Quotes

120 Best 'One Tree Hill' Quotes About Life And Love

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one tree hill quote

Set in Tree Hill, North Carolina, One Tree Hill follows Lucas and Nathan Scott who are two half-brothers. The brothers compete for their positions on the high school's basketball team and they are always in the middle of drama that sparks around their romances.

Though the show aired its final episode in 2012, the teen drama is an unforgettable fan favorite that continues to resonate with us today.

In 2020, OTH actress Bethany Joy Lenz (who played Haley James Scott) posted a cryptic picture of lockers on Instagram that still has fans hoping for a reboot, though one has yet to officially be confirmed.

In honor of one of the most iconic dramas of all time, here are some of the best One Tree Hill quotes.

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Best One Tree Hill Quotes

1. “It's hard when you miss people. But you know if you miss them, that means you're lucky. It means you had someone special in your life, someone worth missing.” — Nikki Schiefelbein

2. “Every song has a CODA, a final movement. Whether it fades out or crashes away, every song ends. Is that any reason not to enjoy the music? The truth is, there is nothing to be afraid of. It's just life.” — Ellie Harp

3. “There's no shame in being afraid. Hell, we're all afraid. What you gotta do is figure out what you're afraid of because when you put a face on it, you can beat it. Better yet, you can use it.” — Whitey Durham

4. “Most people are stronger than they know. They just forget to believe in it sometimes.” — Keith Scott

5. “But happiness is a mood, and it’s a condition, not a destination. It’s like being tired or hungry. It’s not permanent. It comes and goes, and that’s okay. And I feel like if people thought of it that way, they’d find happiness a lot more often.” — Julian Baker

6. "Make a wish and place it in your heart. Anything you want, everything you want. Do you have it? Good. Now believe it can come true. You never know where the next miracle is gonna come from, the next smile, the next wish come true. But if you believe that it’s right around the corner, and you open your heart and mind to the possibility of it, to the certainty of it, you just might get the thing you’re wishing for. The world is full of magic. You just have to believe in it. So, make your wish. Do you have it? Good. Now, believe in it with all your heart…" — The entire OTH cast

7. "And when you find yourself lost in the darkness and despair, remember it's only in the black of night you see the stars." — Whitey Durham

8. “Sometimes I think that we waste our words and we waste our moments. And we don’t take the time to say the things that are in our hearts when we have the chance.” — Clay Evans

9. “Live life for the moment because everything else is uncertain. Take advantage of what is right in front of you.” — Rachel Gatina

10. “There’s nothing wrong with fairy tales. Everyone ends up happily ever after.” — Ellie Harp

11. “Sometimes people have to cry out all their tears to make room for a heart full of smiles.” — Jamie Scott

12. “There’s only one Tree Hill, and it’s your home.” — Karen Roe

13. "What you do matters, and how you do it matters." — Mouth

14. "I've come to the conclusion that if having things turn out the way you wanted them to is a measure of a successful life, then some would say I'm a failure" — Whitey Durham

15. "Give me regret as long as I can keep the good memories too." — Mouth

16. "Sooner or later we all choose a path. Sometimes you never look back, and sometimes life forces you to." — Dan Scott

17. "It’s hard to fight the things we are afraid of. Sometimes we just need a little help." — Karen Roe

18. "The important thing is not to be bitter over life’s disappointments. Learn to let go of the past. And recognize that every day won’t be sunny, and when you find yourself lost in the darkness and despair, remember it’s only in the black of night you see the stars. And those stars will lead you back home." — Whitey Durham

19. "So don’t be afraid to make mistakes, to stumble and fall, cause most of the time, the greatest rewards come from doing the things that scare you the most. Maybe you’ll get everything you wish for. Maybe you’ll get more than you ever could have imagined. Who knows where life will take you. The road is long and in the end, the journey is the destination." — Whitey Durham

20. "We fell in love, and at some point, the people we love forgot to love us back." — Keith Scott

21. "You know, you might wanna take a long hard look in the mirror. And see if the guy staring back at you is the kind of person you want to be." — Keith Scott

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Funny One Tree Hill Quotes

22. "I used to be a bit of a b**** just for the sake of being one, but now I am a b**** for the sake of my friends and family. You do not want to test that!" — Brooke Davis

23. "This is our new post-game party palace. All it needs is a P. Sawyer makeover, a little paint, couple of those creepy nobody-understands-me drawings that you do and a batch of hot boys." — Brooke Davis

24. "I gotta tell you, padre, this isn’t exactly my home court, you know. I never had much use for religion. I guess what you call kindness, I call weakness. But .. no man is bullet-proof. I know that. After all, they crucified your boy, didn’t they?" — Dan Scott

25. Haley: "I'm usually one of those people who likes the first day of school. You know, new pens; new book; new backpack."
Brooke: "A nerd."
Haley: "Exactly!"

26. Karen: "Haley? Are you Okay?"
Haley: "Yeah, if okay's, like, heels that are killing me and underwear that's digging into my ribcage and I'm about five minutes from going home and binging on cookie dough."

27. Lucas: "If I tell Whitey I have a heart condition, I'm off the team."
Haley: "Yeah, and if you don't tell Whitey about your heart condition, you're off the planet."

28. "Never expected the cheerleading squad to have more drama than the drama club." — Haley James Scott

29. "Bevin, what the hell was going through your size two brain?!" — Brooke Davis

30. Nathan: "Your game sucks. Fix it."
Lucas: "Your marriage sucks. Fix it."

31. Haley: "When did we start letting boys dictate our happiness?"
Brooke: "I was 9."

32. Brooke: "What are you doing?"
Nathan: "Oh, I was just, looking for band-aids."
Brooke: "Well buddy, you found my birth control patches. Those fix a whole other problem. Next cabinet."

33. "We’re all crazy, some of us just hide it better than others." — Nathan Scott

34. "Okay, guy in need of a clue. Here’s one. Women send signals. That was a brush off. Before you dip into your shallow pool of wit, let me paint us a picture and save us both the trouble. Here’s your evening. You are going to slink back off to your buddies, laugh this off, get wasted, go home, and make nice with yourself. But don’t be thinking of me because even your fantasy of me isn’t interested in you." — Brooke Davis

35. "I’m sticking with the shoelaces. The hearts say I like you, but the shoelace part isn’t too mushy." — Jamie Scott

36. "First you’re gonna let go. Now we’re going to sit, and you are going to cry on my shoulder for as long as you need to." — Brooke Davis

37. "This is my best friend in the whole wide world. Don’t you think she’s pretty?" — Brooke Davis

38. "We’re young, we’re fine… let’s do some damage." — Brooke Davis

 

39. "I'm the queen!" — Haley James Scott

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Brooke Davis Quotes from One Tree Hill

40. “The truth is, I don't really like to think about college 'cause that means high school's over. After graduation, everyone will probably go play basketball, or sing, or start record labels. And I'll have to start all over — alone.” — Brooke Davis

41. “If you had a friend you knew you’d never see again, what would you say? If you could do one last thing for someone you love, what would it be? Say it, do it, don’t wait. Nothing lasts forever.” — Brooke Davis

42. "Someone once said; ‘It’s the good girls who keep diaries. The bad girls never have the time.' Me… I just wanna live a life I’m gonna remember. Even if I don’t write it down…" — Brooke Davis

43. “People who are meant to be together always find their way in the end.” — Brooke Davis

44. “There’s a day when you realize that you’re not just a survivor, you’re a warrior. You’re tougher than anything life throws your way.” — Brooke Davis

45. "And once you lose yourself, you have two choices: find the person you used to be or lose that person completely." — Brooke Davis

46. "When you stop fighting, you stop living. We all need that thing that’s worth fighting for. Maybe it’s a certain someone, or a special place, maybe just an idea. So find your fight, and fight like hell, ’til your battle is won." — Brooke Davis

47. "I don’t really think people can change, you know, at the end of the day you are who you are and it’s probably who you’ve always been." — Brooke Davis

48. "People are going to label you. It’s how you overcome those labels, that’s what matters." — Brooke Davis

49. "I wanted you to fight for me! I wanted you to say there is no one else that you could ever be with and that you would rather be alone than without me. I wanted the Lucas Scott from the beach that night; telling the world that he’s the one for me." — Brooke Davis

50. "Love is a wonderful thing. And it doesn’t knock much, so when it does, make sure to open the door.” — Brooke Davis

51. "Sometimes people play hard to get to know that the other person’s feelings are real." — Brooke Davis

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Peyton Sawyer Quotes from One Tree Hill

52. "Imagine a future moment in your life where all your dreams come true, you know? It's the greatest moment of your life and you get to experience it with one person. Who's standing next to you?” — Peyton Sawyer

53. "At this moment there are 6,470,818,671 people in the world. Some are running scared. Some are coming home. Some tell lies to make it through the day. Others are just now facing the truth. Some are evil men, at war with good. And some are good, struggling with evil. Six billion people in the world. Six billion souls. And sometimes — all you need is one." — Peyton Sawyer

54. “Yes, losing your heart’s desire is tragic but gaining your heart’s desire? It’s all you can hope for, this year I wished for love… to immerse myself in someone else and to wake a heart long afraid to feel. My wish was granted and if having that is tragic then give me tragedy because I wouldn’t give it back for the world." — Peyton Sawyer

55. "Some people believe that ravens guide travelers to their destinations. Others believe that the sight of a solitary raven is considered good luck while more than one raven together predicts trouble ahead.” — Peyton Sawyer

56. "I think we got one life, one chance, and what we do with it is up to us." — Peyton Sawyer

57. "It’s not about who I am, OK. It’s about who they are. They are people who hate, and they divide, and they feed off of people who don’t fight back. Yeah, I could laugh this off, but what about the girl who can’t? Who’s gonna help her? Silence only makes them stronger." — Peyton Sawyer

58. "I want to draw something that means something to someone. You know, I want to draw blind faith or a fading summer or just a moment of clarity. It’s like when you go and you see a really great band live for the first time, you know, and nobody’s saying it but everybody’s thinking it: ‘We have something to believe in again.’ I want to draw that feeling." — Peyton Sawyer

59. "Look at the kids, look into their eyes. They're all looking for something to believe in and I think that music can be that thing that changes their world." — Peyton Sawyer

60. "Either you say too much or you don't say enough and then they're gone."

61. "People are going to disappoint you, I get that, I kind of expect that but, what happens if one day you wake up and realize you are the disappointment?" — Peyton Sawyer

62. "It's not about what you say, it's about what you do. You don't like the person you've become then do something about it, because no one's gonna do it for you." — Peyton Sawyer

63. "My problem is with anybody who just vanishes and then just waltzes back in and expects to be instantly forgiven." — Peyton Sawyer

64. "Giving your heart to somebody, that's the scary part." — Peyton Sawyer

65. "I wanna believe that I've made the right choices and I'm on the right path. And there's still time to fix the mistakes I've made. I guess I want hope." — Peyton Sawyer

66. "Missing someone gets easier every day because even though it's one day further from the last time you saw each other, it's one day closer to the next time you will." — Peyton Sawyer

67. "Life is too short to fight to be miserable, to let bitter ones change how awesome you are." — Peyton Sawyer

68. "Sometimes when you care about someone a lot you just know you will make some kind of mistake and you end up losing the person you care the most about but if you're lucky, you might get a second chance." — Peyton Sawyer

69. "Don't be afraid to be who you are." — Peyton Sawyer

70. "You have to grab every chance with the people you love." — Peyton Sawyer

71. "People always leave." — Peyton Sawyer

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Lucas Scott Quotes from One Tree Hill

72. "It was a comet. The boy saw the comet and he felt as though his life had meaning. And when it went away, he waited his entire life for it to come back to him. It was more than just a comet because of what it brought to his life: direction, beauty, meaning." —Lucas Scott

73. "There are many who couldn't understand, and sometimes he walked among them. But even in his darkest hours, he knew in his heart that someday it would return to him, and his world would be whole again... And his belief in God and love and art would be re-awakened in his heart. The boy saw the comet and suddenly his life had meaning.” — Lucas Scott

74. “What's more important? What we become or how we become it?” — Lucas Scott

75. "Most of our lives are a series of images, they pass us by like towns on a highway. But sometimes a moment stuns us as it happens and we know that this instant is more than a fleeting image. We know that this moment, every part of it, will live on forever." — Lucas Scott

76. "Sometimes it seems like you are the only one in the world who’s struggling, who’s frustrated, unsatisfied, barely getting by. But that feeling’s a lie. And if you just hold on, just find the courage to face it all for another day, someone or something will find you and make it all okay. Because we all need a little help sometimes – someone to help us hear the music in their world, to remind us that it won’t always be this way. That someone is out there. And that someone will find you." — Lucas Scott

77. “Have you ever wondered what marks our time here? If one life can really make an impact on the world… or if the choices we make matter? I believe they do. And I believe that one man can change many lives. For better…or worse.” — Lucas Scott

78. “Truth is absolute. Believe that. Even when that truth is hard and cold, and more painful than you’ve ever imagined. And even when the truth is more cruel than any lie.” — Lucas Scott

79. “Happiness comes in many forms — in the company of good friends, in the feeling you get when you make someone else’s dream come true, or in the promise of hope renewed. It’s okay to let yourself be happy because you never know how fleeting that happiness might be.” — Lucas Scott

80. “Whenever you’re having a bad day, someone else is out there having a worse day. So just stop and focus on all the good things.” — Lucas Scott

81. "The hardest part of saying goodbye is having to do it again every single day." — Lucas Scott

82. "When all my dreams come true, the one I want next to me. It’s you." — Lucas Scott

83. "Life kicks you around sometimes. It scares you and it beats you up. But there’s one day when you realize you’re not just a survivor, you’re a fighter. You’re tougher than anything life throws your way. And you are." — Lucas Scott

84. "Do you ever wonder how long it takes to change your life? What measure of time is enough to be life-altering? Is it four years, like high school? One year? An eight-week rock tour? Can your life change in a month, or a week, or a single day? We’re always in a hurry to grow up, to go places, to get ahead. But when you’re young one hour can change everything." — Lucas Scott

85. "Do you ever wonder if we make the moments in our lives, or if the moments in our lives make us?" — Lucas Scott

86. "Sometimes pain becomes such a huge part of your life that you expect it to always be there. Because you can’t remember a time in your life when it wasn’t, but then one day you feel something else. something that feels wrong, only because it’s so unfamiliar. Then, in that moment, you realize you’re happy." — Lucas Scott

87. "You ever look a picture of yourself, and see a stranger in the background?. It makes you wonder how many strangers have pictures of you. How many moments of other people’s life have we been in. Were we a part of someone’s life when their dream came true or were we there when their dream died? Did we keep trying to get in? As if we were somehow destined to be there or did the shot take us by surprise. Just think, you could be a big part of someone else’s life, and not even know it." — Lucas Scott

88. "Because it’s only when you’re tested that you truly discover who you are. And it’s only when you’re tested that you discover who you can be. The person that you want to be does exist, somewhere on the other side of hard work and faith, and belief and beyond the heartache and fear of what life has." — Lucas Scott

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Nathan Scott Quotes from One Tree Hill

89. “It's the oldest story in the world. One day you're 17 planning for someday and then quietly, without you ever noticing, someday is today. And then someday yesterday. And this is your life.” — Nathan Scott

90. "You ever heard the expression ‘The best things in life are free.’ Well that expression is true.’ Every once in a while, people step up they rise above themselves sometimes they surprise you and sometimes they fall short. Life's funny sometimes. It can push pretty hard but if you look close enough, you can find hope in the words of children, in the bars of the song and in the eyes of someone you love. And if you’re lucky, if you’re the luckiest person on this entire planet, the person you love decides to love you back." — Nathan Scott

91. "When your heart breaks, you got to fight like hell to make sure you're still alive. Because you are. And that pain you feel? That's life. The confusion and fear? That's there to remind you, that somewhere out there is something better, and that something is worth fighting for." — Nathan Scott

92. “Sometimes the hardest things are the most rewarding.” — Nathan Scott

93. "People just go through things, challenges that make them stronger." — Nathan Scott

94. “You can’t measure a dream.” — Nathan Scott

95. “You know, it’s been said that we just don’t recognize the significant moments of our lives while they’re happening. We grow complacent with ideas, or things, or people and we take them for granted. And it’s usually not until that thing is about to be taken away from you that you’ve realized how wrong you’ve been, that you realized how much you love it.” — Nathan Scott

96. “Stepping up. It’s a simple concept. It basically means to rise above yourself; to do a little more to show you something special. Life’s funny sometimes; can push pretty hard.” — Nathan Scott

97. "Believe that dreams come true every day. Because they do.” — Nathan Scott

98. “Every choice you make shapes your future.” — Nathan Scott

99. "I want to be someone who's good enough to be seen with you." — Nathan Scott

100. "People say hell is endless. They say it’s our worst nightmare, the face of our darkness. But whatever it is, however it is, I say hell is empty and all the devils are here." — Nathan Scott

101. "What I'm feeling is definitely not normal. And to be honest with you, Haley, I don't ever want to be normal. Not with you." — Nathan Scott

102. "When you turn the lights out, it's all the same darkness, right?"

103. "And losing your way on a journey is unfortunate. But losing your reason for the journey is a fate more cruel." — Nathan Scott

104. "I was thinking about what you said, about living in the moment. Well, I realized, that if I’m going to live in the moment, then I just want to live in the moment with you." — Nathan Scott

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Haley James Scott Quotes from One Tree Hill

105. "I believe in true love. I believe in love at first sight. I believe love conquers all. And that doesn't mean there's not gonna be hard days or difficult things to deal with, because there will be. But finding that person who does it for you and knowing that person loves you back it just makes everything so much easier." — Haley James Scott

106. “Someone once said that death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside of us while we live. I could tell you who said it, but who the hell really cares.” — Haley James Scott

107. “I don't think you ever realize how much you love something until you have to give it up.” — Haley James Scott

108. "You can choose to blame your circumstances on fate or bad luck or bad choices. Or you can fight back. Things aren’t always going to be fair in the real world. That’s just the way it is. But for the most part, you get what you give. Rest of your life is being shaped right now. With the dreams you chase, the choices you make, and the person you decide to be. The rest of your life is a long time. And the rest of your life starts right now…" — Haley James Scott

109. "Life is too short to play games. If you love someone and want to be with them, then go get them. Deal with the mess later. You don’t know what tomorrow will bring." — Haley James Scott

110. “I think eventually we learn to define happiness for ourselves on our own terms, in spite of the pain other people have caused us.” — Haley James Scott

111. "I was thinking about the finality of it all – how somebody can leave your world in the blink of an eye and be gone forever. It’s too enormous to think about. It’s too hard. And then you’re just supposed to go on, right, like just deal with it, I mean really you’re only supposed to be sad for as long as the flowers last and then, oh, time to go back to telling jokes and reminiscing about the old days." — Haley James Scott

112. "We spend so much time wanting, pursuing, wishing. But ambition is good, chasing things with integrity is good, dreaming. If you had a friend you knew you’d never see again, what would you say? If you could do one last thing for someone you love, what would it be? Say it. Do it. Don’t wait. Nothing lasts forever." — Haley James Scott

113. "I gave you my heart. That’s all that I can give. And if that’s not enough for you, then I’m not enough for you." — Haley James Scott

114. "Love means giving chances when there are no more chances left to give." — Haley James Scott

115. "The day that you start thinking that love is overrated is the day that you are wrong." — Haley James Scott

116. "I have to believe in something right now because, without hope, I wouldn't be able to breathe." — Haley James Scott

117. "The only people that tear happy people down are those that are unhappy." — Haley James Scott

118. "They haven't invented words for how much I love you." — Haley James Scott

119. "We all make different choices, and we need different things. But I think eventually we learn to define happiness for ourselves on our own terms in spite of the pain people have caused us." — Haley James Scott

120. "Stand up for what you believe in. The truth matters no matter what." — Haley James Scott

Interesting Facts About One Tree Hill

1. Hilarie Burton and other costars accused One Tree Hill creator Mark Schwahn of abuse.

In her 2020 book The Rural Diaries, Burton writes about alleged abuse that occurred on set. She also came forward in 2017 to accuse Schwahn of "grooming" her.

2. Chad Michael Murray left One Tree Hill due to failed contract negotiations.

In 2009, the star explained to fans in a video why he wouldn't appear in new seasons of the show, saying, "They're not bringing me back next year ... because they want to save money."

3. Many of One Tree Hill's scenes were filmed on location in North Carolina.

Though "Tree Hill" isn't a real city in the state of North Carolina, filming did take place there. Fans can even do a walking tour to see various locations used throughout filming.

4. The long-running show was originally supposed to be a movie.

When Schwahn originally brought his idea to the network, it was for a movie titled Ravens. After reading the script, executive producer Joe Davola asked Schwahn to create a series around the characters — an idea that took four years for Schwahn to agree to.

5. One Tree Hill's basketball scenes were filmed on Michael Jordan's childhood basketball court.

One Tree Hill filmed at Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina — the same high school that basketball legend Michael Jordan attended.

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Emily Francos is a writer who covers relationships, pop culture, and news topics.