Lucifer Morningstar's 10 Best Quotes

Summary Excuses are like a**holes - Lucifer's unfiltered humor shines through in his brazen statements about humanity and truth.

Heaven isn't a democracy - Lucifer's understanding of Heaven and Earth reveals his insight and relationship with his celestial family.

Desire is truth - Lucifer's catchphrase reveals his ability to draw out people's deepest desires while emphasizing the importance of embracing one's true self.

Nearly every quote that comes out of Lucifer Morningstar's (Tom Ellis) mouth on the Fox-turned-Netflix series Lucifer is pure gold, whether he is passive-aggressively (or blatantly) delivering an insult, saying something about how wonderful he is, being completely oblivious to the realities of the situation he's in, or commenting on the seemingly "normal" ways that humans behave. The series follows Lucifer, the devil, as he lives among humans and finds himself falling for a police detective (Lauren German) while helping her with her work.

It's safe to say that every episode of the series has contained at least one quotable moment from Lucifer. But a few of the things he has said have particularly stood out as being memorable lines for varying reasons, whether based on context, hilarity, or substance. Interestingly, some of his best quotes aren't humorous but rather prophetic lines instead.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

"Excuses. They're Like A**Holes. Everyone's Got One But Nobody Wants To Hear It."

Lucifer Doesn't Initially Understand Humans

This line completely exemplifies Lucifer's personality and initial understanding of humanity, which is brazen, lacking filter, and brilliantly funny. While Lucifer changed in many ways from the first episode, he still largely remained his same charming self throughout the show. He has no time for silly things like excuses for anything, particularly when Lucifer is happy to own up to everything he does himself, whether people like it or not.

What's more, he doesn't lie, so Lucifer can't make excuses for anything if the excuses aren't truthful anyway. And even if he could find a way to bend a truth, he'd have no desire to do so. Thus, Lucifer really doesn't understand why anyone would ever resort to making excuses in the first place. It's one of the things he doesn't understand about humanity, despite spending so much time living among humans.

Related 8 Things That Happen In Every Lucifer Episode Lucifer is a crime procedural series with a supernatural twist, but that doesn't mean it loses any of the common elements found in other procedurals.

"They'll Have More Opinions Than Twitter, But Heaven Has Never Been A Democracy."

Lucifer Knows Heaven Is A Difficult Kingdom

This quote shows that Lucifer is beginning to understand human behavior and Earth, even having joined social media. His "vacation" in Los Angeles is actually paying off by this point in the show. He knows what Twitter (now X) is and that it's for, according to him in this quote, people to spew their many opinions on every subject imaginable. He spoke this line specifically about the other angels when Chloe asked if they would be OK with him taking over the job of God.

In Heaven, what God says, goes. And that's that. Lucifer knew that all too well and understood that he probably wouldn't get anywhere with his angel siblings by asking them their thoughts. He, however, desired to prove to himself and his celestial family that he had what it took to sit on the throne of Heaven after having ruled over Hell for essentially his entire life.

"For Dad's Sake."

Lucifer Doesn't Take His Father's Name In Vain

This line is such a simple quote but also adorably cute given that Lucifer replaces the word "God" in this common phrase with "Dad" since, well, God is his father. Moments like this occur throughout the series to drive home the point that Lucifer really is the devil. His family relationships are often present in his use of everyday phrases. In another similar example, he said on a few occasions that he was "playing Me's advocate," using the word "me" in place of "Devil's."

Interestingly, even before people did not know Lucifer's true identity, no one ever batted an eye, simply believing Lucifer was keeping up his strange metaphors about being the Devil. People even took him calling God his father as a nod to "the heavenly father," and believed that Lucifer had a complicated relationship with his religious beliefs.

"You Send Yourselves. Driven By Your Own Guilt."

Lucifer Makes A Hell-ish Reveal

This is actually one of the most fascinating aspects of the lore in the series.

Lucifer said this when referencing what happens in Hell and how and why people are sent there. Lucifer continued to describe that while there, people are forced to "relive your sins over and over again." The most eye-opening part of this quote is when he adds, "…the best part…the doors aren't locked. You could leave anytime. It says something that no one ever does, doesn't it?"

This is actually one of the most fascinating aspects of the lore in the series. Lucifer takes what audience members think they know about Heaven and Hell and creates its own mythology surrounding these religious institutions. Other series, like Supernatural, have also developed their own lore for angels and demons, and it's interesting to see how Lucifer changes it from the established mindset. The show sets the agency firmly in the hands of the human beings committing the sins, but humans don't realize it.

Related Lucifer's 10 Best Episodes, Ranked Lucifer is a spectacular show full of twists and turns that keep viewers on the edge of their seats, but some episodes stand out more than others.

"I Want You To Teach Me Your Secret. I Want You To Show Me How To Be A Tool."

Lucifer Has A Knack For Getting Under Dan's Skin

Lucifer really got a rise out of insulting Dan, largely because Dan was Chloe's ex and Lucifer was clearly enamored with Chloe from the moment he met her, even if he didn't quite understand the extent of his feelings right away. But also because Dan represented exactly what Lucifer was not, nor ever wanted to be: just an average guy. And, some might even say, not the smartest villain on Lucifer (even though Dan was technically more of an anti-hero than a villain by the end of the show.)

When Lucifer decided to mirror Dan to learn more how to be like him, he really intended this particular quote to be a compliment, of sorts. At least partially. Lucifer is well aware that referencing Dan as a tool for the police department would also be taken in a more insulting way, and he was easily amused by the double meaning behind his phrasing.

"Why Do Humans Think They Can Rectify One Evil With Another?"

Lucifer couldn't be more right.

This Lucifer quote is one of those very simple statements that seems completely logical but, when analyzing it, fans realize that Lucifer couldn't be more right. Humans can't fix one evil act by committing another evil act. All it does is cause more evil. And yet, despite how obvious the irony is in this, humans continue to follow the "an eye for an eye" mantra, seeking revenge on those who hurt them. Thus, they try to rectify one evil with another one.

Despite saying something that should have made people think, no one really paid much attention to Lucifer's thoughts. But having lived in a world where evil was punished and that was that, Lucifer simply didn't understand how humans did things. The more he learned about humanity by living among them, the more confused he became when examining the beyond their base instincts.

"I Love L.A. Even The Homeless Have An IMDb Page."

Lucifer Finds Actors Amusing

Because Lucifer is set in the Los Angeles area, the show has a lot of opportunities to make meta jokes about the world of acting. The audience knows that the people saying the lines are actors themselves, but within the confines of the show, Lucifer is simply endlessly amused by what life is like for those who want to be professional pretenders. He appreciates art, but he also sees how strange the struggle to make it can be.

In the episode in which a suspect who was questioned turned out to be an unhoused man who had once been a struggling actor, Lucifer found it fascinating. He spoke these words to Chloe after the homeless man revealed his past work. In the hilarious scene, Lucifer even disrobed and literally gave the man the clothes off his back, shocking Chloe when she turned around to find Lucifer naked in the middle of a store.

Related Lucifer & Chloe Decker's Relationship Timeline Explained Lucifer and Chloe's relationship started as a will-they-won't-they romance. Here's a recap of their best moments throughout Lucifer's six seasons.

"Desire Shouldn't Be Contained, It's Unnatural."

Desire Is Truth

Not only does Lucifer have the power to draw out anyone's deepest and darkest desires, but he also truly embraces all of his own, at least on the surface. After moving to Los Angeles for an extended vacation from his work in Hell, Lucifer began a life of excess, including women, money, drugs, alcohol, partying, and engaging in pretty much anything and everything that he deemed fun. He believed that people, even celestial beings like himself, shouldn't deny themselves what they wanted if it wasn't hurting anyone.

If Lucifer wants something, he takes it. And he encourages others to do the same. In Lucifer's eyes, as he says in this quote, it's natural for people to follow their desires, not keep them bottled up inside. Not allowing one's self to feel and embrace their desires is akin to lying for Lucifer. He doesn't initially understand why anyone would lock away their feelings.

"It Hurts, Not Being Accepted For Who You Are."

Lucifer Wants Chloe To Accept Him

Despite being the actual Devil, Lucifer showed how he was able to relate to humans by noting that he understood how it felt not being accepted by others because of who they are or how they look. After first seeing his Devil face, Chloe ran off to Italy with Trixie, which marked one of many times fans felt bad for Lucifer. When he urged her to answer if she could accept him knowing who he really was and when he looked like he did with his Devil face, she honestly answered that she didn't know.

Lucifer was understandably hurt. While he often seemed proud of who he was, particularly thanks to the abilities it afforded him, he still dealt with the same issues of acceptance that everyone else did. That's why it was initially easy for him to pick up his old relationship with Eve, who knew exactly who he was and accepted him.

"Tell Me, What Is It You Truly Desire?"

The Running Theme In Lucifer Is Truth Through Desire

No one can resist him.

Of course, any fan of the show knows that this is Lucifer's catchphrase, of sorts, that activates his special "mojo" and one of the coolest powers Lucifer has. The second he looks into someone's eyes and speaks these words, they instantly fall into a trance and reveal their deepest, darkest desires to him. No one can resist him - except for Chloe Decker, of course.

It has proven to be a valuable tool in his police consultancy work while also revealing some hilariously strange fantasies that had nothing to do with the case at hand, like the one security guard who desired to be a professional dancer (and got his wish granted, thanks to Lucifer.) Nonetheless, the eyes and menacing smile are signatures of Lucifer, but they're nothing without this phrase.

The ability to pull someone's desires out of them is the common thread for Lucifer. While it starts as a fun parlor trick for him, it becomes a way for him to understand people, and even later, for him to understand himself, and the relationships he builds with those he cares for most. He genuinely wants to give everyone what they desire, becoming a much less self-centered Devil as Lucifer goes on.