Quotes

Dialogue

Persian messenger: If you value your lives over your complete annihilation... listen carefully, Leonidas. Xerxes conquers and controls everything he rests his eyes upon. He leads an army so massive, it shakes the ground with its march. So vast, it drinks the rivers dry. 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. Now, that's a bit of a problem. See, rumor has it... the Athenians have already turned you down. And if those philosophers and boy-lovers have found that kind of nerve, then— Theron: We must be diplomatic. Leonidas: [cutting him off] And, of course, Spartans... have their reputation to consider. Persian messenger: Choose your next words carefully, Leonidas. They may be your last as king. Leonidas: [in his head] "Earth and water." [having made up his mind, he draws his sword on the Persian messenger, whose back is to a large well. The Spartan guards follow suit and

Dialogue

Leonidas: It seems, though a slave and captive of lecherous old men, the oracle's words could set fire to all that I love. Gorgo: So that is why my king loses sleep and is forced from the warmth of his bed? There's only one woman's words that should affect the mood of my husband. Those are mine. Leonidas: Then what must a king do to save his world, when the very laws he has sworn to protect force him to do nothing? Gorgo: It is not a question of what a Spartan citizen should do, nor a husband, nor a king. Instead, ask yourself, my dearest love, what should a free man do?

Dialogue

Persian Emissary: [encountering a group of Greeks building a wall to hold off the Persians] I am the emissary to the ruler of all the world, the god of gods, king of kings, and by that authority I demand that someone show me your commander! [Greeks ignore him] Listen. Do you think the paltry dozen you slew scare us? These hills swarm with our scouts! And do you think your pathetic wall will do anything other than fall like a heap of dry leaves in the face of... [sees that the stone wall is partially made up of Persian corpses] Stelios: Our ancestors built this wall, using ancient stones from the bosom of Greece herself. And with a little Spartan help, your Persian scouts provided the mortar. Persian Emissary: You will pay for your barbarism! [swings his whip to strike Stelios, who surges forward and cuts off his arm] My arm! Stelios: It's not yours anymore. Go now, run along and tell your Xerxes that he faces free men here, not slaves. Do it quickly, before we decide to make our wall j

Dialogue

Captain: Earthquake? Leonidas: No, Captain. Battle formations! [The first wave of Persian infantry begins to advance on the Spartan position] This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Captain: Earn these shields, boys! Spartans: Haroo! Leonidas: Remember this day, men. For it will be yours for all time! [The Persian Officer rides through the ranks on his horse to address the Spartans ahead.] Persian Officer: Spartans! Lay down your weapons. [a spear flies from the Spartans, killing the Persian officer.] Leonidas: [at the front row] Persians! [assumes phalanx stance with the men on his row] Come and get them! [The Persians sound the advance and charge towards the Spartans.] Captain: Hold! Leonidas: Give them nothing! But take from them... everything!

Dialogue

Leonidas: Let me guess... you must be... Xerxes? Xerxes: Come, Leonidas. Let us reason together. It would be a regrettable waste, 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. Xerxes: Yours is a fascinating tribe. Even now, you are defiant, in the face of annihilation and the presence of a god. It isn't wise to stand against me, Leonidas. Imagine what horrible fate awaits my enemies when I would gladly kill any of my own men for victory. Leonidas: And I would die for any one of mine. Xerxes: 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. Leonidas: Clearly you don't know our women. I might as well have marched them up here, judging

Dialogue

Theron: Beautiful night. Gorgo: Yes, but I did not ask you here for a small talk, Theron. [grabs her dress and walks with Theron] Theron: You can be sure of that. You never spared words with me. Gorgo: Can I offer you something? A drink, perhaps? Theron: [nervously] Is it poison? Gorgo: I'm sorry to disappoint you, it's only water. Theron: [drinks his water in a cup] I'm told it's been arranged for you to go before the council. Gorgo: Yes. I need your help in winning votes to send the army north to our king. Theron: Yes. I can see it, the two of us standing together. Me, politician. You, warrior. Our voices as one. But why would I want to do that? Gorgo: It proves you care for a king who right now fights for the very water we drink. Theron: True. But this is politics, not war. Leonidas is an idealist. Gorgo: I know your kind too well. You send men to slaughter for your own gain. Theron: Your husband, our king, has taken 300 of our finest to slaughter. He's broken our laws and left with

Dialogue

Daxos: This battle is over, Leonidas. 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 is no glory to be had now. Only retreat or surrender... or death. Leonidas: Well, that's an easy choice for us, Arcadian. 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.