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Game of Thrones is preparing for another lion’s share of the limelight with HBO’s House of the Dragon premiering on August 21, and one of the houses set to return in the prequel is House Lannister. While it is unclear how prominent they will be during the Dance of the Dragons events, the infamous House Lannister is another essential piece of Westerosi history, particularly as Robert’s Rebellion and War of the Five Kings unfolded.
House Lannister were the most clever and power-hungry among the houses, tactically playing the games to take over the Iron Throne or knowing how to mince their sharp words. They were undoubtedly one of the most cunning collections of characters, for better and worse, thanks to the likes of Cersei, Jaime, Tyrion, and Tywin Lannister’s influence. Throughout the show, the Lannister family has provided a series of quotes that perfectly encapsulate their characteristics and calculating ideology.
“A Lannister Always Pays His Debts.”
Various Lannisters, Several Episodes
The famous Lannister house words have been said several times by various characters and for generations longer off-screen. Each House’s phrase is meant to express something that symbolizes the family, and the famous words “a Lannister always pays his debts” shows how money has been a core motivator for everything they do.
The words themselves are intended to sound stoic and noble, and the Lannisters make good on their promises. However, after seeing the conniving things characters like Tywin and Cersei have done, it’s more greedy and dark than anything else. Likewise, it shows how everything they do and every relationship they have is ultimately a transaction to profit from at some point.
“My Life Has Left Me Uniquely Unfit For Constraint.”
Jaime Lannister, “A Man Without Honor” (S2.E7)
Like with his brother Tyrion, though, to a different extent, Jaime has several great quotes in Game of Thrones that are good representations of the different phases of his character arc. And though his unceremonious heel-turn back to Cersei Lannister kept him from being among the best-redeemed TV villains, he had a sprawling odyssey of introspection.
Back when he was still a dastardly reverse-Prince Charming figure, his arrogant quote about being unfit for imprisonment spoke volumes about his character at the time and much of the Lannister’s history. This was a massive display of Jaime’s hubris and a life spent thus far being a spoiled child used to having everything handed to him, and a poetic way of saying he’s too good for lower-class lifestyles.
“A Lion Doesn’t Concern Himself With The Opinions Of The Sheep.”
Tywin Lannister, “You Win Or You Die” (S1.E7)
Despite not lasting as long in the series as other characters, Charles Dance’s imposing portrayal of family patriarch Tywin Lannister was a major highlight of Game of Thrones earlier seasons. Aside from this quote by Tywin on his view on the opinions of those outside House Lannister being powerfully written and delivered, and a great showcase for him as a villain, it’s also indicative of the family’s root personality traits.
For generations, many Lannisters have been raised to carry themselves with a sense of confidence and arrogance, with no true regard for the well-being of others. Demeaning outsiders as mere sheep to be herded – or hunted – is emblematic of Tywin and his daughter’s entitled thoughts about their family against other houses.
“Any Man Who Must Say ‘I Am The King’ Is No True King.”
Tywin Lannister, “Mhysa” (S3.E10)
While the Lannisters have given themselves a bad reputation, and understandably so, they didn’t get into the position of power they were in by being unintelligent. Shrewdness is one thing that helped the house prosper for so long, and it was the one trait that Tywin always possessed, both on and off the battlefield. Furthermore, Tywin was also the most brutally honest and was direct about his eldest grandson’s poor and false kinghood in one of the most satisfying quotes of the series.
The stoic, calculating former Lord of Casterly Rock said this strangely noble line, even if it wasn’t well-meaning as it sounds on paper. Tywin’s strengths lie in war and politics, and with both of those things rife throughout Westeros, this quote is evidence of his strategic prowess in these fields if one wants to hold near-indomitable power.
“A Day Will Come When You Think You Are Safe And Happy, And Your Joy Will Turn To Ashes In Your Mouth.”
Tyrion Lannister, “The Prince Of Winterfell” (S2.E8)
For many fans, Tyrion Lannister sits at the highest tier of Game of Thrones characters. And as a slightly morally-gray but overall heroic character of the series, Tyrion has his moments that show shades of the Lannister colors. After Cersei, his sadistic sister, starts to catch on about his secret lover Shae within the walls of the Red Keep, Tyrion can’t help but let his disdain and emotion bleed through.
Though he delivers this threat with an eloquence only few can, and even when it feels justified, quotes like this demonstrate how Tyrion uses the baked-in spitefulness that House Lannister has long since been known for many years.
“Everyone Who Isn’t Us Is An Enemy.”
Cersei Lannister, “Lord Snow” (S1.E3)
Cersei Lannister was certainly one of Game of Thrones‘ best villains, as she provided a consistently looming presence in the show’s various conflicts. Much of her dialogue became instantly memorable throughout the series’ eight-season run, even if her role was stunted in the final season as well.
Cersei had some of the best character dynamics across the show’s cast, and her quote assuring Joffrey that anyone outside the family is to be considered a threat is a highlight of the former’s role as a villain. It displays not only the typical egomaniacal traits that plague the family and Cersei and Joffrey’s defining characteristics, but it also shows her and the family’s hostile paranoia toward outsiders, lord or no lord.
“When you play the game of thrones you win, or you die.”
Cersei Lannister, “You Win Or You Die” (S1.E7)
Unsurprisingly, Cersei also set the tone for how cutthroat she and others of her family would be. In season 1, Ned Stark’s reluctant quest in King’s Landing turns into the unraveling of a bloody political conspiracy, with Cersei offering the iconic and foreboding words that “when you play the game of thrones you win, or you die.”
She didn’t mince words to Ned, as characters like her are aware of their roles as amoral at best and villains at worst, but they embrace it all the same. To gain the power that the likes of Cersei do, they become more than willing to lie, cheat, steal, and kill their way to the top and stay there.
“By What Right Does The Wolf Judge The Lion?”
Jaime Lannister, “Kissed By Fire” (S3.E5)
The line Jaime told Brienne of Tarth in the bathhouse after recovering from their kidnapping is a bit ironic. He tells Brienne, among other things, part of why he and Ned Stark had such a bitter relationship and the major catalyst for it: when Jaime killed Aerys II Targaryen, the Mad King.
It shows Jaime’s arrogance, at the time, of how he believed Ned was in no position to pass judgment on him after killing Aerys and being seen boasting on the Iron Throne, clearly holding a grudge against him and House Stark. That entitlement is certainly on-brand for the Lannisters, though, at the same time, Jaime venting this to Brienne was a pivotal moment in his character growth – for the better.
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