21 Years Later, Piccolo’s Greatest DBZ Quote is One of the Best in Shonen

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One of the main reasons Dragon Ball remains popular after so many years is that its story isn’t isolated. The series spans decades, showing not only Goku becoming Earth’s strongest hero, but also how his former enemies and even his children develop and grow. Piccolo and Gohan were especially important to the early success of Dragon Ball Z.

The relationship between Piccolo and Gohan in Dragon Ball Z becomes one of the most satisfying in the series, proving how effective long-running stories can be. While there are many memorable scenes between them throughout Dragon Ball Z, the start of their connection can be traced back to a simple comment made early in the show by Piccolo himself.

Piccolo’s Stark Statement in DBZ Is The First Case Of Him Recognizing Gohan’s Potential

The anime Dragon Ball Z immediately throws viewers into action when Goku unexpectedly encounters his long-lost, and evil, brother Raditz, who is an alien. Raditz proves to be much stronger, forcing Goku and his former enemy, Piccolo, to team up. This alliance ultimately leads to the deaths of both Saiyan brothers.

It’s a huge surprise when Goku, the hero of Dragon Ball Z, dies in the fifth episode. This event leads to Piccolo becoming Gohan’s teacher while Goku navigates the afterlife. Gohan is naturally upset, but Piccolo remains focused. The start of Gohan’s intense training in the wilderness comes after Piccolo says, “No Time Like the Present,” in Episode 6 of Dragon Ball Z.

The way Piccolo speaks fits his strong and mysterious personality. More importantly, this dialogue forms the foundation of his bond with Gohan. Piccolo’s comment to Gohan highlights the boy’s naiveté and need for guidance, but also shows Piccolo sees Gohan’s potential and believes focused training can unlock it.

Piccolo, having seen Gohan’s incredible power during the fight with Raditz, knows it wasn’t a one-time event. He recognizes Gohan’s true potential and wants to train him to reach it.

When Piccolo recognizes Gohan’s potential in this moment, it’s a first – not just for him, but for everyone. While Piccolo doesn’t state it directly, his words suggest that Gohan will change so much, he’ll become unrecognizable compared to the crying baby he once was, especially once he fully accepts who he is.

Piccolo’s Iconic Quote Shows Respect For Gohan’s Power

This line from Piccolo is so memorable because he delivers it while still considered a villain. Although he assisted Goku in defeating Raditz, it was a temporary alliance. He ultimately intended to kill Goku with a special technique. Piccolo defeated Raditz as much for his own selfish goals as to help Goku, making the moment even more impactful.

The impact of Gohan’s fears and his future growth wouldn’t be as strong if Piccolo was already heavily involved in his training. The power of Piccolo’s words comes from the fact that he’s showing trust, taking responsibility, and even a hint of curiosity – despite having no particular reason to help Gohan in the first place.

Right now, Piccolo could easily defeat this enemy before Gohan has a chance to become strong enough to protect himself. He might even worry that if Gohan does get stronger, he’ll join forces with Goku and they could eventually try to kill him. But Piccolo puts those fears aside, prioritizing Gohan’s growth and pushing him to reach his full potential.

Piccolo could have chosen to mislead Gohan about his true strength, potentially maintaining control of their training. However, he decided to be honest with Gohan, prioritizing a truthful and untainted training experience.

It’s interesting to imagine a darker path where Piccolo could have manipulated Gohan with false information and turned him against Goku upon his return. Thankfully, Piccolo’s intentions are genuinely good, and he truly wants to help Gohan. While many of Piccolo’s most memorable moments revolve around his positive impact on Gohan, this is before their strong bond fully develops.

Piccolo’s Bold Words To Gohan Carries Weight Into His Adulthood

Piccolo’s mysterious advice to Gohan hinted at the incredible power Gohan would unlock, even surpassing Goku. Gohan quickly became a Super Saiyan at a young age and famously became the first Super Saiyan 2. His immense potential was so great that he was eventually chosen to receive the Ultimate upgrade from Old Kai, making him even stronger.

Even though Gohan achieves incredible feats, he goes through a phase in Dragon Ball Super where he loses his drive, causing him to question his purpose. It takes a while for him to rediscover his passion for fighting and find what truly motivates him. Whenever he starts to doubt himself or feels weak, it’s a pep talk from Piccolo that helps him remember his strength and regain his confidence.

Gohan doesn’t know what challenges he’ll face or how he’ll overcome them, but whatever they are, he’ll likely see them as small hurdles once he’s past them. He used to be scared of villains like Cell, but now he’s so much stronger that they seem insignificant.

As a lifelong Dragon Ball fan, I’ve always loved the impact of Piccolo’s advice to Gohan. It’s something Gohan carries with him even when things get tough, and it’s amazing to see him passing that same wisdom onto his daughter, Pan! Piccolo really helps Pan unlock her potential, and it makes that one simple line from way back in episode six of Dragon Ball Z feel so powerful. It perfectly shows how connected Pan, Gohan, and Piccolo all are – it’s a beautiful thing to witness!

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2026-05-09 23:48