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Throughout its epic eight-season run on HBO, Game of Thrones featured no shortage of piercing quotes and lines of dialogue pulled directly from George R.R. Martin's text. Whether it's Tywin Lannister telling Joffrey that "any man who must say 'I am the king' is no true king at all," or Lord Varys declaring that "power resides where men believe it resides. It's a trick, a shadow on the wall," the faithful adaptation wisely retained Martin's authorial voice in the acclaimed fantasy TV series.
However, there's one extremely candid quote uttered by Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) in the 15-year-old pilot episode, "Winter is Coming," that still hits harder than ever. In advising Jon Snow to confront his true nature, Tyrion imparts invaluable wisdom.
"Winter is Coming" Establishes Jon Snow's Evolving Character Arc
The brilliant pilot episode of Game of Thrones, premiered on HBO in April 2011 and spanned four locations in Westeros. In addition to Beyond the Wall, King's Landing, and Pentos, viewers were taken to the North and introduced to the Stark family, led by Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark. Crossing paths with the Lannisters, Ned's bastard son, Jon Snow (Kit Harrington), interacts with Tyrion Lannister (Dinklage), who knows a thing or two about the value of remaining true to oneself.
During the brief encounter, Tyrion asks, "You're Ned Stark's bastard, aren't you?" After noticing Jon's wounded pride and reluctance to admit such, the so-called "Imp" doesn't let up and presses Jon for answers. Since Jon is clearly struggling to reconcile his true nature, Tyrion imparts a priceless lesson with an iconic quote that bolsters Jon's character throughout the series. Rather than sugar-coating Jon's destiny, Tyrion states with the utmost candor:
"Let me give you some advice, bastard. Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you."
The honest piece of advice advocates for Jon to fully own who he is and never let his deep-seated insecurities about being a bastard define his fate or determine his worth. Although he pushes back at first, Jon takes Tyrion's words to heart as the series progresses, leans into his lineage, and ultimately expresses pride in belonging to the Stark family. The line functions as a great piece of character development, not only for Jon but for Tyrion as well. The advice helps Ned's son embrace his identity unapologetically. Heeding the heartfelt words, Jon Snow evolves and never looks back.
Tyrion's Iconic Quote Also Says a Lot About His Own Self-Realization
Once Tyrion advises Jon to embrace his past and use it to shield himself in the future, Jon initially balks, asking, "What the hell do you know about being a bastard?" Tyrion calmly retorts, "All dwarves are bastards in their father's eyes," before walking away and sipping a spirit. Along with opening Jon's eyes, the implication reveals a lot about Tyrion's own character in the hit fantasy series, as he has undoubtedly grappled with the same low morale, self-esteem issues, and tormented feelings of being unloved.
However, rather than wallowing in self-pity, Tyrion is wise and resolute enough to use his perceived weakness as a character-building strength. As Tyrion departs after their conversation, the look in Jon's eyes slowly shifts from enraged doubt to sorrowful acceptance. Yet, the hard-to-swallow medicine Tyrion provides him ultimately pays dividends down the road, as Jon learns to embrace who he is and channel his apparent slights into thick-skinned toughness that helps him survive until the murderous Night Watch mutiny.
Perhaps most importantly, the rich insight Tyrion imparts to Jon establishes a friendly bond and alliance that, due to their shared status as societal outcasts, endures throughout the series. Of all the unforgettable quotes lifted from Martin's books, few are more salient than Tyrion teaching Jon Snow how to define himself and his worth on his own terms.
