The best Spider-Man quotes of all time

As one of Marvel’s most prominent superheroes, of course Spider-Man has some of the most quotable moments in comic book history. 

Spider-Man is probably the name most people think of when considering comic book quotes. “With great power” is probably one of the most well-known and most often quoted of all time, after all. 

But there’s a lot more to Spider-Man than just the one quote. In fact, with more than 60 years of stories, there are plenty of picks to choose from for the best quotes. 

It also helps that modern writers have demonstrated a real appreciation for the wall-crawler, resulting in some of the biggest moments and most memorable Spider-Man quotes in history. 

The best Spider-Man quotes in Marvel Comics

There’s more to Spider-Man than just great power and great responsibility, as highlighted by these best Spider-Man quotes of all time. 

“She completes me. So here’s the thing, God… I know I complain a lot, and I know that you and me, we’ve got issues, but right now, just for tonight… Thank you for her. Thank you.”

To kick things off, I wanted to highlight one of the more recently ignored aspects of Spider-Man, which is the long-standing marriage to Mary Jane Watson. This moment from Amazing Spider-Man #53, right in the thick of a particularly tense time in Peter’s life, really drives home just how important that relationship was to the character, as well as to fans. 

The marriage between the two was a driving force for a lot of ‘80s and ‘90s Spider-Man stories, and the early 2000s saw the two go through more than their share of trials and tribulations. There’s a reason fans still clamor to see these two reunite. 

“I’m not here to kill you. I am.”

In the shadow of the critically acclaimed Civil War, Spider-Man underwent an incredibly dark period. The events following the war saw him on the run with his family when a sniper’s bullet struck Aunt May, leading to Peter dropping a lot of the humor and returning to his infamous black costume. 

Learning the sniper was hired by a then-incarcerated Kingpin, Spider-Man actually breaks into prison to make sure his family stays safe. What follows is a brutal, terrifying beatdown not by Spider-Man but by Peter Parker, as he breaks and threatens Kingpin in front of an audience of shocked inmates. 

“You’ve got the costume. You’ve got the power. You’re Spider-Man. Act like it.”

Morlun remained a threat in Spider-Man stories for a long time, thanks to his role in the Spider-Verse. It’s still his first appearance, though, where he’s portrayed as the deadliest threat to a Spider-Man only recently thrust into a more mystic side of the Marvel U. 

Spidey spends most of Amazing Spider-Man #33 getting beaten up pretty bad and is even unable to run away from Morlun because he’s so terrifyingly strong. But, in true Spidey fashion, his never-say-die attitude is on full display in this iconic moment. 

“When I think of Spider-Man? I think, no matter what, he’s never going to stop trying.” 

There are a handful of writers who seem to really get Spider-Man, and Chip Zdarsky is one of them. His run on Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man, brief though it was, highlighted a wholesome take on the character that focused on his humanity and hopefulness above all else. 

Spectacular Spider-Man #310 is told through talking head segments being filmed for a documentary about Spider-Man. Peter’s final words are a little self-congratulating, but they’re perfect in the context of the rest of the issue, where Spidey is shown being just as important punching thugs as he is helping a school kid with his math homework. 

“So I see you’ve started dating again.”

It wouldn’t be a list of Spider-Man quotes without highlighting his legendarily awful sense of humor. In canon, the humor is meant to distract opponents and alleviate his own fear of leaping into danger. 

It gets him into trouble more often than it helps, though. Easily the most memorable is this exchange with The Punisher, who had recently taken on a protege in the form of Rachel Cole-Alves. 

“I’ll keep on coming back…keep fighting…until I find a way to beat you! To win! I won’t give up, you hear? I won’t!”

Did you know Spider-Man once managed to bear the X-Men in a fight? Spidey is actually regarded as one of Marvel’s strongest heroes, pound for pound, and has the potential to possibly be its strongest if he were ever able to receive proper training. 

Every so often, a story happens where Spidey gets to show this off. One of the most impressive might just be Amazing Spider-Man #270, where he goes into a frenzy and accidentally takes down Firelord, who at the time was a herald of Galactus. 

“With great power, there must also come great responsibility.” 

Maybe this one doesn’t really count for some people as a Spider-Man quote. After all, the source is Peter’s Uncle Ben, and the quote itself is always attributed to him. 

But you can’t deny that Spider-Man hasn’t made it his own. It’s not just a rallying cry, either, it’s a mission statement. We’ve seen him turn this harsh life lesson into a moment of wholesome mentoring for those closest to him, like helping Miles acclimate to life in the 616 Universe or this moment where he inspired the X-Man Hope during Avengers vs X-Men. 

“My name is Peter Parker, and I’ve been Spider-Man since I was fifteen years old. Any questions?”

The highlight of Civil War, hands down, was the shocking moment when Peter Parker unmasked himself. It’s meant to inspire support for the Superhero Registration Act, but the ramifications are so much worse than anyone could have guessed. Friends and family turn their back on Peter, while May and Mary Jane are perpetually in danger. 

But that singular moment of an unmasked Peter, standing before a throng of reporters and identifying himself, is one that sticks with you, even some 15 years later. There are a lot of things fans want to forget about Civil War, but this pivotal moment isn’t one of them. 

“Except the dignity of knowing I never carried a man-purse.”

Otto Octavius becoming Superior Spider-Man by taking over Peter’s body was a shocking twist, but in the back of their heads, fans always knew somehow, someway, Peter would eventually return. And it would have to be a huge moment when it happened, something grand that would let readers know the real deal was back. 

It turns out it didn’t have to be huge. Dan Slott wrote a perfect, unforgettable moment in history. How does Peter Parker let the world know the original Spider-Man back? By being so immediately annoying that no one could ever deny he’s the original article. 

“I’m begging you now, Jonah, to look past the mask and see the man.”

Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man featured a wild moment wherein Spider-Man actually unmasks himself to Jonah. It’s a show of faith to someone whom he realizes he has absolutely misunderstood, hoping to sway Jonah to understand him better. 

It’s a heartfelt moment that is sure to leave an impression, but the most remarkable thing is the moment has stuck. Sure, they have a strained (at best) relationship, but this unmasking did actually get Jonah on Spider-Man’s side, although his bitter side still tends to show. 

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