Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)/Quotes

This page contains a listing of notable quotes by Jefferson Pierce (New Earth).

Pages with a quote from this character will automatically be added here along with the quote.

(This template will categorize articles that include it into Category:Quotes.)

Wasn't a judge or jury in the world that'd convict me -- but I didn't have to answer to a judge or jury... just myself... and that night, Black Lightning died!

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

Lightning strikes twice in this town-- and the second time I strike-- it's for keeps!

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

This place is deader than a politician's conscience.

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

Guess this is where I prove I earned those olympic medals... the hard way!

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

Justice-- like lightning-- should ever appear to some men hope to other men, fear.

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

The Bat-God has spoken.

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

There's what's right and there's what's wrong. We can call it shades of gray, but the heart knows the truth. And for me... God also knows the truth. I have to do what's right.

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

Katana, no! They're babies!

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

Brian, everyone's about to die. That's what you wanna do with the last night of your life? Pick a stupid fistfight? Go be with your family.

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

Our entire world, our reality, is transforming into the broken, deranged, physical expression of a monstrous, alien will, and we all have to fight it.

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

I hope my Muhammad Ali act made an impression on him!

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

Justice, like lightning, should ever appear to some men hope, and to other men fear! I was 21 when I wrote those words. It was some six years later before I finally understood them-- And that was the day Jefferson Pierce became... Black Lightning

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

I don't know who you are, lady-- Or why Merlyn is your special hate-- But take a look around you. Isn't this enough killing for one night?

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

Street slime with delusions of grandeur. They don't rule this neighborhood anymore. Welcome to the revolution.

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

I appreciate the offer, folks, but this hero's got enough work right here in Suicide Slum. I can't go flashin' off with you guys. You just better get yourselves another boy!

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

Yeah, I'm black, and I know the brothers and sisters've got their problems, but maybe you didn't notice it, you turkey-- Some'a the people you say you wanna help are the first ones gettin' killed! Your lousy monsters're hittin' the ghetto, right? Who lives in ghettos, you dumb jackass?

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

Muggers an' pushers an' ripoff artists I can handle! But pterosaurs-- That's your department!

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

We're like a superteam of congressmen, huh?

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

He probably thinks he's safe... but whether he likes it or not -- company's comin'!

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

I don't want to argue with you anymore. I'm standing here and I'm begging you. Give this up. Tonight doesn't change anything. Me coming out here, how you perform under fire -- it doesn't change what I know... if you only knew, if you only understood. I can't even begin to... to... This life... it isn't a good life, Anissa. You can try as hard as you can to fight against all that's bad in this world, and with every battle, there's another one to be fought. And another, and another. The things I've seen and what people do to one another... you'll see the ugliest part of humanity. The horrors that men and women are capable of... Anissa... it'll change you. We have powers... but we... our family doesn't owe the world any more. We've given enough. Please. I don't want this life to... to do to you... what it's done to me.

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

I can't let you take me, Superman. There's just too much at stake. Take a good look at what goes on down there! The streets I grew up in have become infected with a vicious human cancer called The 100-- And it's malignant as hell! Every day that disease eats away at our city... At another part of our souls. They're all down there-- Pushers and pimps and vermin of every size and shape. And you can't stop them, Superman. They see you coming and they just crawl right back into the gutters until you pass. It takes someone like me to fight them: someone who fights them where they're strongest. In the gutters. But I'm no killer, Superman-- And maybe that's the only thing that makes me better than the scum I fight.

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

Don't act so damned shocked, Peter! You'd think there'd be a law against anybody being as stupid as I've been-- Played as a prize fool! "We'll fight them together," you said-- And I never once stopped to ask how it was that a humble tailor knew so much about the mob.

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

What kind of crud are you, mister? You grab an old man who never hurt anybody in his life-- You put him through God knows what kind of hell to get your damned "information"-- And then you come after me like I was some sort of animal to catch for your trophy room. Well, take another look around, mister-- And then try to tell me which one of us is the animal!

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)

You know, I've been staying awake nights trying to figure out who Peter was before he came into my life. I came up blank. I don't know what crimes were in his past-- Or even how the belt he designed gave me super-powers. But he gave his life to give me a dream-- And dreams are hard to come by these days. Rest in peace, Peter.

--Jefferson Pierce (New Earth)