25 Best Damon Salvatore Quotes

Each member of The Vampire Diaries cast has their fair share of one-liners, but thanks to Damon Salvatore's quotes, it's easy to see him as one of the best characters in the show. Whether fans believe he's deserving of a happy ending, the series dedicates a significant amount of time to fleshing him out. Despite being a fairly evil vampire, Damon (Ian Somerhalder) was one of the two main male protagonists in the hit young adult supernatural series, along with his brother, Stefan (Paul Wesley). He was also part of a major love triangle with the show's main female lead, Elena (Nina Dobrev).

Damon's multi-layered personality provides plenty of opportunity for internal conflicts and his character arc is at the center of The Vampire Diaries. He had several big moments with his brother that stood out as the show's best, even if he wasn't the same as Damon from the L. J. Smith books. In the novels, Damon had different powers, was much older, was Italian, and mostly stayed in the shadows. However, his calling card in the show was his mouth, and whether they're sassy, heartfelt, or tragic, there are some particularly impactful Damon Salvatore quotes that stand out above the rest.

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25 “I Promised You An Enternity Of Misery, So I’m Just Keeping My Word.”

Season 1, Episode 1 “Pilot”

When The Vampire Diaries first begins, it appears to be the start of an epic romance between Elena and Stefan. While it’s true that there is romance, one of the bigger love stories in the show turns out to be that of the two Salvatore brothers. The audience wouldn’t have known that from the pilot episode. Damon insists his reason for returning to Mystic Falls is to make Stefan’s life miserable. In the early episodes of the series, he’s the antagonist and fully commits to carrying out his plan because of his anger with his brother.

24 “Some Girls Can't Resist My Good Looks, My Style, My Charm, And My Unflinching Ability To Listen To Taylor Swift.”

Season 1, Episode 4 “Family Ties”

Damon has a great sense of sarcasm that he’s ready to use at any given moment. He’s not wrong in this particular quote that he can be charming, but the better part of this Damon quote is that it begins his pop culture references in the show. Damon has lived for more than 150 years, so it makes sense that he would have a few pop culture references up his sleeve, but he also has to stay current. Listening to Taylor Swift would certainly be a smart move for him in the modern day, especially if he even wants to pretend to connect with modern teens.

23 “See, I Don’t Mind Being The Bad Guy. Because Somebody Has To Fill That Role And Get Things Done.”

Season 4, Episode 12 “A View To A Kill”

Damon experiences a lot of growth in the series. He’s able to realize that a lot of his early actions in the show were wrong and that some of his impulses need to be curbed. He grows because of his love for his brother and his love for Elena. That doesn’t mean he isn’t still the bad guy for much of the series. Damon has no problem doing the bad things that other people are going to judge him for. He has no problem being the one that everyone else can ask to do those bad things either. He’s willing to admit that being bad has a purpose, and he can take that burden from the people he cares about.

22 "I've Been In Love. It's Painful, Pointless, And Overrated."

Season 1, Episode 6 "Lost Girls"

When it comes to love, everyone's experience is different. Damon is difficult to figure out during the early seasons of the series and his layers are gradually unraveled as it goes on. He tries to appear nonchalant when delivering his typically Damon Salvatore quotes, but it's clear his heartbreak has affected him deeply. Damon has a tendency to say what viewers are thinking in The Vampire Diaries, and there are likely those who can resonate with this sentiment. However, it also offers a deeper insight into who Damon is.

21 "When People See Good, They Expect Good..."

Season 3, Episode 19 "Heart Of Darkness"

"... and I don't want to have to live up to anyone's expectations." Damon's reputation as the "bad guy" is partially why Elena fights her feelings for him. Many characters view him as heartless, and empathy has never been one of his defining characteristics. Viewers experience a side of Damon he doesn't let many people see, and his reasons for hiding it are questionable. During an intimate moment with Elena, he reveals what fans spent seasons wondering. Surprisingly, this Damon Salvatore line is straightforward and relatable. As long as he keeps up his devil-may-care attitude, he'll never be capable of disappointment. Once Damon reveals his true self, he'll be held to higher standards.

20 "If I Have To Hear Doppelgänger One More Time, I'm Going To Have To Learn How To Spell It."

Season 5, Episode 1 “I Know What You Did Last Summer”

This is one of the Damon Salvatore quotes that most of The Vampire Diaries audience can relate to. While the original storyline features brothers battling for the attention of the same girl, that storyline hugely expands to involve that teenage girl’s doppelgänger as well as Stefan’s. In fact, the entire mythology of the series is built around those doppelgängers and just why supernatural beings have been coming after them since immortality was invented. As that storyline takes over the series, it becomes complicated, and Damon’s frustration with it echoes the audience.

19 “I Would Rather Spend Every Moment In Agony Than Erase The Memory Of You.”

Season 6, Episode 7 “Do You Remember The First Time?”

During the course of the series, Elena actually has some of her memories compelled away so that she doesn’t have to feel the pain they cause. That idea is a completely foreign concept for Damon. He doesn’t want to forget his past, even if it’s painful. Damon has plenty of experience wallowing in pain. Whether it’s because he lost a girl to his brother or because someone couldn’t see the real him, he feels that pain. He might act like he doesn’t, but that’s because he hides his pain behind his anger, and he’s well aware of that.

18 "You Want A Love That Consumes You ..."

Season 3, Episode 22 "The Departed"

"... You want passion, adventure, and even a little danger." This is one of the most iconic Damon Salvatore quotes regarding his romance with Elena and is especially significant due to what it represents. When he thinks he has nothing left to fight for, the memory of their first meeting gives Damon strength when he needs it most. Elena does choose Stefan in this episode, but the revelation that she met Damon first leaves the door cracked open for a future relationship. Damon immediately senses what Elena wants out of life, and it's the kind of love they eventually share with each other.

17 “Am I Wearing My ‘I Blew Up The Council’ T-Shirt? Why Does Everybody Keep Asking Me That?”

Season 4, Episode 2 “Memorial”

Damon knows that he plays the bad guy a lot so that his friends and other people he cares about don’t have to be. Because of that, however, he is frequently blamed for things that aren’t his fault - like blowing up the town council. It’s hard to blame anyone in town for thinking Damon might have destroyed the town council. After all, it was made up of people who hated vampires, werewolves, and other assorted supernatural creatures. Damon really shouldn’t be surprised when nearly everyone he knows thinks he did it.

16 "There Is No Such Thing As A Bad Idea. Only Poorly Executed Awesome Ones."

Season 2, Episode 15 "The Dinner Party"

As odd as these Damon Salvatore quotes sound, he makes a good point. Every time the characters come up with a solution to their problems, the issue lies in the execution, rather than the actual plan itself. It's rare for someone to have a bad idea, as it's usually just an unrealistic one. However, if all of Damon's plans went off without a hitch, problems would become minor inconveniences. As much as the statement rings true, the characters' awesome ideas need to be poorly executed for the entertainment of viewers.

15 "What's So Special About This Bella Girl? Edward Is So Whipped!"

Season 1, Episode 4 “Family Ties”

Considering the announcement that the CW would be airing a vampire drama featuring teenage characters earned a lot of comparisons to Twilight, it makes sense that there would be a Twilight reference or two in the show. When the series premiered, Twilight was at the top of its game, so comparisons were inevitable. It also makes sense that Damon wouldn’t get the appeal of Bella right away and that the only reason he has Twilight on his radar is because of Caroline. Caroline, however, encourages Damon to read the book instead of simply watching the movie.

14 “Gotta Run. Have A Murder To Plan. Busy Day.”

Season 2, Episode 15 “The Dinner Party”

Some of Damon Salvatore’s best quotes seem pretty flippant. He’s a lot like Katherine Pierce in that way. They both can make off-hand comments about horrible things and just keep on moving along. Damon doesn’t usually care who hears him proclaim that he’s about to do something bad, much like Katherine. Keeping a low profile isn’t always on his radar. So, saying something like “have a murder to plan” and continuing to go about his business is perfectly in character for him.

13 “If You’re Going To Be Bad, Be Bad With A Purpose, Or Else You’re Not Worth Forgiving.”

Season 4, Episode 12 “A View To A Kill”

Though Damon is willing to be the bad guy, he doesn’t do it just for fun. He might seem like he’s just looking to have a good time when he does things that Stefan and Elena object to, but that’s not always the case. His bad actions often have a purpose. Damon does things for revenge, to protect his brother, and to protect Elena, but not always in that order. When he talks to Klaus about being “bad with a purpose,” he and Klaus likely don’t realize how much they have in common.

12 "I Do Believe In Killing The Messenger. Know Why? Because It Sends A Message."

Season 1, Episode 21 "Isobel"

Damon's ability to make a witty remark, regardless of the circumstances, never ceases to impress. As terrifying as his statement is, it casts an entirely new light on the saying, "Don't shoot the messenger." Damon's relationship with Isobel is complicated before the start of the series, but things grow more complex when she's revealed to be Elena's birth mom. This comment is clever on its own, but his threat is what tips Isobel off to Damon's feelings for her daughter. Isobel isn't a likable character in The Vampire Diaries, but she is the first person who lets the cat out of the bag.

11 "Whenever You Go Too Far, I Will Be There To Pull You Back ..."

Season 3, Episode 16 "1912"

"... Every second, every day, 'til you don't need me." Nina Dobrev's departure from the series reinforces that the Salvatore brothers are the center of the show. No matter how often they fight over matters of the heart, their unconditional love and devotion are unmistakable. Given how focused they can be on their individual relationships with Elena, viewers are often left wondering if Damon and Stefan are truly each other's first priorities. It's Damon Salvatore quotes such as these that articulate the deep bond they share. Being a vampire has never been easy for Stefan, but Damon dedicates his immortal life to dragging his brother back from the edge.

10 “I Do Not Go Behind People’s Backs And Torture Them. I Like My Enemies To Look Me In The Eye And See The Depth Of My Rage.”

Season 7, Episode 5 “Live Through This”

If there’s one thing that Damon isn’t, it’s sneaky. There is no subterfuge with him. If plans are elaborate and involve someone being tricked, it is not a plan he came up with. Damon is absolutely the type of person who tells his enemies exactly what he wants to do to them, and then he does it. There’s something to be said about a character that is completely up front in his disdain for others or his rage at being wronged. Damon only attempts to hide his feelings for Elena, and even then, he doesn’t do a very good job of it.

9 “Somewhere Along The Way, You Decided I Was Worth Saving. I Wanted To Thank You For That.”

Season 1, Episode 22 “Founder’s Day”

The one person who keeps Damon from going completely off the rails is Elena. That’s because she cares about him and tries to help him as often as she tries to help Stefan, even when her own life is in danger, and even when she doesn’t fully trust him yet in the first season. Elena sees something in Damon that others don’t, even if she doesn’t want to admit it right away. Damon recognizes that without her caring about him, his life could have gone in a very different direction after he returns to Mystic Falls. Even though he’s still angry with his brother and determined to be the bad guy, he can’t help but recognize that Elena is changing him.

8 "I Live In The Real World Where Vampires Burn In The Sun."

Season 1, Episode 4 “Family Ties”

When Damon spends a few episodes in the first season compelling Caroline and feeding on her, she’s responsible for introducing him to Twilight. She also asks quite a few questions about vampires which probably help her later when she transitions into one and begins to remember all the things she was compelled to forget. When she’s still human, however, she asks Damon just why he doesn’t sparkle in the sun. Damon makes sure to remind the audience that the sparkling vampires of the Twilight franchise are fiction in the world of The Vampire Diaries. In Damon’s world, more classic vampire mythology is used, like burning in the sun.

7 "Dear Diary, A Chipmunk Asked Me My Name Today ..."

Season 3, Episode 16 "1912"

"... I told him it was Joe. That lie will haunt me forever." Along with being among the best Damon Salvatore lines, this is also one of Damon's shadiest burns in The Vampire Diaries. All the characters find themselves on the receiving end of his insults, but Stefan is Damon's favorite target. Despite his tendency to exaggerate, Damon does an impressive job of impersonating his little brother's diary entries. Damon's mock account is more absurd than anything Stefan writes, but Damon matches his brother's tone surprisingly well.

6 "... A Hole In Your Life Where That Somebody You Cared About Used To Be."

Season 4, Episode 2 "Memorial"

"In the end, when you lose somebody, every candle, every prayer is not going to make up for the fact that the only thing you have left is a hole in your life where that somebody you cared about used to be." Losing Alaric is hard on everyone, but it takes a particularly high toll on Damon. Alaric was the first person who accepted Damon for who he is. To maintain his cool exterior, Damon refuses to light lanterns with the other characters or indulge in their childish whims. He talks to his dead best friend alone in the graveyard and the isolation and alcohol allow him to speak from the heart. This heartbreaking Damon Salvatore line reveals he is suffering more than he lets on, which isn't uncommon. It's easy to see why The Vampire Diaries fans rooted for a romance between the two.