them our hearts, and then show them theirs.”
- “Shave my back and call me an elf!”
- “No one touches Oghren’s junk and lives!”
- “If you’ve ever heard of me before, it’s probably all been about how I piss ale and murder little boys who look at me wrong.”
- “Misery, vomit and malt liquor. Ah, reminds me of home.”
- “I wish people wanted to share me more often. Especially the ladies.”
The Rest of the Characters in Dragon Age: Origins
- “Men’s hearts hold shadows darker than any tainted creature.” – Flemeth
- “You will find wisdom only if you seek it.” – Sten
- “You should be admired by painters, copied by sculptors, exalted by poets. Surely you know yours is a beauty so exotic, it-it would turn the eye of the Maker himself!” – Zevran Arainai
- “I am a woman and I reserve the right to be inconsistent!” – Leliana
- “You know, I have some documents, too. They say I’m the queen of Antiva. What do you think of that?” – Carroll
- “And we crush the heads of rude women when we feel like it. Just so you know.” – Shale
Lighter moments in Dragon Age: Origins
- “That’s a most offensive odor!”
- “Butter face. Everything’s marvelous but her face.”
- “Not listening! La la-la la la!”
- “Whoa, whoa! Awkward!”
- “Have you ever licked a lamp post in winter?”
Whether it’s the best in the franchise or not, Dragon Age: Origins surely earned a reputation for its exceptional writing. These quotes prove it by showing how dialogue shapes characterization and adds depth.
