# Uncle Iroh's 'Who Are You?' Quote Still Holds Power

> Two decades after Uncle Iroh's 'Who are you, and what do you want?' changed Zuko's life, the line remains the most profound advice in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
- Title: Uncle Iroh's 'Who Are You?' Quote Still Holds Power · Polygon
- Summary: Two decades after Uncle Iroh's 'Who are you, and what do you want?' changed Zuko's life, the line remains the most profound advice in Avatar: The Last…
- Keywords: uncle iroh, avatar the last airbender, zuko, who are you, self discovery, mako iwamatsu, lake laogai, book two earth, legend of korra, gaming, culture, Uncle
- Source: Polygon — https://polygon.com/avatar-the-last-airbenders-best-quote
- Author: Ryan Epps
- Published: 2026-11-03T05:00:17+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: uncle iroh, avatar the last airbender, zuko, who are you, self discovery, mako iwamatsu, lake laogai, book two earth, legend of korra, gaming, culture
## Uncle Iroh's Wisdom
Uncle Iroh offers quiet wisdom during Zuko's crisis in Book Two: Earth's Lake Laogai episode.

> I'm begging you, prince zuko! it's time for you to look inward and begin asking yourself the big questions
## Zuko's Struggle
Zuko, burdened by his father's trauma, acts on instinct after learning Appa is imprisoned.
## Iroh's Challenge
Iroh forces Zuko to confront his identity and desires with the question: 'Who are you, and what do you want?'

> who are you, and what do you want
## Zuko's Transformation
Zuko drops his Blue Spirit mask into Lake Laogai's waters, surrendering his obsession with the Avatar.
## The Fever
Zuko develops a fever, the physical cost of shedding his father's influence and embracing self-discovery.
## Mako Iwamatsu
Voice actor Mako Iwamatsu delivered the line before his death in july 2006, a moment he called his finest.
## Legacy of the Quote
Two decades later, Iroh's words remain the most powerful advice for finding inner peace in the Avatar universe.
## Key takeaway

Uncle Iroh's 2006 line to Zuko about self-discovery still guides the Avatar universe's search for inner peace.