Spartan King Leonidas Madness? This is Sparta!!! [kicks the Persian messenger into a well]
Played by Gerard Butler 
300 (2007) · 71 quotes
300 (2007) · 71 quotes
Most-quoted character in 300 (2007): in 31 of its 71 quotes
Most scenes with: Captain (3), Dilios (2), Stelios (2)
You there, Ephialtes: may you live forever.
A Spartan insult: may he live with the guilt of his actions for all of time and never receive the glorious death on the battlefield that all Spartans desire.
More lines from Spartan King Leonidas
18 quotes Spartan King Leonidas Spartan King Leonidas [To Gorgo]
It would take more than the words of a drunken adolescent girl to rob me of my desire for you.
Spartan King Leonidas [To Captain Artemis]
You are a good friend, but a better captain there is none.
Spartan King Leonidas Immortals. We'll put their name to the test.
Spartan King Leonidas Today, no Spartan dies!
Spartan King Leonidas This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
Spartan King Leonidas [Xerxes is brought to Leonidas on a massive gold throne carried on the back of his servants]
Let me guess. You must be ... Xerxes.
Spartan King Leonidas [After being threatened with the deaths of the Spartan women]
Clearly you don't know our women. I might as well have marched them up here, judging by what I've seen.
Spartan King Leonidas [After Xerxes offered to make Leonidas Warlord of his Empire, if he would only kneel before him]
You are generous as you are divine, oh king of kings. Such an offer only a madman would refuse. But ... the idea of kneeling, it's, uh ... you see, slaughtering all those men of yours has left a nasty cramp in my leg – so kneeling will be hard for me.
Spartan King Leonidas The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant, that few stood against many, and before this battle is over, that even a god-king can bleed.
Spartan King Leonidas We're in for one wild night.
Spartan King Leonidas Spartans! Push!
Spartan King Leonidas Spartans! Prepare for glory!
Spartan King Leonidas [Response to Daxos, an Arcadian, saying their choices were to retreat, surrender, or die]
Well, that's an easy choice for us, Arcadian. Spartans never retreat! Spartans never surrender!
Spartan King Leonidas No retreat, no surrender. That is Spartan law. And by Spartan law, we will stand and fight ... and die. A new age has begun: an age of freedom! And all will know that 300 Spartans gave their last breath to defend it!
Spartan King Leonidas Spartans! Ready your breakfast and eat hearty, for tonight, we dine in hell!
Spartan King Leonidas [Dying words]
My Queen! My wife! My love.
Spartan King Leonidas We will block the Persian coastal assault by rebuilding the great Phocian Wall. And from there, we will funnel them into the mountain pass we call the Hot Gates. Now, in that narrow corridor, their numbers will count for nothing, and wave after wave of Persian attack will smash against Spartan shields. Xerxes' losses will be so great, his men so demoralized, he will have no choice but to abandon his campaign!
Scenes with Spartan King Leonidas
12 scenes Leonidas Before you speak, Persian, know that in Sparta, everyone, even a king's messenger, are held accountable for the words of his voice. Now, what message do you bring?
Earth and water.
Leonidas (pauses): You rode all the way from Persia for earth and water?
Do not be coy or stupid, Persian. You can afford neither in Sparta.
What makes this woman think she can speak among men?
Because only Spartan women give birth to real men.
All the God-King Xerxes requires is this: a simple offering of earth and water. A token of Sparta's submission to the will of Xerxes.
Leonidas Submission. Well, that's a bit of a problem. See, rumor has it that the Athenians have already turned you down. And if those philosophers and ... boy-lovers have found that kind of nerve ...
Theron (interrupting): We must be diplomatic.
Leonidas And of course Spartans! ... have their reputation to consider.
Choose your next words carefully, Leonidas. They may be your last as king.
[Leonidas turns and ponders the offer, looks at three different views, the last being Gorgo] Leonidas (thinking): Earth and water?
[He draws his sword and points it towards the Persian messenger, whose back is to a large, deep well]
Madman! You're a madman!
Leonidas Earth and water. You'll find plenty of both down there.
No man, Persian or Greek, no man threatens a messenger!
Leonidas You bring the crowns and heads of conquered kings to my city's steps. You insult my queen. You threaten my people with slavery and death! Oh, I've chosen my words carefully, Persian. Perhaps you should have done the same.
This is blasphemy! This is madness!
Leonidas (looks at Gorgo, who nods to him): Madness? This is Sparta!!! [kicks the Persian messenger into the well]
Leonidas
Daxos. What a pleasant surprise.
Daxos This morning's full of suprises, Leonidas.
Arcadian soldier
We've been tricked.
Arcadian
Only a few of them? That is a surprise.
Daxos Silence! We heard Sparta was on the warpath. We were eager to join forces.
Leonidas
If a bit of blood you seek, you're welcome to join us.
Daxos But you bring only these handful of soldiers against Xerxes? I see I was wrong to expect Sparta's commitment to at least match our own.
Leonidas
Doesn't it? [points to a soldier next to Daxos] You there, what is your profession?
1st Arcadian Soldier
I'm a potter ... sir.
Leonidas
And you, Arcadian, what is your profession?
2nd Arcadian Soldier
Sculptor, sir.
Leonidas
Sculptor. And you?
3rd Arcadian Soldier
Blacksmith.
Leonidas (turning towards the Spartans): Spartans! What is your profession?
Spartans
Harooh! Harooh! Harooh!
Leonidas
See, old friend, I brought more soldiers than you did.
Leonidas No, Captain: battle formations.
Leonidas
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die!
Earn these shields, boys!
Spartans
Harooh!
Leonidas
Remember this day, men. For it will be yours for all time.
[Persian Officer rides through the ranks on his horse to address the Spartans ahead]
Spartans! Lay down your weapons.
Leonidas
[Spear flies from the Spartans, killing the Persian officer on the spot]
Persians! Come and get them!
Leonidas
[Persians sound the advance and charge towards the Spartans]
Give them nothing! But take from them ... everything!
Leonidas [The Spartans hold up their shields as a flurry of Persian arrows blot out the sun]
Persian cowards.
Astinos You had to say it!
What?
Astinos "Fight in the shade"!
[Other Spartans laugh with him]
Leonidas (decides to visit the small Persian contingent): Captain, I leave you in charge.
But my king ...
Leonidas Don't worry, Captain. Remember, if they assassinate me, all of Sparta goes to war. Pray they're that stupid. Pray we're that lucky. Besides, there's no reason we can't be civil, is there?
None, sire. [thrusts his spear into a Persian's chest]
It would be nothing short of madness, were you, brave King, and your valiant troops to perish ... all because of a simple misunderstanding. There is much our cultures could share.
Leonidas Oh, haven't you noticed? We've been sharing our culture with you all morning.
Yours is a fascinating tribe. Even now, you are defiant, in the face of annihilation, and the prescence of a god. Imagine what horrible fate awaits my enemies when I would gladly kill half of my own men for victory.
Leonidas And I would die for any one of mine.
You Greeks take pride in your logic. I suggest you employ it. Consider the beautiful land you so vigorously defend. Picture it reduced to ash at my whim! Consider the fate of your women!
Spartan King Leonidas Clearly you don't know our women! I might as well have marched them up here, judging by what I've seen. You have many slaves, Xerxes, but few warriors. It won't be long before they fear my spears more than your whips.
It is not the lash they fear, It is my divine power. But I am a generous god. I can make you rich beyond all measure. I will make you warlord of all Greece. You will carry my battle standard to the heart of Europa. Your Athenian rivals will kneel at your feet if you will but kneel at mine.
King Leonidas You are generous as you are divine, O king of kings. Such an offer only a madman would refuse. But the, uh, the idea of kneeling, it's- You see, slaughtering all those men of yours has, uh, well it's left a nasty cramp in my leg, so kneeling will be hard for me.
There will be no glory in your sacrifice. I will erase even the memory of Sparta from the histories. Every piece of Greek parchment shall be burned, and every Greek historian and every scribe shall have their eyes put out and their tongues cut from their mouths. Why, uttering the very name of Sparta or Leonidas will be punishable by death. The world will never know you existed at all!
Leonidas The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant, that few stood against many, and before this battle is over, that even a god-king can bleed.
Leonidas Dilios, I trust that scratch hasn't made you useless.
Hardly, my Lord. It's just an eye. The gods saw fit to grace me with a spare.
It is an honour to die by your side.
Leonidas It is an honour to have lived at yours.
Leonidas My captain?
Curses the Gods and mourns alone.
Leonidas This battle is over when I say it is over.
Daxos By morning the immortals will surround us. The hot gates will fall.
Leonidas Spartans! Prepare for glory!
Daxos Glory? Have you gone mad? There's no glory to be hunted now. Only retreat or surrender ... or death.
Leonidas Well, that's an easy choice for us, Arcadians. Spartans never retreat! Spartans never surrender! Go spread the word. Let every Greek assembled know the truth of this. Let each among them search his own soul. And while you're at it, search your own.
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