The 20 Saddest BoJack Horseman Quotes Ever

Summary BoJack Horseman is a deep and well-written show that tackles adult-oriented themes like depression, addiction, and death.

The sad quotes from the show hit hard because of the tragic moments and the emotional depth portrayed.

Even the seemingly happy characters in BoJack Horseman have a dark side, showing that true happiness is elusive in this animated series.

The emotional depth of the many sad BoJack Horseman quotes proves that the Netflix show is more than just an everyday adult animated series. While many adult animated shows feature crass situations, R-rated language, and sexual innuendos, BoJack Horseman is geared toward adults for a different reason. This series is about depression, mental health concerns, death, addiction, and dependency issues. It brings levity to adult-oriented situations and is smart and extremely well-written. With several tragic moments, the saddest BoJack Horseman quotes hit harder than many other adult series.

Premiering on Netflix in 2014, BoJack Horseman is a show about a horse who was the lead star of a popular sitcom from the 1990s who wants to return to relevance. That is how the show started, but what it morphed into was a look at the life of a former celebrity, diving into bad decisions he made that allowed him to remain relevant while being a burden to anyone who cared about him in his present-day life. With deaths, heartbreak, and devastating moments, the BoJack Horseman quotes throughout the show's six seasons showed how tragic his life was.

Related 10 Most Brutally Realistic Lessons Taught In Bojack Horseman Because Bojack Horseman always went against typical TV tropes, the show taught several brutally realistic lessons throughout its run.

20 "He’s So Stupid, He Doesn’t Realize How Miserable He Should Be"

BoJack Horseman - Season 1, Episode 1: "The BoJack Horseman Story, Chapter One"

The very first episode of BoJack Horseman goes a long way in showing how terrible his life is and how much he really hates himself. He knows he is no longer a star and his best days are behind him. He keeps trying, but he is his own worst enemy. Soon, BoJack sees Mr. Peanutbutter and he realizes how happy Peanutbutter really is with his life. BoJack says this quote, insulting Peanutbutter, but also showing a deep, genuine pity for the very happy man.

It's the punchline after he says this that really hits home concerning how sad BoJack is. "I envy that," he says, showing that BoJack still wants to find happiness, but knows it isn't out there for him. These BoJack Horsemen quotes also show that he doesn't understand how others can find happiness in life when he can't find it for himself, no matter how successful he once was, and no matter what he has to show for his hard work.

19 "There Is No Other Side"

Herb - Season 6, Episode 15: "The View From Halfway Down"

One of the darkest quotes to come from the penultimate episode of BoJack Horseman was also one of the saddest, since it showed that nothing good was coming for the titular character. One of the worst betrayals that BoJack ever did was when he refused to take up for Herb and stand by him when he was involved in a public scandal. BoJack hurt him more than almost anyone else.

When Herb finally passed on and disappeared into the darkness, one of the worst things that could have happened to BoJack happened. He told Herb he would see him on the other side, and then Herb responded with this line, revealing that when BoJack dies, it is over. This experience crushes BoJack's comforting belief in an afterlife and causes him to reassess the time he has left on Earth.

18 "It's So Cruel To Let People Love You."

Mr. Peanutbutter - Season 3, Episode 8: "Old Acquaintance"

Mr. Peanutbutter seems like the one person on BoJack Horseman who seems happy and kind. However, no one in this animated series is truly really happy. Even the most upbeat characters have a dark side they hide from those around them. That was proven in this episode where Mr. Peanutbutter takes Diane to meet his family. His brother, Captain Peanutbutter, seems distant, and it is clear something is wrong. While it turns out he needs surgery, Mr. Peanutbutter sees his own morality.

"All you're doing is promising that one day you'll break their heart."

He tells Diane this quote and then finishes with a stinger. He is talking about death, but the sentiment plays out in many ways on this show. This is an important moment because, while BoJack is jealous of Peanutbutter's optimistic and happy outward attitude, it proves that everyone has their demons, and even those who are the happiest have depression deep down that no one ever sees.

17 “I Need You To Tell Me That I’m A Good Person.”

BoJack Horseman - Season 1, Episode 11: "Downer Ending"

In the first season of BoJack Horseman, BoJack wants to find some silver lining and turn his misery around. He wants to be good again, but he doesn't know how. He has sold out, and he has been forgotten. Now, he wants to find what he knows he lost — his happiness and self-respect. BoJack feels that in order for this to happen, his friends uplift him and tell him what he wants to hear.

What makes this BoJack Horseman quote sad isn't the quote itself — it is Diane's response to the quote. BoJack goes to Diane, looking for a lifeline, and he says, "I know that I can be selfish and narcissistic and self-destructive, but underneath all that, deep down, I’m a good person." When he asks her to confirm that, she won't lie to him, so she says nothing at all.

16 “I Am In Pain, All The Time. My Whole Life. And You Have No Idea.”

BoJack Horseman - Season 5, Episode 9: "Ancient History"

This sad BoJack Horseman quote is addressed to Hollyhock, and it's one of the sentiments the titular character expresses in the show that many viewers find relatable. Mental health and depression are key themes throughout BoJack Horseman, and BoJack is mirroring the experiences of many struggling with their own emotions when he explains to Holly just how overwhelming — and, from his perspective, impossible for others to comprehend — they are.

It's a particularly sad moment not because it's tied to a specific tragic event, but because it's a stark and especially grounded reminder of just how much pain BoJack is actually in. It is even sadder because BoJack has done enough in his life to ensure that he doesn't have the support system in place that he needs to get through the days. He is mostly stuck in his head and the people who do care about him remain at arm's length, so no one can know how bad it really is.

15 “I Need To Go Take A Shower So I Can’t Tell If I’m Crying Or Not.”

BoJack Horseman - Season 1, Episode 11: "Downer Ending"

Many sad BoJack Horseman quotes resonate with audiences because of their relatability. One of the core themes of the show is that BoJack struggles to express his emotions to the point that he's self-sabotaging. This moment in the first season reveals just how deeply rooted this problem is. BoJack is physically unable to cry despite his immense sadness, finding it impossible without the aid of a shower. He's so out of touch with his own emotions that he can't tell if he's even expressing them.

This is also a very true moment for people experiencing depression issues. They know they are deep in their heads and they can't seem to find a way out. It is never a good idea to repress feelings, but that is what BoJack does so much during his life and in this episode, he realizes that most people hate him now, and he can't even get Diane to tell him that he is a good person. By getting into the shower, he can cry without admitting it to himself.

14 “Why Did You Save Me? I Don’t Want To Live."

Ed - Season 4, Episode 2: "The Old Sugarman Place"

This is one of the saddest BoJack Horseman quotes that don't come from a recurring character. In a season four episode, BoJack meets an older fly named Ed who refuses to fly. Ed helps BoJack fix his house and, eventually, he explains to BoJack what happened when his wife died. Together they fall into the ocean and Ed starts to drown. BoJack saves him and Ed breaks down with this comment. It's heartbreaking, especially for anyone who has ever been in a similar position.

Ed wants to die because he feels he has nothing left to live for, one of many incredibly heavy emotional moments in the show. This is also a tough one for BoJack Horseman. He finds a purpose in saving Ed's life, believing he is helping him. However, Ed has given up on his life and wants to die, and this is a moment that pushes BoJack even deeper into his sense of hopelessness. If Ed is ready to give up, why should BoJack Horseman push on after all his troubles?

13 "The Universe Is A Cruel, Uncaring Voice."

Mr. Peanutbutter - Season 1, Episode 12: "Later"

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Mr. Peanutbutter is an infuriatingly optimistic individual. As such, he's rarely the source of any sad BoJack Horseman Quotes. However, there was a BoJack Horseman season 1 episode that showed that not everything was okay deep inside his psyche. He let Diane know that his entire persona might be a facade to hide some deeper, darker fears. When Diane says she wants to possibly leave Los Angeles for a little while to find ways to help other people, he wants her to stay with him.

"The key to being happy isn't to search for meaning. It's to just keep yourself busy with unimportant nonsense, and eventually, you'll be dead."

He then says some very disturbing things that show that he might be in a lot more pain than anyone could have believed. Mr. Peanutbutter is just as broken as anyone else in the adult animated series. While BoJack openly expresses his depression to everyone he knows, Peanutbutter hides it, but this is why it surprises most people when someone they thought was a happy and optimistic person ends up struggling with depression issues of their own.

12 “Not Understanding That You’re A Horrible Person Doesn’t Make You Less Of A Horrible Person.”

BoJack Horseman - Season 1, Episode 2: "BoJack Hates The Troops"

One key message behind BoJack Horseman is that a bad person being ignorant of their behavior doesn't excuse it. There have been several quotes about this theme on the show, and BoJack's had people say similar things to him throughout the series, as well. It took him a long time to understand this fact about himself, and the moment he does makes for an incredibly sad BoJack Horseman quote — albeit one that reflects a huge point of personal growth for the character.

Related All 6 Seasons Of Bojack Horseman, Ranked Worst To Best All six seasons of Netflix’s BoJack Horseman featured stellar storytelling, but some of them were undeniably more effective than others.

While a lot of the show is about BoJack Horseman dealing with his insecurity and depression issues, it also shows that he is a bad person who has hurt those around him thanks to his thoughtless actions. Diane explains to BoJack in a different episode that a person is only defined by their actions and not what they think they are "deep down." For BoJack, he is a bad person and just because he wants to be seen as good does not make it so, as this BoJack Horseman quote proves.

11 “Every Happy Ending Has The Day After The Happy Ending.”

Diane - Season 1, Episode 10: "One Trick Pony"

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Happy endings are found at the end of most fictional narratives, be they children's stories and fairy tales or modern TV shows and Hollywood movies. However, as this sad BoJack Horseman quote by Diane shows, not everyone buys into the comforting fantasy that happy endings bring. Diane points out that someone can get a happy ending, and then afterward, they learn that not everything is going to remain that way forever. Life has to go on after the "happy ending," and it may not always remain in that bubble.

BoJack Horseman lies to himself throughout the series that there might be a happy ending for him somewhere down the line. However, a happy ending is not what BoJack deserves after everything he has said and done. Even if BoJack gets a happy moment, he learns time and time again that there is always a life to continue with after that happy moment, and his life will likely go back to the way it was before. No happy ending means a person will never face struggles again, especially in BoJack Horseman.

10 "When You Look At Someone Through Rose-Colored Glasses, All The Red Flags Just Look Like Flags."

BoJack Horseman - Season 2, Episode 10: "Yes And"

This sad BoJack Horseman quote comes from the moment it became clear BoJack and Wanda were about to break up. Wanda and BoJack were arguing about his habits, and Wanda was angry that she was being treated terribly by BoJack. She didn't want to be with someone so bitter and negative, and BoJack asked her what she was doing there. Wanda wistfully asks BoJack what happened to them, to which BoJack replies, "Same thing that always happens. You didn't know me. Then you fell in love with me. And now you know me."

The scene hits viewers hard as BoJack and Wanda's relationship ends. This is also a relatable quote when it comes to relationships with toxic individuals, and few characters on BoJack Horseman are more toxic than BoJack himself, although his biggest crime against anything he did to the people who cared for him, but the way he treats himself. BoJack can't make himself happy, and he makes it very obvious in his actions. Wanda couldn't see it through her optimistic rose-colored glasses.

9 "Sometimes I Think I Was Born With A Leak..."

BoJack Horseman - Season 1, Episode 9: "Horse Majeure"

More emotional BoJack Horseman quotes arrive when BoJack tries to stop Diane's wedding in the Season 1 episode, "Horse Majeure." BoJack spends the whole episode trying to sabotage Diane and Mr. Peanutbutter's wedding because he is in love with Diane. After a series of failed attempts, he is advised by character actress Margo Martindale to confess his feelings to Diane. Before he can do so, however, he is stopped by an angry Todd, who reminds him he can't intrude in other people's lives.

BoJack finishes by saying, "Now it's all gone. and I'll never get it back in me. It's too late." This quote shows how BoJack sees his life. He has things that he wants, and he doesn't know how to get them. However, at the same time, he can't take responsibility for the fact that he can't move forward, can't take action when he has the chance, and then bemoans what he lost when he was the reason he never accomplished his dreams. Instead, he just sees the "link."

8 "That Voice, The One That Tells You You're Worthless And Stupid And Ugly?... It Goes Away, Right?"

Hollyhock - Season 4, Episode 6: "Stupid Piece Of Sh*t"

Hollyhock and BoJack have a complex relationship and an even more complex history. During Season 4, when BoJack thought Hollyhock was his daughter, BoJack was still struggling with alcoholism. In this episode, viewers see how BoJack thinks and what he sees himself as. Throughout the episode, BoJack has a voice in his head that tells him he's "worthless" and that he's "a stupid piece of s**t".

At the end of the episode, Hollyhock's question about her father figure instantly became one of the saddest BoJack Horseman quotes, though not because of his usual nihilism. BoJack simply replies "Yeah." It's a pretty powerful moment, as BoJack tries to reassure her while fighting his own demons. This is a father figure lying to someone who looks up to him. BoJack knows that the voice in his head has never been silenced, but he wants her to at least believe that she will feel better one day in the future.

7 "I Want To Feel Good About Myself. The Way You Do. And I Don't Know How. I Don't Know If I Can."

Bojack Horseman - Season 2, Episode 8: "Let's Find Out"

In the Season 2 episode, "Let's Find Out!," BoJack is a celebrity guest on Mr. Peanutbutter's game show, Hollywood Stars and Celebrities: What Do They Know? Do They Know Things?? Let's Find Out!. Mr. Peanutbutter confronts BoJack about him kissing Diane, and he asks BoJack what more could the universe possibly owe BoJack, who is a huge movie star, has a girlfriend, and a TV show. BoJack's response makes for one of the saddest BoJack Horseman quotes, and it's heartbreaking, as BoJack finally admits he doesn't love himself. He doesn't know if he even can.

This is BoJack's saddest character trait. No matter how good his luck becomes, even if he has everything he could ask for, he can't accept that he deserves happiness. He deals with depression and self-loathing, and there is nothing that he can do to ever believe in himself. It is hard for some people to understand, but for anyone suffering from clinical depression, this quote hits hard.

6 "You Can't Keep Doing S**tty Things, And Then Feel Bad About Yourself..."

Todd - Season 3, Episode 10: "It's You"

This was one of the most powerful BoJack Horseman quotes of the entire show. In the Season 3 episode, "It's You," Todd finally snaps when he learns that BoJack had sex with Emily, and calls out BoJack on all the other things he's done. BoJack tries to defend himself and says he was drunk and under enormous pressure. "You Can't Keep Doing S**tty Things, And Then Feel Bad About Yourself Like That Makes It Okay! YOU NEED TO BE BETTER!"

It marks the end of their friendship, as Todd asks him what else there is to say. This also plays into what Diane had already told him when she said that there is no good person deep down because all that matters is what someone does. If a person does bad things all the time, there isn't a good person inside. Even if BoJack wants people to see him as a good person, he doesn't show it in his actions. Like Todd says here, BoJack keeps doing bad things, so he has no reason to think anyone else should care anymore.

5 "You're BoJack Horseman. There's No Cure For That."

Beatrice Horseman - Season 2, Episode 1: "Brand New Couch"

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This sad BoJack Horseman quote comes from BoJack's mom, Beatrice Horseman. Throughout the episode, BoJack keeps screening calls from his mother, but at the end of the episode, while listening to a motivational audiobook, he picks up the phone. His mother tells him that she read his book and all the things he said about her. She says BoJack will never be happy and adds, "You were born broken. That's your birthright." It's a very deep moment, as viewers get a glimpse of how BoJack was treated as a child.

This is even sadder than most quotes because BoJack Horseman wants to be a good person, and wants to find happiness. However, his mother tells him that he was born this way, and she basically tells him that there is no hope for him. It is true that clinical depression is hereditary and a chemical imbalance in the brain, which means she is technically right about him being born with it. However, her letting him know there is nothing he can do about it is the last thing BoJack needs to hear.

4 "Why Can't I Be Happy? Am I Busted? I Am. I'm A Pit! I'm A Pit That Good Things Fall Into!"

Diane - Season 4, Episode 7: "Underground"

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This incredibly sad BoJack Horseman quote ironically comes from one of its funniest episodes. When Mr. Peanutbutter's house falls underground due to his support for fracking, the guests at his fundraisers get trapped in his home for 10 days. On the fourth day, Diane and BoJack get drunk and Diane complains about how she's going to die trapped underground surrounded by her husband's ex-wives. She realizes she wasn't happy above ground either and breaks down.

It's a very emotional and sad moment as viewers realize just how terrible Diane feels on the inside, and how she blames herself for her problems. This moment is sad because BoJack Horseman loves Diane and he wants the best for her, even if that means he doesn't get any happiness for himself. However, by giving up and allowing her to find happiness with Mr. Pranutbutter. However, as is the theme with this adult animated series, not even Diane escapes the feelings of hopelessness and despair that BoJack shares.

3 "You're Going To Realize That Everybody Loves You......But Nobody Likes You"

BoJack Horseman - Season 3, Episode 5: "Love And/Or Marriage"

In the Season 3 episode, "Love And/Or Marriage," BoJack is trying to tell Taneisha to hold onto her fiancé and never let go. He says she's just going to get older and lonelier, and she's going to try to fill that void with friends, a career, or meaningless hookups. This cutting yet sad Bojack Horseman quote was one of those deep moments when BoJack lets other people know his inner feelings. There aren't many people he can call friends or loved ones, and this nihilistic advice is yet a reminder that he feels hollow and lonely on the inside.

Related BoJack Horseman Ending Explained: What Happens & What It Really Means BoJack Horseman finished with season 6. Here's what happens in the BoJack Horseman ending to each character, and the BoJack Horseman ending's meaning.

This also is a huge commentary on the life of movie stars and musicians. It seems that they can have all the success in the world, appear in blockbuster movies and highly-rated TV shows, and have fans all over the world. Everyone loves them and will flock to them when they appear somewhere but when it comes to someone actually liking them — as a person — none of these fans or co-stars actually care. BoJack knows he never found someone to share a life with him, and he doesn't want the same for Taneisha.

2 "Sarah Lynn? Sarah Lynn?"

BoJack Horseman - Season 3, Episode 11: "That's Too Much, Man!"

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Perhaps the most tragic moment on the show, this sad BoJack Horseman quote hits hard because of the realization — both for BoJack and viewers — it's attached to. The moment when BoJack finally faced the consequences of his drinking and drugs that hadn't really been there before. The month-long bender he and Sarah Lynn were on ended with them going to the planetarium. At the moment when BoJack asks "Sarah Lynn? Sarah Lynn?" and the credits cut to black, viewers feel the gut-punching realization that Sarah Lynn is dead.

Her death haunted BoJack for years, and he believed he was truly poisonous. This quote remains haunting to viewers as well. BoJack and other characters seemed ready to die and felt that life was meaningless but they usually survived and moved on to face another day of torment and sadness. That isn't the case for Sarah Lynn. When she died, it showed that at least one beloved character in the series would never find a happy ending, making for a gut punch.

1 "I've Had A Lot Of What I Thought Were Rock Bottoms, Only To Discover Another, Rockier Bottom Underneath."

BoJack Horseman - Season 6, Episode 12: "Xerox Of A Xerox"

This sad BoJack Horseman quote comes from BoJack during the show's sixth season. This statement holds especially true for BoJack, whose life has been anything but easy. From a terrible childhood to rocky relationships in his career to bad friendships to alcohol and substance abuse, BoJack has been through a lot. BoJack Horseman is one of the few shows that deal with mental illnesses and portrays them quite accurately. BoJack as a character is very likable and relatable, yet viewers are almost always against his actions.

The unflinching self-awareness of this moment for BoJack makes it easily one of the most tragic lines in the show. This quote, while late in the series, really emphasizes what it is really about in the end. BoJack Horseman and his friends deal with trauma and have no idea how to face their feelings in the face of it. However, every time they do find a way to deal with their latest problem, something worse happens and it seems there is no depth to BoJack's pain.