Martyrdom Culture/Quotes

Warhammer 40000
"Glory to the first man to die, Charge!"

- a Commisar

"The Emperor will not judge you by your medals and diplomas but by your scars."

- Thought for the day

"Pain now! Reward in the afterlife!"

- Dawn of War

"Prayer may cleanse the soul, but pain cleanses the body. Both are necessary for the survival of humanity."

- Confessor Ganinimus

"Every man is a spark in the darkness, by the time he is noticed he is gone forever. A retinal after-image that fades and is obscured by newer, brighter lights."

"Those who believe that they have done all the Emperor asks deserve not rest, but the pyre. The Emperor tasks us unto death and even that moment shall be in His service."

- Saint Drusus - "Meditations on the Forgotten Hero"

"It is better to die in vain than to live in abomination. The zealous martyr is praised for his valor. The craven and the unready are justly abhorred."

- The First Book of Indoctrinations

"Every man, even the greatest man, is but a ripple in space-time. In an empire of a million worlds, how much can one man truly matter? Only one being is truly essential to its continued existence, hail his name, the Master of Mankind. Serve the Emperor today, for tomorrow you may be dead."

"We are the Imperium; we are a slave to our past. Our future is bound to things that are lost to memory and legend. This is our strength, our curse and our destiny. Ask me not of the future; ask me instead what fate is written in the deeds of the dead."

- Yoren Kipraus, Cardinal of Verronus, martyred 245.M36

"Death in service to the Emperor is its own reward. Life in failure to Him is its own condemnation."

- Uriah Jacobus - "Epistles" (Verse 93)

"The wheel of fate spins at the Emperor's right hand. It spins for balance, for symmetry. What was given will be taken, what was loaned shall be paid back. A life saved is only a life spared."

"Do not waste your tears, I was not born to see the world grow dim. Life is not measured in years, but by the deeds of men."

- Epistles Beati, final verse

"What is the terror of death? That we die, our work incomplete. What is the joy of life? To die, knowing that our task is done."

"Even a man who has nothing can still have faith. Even a man who has nothing can still offer his life. Curse now the death in vain. Only in death does duty end. If a job's worth doing it's worth dying for. Know your duty! The martyr's grave is the keystone of the Imperium. All mortal life is folly that does not feed the spirit. As the mind to the body so the soul to the spirit, as death to the mortal man so failure to the immortal, such is the price of all ambition. Death brings its own reward. No man who died in His service died in vain. Death is the only answer. Serve the Emperor today, tomorrow you may be dead. To cease purpose is to die. Speed the bolt that brings the end of enemy and friend. Praise the sun that brings the dawn of our final doom. The lot of courage is to be sacrificed on the altar of battle. Do not wait for Death! Dying for something is greater than living for nothing. It is the bitter tears that the gods weep that bind us to their hearts. Call no man happy until he is dead. No man died in His service that died in vain. Death is the servant of the righteous. It is better to die for the Emperor than to live for yourself. Life is the Emperor's currency, spend it well. The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Imperium. Life is not measured in years, but by the deeds of men. The road to purity is drenched in the blood of the martyred. The wise man learns from the deaths of others We are bound by the blood of martyrs. There will be no victory without your sacrifice. The graves of the warriors who have given their lives for the Emperor now outnumber the stars themselves. My armour is contempt. Mankind stands on the shoulders of the martyred. The brave man always chooses danger. Our enemies cannot stop us. They can only test our faith, strength and courage. Life is a prison, death a release. The question not is when, but how, will I die! Your purpose is greatness."

- Imperial Thoughts for the Day

Real Life
"ἢ τὰν ἢ ἐπὶ τᾶς"

- Spartan Women, to their sons off to war

Music:
""Back at home a young wife waits. Her Green Beret has met his fate. He has died for those oppressed, Leaving her this last request: 'Put silver wings on my son's chest. Make him one of America's best. He'll be a man they'll test one day. Have him win the Green Beret.'""
 * Ballad of the Green Beret by Robin Moore and Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler.

""It's a good day to die, When you know the reasons why. Citizens, we fight for what is right! A noble sacrifice. When duty calls, you pay the price. For The Federation I will give my life.""
 * It's A Good Day To Die from Starship Troopers 3.