List of all notable quotes by or about Reed Richards (Earth-616). (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.) Appearances · Minor Appearances · Mentions · Invocations · Items · Quotes · Images · Gallery
I learned that the difference between living and dying is managing fear. Not being afraid so afraid of losing the things you love that you hold them too tight. I used to believe in universal contraction. Entropy and the end of all things. Well, I changed my mind. I'm letting go. Because now I believe in expansion. I believe we endure. Don't you see? Everything lives.
The French have an expression called Infant terrible! It means a child who does dreadful things! But this child is so powerful, that anything he does could cause a catastrophe!
His preoccupation with computers-- his detailed, seemingly foolproof plan-- his knowledge of scientific programming-- his complex, yet brilliantly executed moves-- It all adds up to one diabolically dangerous figure... The Mad Thinker!!
And now, by the authority vested in me – by nobody in particular – I most warmly welcome you to the rollicking ranks of the fabulous free-wheeling Fantastic Four!
It's a strange paradoxical world we live in... a man can be arrested for illegal parking... but there's actually no law against trying to conquer the planet!
Marriage is not easy, John -- it takes more love, effort, and understanding than you may think you have. But making it work is an experience greater than you could imagine!
And I'm afraid that as long as Mrs. Masondesires to remain in her present condition-- --even unconsciously-- --there is no way known to man that can reverse the situation!
Maybe not "never,"Johnny... But not anytime too soon. And even though we can't see him -- -- or even detect him -- -- I'm not convinced he's not out there somewhere... watching.
The Red Ghost and the Super-Apes were exposed to the same cosmic radiation that gave us our incredible powers. If their genetic makeups have begun to merge -- -- both in terms of personalities as well as abilities -- -- is it possible that the Fantastic Four could suffer a similar fate?
Knowing the Watcher as we do, there are devices in his collection which may make the Kree unbeatable. Which is why we have to stop him -- whatever the cost!
What's your game, Lockdown? Or is that it? That this entire reality is nothing more than a game? But for whose amusement? Are you just one of the pawns... ...or are you the player?
You see, Franklin, our abilities are a gift. But with that gift comes responsibility -- -- to use our abilities to defend humanity and our world against harm.
He stripped Doom of his armor......and encased me in it. But if he thinks I'm trapped, he's in for a rude shock. Whatever it takes, I swear I'll find a way to beat him, and regain my freedom!
Don't ever be sorry, Robert. You were the first of us... And the best... and we're going to have to lose you again... You were the best man I ever knew...
Should Abraxas reach the Nullifier before we do -- -- he can obliterate all the combined realities of the Multiverse -- and there will be nothing we can do to stop him!
You have severely underestimated us, Annihilus! Our mortal bodies may seem frail and weak compared to yours-- --but the human spirit can never truly be conquered!
And let everyone sleep -- save Galactus and the Watcher. Let Doom be back in Latveria. And when the world awakes, let there be no memory of the horror that has ensued. That's all. There's nothing more -- I can do.
Yousaved the lives of the two most important women in the world to me. Don't forget that -- I never will. And that's why Sue and I want you to be Valeria's godfather.
He knows. That's why he put me in here. He knows. He knows that I can't understand any of this! Franklin... all of you... I'm sorry. I can't save you. I'm not smart enough.
We're in charge because we're responsible. We have to undo Victor's damage. And I say that when he does rise again, he finds we've left him with nothing. Nothing.
...even though when it came to protecting our children from Victor, you were utterly useless. No... less than useless. Oh, well. At least they have a father they can count on.
We traveled to the stars and flew through a storm of cosmic energy...we became something more than human, but we were still the same people. We still are.
And one of last things he said to me: "If you ever find yourself falling, Reed--and you will, life's one big free-fall--believe that somewhere, somehow......there will be someone there to catch you.
You may tell your boss that we're tremendously honored by his gracious gesture-- but we're not yet done exploring. What gives this family its purpose and its joy isn't the destination... it's the journey.
We have to get to Johnny (A) before Galactus forces him into finding and condemning an inhabited world, or worse, (B)......before Johnny exhausts Galactus's patience.
Without our own dreams, we can't sleep properly. As the condition worsens, we'll become more irritable and less able to think clearly. It'll only be a matter of time before someone gets hurt, or hurts others--seriously, if not fatally.
It's nothing to do with destinies or desires, nothing supernatural about it. It's a random factor that no one could have anticipated... because it is almost beyond belief. The question now becomes... what do I do about it?
Amazing...he must have used the cosmic rays as a carrier signal to teleport in... which requires a level of intelligence many orders of magnitude beyond our own--
Some things, it seems, are too big for the human mind to retain for very long. But I remember the moments. I remember the important things. And that's all that matters. The moments.
Time and time again, your anger and power have threatened the entire planet. So when we learned that Fury sent you into space, we had to seize the opportunity. I have always thought of us as friends, Bruce, so I am truly, genuinely sorry. But for your sake and ours, we're sending you away. It's the only way we can be sure.
Absolutely, general. We've all realized this is much bigger than any one of us. Nothing is more important. We've put our personal lives on hold. Happily, I might add.
Take away the law, and what are we? Savages, up to our necks in blood. The law is the law, Peter. I support it because I honestly believe we have to support it, no matter what.
Lack of understanding leads to fear. That fear is already there, festering. Without the law, what comes next is too horrible to -- the law is absolutely necessary.
Each one of us will have a gem. And never ever shall we use them. You will hide them from everything and everyone. We will be their protectors. None of us will know where the others have hidden them. It is the only way to keep them safe.
Simply put, Plan #101 is "Fix everything." End hunger, poverty, disease and war. Increase freedom. Maximum potential, both individually and collectively. Create opportunities to challenge and enrich the human spirit.
We're thirteen years in the past, honey. In fact, if you look outside that window you'll see us just about to bump into one another. Can you see yourself over there with the green umbrella? ...And here's me smoking that ridiculous pipe. A ringside view of the first time we laid eyes on one another as adults. I love you, Susan. More than anything in the world. Happy Anniversary, darling.
What is the true cost of a man's mistakes? What is the purpose of my life? How can I save my world in these dark times? Any the one that changed everything: Who else seeks the answers to these same question?
I've weighed all the options and I think that I can do the most good with the council. So if you'll have me, I'd like to join... I believe I belong here.
So we'll begin here... with you and me. With a new focus for your ongoing and never-ending education. Our curriculum wil start at survival and end at the edge of an eternal tommorrow. The rules are simple... I teach one class, and it's pass or fail. Welcome to the Future Foundation... Together, there is nothing we can't do.
We'll say farewell under the eye of the sun, where he will now rest for all eternity. Some souls burn brighter than others. Sometimes with the power of a million exploding suns. But in the end, the sun sets for us all. It always sets for each and every one of us. But the sun always rises. And every time it does, Sentry... I will always think of you.
You have cancer, Mr. Sykes. In your pancreas, lungs, stomach...it's spreading too rapidly for treatment. I believe you had it prior to the accident, but the poisons you ingested...it has mutated. It's just...it's like nothing I've seen. ... Hard to be sure [you have] one month [left]...maybe two.
I've encountered the most amazing things in many a universe. Wonders that people could never imagine in their wildest dreams. But for someone like you to love me never fails to astound me, Susan.
We took the Infinity Gems out of circulation. ... For safekeeping. Because every time someone tried to put them together -- to create the Infinity Gauntlet -- Earth, our existence, held on by a thread. We simply took that option off the table.
But they are also not me. They do not have families or friends. They only have each other and their cause. They push worlds around and rebuild suns... This is much, much worse than any of you could have ever imagined.
But if we're only gone a few minutes-- Then we will ensure the Earth has a Four to stand for it. A minute, a second, a lifetime-- we do not leave the Earth unprotected.
Everything dies. You, me. Everyone on this planet. Our sun. Our galaxy. And, eventually, the universe itself. This is simply how things are. It's inevitable. And I accept it.
The thing about endgames is this... it's really two strategies in one. First you show them what they guessed might have been coming. And then... you show them what they didn't.
The problem with your plan, Quiet Man... You put our downfall togather like a scientist: Not with a plan but as a formula. Maybe because of what you lack mentally-- And by that I mean you're crazy-- But you didn't think to account for our personalities. The inner strength that my family has, that I've seen grow with us through the years. You forgot to include that in your calculus. If we're down, we rise. If we fail, we try again. If we lose the battle, we win the war. And that is what makes us... the Fantastic Four!
You spend your entire life looking for that one perfect someone, and when you find her, you think you'll never love anything more... Then you have children, and realize what a fool you were to believe that. And now, I have lost everything. We have all lost everything. My entire life I believed in better days. I believed in tomorrow. I hid that belief in my heart--A stronghold against a world that devours hope. But now the walls have fallen. I have been overrun. And I hope... I believe... In nothing.
I learned that the difference between living and dying is managing fear. Not being afraid so afraid of losing the things you love that you hold them too tight. I used to believe in universal contraction. Entropy and the end of all things. Well, I changed my mind. I'm letting go. Because now I believe in expansion. I believe we endure. Don't you see? Everything lives.
Ben, if it's just you and Johnny left, I have a favor to ask you... explore. Don't stop. You may not think you need it, but you do. And Johnny certainly does. The Multiverse is grand and the four of us only scratched the surface.
Well, I suppose for you then, the question is... is your faith in the interpreted word of God? Or is it in what God has taught you? The moral center he's given you?
And, Valeria, there's something you should know. Logan and Spider-Man were summoned to complete the roster. No one else came because no one else was needed. The program recognized that two members of the FF were already on duty. Your adventure isn't over. That was round one, and all that mattters is that you get back up and try again. You're my son. My daughter. I have complete faith that you'll do your best, make me proud... and be nothing short of Fantastic!
You betrayed me, Reed. You helped me design the Watchtower -- only you would've had the technical know-how to bypass Cloc and give him an order he thought was coming from me. Why did you do it - wasn't it enough to kill me? Did you have to destroy everything I was in the process?
Brock is in a holding cell on level six...I've been monitoring his condition and I've noticed that there is a small aberrant growth on his frontal lobe--
Ben! This creature could tear down the city! For god's sake, let's not make things worse if we can help it. From now on, we work as a team...! Remember, this is what we're here for......Right, Mr. Fantastic...?
I've isolated the coordinates for the dimensional gateway. This proved especially tricky as they exist at the crux of a spatial and temporal intersection. You'll let me know if I'm too fast for you.
You have these doubts...Constant and unrelenting. Some large and some so very small. Am I being too strict? Am I too lenient? Do I praise too often or not enough...Being a parent, having children...it's a constant war between uncertainty and hope. So you live in fear...and there are these doubts...I want to know...was I...were we--
"It matters." The way you people talk about your lives-- Like they mean something... "It matters."
I am the greatest man I know... But compared to this, I'm nothing. Just as you... are nothing. Am I the only man here with the courage of his convictions... Or am I the only one with conviction at all?
These lines you won't cross... These things you won't do... They shame you. How dare any of you put yourself--your damned morals--above the lives of every living thing? The truth is, you people aren't worth that... And neither am I. Our lives are a pittance. A petty, small nothing...
I learned that the difference between living and dying is managing fear. Not being afraid so afraid of losing the things you love that you hold them too tight. I used to believe in universal contraction. Entropy and the end of all things. Well, I changed my mind. I'm letting go. Because now I believe in expansion. I believe we endure. Don't you see? Everything lives. 
