300 quotes

View Quote The Immortals. They failed our king's test, and a man who fancies himself a god feels a very human chill crawl up his spine.

View Quote [To Ephialtes, who turned traitor and volunteered to serve him] Unlike the cruel Leonidas who demanded that you stand, I require only that you kneel.

View Quote The old ones say that we Spartans are descended from Hercules himself. Taught never to retreat, never to surrender. Taught that death in the battlefield in service of Sparta is the greatest glory he could achieve in his life.

View Quote Madness? This is Sparta!!! [kicks the Persian messenger into a well]

View Quote [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.

View Quote This will not be over quickly. You will not enjoy this. I am not your Queen. [Seconds after she stabs Theron to death ]

View Quote Gorgo: So, what does a realist want from his queen?
Theron: I think you know.

View Quote Immortals. We'll put their name to the test.

View Quote Because only Spartan women give birth to real men. [Response to Persian messenger questioning why Spartan women are allowed to address him]

View Quote Leonidas: My captain?
Dilios: Curses the Gods and mourns alone.

View Quote 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.

View Quote Come back with your shield ... or on it. [Last words to her husband, Leonidas, before he and the 300 march off to the Hot Gates, reference to the Spartan saying "Εί τάν εί επί τάς" (Doric Greek: "Either it or on it") in reference to the shield]

View Quote His helmet is stifling. His shield is heavy.

View Quote Councilmen, I stand before you not only as your queen. I come to you as a mother. I come to you as a wife. I come to you as a Spartan woman. I come to you with great humility. I am not here to represent Leonidas – his actions speak louder than my words ever could. I am here for all those voices which cannot be heard: mothers, daughters, fathers, sons – three hundred families that bleed for our rights, and for the very principles this room was built upon. We are at war, gentlemen. We must send the entire Spartan army to aid our king in the preservation of not just ourselves, but of our children. Send the army for the preservation of liberty. Send it for justice. Send it for law and order. Send it for reason. But most importantly, send our army for hope – hope that a king and his men have not been wasted to the pages of history – that their courage bonds us together, that we are made stronger by their actions, and that your choices today reflect their bravery.

View Quote It is not the lash they fear, it is my divine power.