This page contains a listing of all notable quotes by or about Henry Pym (Earth-616).
It may not be the definitive list, so please add any important quotations that may be missing, ensuring to cite the original source.
Pages with a quote from this character will automatically be added here along with the quote.
(This template will categorize articles that include it into Category:Quotes.)
Since I was seven years old, I've let myself be a slave to other people's expectations. Leashed to a life that drags me nowhere worth going. Roboting soullessly through my days in the most colorless, thuddingly unimaginative, least frivolous way possible. All because I let people convince me that I was inconsequential without a necktie on and breakers in both hands. Well, they were wrong. So when I say I've finally lost it--"it" is the yoke around my neck. The pressure to be practical, to conform to some 1950s notion of what an inventor is. The fear of being spontaneous. The social thermostat that keeps me from expressing myself fully through my chosen artform----SCIENCE. I feel as if I've been given a second chance at... at everything. As if this is the beginning of a whole new way of life for Dr. Hank Pym. Who matters.
Up til now, my 'mark on tomorrow' has been a human-hating robotic 'son' and a new Ant-Man who uses his shrinking powers to spy on girls in the shower. I'd like to think I can do better.
Ideas are cheap. Theories... hypotheses... mind traps. Just ways to avoid getting your hands dirty...! Pym... what a waste playing his his stupid toys... that's not living. He's better off dead.
I know we don't view this in the same way. You're an adrenaline junkie, through and through. Meanwhile, I'm still looking for some sort of greater purpose in all of this. The costumes, the code names...the specific application of scientific achievement to acts of heroic responsibility. And a whole army at our command. No one's 'playing super hero' hero. We are super heroes. Ant-Man and the Wasp. Let's ride.
I wish you could stay off the front lines for years. Train slowly. Let things sink in. But I'm afraid we don't have that luxury. There will come times when every adult hero on the planet isn't enough. When the survival of the world -- of the universe requires every hand on deck. It's my job to get you ready for that moment. And clearly I haven't. You have no idea how hard this life can get. How high the price is for simple survival. And I wish you never had to find out. But because you have powers...because of whats' been done to you...because you're who you are -- you will. All I can do is try my best to give you the tools to survive it. And I've failed that. So we'll try harder. Combat drills before school, strategy sessions after. Weekend classes from now on. Once again...I'm sorry. Sorry that I didn't prepare you for today...and that I can't spare you tomorrow.
God, devil...I don't care what you call yourself. Because of you, my students are fighting a war alone. All you are to me -- is what I have to smash through to get to them!
I believe in the Avengers. We came together to face threats no single individual could withstand. To make the world a safer place. Perhaps it was a simpler time. Perhaps we were naive. Jocasta just asked me were I'd be without the Avengers. I've thought long and hard about that. And I know, without question... I'd dead. Or insane. Or in prison. Or just not doing anyone much good. The Avengers have saved the world countless times. But they have also saved me. Have I faced hard times as a result of being an Avenger? Definitely. But I've also experienced some of the greatest moments of my life. Seen and done thing no other scientist can ever imagine. I've had the privilege of fighting beside some of the greatest heroes--and best friends--the world's ever seen. And I've found happiness. More than I probably deserve. If I'd never become an Avenger, I might have lived a quiet, contented, productive life as a researcher. But it's just as likely I'd have struggled with the same demons---depression, mental illness, suicidal thoughts--and not make it out the other side. And I wouldn't have had the great honor of teaching you. [...] What I take issue with is the idea that the Avengers are an outdated concept. The Avengers made me a far better man than I would have been without them. And I have yet to meet a person involved with the Avengers who is not better for that association. [...] Yes, we save the world. Yes we fight enemies no other force could battle... Certainly not a corporation. But beyond that... The Avengers inspire people. To preserve when every fiber of their being says, "give up." We are a symbol of people of different races, nations, even different species working together for the common good. We make the world a better place. We make those who join us better people. I will believe that until the day I die.
What have I been saying? No more making decisions out of fear. And I'm afraid of living without you, Janet. I always have been. But I'm going to have to learn. I'm not giving up on you. On finding a way to bring you back. But when it's best for you. If it's best for you. I love you, Jan. Goodbye.
Get this straight, Scott -- it's killing me being trapped here. I'd give anything to get out...clear my name...regain my self-respect...and win back my beloved Jan. But I'm not going to make any more mistakes. Do you hear me? NEVER AGAIN!
Yes. I want you to think about that long and hard, Mister! and think about this... I did a pretty good job of screwing up my life recently. You just about finished the job for me! You used me, Egghead... and you tried to make me a criminal! But you couldn't. You see, I've come to terms with myself in the past month. I know who I am, and who I'm not! I'm not Ant-Man anymore. I'm not Giant-Man... or Goliath... or Yellowjacket! I'm Henry Pym! And it was Henry Pym who beat the Masters of Evil! You, Egghead... you turned to crime because you thought your scientific knowledge made you better than everyone else... put you above the law! But you were wrong. You weren't above the law, and you weren't better! I'm the better scientist... I just proved that! I assembled the pieces of your downfall -- Right under your nose!
Sorry... No outside influences. It would have changed a lot of things if there had been, wouldn't it? But no, I made my own mistakes... And I have to live with them.
As you know, my first identity was that of the super-small Ant-Man! Then I gained the power to increase my size as well and became Giant-Man... a name I later changed, for reasons I forget, to Goliath!
Six months, to be on the safe side. I could accelerate the prosess, if you like -- but if we rush things, then I'm afraid there is a small risk of you mutating into a giant insect...
I believe in the Avengers. We came together to face threats no single individual could withstand. To make the world a safer place. Perhaps it was a simpler time. Perhaps we were naive. Jocasta just asked me where I'd be without the Avengers. I've thought long and hard about that. And I know, without question... I'd be dead. Or insane. Or in prison. Or just not doing anyone much good. The Avengers have saved the world countless times. But they have also saved me. Have I faced hard times as a result of being an Avenger? Definitely. But I've also experienced some of the greatest moments of my life. Seen and done thing no other scientist can ever imagine. I've had the privilege of fighting beside some of the greatest heroes--and best friends--the world's ever seen. And I've found happiness. More than I probably deserve. If I'd never become an Avenger, I might have lived a quiet, contented, productive life as a researcher. But it's just as likely I'd have struggled with the same demons---depression, mental illness, suicidal thoughts--and not make it out the other side. And I wouldn't have had the great honor of teaching you.
So...fate of the world. And me and the also-rans have to defeat the god of chaos...before Iron Man and "The Avengers" blow us all up. That about cover it?
I ran as hard and fast as I could. I ran here to tell you... It's over, my friend. Done. The gods spent billions of years building something... All of the Multiverse... And these things destroyed it on a whim. What hope does man have now?
Over the years, I've reinvented myself as a super hero so many times... Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Goliath, Yellowjacket...always trying to carve out a legacy for myself. But now...? ...I can think of nothing more appropriate...than taking up someone else's mantle. The greatest hero I've ever known. Call me...the Wasp!
And here's the thing -- you don't want the next guy to become the world's greatest super hero or whatever, you know? I mean I never would've lived that down. So when you came along, I thought, oh, thank God -- he'll be perfect.
I do indeed. Which is why I'm opening our facilities to any young superhuman who wants instruction. Jocasta's been busy recruiting. And this is just the start. Our full-time students will continue to be our focus. But why limit ourselves? Why limit them? Greer, Pietro...welcome to a new era for Avengers Academy!
Scott, given what happened, it occurs to me...with our separate schools, we may be fostering isolation, an 'us vs. them' mentality. Maybe we should promote more fraternization between our students. Baseball games, say, like the East and West Coast Avengers used to have.
No offense, Hank, but I'm not running a school, I'm preparing my kids to survive genocide. We don't have time for baseball. Wolverine feels differently. He took half the kids and reopened our old school in Westchester. You may want to call him. He might think it's a good idea.
I worried about who I was -- How I was perceived for so long. But it was stupid. There'll always be someone braver out there -- Someone more powerful--
Always be someone smarter too. Someone who messes up less. But thats no what counts. No more pretending -- Or hiding. No more tryin' to be someone else. All we need to be --
Wait! Before we separate, the Wasp and I have something to say! Each of us has a different power! If we combined forces, we could be almost unbeatable!
I'm sick of bein' hunted and hounded! I'd rather be with you than against you! So, whether you like it or not, I'm joining the... the... Hey! What are you callin' yourselves?
I'm glad it's you, Hank. Dark times are coming. And if you let me, I'll help you be the light that fights through the darkness. I've gathered an army for you. An army of heroes. But I can't release them. That's not how it works. You have to summon them.
HOW DARE YOU?! I discovered Pym Particles! I took artificial intelligence to the next level! I founded the Avengers Academy! What have you ever done?! You were a lout and a cretin who made his fortunes selling weapons to murderers. Your arrogance stated twowars -- Your incompetence put Norman Osbornin power! And now you try to lecture me?! Every day I hold this monster inside me at bay -- Do you understand what he would do if I let him loose? He would incinerate the flesh of every man, woman and child on this Earth and laugh about it! Every day I live with this, and I save the world a hundred times over! but I made one Mistake -- ONE MISTAKE!!! Years ago! And it's all any of you will ever remember me for -- All you ever say about me! You think I don't hear the whispers?! The way you look at me when I walk into the room?
That's it! I know what I did wrong now. I know what I have to do. 
