I am thou

Arsène speaking to the protagonist

"I am thou..." is a common quote of the signature Personas of the protagonists of the Persona series when they are being summoned the first time. The complete quote varies a bit throughout the series, but the general meaning is almost the same. Archaic grammar is deliberately used here to denote the figure that the Persona is based on originated from ancient mythology.

This quote is also said by a "mysterious voice" that rings in the protagonist's head when obtaining a new or maxing out a Social Link or Confidant.

Similar words may be spoken by Philemon depending on the actions the player takes at the end of Persona 2: Innocent Sin, referring to the fact that Philemon, as one personification of the Collective Unconscious, lives within the protagonists just as their Personas do. In Persona 5, not only the initial Personas of the playable members, all Shadows speak the same quote when they are reminded of coming from the sea of human souls after a successful negotiation.

Quotes

"I am thou... Thou art I... From the sea of thy soul, I come..."

—English Version

"我は汝…汝は我…我は汝の心の海より出ずる者…
(Romaji: Ware wa nanji… nanji wa ware… Ware wa nanji no kokoro no umi yori izuru-mono…)"

—Japanese version

After this part, one more verse follows by briefing the identity of the figure in the originating legend. Some examples are listed below.

"I shall lend you my strength..."

—Seimen Kongou

"The bearer of the inferno that burns away impurity, Vulcanus!"

—Vulcanus

"Thy heart that beats for thy friends lights mine holy flame... I am thou... Thou art I... I am Vulcanus, awakened to the ancient fire..."

—Vulcanus Prime

"Ruler of the blazing sun and blue skies, Apollo..."

—Apollo in Persona 2: Innocent Sin

"I am the brilliant mother, Maia..."

—Maia in Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

"I am Orpheus, master of strings..."

—Orpheus and Orpheus Telos

"From the very moment of my emergence, I have been a guiding light shed to illuminate thy path...I am the original god...Izanagi-no-Okami."

—Izanagi-no-Okami

"I am the one who dwells in the rift between human consciousness and unconsciousness. I am you. You are me... I am always within you, watching over you. Farewell..."

—Philemon

"Call upon my name, and release thy rage! Show the strength of thy will to ascertain all on thine own, though thou be chained to Hell itself! I am the pillager of twilight, Arsène!"

—Arsène

Persona 3 and Persona 3 FES don't have the "I am thou..." quote when obtaining a new Social Link. Instead, it only says:

"Thou shalt have our blessings when thou chooseth to create a Persona of the (Arcana Name) Arcana..."

Since Persona 3 Portable, "I am thou..." is present when obtaining a new Social Link/Confidant and the quote varies depending the game.

Persona 3 Portable

"Thou art I... And I am thou...
Thou hast established a new bond...
Thou shalt be blessed when creating
Personas of the (Arcana's Name) Arcana..."

Persona 4

"Thou art I... And I am thou...
Thou hast established a new bond...
It brings thee closer to the truth...
Thou shalt be blessed when creating
Personas of the (Arcana's Name) Arcana..."

Persona 4 Golden

"Thou art I... And I am thou...
Thou hast seen how bonds may change...
The bond that hath changed... It is thy
first step in learning the truth.
Thou must bear thine inner power of
"The Jester" becoming "Hunger""

—The Jester Arcana Social Link becoming the Hunger Arcana

Persona 5

"I am thou... Thou art I...
Thou hast acquired a new vow...
It shall become the wings of rebellion
That breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of (Arcana's Name) Persona
I have obtained the winds of blessing that
shall lead to freedom and new power..."

When maxing out a Social Link/Confidant:

Persona 3/FES

"Thou art I... And I am thou...
The bond thou hast nurtured hath
finally matured.
The innermost power of the (Arcana's Name)
Arcana hath been set free.
We bestow upon thee the ability to
create (Persona's Name), the ultimate form
of the (Arcana's Name) Arcana..."

Persona 3 Portable

"Thou art I... And I am thou...
Thou hast established a genuine bond...
The innermost power of the (Arcana's Name)
Arcana hath been set free.
We bestow upon thee the ability to
create (Persona's Name), the ultimate form
of the (Arcana's Name) Arcana..."

Persona 4

"Thou art I... And I am thou...
Thou hast established a genuine bond...
These genuine bonds... shall be your
eyes to see the truth.
We bestow upon thee the ability to
create (Persona's Name), the ultimate form
of the (Arcana's Name) Arcana..."

Persona 5

"I am thou, thou art I
Thou hast turned a vow into a blood oath.
Thy bond shall become the wings of rebellion
and break the yoke of thy heart.
Thou hast awakened to the ultimate secret
of the (Arcana's Name), granting thee infinite power..."

Music

• "Strength of the Heart" (Persona 3 Social Link)
• "The Path is Open" (Persona 3 Social Link maxed out)
• "Strength of the Heart" (Persona 4 Social Link)
• "The Path is Open"" (Persona 4 Social Link maxed out)
• "The Spirit" (Persona 5 Confidant)
• "Swear to My Bones" (Persona 5 Confidant maxed out)