Avatar: the last Airbender is as acclaimed by criticism as beloved by fans and deserves nothing less than universal praise. Viewers of all ages can learn something from this deep series, whether children watch it for the first time or that adults see it for the umpteenth time.
Throughout his three seasons, Avatar taught fans of many life lessons, and one of the main sources of wisdom was undoubtedly Zuko Iroh’s uncle. His words of wisdom are a basic food of Avatar, And the show would simply not be what it is without this adorable older man and his unequaled insight.
Updated on June 30, 2025, by Andrea Sandoval: Uncle Iroh is a unique character who has inspired many avatar: the latest Airbender fans. As a Zuko awkward, Iroh supports his nephew on his trip to catch the avatar, but it is especially anxious to protect Zuko. When Zuko finally realizes that he does not need to be a villain, Iroh becomes a source of wisdom not only for his nephew but for the Avatar team as a whole. This article has been updated to include even more of the uncle Iroh quotes in the Avatar franchise.
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“The stomach is the source of energy in your body …”
Avatar: The Last Airbender S2E09, “Bitter work”
While uncle Iroh teaches Zuko how to redirect lightning through his body, he explains the physical components of this movement. The arms serve as channels for lightning to cross, while the stomach is an energy source that benders can use. He explains that he is generally called the “Chi Sea” for this reason, but makes a joke that his stomach is a vast ocean.
“The stomach is the source of energy in your body. It is called the Chi Sea. Only in my case, it looks more like a large ocean.”
The Iroh uncle is both wise and hilarious. He does not take himself too seriously, which allows him to be humble, patient and pleasant. It is an emblematic moment when the Iroh uncle manages to be educational and also funny at the same time. Zuko does not find him as entertaining, but the public certainly does.
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34
“Are you so busy fighting that you can’t see that your own ship has sailed?”
Avatar: the last Airbender S1E09, “The parchment of water in water”
In the ninth Atla The episode, Zuko and a group of rabid pirates continue the crew in the pursuit of the water roll that Katara stole them. Zuko and the pirates initially join forces to follow the crew, but when the hackers learn that Aang is the avatar, they refuse to give it to Zuko. The captain of the pirates and Zuko are starting to fight as Ang, Sokka and Katara take advantage of their distraction to escape on the pirate ship. Uncle Iroh tries to emphasize this, but neither the captain of the pirates nor Zuko listen to him, and finally, the pirates also fly the ship of Zuko to drive the avatar at the bottom of the river.
Uncle Iroh: Are you so busy fighting that you can’t see that your own ship has sailed?
Prince Zuko: We have no time for your proverbs, uncle!
Uncle Iroh: [points] It is not a proverb.
Pirate Captain: Saiding Hog-Monkeys! [runs off]
Prince Zuko: [laughs, then sees the pirates sailing away on HIS ship] Hey! It’s my boat!
Uncle Iroh: Maybe it should be a proverb.
The whole scene is hilarious. The Iroh uncle, completely detached from the conflict, is the only one who can see the ridiculous situation of what it is. Two nasty proud, fighting like children, do not notice that someone steals their ships. In addition to that, Zuko thinks that Iroh speaks in metaphors when he underlines a fact. Since the situation occurred twice, the Iroh uncle has decided that he should transform his comment into a proverb after all.
33
“I will not be able to finish my game?”
Avatar: the last Airbender S1E1 “The boy in the iceberg”
In the very first episode of AtlaThe Iroh uncle already shows his wise nature and his hilarious personality. As he is in the middle of a board game, Zuko interrupts to tell him that he saw a powerful light and that he is sure that it was the avatar. When he asks if uncle Iroh knows what it means, he simply replies: “I will not be able to finish my game?” And although he is right, this is not the answer that Zuko was waiting for.
Prince Zuko: [Seeing the light from the exploding iceberg] Finally. Uncle, do you realize what it means?
Uncle Iroh: [sitting down, drinking tea and playing a game] Will I not be able to finish my game?
Uncle Iroh offers the perfect balance to the intensity of Zuko. While Zuko is passionate, impulsive and reckless, the Iroh uncle understands that everything can wait. He is a master to have fun, knowing that life concerns love, pleasure and harmony. Zuko, on the other hand, desperately wants his father’s approval, so he is determined to sacrifice everything to obtain the love of his father. The Iroh uncle understands it, supporting him in his trip, but he offers a necessary calm in the storm of Zuko who often makes fun of the public.
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“The lotus tile was in my round all the time!”
Avatar: the last Airbender S1E09, “The parchment of water in water”
The episode “The waterbending scroll” with the Iroh uncle changing the course of the ship to stop on a market and buy a pai sho tile that he lost. Zuko is irritated, but he conforms, and finally, the destination leads him to the avatar. After uncle Iroh did not find the tile on the market, and Zuko again misses the avatar, the Iroh uncle finds the missing tile hilarious on his sleeve.
Prince Zuko, you will really take a kick. The lotus tile was in my round all the time!
Uncle Iroh does not always seem so wise. However, Zuko’s uncle knows how to work mysteriously. He could be forgetful, or he may try to distract Zuko from his dangerous effort. Anyway, it is certainly entertaining for viewers, especially since they see the obvious frustration of Zuko.
31
“You are clearly surpassed.”
Avatar: The Last Airbender S1E07 “The Spirit World (Winter Solstice, Part 1)
When Zuko saves his uncle from the soldiers of Ba Sing SE, both stand side by side in a combat position. The soldiers try to intimidate them by declaring that there are five soldiers against two outlaws, so the chances are not in their favor. Uncle Iroh, however, knows better. He notices that what he said is true; They are in numerical inferiority, but the soldiers are outpatched. Although they are more numerous, Zuko and they are more powerful than them.
Captain: Abandon yourself! He is five against two. You are clearly inferior.
Uncle Iroh: Ah, it’s true, but you are clearly surpassed.
After uncle Iroh pronounced these threatening words, Zuko and Iroh defeated the soldiers with ease. Uncle Iroh even uses the very chains that soldiers used to imprison it. The moment would be more epic if the Iroh uncle was not semi-semi (they surprised him to take a bath), but it shows that the Iroh uncle is powerful despite his affable and jubilant exterior.
30
“A man needs his rest.”
Avatar: The Last Airbender S1E20, “The Siege of the North: Part 2”
Viewers remember this quote from the Book 1 final emotion, but may not know that it is a parallel to the scene where Iroh says the same line to Zuko in the pilot episode, “the boy in the iceberg”. After Zuko saw the beam of Aang’s awakening, he sails in the night in search of the avatar. Iroh begs him to sleep, but in vain.
So you have to rest. A man needs his rest.
Now, however, in the aftermath of the siege on the North Pole, where they were barely escaping from their lives, Zuko finally admits to his uncle that he is tired. It’s a good time when the public can finally see him follow the advice of Iroh, mainly because it does not very often happen in the series. Many viewers probably relate to the feeling of working beyond the point of exhaustion, and how sometimes it is the permission of others that is necessary to stop. This reminder talks about the masterful writing that Avatar Constantly displays, especially with regard to the character of Iroh.
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“We all depend on the balance.”
Avatar: The Last Airbender S1E20, “The Siege of the North: Part 2”
One of the fundamental themes of Avatar is balancebest illustrated by the avatar itself. The concept of the four elements working together in harmony within a person is what makes the avatar so powerful. The balance of the world, however, can be fragile, something that Admiral Zhao is too eager to take advantage of the final of Book 1.
The fire nation also needs the moon. We all depend on balance.
Iroh stands out as being unique among the actors of the characters of the Nation Fire precisely because it understands this balance so well. Where most of them are quick to announce fire as the upper element, Iroh recognizes that too much of a single element causes chaos for the rest of the world. He found a personal balance after going through many tests and tribulations in his own life, and knows that it is also what is necessary for the four nations to be in peace. Iroh’s desire to see beyond the borders and stand up with the avatar against Zhao in this scene is one of the many reasons why he has become such a loved character.
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“Even in exile, my nephew is more honorable than you.”
Avatar: The Last Airbender S1E03, “The Southern Air Temple”
Even since the start of the series, it is clear that honor is an ideal which means a lot for Zuko. This is what Zuko exercises his identity, and the loss of this honor is his motivation for driving throughout Avatar. And yet, from episode 3, “The Southern Air Temple”, his uncle Iroh believed that Zuko already had the honor he was trying to regain.
Even in exile, my nephew is more honorable than you.
Iroh constantly proves many times like a number one supporter from Zuko. He is there in his corner to encourage him, but also to educate him when he was wrong. When Iroh says this line, the public does not yet know that Iroh could not intervene in a situation like this once before, when Zuko had an Agni Kai with his father. In this sense, Iroh gives viewers an overview from the start of what will be the journey of the character of Zuko and the person he will finally become.
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“This tea is nothing more than hot leaf juice!”
Avatar: The Last Airbender S2E13, “City of Walls and Secrets”
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For all his deep words of wisdom, Iroh can actually be a very comical character in Avatar. He loves the pleasures of life and takes them as seriously as he would do it something else. It is not a secret for anyone that one of the great loves of his life is tea; Even if he and Zuko are on the run of the Fire nation, Iroh will do anything for a good cup of teaSomething that caused him trouble several times.
This tea is nothing more than hot leaf juice!
The other tea drinkers will behave with Iroh’s experience here in Ba Sing SE, in particular his disbelief to the response of Zuko of “Uncle, that’s what all tea is”. A bad cup of tea can be easy to spot once someone had a good one. It is precisely Iroh’s expertise in this area, which gives him as well as Zuko in the Kingdom of the Earth. By kissing his love for something rather than for his hatred, as the last time he was in Ba Sing SE, Iroh is able to start building a better life for himself and his nephew which is peaceful and soothing in the same way as tea.
26
“There is nothing wrong with leaving people who love you help you.”
Avatar: The Last Airbender S2E08, “The Chase”
Toph is known to be as stubborn as a rock, without taking into account the opinions of others after years of practice in order to defend itself. In fact, this is what she had done with the Gaang for the entire episode “The Chase” before meeting Iroh. This is what makes all the more significant since Toph listens in fact what Iroh has to say.
There is nothing wrong with leaving people who love you help you.
Iroh, who was rejected by Zuko, said here to Toph what he wants to say to his nephew. A theme spread with his character is that he often reaches out to help others have their problems, even when he cannot rectify those of his own life, something that is explored later in this season. Iroh has seen the difficulties that people inflict on the first hand when they feel like they have done everything alone, and his kindness pushes him to prevent this from happening to a stranger he has just met. It is not surprising that his empathic words finally manage to go to Toph, and this is undoubtedly something that many viewers who watch must also hear.
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