If you’ve read my work, chances are you’ve stumbled upon one of my The Expanse pieces — or five. I’ve always felt inspired by the multifaceted, resilient and formidable women on the show. So, in honor of this holiest of days, I compiled a list of my favorite profound quotes from these badass ladies.
Not to worry, I’ll probably craft a list exclusively featuring Avasarala’s best vulgar, expletive-laden quotes at a later date.
RELATED: What I Learned From the Women of The Expanse
“Truth is truth. How you deal with it is up to you.” –Camina Drummer (“Jetsam,” Season 4 Episode 2)
If anyone can dispense truth bombs effortlessly and resolutely, it’s Camina “Bosmang” Drummer (Cara Gee). Never one to mince words or suffer fools, Drummer only has time for the truth. Hey, that sounds an awful lot like a certain Secretary-General of the United Nations (*cough* Avasarala *cough*).
All you can do is be honest, and how others react to that honesty is on them. You’re not responsible for people’s feelings, only yours. It’s simple! Of course, Twitter jabronis cowering behind a terrible screen name with lots of numbers in it might tell you differently.
“Never listen to what people say. Just watch what they do.” –Chrisjen Avasarala (“Safe,” Season 2 Episode 1)
Chrisjen Avasarala (Shohreh Aghdashloo) is the Queen of Eloquent Expletives, but even royalty of her standing knows that actions speak louder than words. You have to read between the lines; try to pair someone’s dialogue with the actions they take. Do they match, or is something amiss?
I think Avasarala rose through the ranks of her storied career not because of what she said but the actions she took to support those words. Avasarala is a brilliant bullsh*t detector, and her innate ability to read body language and interpret underlying meanings also helps. I’m taking a page out of the queen’s book.
“No weapon ever brings peace.” –Naomi Nagata (“Caliban’s War,” Season 2 Episode 13)
The Belters know more about war than anyone in The Expanse universe, even more so than Martians, who train heavily for it. Naomi Nagata (Dominique Tipper) understands the devastating, gut-wrenching consequences of battle. She undoubtedly bore witness to folks dying senselessly because of someone else’s war. And when a soldier barrels toward you, guns blazing, they’re not endeavoring to establish peace.
Weapons don’t bring peace; talking does. Leaving it on the negotiating table does. Artillery and fists will never usher in harmony and prosperity.
Naomi’s sage quote also feels relevant given the unnecessary war in Ukraine.
“Hate is a burden. You don’t have to carry it with you.” –Anna Volovodov (“Abaddon’s Gate,” Season 3 Episode 13)
The good Reverend Doctor Anna Volovodov (Elizabeth Mitchell) spent Season 3 tirelessly instilling everyone she met with hope and peace. So, what does she do when standing before resident bad boy Amos Burton (Wes Chatham)? The one who is “that guy”? Anna tries to help Amos relinquish his hate to travel about the solar system burden-free.
She’s right, Screaming Firehawks. Hate festers in your gut, solidifying into an impossibly heavy, dense substance that bogs you down. Who doesn’t want to feel light as a feather? Thankfully, love feels light and essentially weighs nothing. We know this fact because of extensive scientific research.
RELATED: Catch up on all the protomolecule madness with The Expanse recaps!
“Walking away is the only choice anyone ever has.” –Naomi Nagata (“Oyedeng,” Season 5 Episode 7)
Naomi has some of the most thought-provoking, profound quotes on The Expanse. Here, in Season 5’s “Oyedeng,” Naomi imparts wisdom to Filip (Jasai Chase-Owens), the son with whom she recently reunited. Filip struggled to understand why Naomi “left” him, so she gave her son the lowdown regarding her less-than-healthy relationship with Marco (Keon Alexander). Marco’s actions led to Naomi’s departure.
You must do whatever you can to protect yourself. Sometimes, walking away is the only option on the table, especially when our well-being is at risk.
Later, we see Naomi spacewalk away by the episode’s end, and Filip ultimately walked away from Marco in The Expanse‘s series finale. Do you think he heard his mother’s words ringing in his head? I’m not crying; you are.
“You just have to believe that what you’re doing really matters, and then the fear can’t control you.” –Bobbie Draper (“New Terra,” Season 4 Episode 1)
Who would’ve thought Bobbie Draper (Frankie Adams), a.k.a. the universe’s resident badass, knew what fear was? Bobbie, who laughs in the face of danger and charges at a series of railguns without protection and in full sight of the enemy? Even a former Martian Marine harbors her fair share of fears. That said, Bobbie doesn’t allow those fears to control her, and therein lies the difference.
She has a valid point. Your belief in what you do must overpower the quiet voice in your head telling you you’ll fail. Believe that what you do matters, even if you’re robbing a bank. Robbing a bank can be meaningful to your checkbook if you succeed and your record if you fail.
“The universe never tells us if we did right or wrong. It’s more important to try to help people than to know that you did.” –Naomi Nagata (“Babylon’s Ashes,” Season 6 Episode 6)
There’s more to this quote, but this first line summarizes it perfectly. In the final episode of The Expanse, Naomi delivers a moving monologue to Holden (Steven Strait) about doing the right thing, even if the universe doesn’t acknowledge our actions as benevolent. Selflessness goes a long way, and even a few seconds of unadulterated, no-strings-attached kindness can mean the world to someone.
Our actions reverberate. Our words echo for eternity. Choose both wisely. And when in doubt, send your baby daddy into the angry alien ring when he gets a little too murder-y.
This article was originally published on 3/8/22.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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