Original artwork, not a still
Pride is not the opposite of shame, but its source.
— Avatar: The Last Airbender • 2005
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The line reads Zuko's whole character in a sentence: the banished prince who swears he is proud is really driven by the shame his father branded on him. Iroh does not scold him, he just reframes the problem, and the show spends the rest of the series proving it right. It is the line fans reach for whenever someone's bragging is obviously a wound.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Avatar: The Last AirbenderShow the scene
Also from "Bitter Work" (Book Two, 2 June 2006). Iroh is teaching Zuko to generate lightning, which means separating positive and negative energy in the body and letting them snap back together. Zuko can copy the motions but only produces an explosion that throws him backwards, and he snaps that things always blow up in his face. Iroh tells him that he cannot master it while he is ashamed. Zuko insists he is as proud as ever, and Iroh replies with this line, adding that true humility is the only antidote to shame.
Sources (2)
- Wikiquote: Avatar: The Last Airbender (season 2)"Bitter Work" [2.9]Reference checked
- Avatar Wiki: Bitter WorkSynopsis (lightning lesson)Reference checked
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