10 Wisest Uncle Iroh Quotes and the Lessons We Can Learn

Uncle Iroh from Avatar: The Last Airbender is the wise tea-loving uncle we all wish we had. Sure, he’s got a past as a fierce Fire Nation general, but he is also about dispensing life advice and making sure you never underestimate a good cup of jasmine tea. His words have nuggets of wisdom for all of us. Let’s break down ten of his best quotes and what they mean in the real world.

1."Sometimes life is like this dark tunnel. You can’t always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but if you just keep moving, you will come to a better place."

In short, life is a mess. Keep trudging. Eventually, you’ll end up somewhere that doesn’t suck.

2. "It is important to draw wisdom from different places. If you take it from only one place, it becomes rigid and stale."

Basically, if you’re only listening to the same podcasts and quoting the same motivational speaker, you might be in a bubble. Pop it. There’s a whole world of ideas out there.

3. "While it is always best to believe in oneself, a little help from others can be a great blessing."

Stop pretending you’ve got it all figured out. Sometimes, asking for help is the best power move.

4. "You must never give in to despair. Allow yourself to slip down that road and you surrender to your lowest instincts."

Or, as Iroh might say: Punching a wall won’t fix the wall or your problems. Take a breath, unclench your jaw, and think like someone who doesn’t want to pay for drywall repairs.

5. "There is nothing wrong with letting people who love you help you."

Letting people support you doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re not a robot. Even Iroh wasn’t above accepting a cup of tea from Zuko now and then.