Raised By Wolves: The 9 Best Quotes

HBO’s Raised by Wolves explores the future of humanity through the lens of two androids who attempt to raise human children away from the dangers of life. Like a lot of modern science-fiction, the show makes biting commentary about life in the present day and presents it in a story set in the future.

The existential drama of life and conflict between human beliefs is the perfect backdrop for a television show and the character’s exploration of life is fascinating. Because of its heady topics, the show has had its fair share of memorable quotes.

Man Or Animal?

“Death Is Forever When You’re An Animal.”

Raised by Wolves often uses its sci-fi background as an opportunity to make commentary on day to day life. However, it can also establish its own themes and explore them to interesting conclusions as well. Campion is the only surviving child of Mother and Father, and has spent the most time with them.

What this relationship brings is a clear division between Campion’s humanity, and Mother and Father’s lack thereof. Campion is well aware that death is the end for humans but in the quote it shows that he doesn’t fully trust that Mother and Father can fully comprehend that fact.

People Are Complicated

“Humans Often Complain Of Suffering, But They Also Herald It.”

Mother and Father are often vexed by the more complicated aspects of humanity. For the two somewhat sinister androids it is easier for them to understand the baser emotions such as rage and fear, but other aspects are totally lost on them.

Mother expresses her confusion with people in her quote when she shows that she cannot fully grasp humanity’s reverence for experience. To an android programmed to care, the presence of hardship is seen as a negative, but to many people, the ups and downs are merely another part of the human experience.

In The Real World

“This World Isn’t Like Mother And Father. It Doesn’t Care If We’re Happy, And It Doesn’t Get Sad When We Die. We Don’t Really Matter To It.”

Though set in a strange and distant future, Raised by Wolves is also a show about a character coming of age. Campion, like every child before him, is required to learn bitter lessons about the real world outside of the control of Mother and Father.

The quote shows that he is shocked to learn that life can be cruel and unfeeling, and that it isn’t as interested in him as his parents are. Cleverly, the show juxtaposes his feelings with the fact that his android parents are, in a way, just as unfeeling as the rest of the world around him.

Mother Doesn’t Have All Of The Answers

“Why Do Things Have To Die? It Is Nature. And Nature Is Flawed.”

The interaction between parent and child has been the topic of countless movies and TV series, but few have put as unique a spin on it as Raised by Wolves. Children’s worldview can be skewed by their parent’s own and in the show it is clear that Mother’s perspective has had an effect on Campion.

When Mother is asked why people die, Mother gives a patently robotic response. At the heart of the series is the conflict between the flawed aspects of nature and the seemingly perfect logic of computerized androids, but neither side is absolutely correct. Mother cannot fully comprehend death and therefore she views it as an error on nature’s part and not merely an important aspect of it.

The Feeling Father Figure

“Death Can Be Very Unpleasant When You’re Intelligent.”

Unlike Mother, Father possesses a bit more of a caring aspect, in contrast with her perfect logic. Because of this, he is able to give somewhat thoughtful responses to Campion’s questions and is more willing to accept the absurdities of nature and man’s behavior.

His quote shows that he is capable, in a way, of feeling empathy for those who mourn a loss. Also, he is making a less than subtle commentary on those who would cause wanton death and destruction against others. To Father, a person of great intelligence can fully comprehend their actions and would therefore wish to avoid death at all costs.

The Weaknesses Of Man

“We’re Too Weak To Sacrifice The Things We Love.”

Unlike the android logic of Father and Mother, the human characters are at the whim of their own flaws and imperfections. Though they are often seen as negatives, the human’s flaws can also be a strength and there is duality between Ambrose’s indecision and the android’s ability to make rash decisions without feeling.

Ambrose in his quote fully admits to the weaknesses of humanity and in a way he exhibits one of their greatest strengths as well. Unlike Mother and Father who would do anything to protect their mission, Ambrose is able to see the other side of things and isn’t willing to make tough decisions at the cost of others.

War Games

“Humans, Despite Being Raised Pacifist, Often Played War. What They Derived From Such Games Is Beyond My Understanding.”

Human expression can sometimes result in beautiful art, and it can also result in horrible destruction. The range of human emotions is represented by the range of acts that humans have taken throughout history. Unfortunately for Mother, she is unable to understand the human need for expression and the outlet for pent up emotion.

Much has been said about conflict in the many great war films that have been produced, but Raised by Wolves used sci-fi to explore it from another angle. Despite the need for cooperation in the face of hardship, the people of Kepler-22b still squabble over petty things. Because she is an android, Mother cannot comprehend the presence of conflict both large and small within human civilization.

What Do People Want?

“Children Often Ask For Things They Do Not Really Want.”

Like many of Ridley Scott’s classic films, the sci-fi element is used to explore the inward human experience as well as the outer. Raised by Wolves is an extrapolation of parenthood but it is also about the difference between the natural and the artificial.

Mother, when talking to Campion, shows in her quote not only how she feels about children but also how she views humanity as a whole. Mother views all people as children and it is not only because she is programmed to care, but also because she sees inferiority within human existence.

The Power Of Belief

“Belief In The Unreal Can Comfort The Human Mind, But It Also Weakens It.”

At the heart of the conflict of Raised by Wolves is a religious dispute between residents of Kepler-22b and how it is threatening to tear their civilization apart. Like most aspects of human experience, the android characters are vexed by the faith of the people of Kepler-22b, even if they do see some merit in the process of belief.

Mother showed repeatedly throughout the series that she looks down upon human conflict as unnecessary, and in their faith she sees the root of the problem. She perceives faith as a weakness and it generally conforms with her entire attitude towards humanity as mere children to be raised up in her android idea of what perfection is.

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