Welcome to the dark, sprawling cosmos of Warhammer 40K, where the echo of war is never far. This universe, vast in its scope and rich in its storytelling, offers more than just battles and lore—it gifts us with words that resonate across the void.
In our exploration of “The Best Warhammer 40K Quotes,” we delve deep into the heart of this universe, unearthing the lines that have become legendary among fans.
From the hallowed pages of the Black Library to the epic digital battlefields of its video games, we journey together through the sectors of space where words wield power.
80 Quotes from the Warhammer 40K Books, Novels and Codexes
The quotes from the lore of W40K, rich with the essence of its grimdark setting, not only capture the essence of their characters and factions but also serve to inspire and resonate with players.
They encapsulate the despair, valor, and eternal struggle that define this universe, offering a glimpse into the minds of those who fight in the name of the Emperor, for the promise of chaos, or the survival of their kind.
Here’s a few of their memorable quotes:
| Quote | Author | Source |
|---|---|---|
| The glory we gain blinds us first with its lustre. | Caddaway | The Traitor’s Hand (Novel) |
| It’s amazing how much paperwork an act of heroism requires. | Commissar Ciaphas Cain | “Ciaphas Cain” series |
| Pain is an illusion of the senses, despair an illusion of the mind. | Assassin proverb | Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader |
| Only in death does duty end is no way to live. | Roboute Guilliman | “Dark Imperium” series |
| No pity! No remorse! No fear! | Chaplain Grimaldus | “Helsreach” |
| Give me a hundred Space Marines. Or failing that give me a thousand other troops. | Rogal Dorn | Codex: Space Marines (4th Edition) |
| Let the galaxy burn! | Abaddon the Despoiler | Various Chaos Space Marine contexts |
| In the Emperor’s name, let none survive! | Imperial Guardsman | Imperial Guard series |
| Kill! Maim! Burn! | Khârn the Betrayer | Chaos Space Marines lore |
| No army is big enough to conquer the galaxy. But faith alone can overturn the universe. | Ecclesiarchy Quote | Codex Imperialis (Background Book) |
| The most dangerous weapon is the one no one expects. | Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn | “Eisenhorn” series |
| There is no art more beautiful and diverse as the art of death. | Farseer Macha | “Dawn of War” series |
| I’m da hand of Gork and Mork, dey sent me to make war! | Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka | Ork lore |
| Courage and Honour. | Ultramarines Motto | “Ultramarines” series |
| Knowledge is power, guard it well. | Inquisitor Kryptman | Inquisition lore |
| … | Sly Marbo | Character lore |
| I’m an inquisitor. I do not get angry. | Inquisitor Gregor Eisenhorn | “Xenos (Novel) |
| Death in service to the Emperor is its own reward. Life in failure to Him is its own condemnation. | Uriah Jacobus | Dark Adeptus (Novel) |
| To be a man in such times is to be one amongst untold billions. It is to live in the cruellest and most bloody regime imaginable. | Narrator | “Warhammer 40k Introduction”, Various |
| The galaxy is the Emperor’s, and anyone or anything who challenges that claim is an enemy who must be destroyed. | High Marshal Helbrecht | Black Templars lore |
| Burn the heretic. Kill the mutant. Purge the unclean. | Imperial Inquisition | Inquisition lore |
| The man who has nothing can still have faith. | Reclusiarch Merek Grimaldus | “Helsreach” |
| For in the grim dark future there is only war. | Narrator | Warhammer 40k Tagline |
| A mind without purpose will wander in dark places. | Ravenor | “Ravenor” series |
| Victory is achieved through mettle. Glory is achieved through metal. | Iron Hands Maxim | Iron Hands lore |
| A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer. | Rogal Dorn | Attributed in various sources |
| They shall be my finest warriors, these men who give of themselves to me. | The Emperor of Mankind | Speaking of the Space Marines, Various |
| Suffer not the unclean to live. | Puritan Inquisitor | Inquisition lore |
| But without a purpose, an Astartes is nothing. A warrior without a war is no warrior at all. | Malcador the Sigillite | Garro: Oath of Moment Audio Book |
| It is the blood of martyrs that shall seal the doom of the heretic. | Cardinal Gerran | Imperial Creed lore |
| I have dug my grave in this place and I will either triumph or I will die! | Commissar Yarrick | Ork Wars lore |
| Faith without deeds is worthless. | Sister Miriya | “Faith & Fire” |
| We do not fight for victory, but for the survival of our species. | Farseer Eldrad Ulthran | Eldar lore |
| By His will alone is Terra kept safe. | Adeptus Custodes Creed | Adeptus Custodes lore |
| Ruthlessness is the kindness of the wise. | Lord Solar Macharius | “Macharius” trilogy |
| My enemy’s enemy is a problem for later: In the meantime, they might be useful. | Inquisitor Quixos | For the Emperor (Novel) |
| In the face of death I shall have no remorse. | Dark Angels | Dark Angels lore |
| Let none find us wanting. | Jaghatai Khan | White Scars lore |
| A small mind is easily filled with faith. | Inquisitor Gideon Ravenor | “Ravenor” series |
| Death is the servant of the righteous. | Imperial Creed | Imperial Creed lore |
| Through the destruction of our enemies do we earn our salvation. | Imperial Creed | Imperial Creed lore |
| There is no truth in flesh, only betrayal. | Tech-Priest | Adeptus Mechanicus lore |
| A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic. | Commissar Severina Raine | “Honourbound” |
| Innocence proves nothing. | Inquisitorial Maxim | Inquisition lore |
| Wisdom is the beginning of fear. | N/A | Warhammer 40,000 Compendium, |
| I am the hammer, I am the edge of His Sword, I am the tip of His Spear, I am the mail about His Fist. I am the bane of His foes and the woes of the treacherous. I am the end. | Grey Knights | Grey Knights lore |
| The Emperor Protects. | Common Saying among the Imperium | Various |
| It is better to die for the Emperor than live for yourself. | Imperial Guard | Imperial Guard lore |
| Only the insane have strength enough to prosper. Only those who prosper may truly judge what is sane. | Night Lords | Night Lords lore |
| Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes. | Raven Guard | Raven Guard lore |
| A good soldier obeys without question. A good officer commands without doubt. | Imperial Guard Doctrine | Imperial Guard Codex |
| Blessed is the mind too small for doubt. | Imperial Creed | Various Codices |
| To admit defeat is to blaspheme against the Emperor. | Imperial Creed | Various Codices |
| For those who seek perfection there can be no rest on this side of the grave. | Adeptus Mechanicus Belief | Adeptus Mechanicus Codex |
| The difference between heresy and treachery is ignorance. | Inquisition Teaching | Inquisitor Rulebook |
| Success is commemorated; Failure merely remembered. | Space Marine Proverb | Space Marines Codex |
| Only in death does duty end. | Imperial Guard Doctrine | Imperial Guard Codex |
| No man died in His service that died in vain. | Imperial Creed | Various Codices |
| Beginning reform is beginning revolution. | Inquisition Teaching | Inquisitor Rulebook |
| Educate men without faith and you but make them clever devils. | Ecclesiarchy Teaching | Sisters of Battle Codex |
| Success is measured in blood; yours or your enemy´s. | Khorne Worshipper Saying | Chaos Space Marines Codex |
| Cowards die in shame. | Space Marine Proverb | Space Marines Codex |
| Faith without deeds is worthless. | Ecclesiarchy Teaching | Sisters of Battle Codex |
| True Happiness stems only from Duty. | Imperial Creed | Various Codices |
| The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Imperium. | Ecclesiarchy Saying | Sisters of Battle Codex |
| Heresy grows from idleness. | Inquisition Teaching | Inquisitor Rulebook |
| There is only the Emperor, and he is our shield and protector. | Imperial Creed | Various Codices |
| Truth is Subjective. | Inquisition Maxim | Inquisitor Rulebook |
| Damnation is Eternal. | Ecclesiarchy Warning | Sisters of Battle Codex |
| Know the Mutant; Kill the Mutant. | Inquisition Maxim | Inquisitor Rulebook |
| To Question is to doubt. | Inquisition Teaching | Inquisitor Rulebook |
| He who keeps silent consents. | Inquisition Maxim | Inquisitor Rulebook |
| Prayer cleanses the soul, Pain cleanses the body. | Ecclesiarchy Teaching | Sisters of Battle Codex |
| Trust in the God-Emperor. But trust your blade, too. | Inquisitor Atellus Thrax | Dark Heresy: Daemon Hunter |
| Zeal is its own Excuse. | Ecclesiarchy Saying | Sisters of Battle Codex |
| Work earns Salvation. | Imperial Creed | Various Codices |
| What I cannot crush with words I will crush with the tanks of the Imperial Guard! | Lord Commander Solar Macharius | The Killing Ground (Novel) |
| Claims of innocence mean nothing; they serve only to prove a foolish lack of caution. | Judge Traggat | Codex Imperialis (Background Book) |
| Hatred is the emperor’s greatest gift to humanity. | Inquisition Teaching | Inquisitor Rulebook |
| Victory needs no explanation, defeat allows none. | Space Marine Proverb | Space Marines Codex |
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50 Warhammer 40K Quotes from Video Games
The video game adaptations of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, including titles like “Dawn of War” and “Battlefleet Gothic: Armada,” offer players a deep dive into its rich lore and relentless warfare.
Through memorable quotes from characters across various factions, these games capture the essence of the grimdark setting—highlighting themes of duty, faith, and conflict.
These lines not only enrich the gaming experience but also resonate with fans, embodying the spirit of the 41st Millennium’s endless battles and the diverse ideologies that fuel them.
Here’s the ones we like the most:
| Quote | Author | Source |
|---|---|---|
| We are the Emperor’s angels of death, not his angels of mercy. | Blood Ravens Devastator Sergeant Avitus | “Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II” |
| To be Uncertain is to be uncomfortable, but to be certain is to be ridiculous. | Farseer Taldeer | “Dawn of War – Winter Assault” |
| To question is to doubt. | Preacher Josef | “Dawn of War” series |
| We must not mistake duty for blind obedience. | Gabriel Angelos, Blood Ravens | “Dawn of War” series |
| We are the Emperor’s chosen. | Space Marine Units | “Dawn of War” series |
| None shall find us wanting. | Space Marines | “Dawn of War” series |
| From the darkness we strike: fast, silent, and deadly. | Raven Guard Units | “Dawn of War” series |
| I fear no evil, for I am fear incarnate! | Chaos Space Marines | “Dawn of War” series |
| Purge the unclean. | Grey Knights | “Dawn of War” series |
| While the enemies of the Emperor still draw breath, there can be no peace. | Space Marines | “Dawn of War” series |
| Faith is our shield. | Space Marine Units | “Dawn of War” series |
| We stand ready to serve the Emperor. | Imperial Guard Units | “Dawn of War” series |
| To each of us falls a task, and all the Emperor requires of us Guardsmen is that we stand the line and we die fighting. It is what we do best: We die standing. | General Castor | “Dawn of War II: Retribution” |
| Suffer not the witch to live. | Inquisitorial Units | “Dawn of War” series |
| Feel the wrath of the Emperor’s Hammer! | Space Marine Dreadnought | “Dawn of War” series |
| My faith is my shield. | Imperial Guard Units | “Dawn of War” series |
| The Emperor’s light is my torch. | Sisters of Battle Units | “Dawn of War: Soulstorm” |
| No mercy, no respite. | Space Marines | “Dawn of War” series |
| Embrace the Immaterium. | Chaos Sorcerer | “Dawn of War” series |
| The fallen shall be forever remembered as the Emperor’s finest. | Apothecary | “Dawn of War” series |
| Victory is but a prelude to the next battle. | Space Marine Commander | “Dawn of War” series |
| The enemy of my enemy is still my enemy. | Ork Units | “Dawn of War” series |
| There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt. | Inquisitors | “Dawn of War” series |
| An open mind is like a fortress with its gates unbarred and unguarded. | Librarian | “Dawn of War” series |
| Burn, heretic! | Sisters of Battle Units | “Dawn of War: Soulstorm” |
| The wise man learns from the deaths of others. | Ork Warboss | “Dawn of War” series |
| Death before dishonor! | Space Marines | “Dawn of War” series |
| Flesh is weak! | Techmarine | “Dawn of War II” |
| They will fear the shadows. | Raven Guard Scout | “Dawn of War” series |
| Sanity is for the weak! | Chaos Lord | “Dawn of War” series |
| Strike them down with all your might! | Space Marine Assault Squad | “Dawn of War” series |
| Let the galaxy burn! | Chaos Space Marines | “Dawn of War” series |
| This world is a shell. The flesh inside, ours for the taking. | Tyranid Hive Tyrant | “Dawn of War II” |
| By the Emperor, it will be done. | Imperial Guard Units | “Dawn of War” series |
| Forward, to victory! | Space Marines | “Dawn of War” series |
| As the Emperor wills! | Imperial Guard Units | “Dawn of War” series |
| We bring death. | Dark Eldar Units | “Dawn of War: Soulstorm” |
| See, but do not be seen. | Eldar Rangers | “Dawn of War” series |
| Rejoice in the coming oblivion. | Chaos Sorcerer | “Dawn of War” series |
| The stars themselves will be our battleground. | Space Marine Fleet Admiral | “Battlefleet Gothic: Armada” |
| Our faith is unbreakable. | Sisters of Battle Units | “Dawn of War: Soulstorm” |
| We are the harbinger of death. | Necron Units | “Dawn of War II: Retribution” |
| A true warrior fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him. | Space Marine Captain | “Dawn of War” series |
| He who stands with me shall be my brother. | Captain Gabriel Angelos | “Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War” |
| The Codex Astartes does not support this action. | Techmarine | “Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II” |
| Knowledge is power, guard it well. | Librarian Units | “Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War” |
| I have come to destroy you. | Chaos Lord Eliphas | “Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War: Dark Crusade” |
| We are the bringers of death. | Chaos Space Marines | “Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War” series |
| A moment of laxity spawns a lifetime of heresy. | Inquisitorial Servitors | “Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War” series |
| Walk softly, and carry a big gun. | Force Commander | “Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War” |
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The quotes we’ve shared above are but a glimpse into the rich tapestry of narratives and ideologies that the video games have woven into the broader lore of the 41st Millennium. Each line carries the weight of empires, the resolve of heroes, and the defiance of the doomed.
Yet, in a universe as expansive and as detailed as Warhammer 40k, there are undoubtedly many more moments of wisdom, courage, and treachery that we may have missed.
We invite you, the guardians of this lore and the champions of its stories, to share the quotes that have struck a chord with you.
Which lines from the Warhammer 40,000 video games have lingered in your mind?
Which speeches have inspired your strategies, and which taunts have fueled your campaigns?
Leave a comment below with the quotes that you believe deserve a place among the most memorable, and let’s continue to celebrate the rich narrative legacy of this dark future together.
3 Responses
Aw, this was an extremely nice post. Spending some time and actual effort to produce a good article… but what can I say…
I procrastinate a whole lot and never seem to get nearly anything done.
Just dove into the Heresy series, thanks to this guide! Excited to see how it all unfolds.
It’s impressive that you are getting ideas from this paragraph as well as from our argument made at this time.