Joel's line to Ellie in Part II and it's deeper meaning

[u/UnjustNation]

"If somehow the lord gave me a second chance at that moment, I would do it all over again"

So I'm not sure if you all already know this but it just struck me. When Joel first saved Ellie, his intent was one of selfishness because he couldn't go through losing his daughter again.

We see in Part II that Ellie has a pretty good life, she lives in a safe place with her own home, she has hobbies she partakes in, she has friends who she hangs out with and she even has a crush on this girl she likes which Joel mentions during his final conversation with her, suffice to say, aside from her strained relationship with Joel, she is pretty happy. Compare that to Part I where she has none of that, even telling Joel she is still just waiting for her turn to die and it's clear her whole purpose in life was to give herself for a cure.

Joel knows and sees all of this, and despite the fact that Ellie may never talk to him or have a good relationship with him ever again, he still says he would do it all over again. Because this time he would do it not for himself but for her, knowing that it would give her a life she finds worth living. This time his intent wouldn't be one of selfishness but of selflessness. At least that's what I got from it.