Starship Troopers Quotes

Jean Rasczak: All right, let's sum up. This year we explored the failure of democracy. How our social scientists brought our world to the brink of chaos. We talked about the veterans, how they took control and established the stability that has lasted for generations since. You know these facts, but have I taught you anything of value this year?
[to a student]

Jean Rasczak: You. Why are only citizens allowed to vote?
Student: It's a reward. Something the federation gives you for doing federal service.
Jean Rasczak: No. Something given has no value. When you vote, you are exercising political authority, you're using force. And force my friends is violence. The supreme authority from which

all other authorities are derived.

Dizzy: My mother always told me that violence doesn't solve anything.
Jean Rasczak: Really? I wonder what the city founders of Hiroshima would have to say about that.
[to Carmen]
Jean Rasczak: You.
Carmen: They wouldn't say anything. Hiroshima was destroyed.
Jean Rasczak:

Correct. Naked force has resolved more conflicts throughout history than any other factor. The contrary opinion, that violence doesn't solve anything, is wishful thinking at its worst. People who forget that always die.

[Ace is having difficulty with throwing knives]
Ace Levy: Sir, I don't understand. Who needs a knife in a nuke fight anyway? All you gotta do is push a button, sir.
Career Sergeant Zim: Cease fire. Put your hand on that wall trooper. PUT YOUR HAND ON THAT WALL!
[Zim throws a knife and hits Ace's hand pinning it to the wall]

Career Sergeant Zim: The enemy can not push a button... if you disable his hand. Medic!

Johnny Rico: I wanna join up. I think I got what it takes to be a Citizen.
Jean Rasczak: Good for you! Go find out...
Johnny Rico: Well... my parents are against it... and I know it's my choice. I was wondering. What would you do if you were me?
Jean Rasczak: Figuring things out for yourself is the only

freedom anyone really has. Use that freedom. Make up your own mind, Rico.

Carl: We thought there might be a Brain Bug on 'P'.
Carmen: You knew and still you sent them?
Carl: We couldn't afford to launch an operation if there wasn't one.
[both Carmen and Johnny look at Carl with contempt]
Carl: You disapprove? Well, too bad! We're in this war for the species, boys and girls.

It's simple numbers. They have more. And every day I have to make decisions that send hundreds of people like you to their deaths.
Johnny Rico: Didn't they tell you, Colonel? That's what the Mobile Infantry is good for.

[last lines]
Newsreel announcer: We have the ships. We have the weapons. We need soldiers. Soldiers like Lieutenant Stack Lumbreiser...
Lt. Lumbreiser: Over the target area now, Captain.
Newsreel announcer: ...and Captain Carmen Ibanez.
Carmen: This is the captain speaking. All personnel prepare for

drop.
Newsreel announcer: Soldiers like Private Ace Levy and Lieutenant John Rico.
Johnny Rico: Come on you apes, you wanna live forever?
Newsreel announcer: We need you all. Service guarantees citizenship.

General Owen: I had to evade capture. The lives of the Federation were at stake.
Ace Levy: [background] Fire in the Hole!
[explosion]
General Owen: [startled by the explosion] I have operational knowledge of what were up to out here.
Jean Rasczak: [to Diz] Dizzi, give me a status report.

Johnny Rico: [softly] She's working on it.
General Owen: [points to a dead soldier with his head hollowed out] Here, they did it to Farley, they got into his mind. They made Farley call Headquarters.
Johnny Rico: The distress call was a trap.
General Owen: They're just like us. They wanna know what makes us

tick. They wanna know us, so they can KILL us!
Jean Rasczak: [into his radio] This is Rasczak, prepare for attack. I repeat, prepare for attack!