300 (2006) quotes

Director
Zack Snyder.

Cast
Gerard Butler.
Lena Headey.
Dominic West.

King Leonidas of Sparta and a force of 300 men fight the Persians at Thermopylae in 480 B.C.

Choose your next words carefully, Leonidas. They may be your last as king.
– Messenger
[thinking]”Earth and water”?
– King Leonidas
[Leonidas unsheathes and points his sword at the Messenger’s throat]
Madman! You’re a madman!
– Messenger
Earth and water? You’ll find plenty of both down there.
– King Leonidas
No man, Persian or Greek, no man threatens a messenger!
– Messenger
You bring the crowns and heads of conquered kings to my city 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!
– King Leonidas
This is blasphemy! This is madness!
– Messenger
Madness…?
– King Leonidas
This is Sparta!
– King Leonidas

Do not be coy or stupid, Persian. You can afford neither in Sparta!
– Queen Gorgo
What makes this woman think she can speak among men?
– Messenger
Because only Spartan women give birth to real men!
– Queen Gorgo

Immortals… we put their name to the test.
– Dilios

 [as arrows rain down on the Spartans, Astinos begins laughing hysterically]
What the hell are you laughing at?
– Stelios
Well, you had to say it!
– Astinos
What?
– Stelios
“Fight in the shade”!
– Astinos

A thousand nations of the Persian empire will descend upon you. Our arrows will blot out the sun!
– Persian
Then we will fight in the shade.
– Stelios

You have many slaves, Xerxes, but few warriors. It won’t be long before they fear my spears more than your whips.
– King Leonidas

It’s an honor to die at your side.
– Stelios
It’s an honor to have lived at yours.
– King Leonidas

Hundreds leave, a handful stay. Only one looks back.
– Dilios

Immortals… they fail our king’s test. And a man who fancies himself a god feels a very human chill crawl up his spine.
– Dilios

Spartans! Ready your breakfast and eat hearty… For tonight, we dine in hell!
– Spartan King Leonidas

Come Leonidas, let us reason together. It would be a regrettable waste. It would be nothing short of madness for you, brave king, and your valiant troops to perish. All because of a simple misunderstanding. There is much our cultures could share.
– Xerxes
Haven’t you noticed? We’ve been sharing our culture with you all morning.
– King Leonidas

Dilios, I trust that “scratch” hasn’t made you useless.
– King Leonidas
Hardly, my lord, it’s just an eye. The gods saw fit to grace me with a spare.
– Dilios

Persian cowards.
– King Leonidas

Freedom isn’t free at all, that it comes with the highest of costs. The cost of blood.
– Queen Gorgo

The old ones say we Spartans are descended from Hercules himself. Bold Leonidas gives testament to our bloodline. His roar is long and loud.
– Dilios

My arm!
– Persian
It’s not yours, anymore.
– Stelios

Unlike the cruel Leonidas, who demanded that you stand, I require only that you kneel.
– Xerxes

Those behind cry, “FORWARD!” Those in front cry, “BACK!”
– Dilios