Conan the Barbarian Quotes – The most famous Conan the Barbarian quote is Conan’s answer to “What is best in life?” from the 1982 film: “To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.” The character originated in Robert E. Howard’s pulp fiction stories of the 1930s, was brought to the screen by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1982’s Conan the Barbarian and its 1984 sequel Conan the Destroyer, and reimagined by Jason Momoa in a 2011 remake.
If you’re searching for Conan the Barbarian quotes, you’re most likely after one of two things: the iconic, endlessly-referenced lines from the Schwarzenegger films, or the character’s literary roots in Robert E. Howard’s original stories. This guide covers both clearly, organized by source, so you’re not wading through a full script transcript to find the lines everyone actually quotes.
The Most Famous Conan Quote
No list of Conan quotes is complete without starting here — the exchange between Conan and the Mongol General in the 1982 film:
Mongol General: “What is best in life?” Conan: “To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.”
This line has become one of the most referenced and parodied movie quotes of all time, showing up in everything from unrelated films to internet memes, decades after the movie’s release.
Best Quotes From Conan the Barbarian (1982)
The original film, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, is known for its sparse but weighty dialogue:
- “The riddle of steel.” — Conan, reflecting on Thulsa Doom’s philosophy about power
- “Crom, I have never prayed to you before. I have no tongue for it… Grant me revenge! And if you do not listen, then to hell with you!” — Conan’s prayer before battle
- “That is strength, boy! That is power! What is steel compared to the hand that wields it?” — Thulsa Doom
- The film’s narrated opening, delivered by the Wizard (Mako), sets the tone with its description of “an age undreamed of,” establishing the Hyborian Age setting Robert E. Howard created.
Best Quotes From Conan the Barbarian (2011)
The Jason Momoa-led remake leans into a more action-driven tone, with a few standout lines:
- “I live, I love, I slay, and I am content.” — Conan
- “No man shall live in chains.” — Conan
- “I’m the one who will follow you to hell.” — Conan, to the villain Khalar Zym
- “I do not want your kingdom… I want your head.” — Conan
Conan’s Roots: Quotes From Robert E. Howard’s Original Stories
Before Conan was a film character, he was a pulp fiction hero created by writer Robert E. Howard in the early 1930s. The original stories have a distinct, more philosophical tone compared to the films:
- In Queen of the Black Coast, Conan describes his view on an afterlife: he says he doesn’t look beyond death, and that whether it’s “the blackness averred by the Nemedian skeptics” or another realm entirely, what matters is living fully now — a passage often cited as capturing Conan’s core philosophy better than any film line.
- Conan’s explanation of the Cimmerian god Crom in the same story describes Crom as a distant, indifferent god who grants people the will to fight and survive, but nothing more — reflecting the fatalistic, self-reliant worldview at the heart of Howard’s writing.
If you’re interested in the character beyond the films, Howard’s original stories (many of which are in the public domain today) are worth reading directly — the tone is notably darker and more introspective than the movie adaptations.
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Quotes From Supporting Characters
Conan isn’t the only quotable character across the films:
- “Two fools who laugh at death.” — Valeria, in the 1982 film
- “You broke into my house, stole my property, murdered my servants and my pets, and THAT is what grieves me the most!” — Thulsa Doom, 1982
- “Most men are born to mother’s milk. His first taste was of his mother’s blood.” — Artus, describing Conan in the 2011 film
FAQs : Conan the Barbarian Quotes
What is Conan’s most famous quote?
“To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women,” from the 1982 film, is by far the most quoted and referenced line associated with the character.
Who wrote the original Conan the Barbarian?
Conan was created by American pulp fiction author Robert E. Howard, who introduced the character in a series of short stories published in Weird Tales magazine beginning in 1932.
How many Conan the Barbarian movies are there?
There are three major films: Conan the Barbarian (1982) and Conan the Destroyer (1984), both starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, and a 2011 reboot titled Conan the Barbarian starring Jason Momoa.
Is the “what is best in life” quote from the books or the movie?
The specific phrasing of that exchange was written for the 1982 film; while Howard’s original stories touch on similar themes of conquest and glory, this exact quote is a film creation rather than a direct line from the books.
Are Robert E. Howard’s Conan stories in the public domain?
Many of Howard’s earliest Conan stories, published in the early 1930s, have entered the public domain in the United States, though the status can vary by specific story and later reprint rights, so it’s worth checking a given title individually.