Raymond Reddington, the main character in NBC's hit show The Blacklist, is a man of many words, so let's check out his best quotes.

Raymond Reddington, the main character in NBC's hit show The Blacklist is a man of many words. Much of this character's charm is due to his sharp tongue, quick wit, and control of the English language. This lovable criminal portrayed by James Spader is known for his long-winded monologues, tall tales, and clever one-liners. His dialogue sometimes serves as humor, sometimes as wisdom, and other times the audience is just as lost as the people to which Reddington is talking.

Amongst all of the nonsense lies some truly remarkable, inspirational, and highly quotable sayings. Here are the most memorable Reddington quotes.

Updated by Brittany Fischer on September 16th, 2020: The Blacklist continues to be a show that thrills many, driven the charismatic Raymond Reddington. Though season 7 has come to a conclusion, the show has been renewed for an 8th season. It seems clear that Reddington will continue to be a source of wisdom in the show, with the complex character often delivering thoughtful dialogue. As fans excitedly await for the next season, it seems like the perfect time to revisit some more incredible Reddington quotes.

15 You See That Geoff, That Is What A Good Man Does. That Is What Separates Men Like Him From Men Like You...And Me.

Dembe and Reddington have one of the most beautiful relationships in the show. Though these two are close, they are very different from one another. Though Dembe often acts as Raymond's muscle, he is also often a voice of reason. While Raymond is vengeful, Dembe believes in forgiveness.

Reddington is aware of this difference between them and holds Dembe in high regard for his ability to forgive and move on. When Raymond confronts a man who was responsible for the death of Dembe's family, Dembe tries to dissuade Raymond from reacting violently, but Reddington has other plans.

14 I Had Bullets, He Had Words. But When He Was Done Talking For The First Time I Truly Understood Which Of Those Was More Powerful.

Raymond makes several decisions that are questionable and problematic. Still, he is not totally despicable. It is clear that Reddington has his own moral code and a clear set of rules which he follows.

Raymond is very much impacted by the stories of injustice that he hears, and he often believes that he is doing what is necessary to right these injustices. With this quote, Raymond talks about the value of an impactful story.

13 I Always Found Fear To Be My Most Valuable Sense.

One of the things that make Raymond such an interesting and engaging character is the way he openly talks about his feelings. While criminals are often portrayed as wholly twisted, powerful, or stoic, Raymond wears his heart on his sleeve.

He discusses the importance of his emotions and how they impact the decisions he makes. While others in the task force try to swallow their fear, Raymond embraces this sense as it keeps him grounded, aware, and focused.

12 When You Love Someone You Have No Control. That's What Love Is. Being Powerless.

This quote is so beautiful because it accurately portrays Reddington's feelings for Elizabeth. Though the relationship between these two remains unclear, Raymond undoubtedly cares deeply for Liz.

Control and power are extremely important to Reddington and he does his best to maintain them at all times. He acknowledges that Elizabeth is his weakness because she is one of the only people he cares about enough to relinquish some of his power and control. This both terrifies and comforts him as she is both his greatest weakness and his greatest joy.

11 Agent Keen, In This World There Are No Sides — Only Players.

Another thing that makes Reddington a captivating character is his world view. While Reddington certainly has a moral code, he also recognizes that life is ever-changing.

While certain things are unforgivable to him, Reddington is also willing to work with individuals who were once his greatest enemies. Assuming someone has not violated Reddington's moral code, he can put aside his differences to work towards a common goal. He sees people as individuals whose opinions can change and evolve.

10 Life Is Far Too Important A Thing Ever To Talk Seriously About.

A man with the criminal record of Reddington needs to accept the reality of his situation. Reddington is aware that his life is constantly at risk and has made peace with the fact that he will eventually die.

Instead of dwelling on fear, Raymond chooses to enjoy his life to the fullest. He travels the world on his private jet, stays at fancy hotels, and drinks expensive liquor. He values his life, is grateful for each day he has, and is quick to remind those around him that they should feel the same way.

9 God Can't Protect You, But I Can.

Leave it to Reddington to make a dangerous situation a humorous one. Raymond often uses danger to leverage power against his enemies, forcing them to accept help from him in exchange for vital information or resources.

Of course when threatened with danger, many people, criminals included, begin to pray for help. When one criminal began to do just that, Raymond offered himself up as a much more reliable ally.

8 Revenge Isn't A Passion It's A Disease That Eats At Your Mind And Poisons Your Soul.

"Make sure your passion isn't your sickness."

This quote is one of the most profound utterances by Raymond Reddington. He gives this advice to Berlin after finally meeting the man who has been trying to destroy him for so long. Raymond is able to convince Berlin to stop his attacks by sharing that Berlin has been manipulated, but he encourages Berlin to process this quote and move on.

While Raymond operates on his own moral code and generally believes he is doing what is right, not acting out of vengeance, there are definitely some moments where Reddington could have benefited from following his own advice. Maybe if he had, Kaplan would still be gracing the screen today.

7 Shhh, Listen. Hear That? That's The Sound Of Your Checks Bouncing.

Another way Reddington manipulates people is with money. Sometimes he bribes them, sometimes he destroys their business connections and opportunities, and sometimes he steals all of their money and holds it for ransom.

Ever the dramatic, Reddington wouldn't just come out and say "I have your money." One-liners like this are the optimal way to catch the attention of his enemies and get them to recognize the severity of the situation he has put them in.

6 As You Well Know One Of The Keys To My Success Is A Clear And Consistent Understanding Of My Own Limitations.

"So often people overestimate themselves, misapply their gifts. Wisdom is learning the boundaries of one's designated lane."

Reddington prides himself on his intelligence and skill set. He is willing to acknowledge his own shortcomings and employ individuals to assist him in the areas where he is less gifted. This is why he surrounds himself with individuals such as Dembe, Kaplan, Nik, and Aram. This acknowledgment of his own abilities is what makes Reddington one of the most notorious criminals of all time.

5 Value Loyalty Above All Else.

Loyalty is rare to find in Reddington's field of work. This is part of the reason he sees Dembe as such a valuable individual to have around. Betraying loyalty seems to be the worst thing to Reddington, and can have dire consequences.

But the importance of loyalty was taught to Reddington when he was young. Before this quote, Reddington talks about an awful summer job he had as a teenager. He wanted to quit a few days into the summer but his father refused to let him because he had given his word. At the end of the summer, Raymond is rewarded with a bonus $40 and told that he was the first person to ever finish the job. He counts this as one of the most valuable life lessons he ever learned as it taught him the importance of loyalty.

4 You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover. But You Can By Its First Few Chapters And Certainly By Its Last.

Everyone has heard the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover." This expression means that you have to get to know someone before you come to a conclusion about them. This implies that you have to know someone well before you can have an opinion. Here, Reddington makes the point that you don't have to know everything about a person to create a judgment, you just have to know enough.

3 There Is Nothing That Can Take The Pain Away. But Eventually, You Will Find A Way To Live With It.

"There will be nightmares. And every day when you wake up, it will be the first thing you think about. Until one day it will be the second thing."

This quote about dealing with loss is extremely moving. He gives this profound speech when speaking with Ressler about the loss of his fiancée, Audrey. The pain of this loss sends Ressler down an extremely dark path as he tries to avenge and cope with her death. Reddington encourages him to control himself but wants to make sure that Ressler feels seen and understood.

Raymond does not downplay the pain or the struggle it will take to heal. He does not simply say "it will get better," but he does provide a Ressler with a viable way forward.

2 You Know The Problem With Drawing Lines In The Sand? With A Breath Of Air, They Disappear.

Raymond does not believe in sides. He does his best to be as impartial as possible, changing his position based on what is most beneficial for him at the time. He tries to remind others around him of this as well as he considers those who stick to one mindset their whole lives foolish. This belief is at the very core of who Raymond Reddington is, as he likes to live within the "gray area" of the world.

1 As Bad As You Think I Am, As Far As You Think I'm Willing To Go To Protect That Which I Hold Dear...

"... you can't possibly fathom how deep that well of mine truly goes."

Raymond has a very clear set of values and boundaries. The morals that drive him may be different than the morals of the world, but that doesn't mean they aren't there. His most crucial value is to protect the things most important to him.

This belief is so essential to his character that he is willing to throw out almost all of his other standards in service to protecting the people and things he finds most valuable. This includes Liz, which is why Reddington is so willing to forgive her for her actions when she turns against him. This quote speaks to why their complex relationship continues to thrive.

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