The Flash: 15 Best Quotes In The TV Series, Ranked (2024)

The fan-favorite Arrowverse that airs on The CW first expanded with the addition of The Flash TV show starring Grant Gustin as Barry Allen. The long-running series has followed the adventures of DC's Fastest Man Alive since 2014 and has won over fans with an engaging cast of characters.

One of the heartwarming constants of The Flash is the sheer number of inspirational quotes that can be found throughout the various seasons. Barry Allen is either trying to build himself up, express his love for his friends and family, or teach valuable lessons over the course of The Flash, which has led to some great lines.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on April 24, 2024: The Flash may have concluded last year with its ninth season, but it remains dear to many DC fans' hearts. Grant Gustin's version of Barry Allen may always be the fan-favorite rendition of the classic superhero, in part because of the great lines that are associated with his character in the Arrowverse.

15 "My Name Is Barry Allen And I'm The Fastest Man Alive."

Barry Allen, Every Episode

It's only fitting to start with the often-repeated quote that played in some variation during the intro of The Flash for years. He introduced himself with the Flash's catchphrase in every episode, though it became a bit of a running joke as he continually met speedsters who were initially faster than him.

This gave the saying a different meaning to Barry Allen, as he continually had to work harder and improve his abilities to keep up with some of his enemies. Barry was forced to constantly push past his limits to maintain his claim on the title of the "fastest man alive."

14 "All I Wanna Do Is Come Running Home To You."

Barry Allen in Season 3, Episode 17, "Duet"

In the season 3 episode "Duet," Barry and some of his friends are caught up in a parallel universe that takes the form of a musical. Even after escaping, Barry can't help but shake the need to sing, musically proposing to Iris at the end of the episode. The main motif of his song includes his deep desire to always come running home to the one he loves.

This is an iconic moment in The Flash, as the longtime friends turned lovers finally took the next step in their relationship. Barry's proposal is absolutely perfect, standing out as one of the sweetest moments in the entire series. This line would also come back during their wedding episode, as Kara Danvers performed the song while Iris walked down the aisle.

13 "There Are Only Four Rules You Need To Remember..."

Leonard Snart in Season 3, Episode 22, "Infantino Street"

In the episode "Infantino Street," Barry is forced to turn to one of his archnemeses, Leonard Snart, a.k.a. Captain Cold, for help. The two team up to foil Savitar's coming arrival and, when Barry asks Snart what his plan might be to do so, he responds by giving his four rules of planning.

Captain Cold is a master thief and didn't get to be such by accident. While he seems like the kind of person who always has a plan, his secret is that he is always ready to throw it away and begin a new plan if need be. In this instance, he perfectly phrases his approach to Barry in such a way that fans still remember it to this day.

12 "No One Can Do This Alone. Trying Is The Biggest Mistake That You Can Make."

Caitlin Snow in Season 3, Episode 10, "Borrowing Problems From The Future"

For many superheroes, particularly those in the Arrowverse, the tendency can be to shoulder the greatest burdens alone. This was certainly the case for Barry Allen in Season 3, especially when he saw a vision of the future that saw Savitar murder Iris West before his very eyes. However, in "Borrowing Problems from the Future," Barry's good friend Caitlin Snow reminds him that he can't face such big problems alone.

Caitlin's wise words helped Barry realize that, as much as he didn't want to burden his friends with the weight of his struggles, he needed their help if he was ever going to overcome them. While the Flash is one of the most powerful men alive, he is still just a man. However, with Team Flash at his side, he is nearly unstoppable.

11 "The Hardest Thing You’re Gonna Have To Face Is Not Some Monster Out There With Powers..."

Joe West in Season 1, Episode 3, "Things You Can't Outrun"

Jesse L. Martin's Joe West was one of the first people to learn about Barry Allen's secret identity as the Flash. As such, he became one of Barry's closest confidants, helping him work through the more difficult parts of being a superhero. In the show's third episode, Joe drops a bit of important wisdom on Barry, telling him that the real enemy wasn't some massive supervillain but the feeling of uselessness when he couldn't help people.

Joe West is an essential part of The Flash precisely because he brings a very human element to Barry's often larger-than-life adventures. Joe is the epitome of this statement, never having powers of his own and often feeling like he has nothing to offer the team. However, he proves to be Barry's wisest counselor over the years, giving everything he has to Team Flash and becoming one of their most valued members.

10 "My Friend Oliver Said That The Lightning Chose Me. Well, Now, I'm Gonna Do The Choosing."

Barry Allen in Season 9, Episode 13, "A New World, Part Four"

In the series finale of The Flash, Barry Allen closes out his adventure with a final narration harkening back to the very first episode. Remembering his conversation with Oliver Queen, who suggested that the lightning that gave him his powers didn't do so by accident, Barry decides to share his powers with three other individuals who can help shoulder the load of protecting the world.

In this final scene, Barry comes full circle as he takes the powers he was given and shares them with other worthy heroes. The final few seasons of The Flash may not have been of the same quality as its earlier ones, but this final sequence almost makes it all worth it as audiences see just how much Barry has grown over the last nine years.

9 "Not Every Hero Wears A Mask."

Barry Allen in Season 1, Episode 11, "The Sound and the Fury"

Barry Allen is surrounded by a few heroic people in his life that he can always count on, like his adoptive father Joe West. West isn't only a heroic police officer, he was also the man who helped raise young Barry after the loss of his parents.

Barry never lost his appreciation for the people around him like Joe and Iris West, who did heroic things every day that continued to inspire him as The Flash. In "The Sound And The Fury", Barry says "some heroes save the day in the simplest of ways. By just being there for us, or letting us know we're believed in."

8 "My Goals Are Beyond Your Understanding."

Reverse Flash in Season 1, Episode 18, "All-Star Team Up"

The earliest mystery from The Flash series explored the man in the yellow suit. Eventually, he's revealed as Reverse-Flash, one of Barry's villains from the future who was trapped in the past. He was tormenting Barry while also trying to find a way back to his time, which frustrated Barry every time they encountered each other.

Reverse-Flash liked to play games and use consulted plans that made it impossible to predict his next move. His reaction to Barry's questioning became one of the many shareable memes that flooded social media over the years. In The Man In The Yellow Suit, Reverse-Flash says: "my goals are beyond your understanding."

7 "Being Alive Means Running."

Barry Allen in Season 1, Episode 3, "Things You Can't Outrun"

It seems obvious that a show about The Flash would involve a lot of running, but Barry Allen managed to both run into battle and away from his problems just as fast. It's a very relatable trait that worked its way into a number of his speeches over the year, as it tied into his own tendency to get lost in the past.

In "Things You Can't Outrun," Barry says "being alive means running. Running from something; running to something or someone. And no matter how fast you are, there are some things you can’t outrun. Some things always manage to catch up to you." His words would prove to be a long-running theme for The Flash that drove a number of the main characters.

6 "Sometimes The Only Way To Move Forward Is To Revisit The Things In Your Past."

Barry Allen in Season 2, Episode 17, "Flash Back"

The Flash explored much more than typical superhero storylines. It dived into Barry Allen's motivation for becoming a hero which stemmed back to the unsolved murder of his mother when he was just a boy.

This act drove Barry Allen to become a forensic scientist as well as a costumed superhero, but it also held him back in ways as well. He even used his abilities to visit the past more than once, creating a paradoxical number of time-traveling Barrys that were consumed with solving his mother's murder in the past so he could move on in the future. In "Flash Back," Barry says: "Sometimes the only way to move forward is to revisit the things in your past."

5 "Some Things Happen Because We Make Them Happen."

Barry Allen in Season 3, Episode 1, "Flashpoint"

While Barry was full of inspirational quotes when he was just working alongside Team Flash, his role model status was fully confirmed when he began working with a young new speedster named Wally West/Kid Flash.

When reality had been altered by his efforts to save his mother's life in season three's Flashpoint episodes, he was forced to inspire himself and Wally West in order to get things back to normal. "There’s only one thing I know about life. I know some things happen by chance. And some things happen because we make them happen."

4 "Part Of Being A Hero Is Being Able To See The Good In People."

Nora Allen in Season 5, Episode 10, "The Flash and the Furious"

Barry Allen was able to become a new kind of mentor in the fifth season with the arrival of Nora West-Allen, his daughter from the future who had traveled back in time. Barry's words highlighted what made him such a good hero, and explained why he had a unique relationship with some of his Rogues like Captain Cold.

Nora herself is forced to examine her feelings about whether people can change when she allies with a former enemy to take on a new one. Things aren't always what they seem, and you sometimes have to trust your instincts about people. In "The Flash And The Furious," Nora says "part of being a hero is being able to see the good in people."

3 "We Are The Flash."

Iris West in Season 4, Episode 2, "Mixed Signals"

Barry Allen was never alone during his time as the Flash, as he learned how to use his abilities with scientists from S.T.A.R. Labs — soon known as Team Flash. Barry's closest friend and wife Iris West-Allen were trying to make Barry realize he needed to be a team player. This resulted in the quote that caused a bit of controversy among fans.

Regardless, it's still one of the best quotes that showcase the group effort that is required to save the day effectively. The Flash is better when he works closely with his friends and doesn't keep things to himself, he just doesn't always realize it. "Mixed Signals" sees the quote: "we are the flash."

2 "You Can't Let The Threat Of Losing Tomorrow Keep You From Making The Most Of Today."

Barry Allen in Season 6, Episode 3, "Dead Man Running"

The sixth season of The Flash dealt with the looming threat of a multiversal Crisis on Infinite Earths that crossed over with the other Arrowverse series. Barry Allen was preparing himself for the worst after seasons spent waiting for the Crisis teased in a newspaper from the future.

That knowledge often threatened to tear Barry down with the ever-present feeling of pending doom, though he was always able to live for the day instead of letting his worries about tomorrow drag him down. It was just another example of Barry's eternally hopeful spirit that always manages to inspire his friends and family. "Dead Man Running" hears Barry saying the inspirational quote: "you can't let the threat of losing tomorrow keep you from making the most of today."

1 "Run, Barry, Run!"

Harrison Wells, Repeated

One of Barry Allen's most beneficial allies was the brilliant Harrison Wells and the various multiversal versions the team worked with over the years. Harrison was almost always available to talk to Barry on his headset while the Flash was fighting or trying to figure out how to science his way out of a situation.

The simplest solution was often presented and became a running theme across The Flash, which was to tell the fastest man alive to do what he does best. Wells may have been the first to coin the phrase "run, Barry, run", but he wasn't the last member of Team Flash to use it.

The Flash (The CW)

TV-PG

Superhero

Action

Adventure

The CW's The Flash, starring Grant Gustin as the Arrowverse's Scarlet Speedster.

Release Date

October 7, 2014

Cast

Grant Gustin , Candice Patton , Danielle Panabaker , Jesse L. Martin , Tom Cavanagh , Danielle Nicolet , Brandon McKnight , Jessica Parker Kennedy , Jordan Fisher

Main Genre

Superhero

Seasons

9

Franchise

Arrowverse