The Apothecary Diaries: 10 Best Quotes From the Anime & Novel

The Apothecary Diaries is a Japanese light novel series written by Natsu Hyūga. Originally published in 2011, the series was acquired by Shufunotomo, who published it in a hardcover volume released in 2012 and then republished it in 2014 as a light novel series. The work was adapted into a manga series published in May 2017. An anime produced by Toho Animation Studio and OLM has been broadcast since October 2023. The series has become a hit among fans of the genre, and because of that, we have decided to cover it a bit in this article as well, focusing on one specific aspect of the series.

Namely, this article will be focused on quotes taken from the series, including the original web novel and the light novel, manga, and anime adaptations. This list is going to include a total of the ten greatest The Apothecary Diaries quotes you need to know from various chapters and episodes. The quotes are taken from various contexts and situations, and we have decided to group them based on their message.

1. “If I should die, I’d want to die of poison.”

This is one of Maomao’s trademark quotes from the series, and it tells us two important things. First, it reveals Maomao’s connection to her trade – she is an apothecary and is very knowledgeable about poisons and medicine – and secondly, it tells us what a great protagonist she is and why people love her and the series so much.

2. “My knowledge comes from my vocation—I was an apothecary. Until I was abducted and sold into this place. My kidnappers receive a portion of my salary even now. The thought turns my stomach.”

Building on what we said above, this quote further confirms how, in Maomao’s case, her essence as a character is tied to her vocation. She became an apothecary to help people, and despite the circumstances that put her in a very difficult position, she still opts to be the best and to help as much as she can, which makes her such a great protagonist.

3. “Exceptional emotional agitation commonly results in wandering like this, so we tried to give her perfumes and medicines that might help calm her down. They relaxed her a little, but didn’t do much more.”

Aside from the fact that it follows Maomao’s adventures in the court, The Apothecary Diaries contains many sound medical advice, as well as some very spot remarks on people, their health, as well as their emotions, and this quote is a great example of that.

4. “It’s got to be the curse of the concubine who died in a fire here many, many years ago. It was wrong of me to set a fire at night, I know that now! That’s why my hand got this way! Please, miss. Make me a medicine that can cure a curse.”

But there were also some very strange requests. Of course, Maomao immediately realized it was not a curse and dispelled the superstition, giving us a very detailed explanation of what the “curse” actually is, and that is why we love her explanations so much.

5. “I would prefer to say I’m always eager to improve myself.”

And this is a maxim of the series, really. It’s not just Maomao… everyone there opts to become better. Sometimes, it’s not always with the best ideals in mind, but the characters keep growing and developing, which is why this story is so interesting and why we decided to list this quote here.

6. “Those who don’t labor under such dietary restrictions don’t always understand that this goes beyond preference. In this case, the consequences seem to have been no worse than a rash, but sometimes such foods can cause difficulty breathing or even heart problems. I would go so far as to say that if someone were to knowingly give you food you can’t eat, it would be tantamount to serving you poison. I understand that under the circumstances you may have found it difficult to object, Consort, but you put yourself in tremendous danger. I urge you not to forget this lesson in the future.”

This is simply something we had to put here in order to explain just how spot-on the medical comments in the series are. Of course, you have to consider the timeline, but we definitely wanted to praise the authors for how much effort they put into the factuality of their comments.

7. “Surely one touch is all right.” / “No, sir.” / “There won’t be any less of you afterward.” / “It takes my energy.” / “Just one hand. Just a fingertip. Surely that’s all right.”

The relationship between Jinshi and Maomao is one of the central narrative elements of the story, and this brief exchange, which we have listed like this, is an illustration of that romance. If you think it is inappropriate, we can assure you that it is not, and Volume 1 and all subsequent volumes confirm this.

8. “Anyone ever tell you you’re a woman of few words? Too few?”

Jinshi’s remark directed at Maomao shows what kind of a character she is, but also how Jinshi perceives her. Despite her somewhat closeted demeanor in non-work-related situations, Maomao still has a very specific type of charm to her, and this quote shows it brilliantly.

9. “Say… Do you know what matters most to the person who matters most to you?”

A break from the Jinshi × Maomao ship, this quote is a piece of wisdom that we definitely can stand behind, as this question is very important, not just in the context of the series and our list, but in life in general. This is why we decided to list it here, and we hope that you’ll remember it as a very good and sound piece of advice when interpersonal relationships are concerned.

10. “Possessing silky hair, slender features, almond eyes, and willowy brows, he was just as beautiful as a painting of a celestial maiden.”

Maomao doesn’t like Jinshi that much – this is the lie the narrator wants us to believe. But this is not true, as there is a very specific bond between them. This is how Maomao described Jinshi, and from the choice of her words, we can see how much she likes him.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!