Batman's rogues' gallery has generally been regarded as the best and while not many of them can bring him to submission, the most notable one is Bane. Bane was one of the first villains that broke the Caped Crusader both physically and mentally: he broke his bones, his spirit, and his pride. That's how menacing Bane can be depending on the writer.

To make Bane more intimidating, he just doesn't seem to show any sign of weakness other than his reliance on a strength-enhancing drug called Venom, or for some, steroids on steroids. This gives Bane an enormous physical advantage over Batman. However, that doesn't mean Bane is an oaf who is all brawn and no brains. In fact, he can even match Batman in wits. Bane has shown time and again that his mind can be as sharp as his fighting skills or as strong as his muscles. Sometimes, he does by a display of strategy, and sometimes by imparting some words that can shake Batman's very foundations as a crime fighter.

20 "It Would Be Extremely Painful...For You."

Bane's introduction to the audience in The Dark Knight Rises came from a seemingly compromised position, having been captured and interrogated by the CIA. As the CIA agent threatens to remove Bane's mask in an attempt to cause him pain, Bane reassures the agent it would, indeed, be painful — for the agent himself.

Such a sign of steadfast self-assurance in the face of insurmountable odds would be enough to give anyone cause for pause, especially considering Bane's fearsome and enigmatic reputation.

19 "Only When I'm Dead Do I Intend to Rest."

Bane is very much an unstoppable force in the DC Universe and nothing shows that better than his boast in Batman #23.4. Bane prepares to take Gotham and hones his skills by attacking numerous prisoners. As he breaks their backs and smashes their skulls, he quotes the laws of motion. But after quoting that a body at rest tends to stay at rest, Bane says "Only when I'm dead do I intend to rest."

It's a haunting quote that shows just how dedicated the villain is to meet his goals. For Bane, the laws of nature are merely suggestions, things he chooses to ignore if it means helping him accomplish what he sets out to do.

18 "Now Is Not The Time For Fear...That Comes Later."

Bane matches Batman's propensity for measured actions backed up by calculated thought. His methodical approach to everything he does has won him great victories in both comics and various media, as was evident in The Dark Knight Rises.

Having successfully captured the fugitive Doctor Pavel from the CIA, Bane calmly reassures him not to be afraid during their convoluted airplane escape. "Now is not the time for fear" he mentions, "that comes later," in a bone-chilling revelation of what's to come both for the doctor himself and Gotham City.

17 "The World Is My Prison. I Will Rule It Or Die."

Bane had one of the harshest upbringings in comic books, having been born and raised in a South American prison. Whereas maturing in such circumstances would have broken a lesser man, Bane grew to conquer his environment, becoming the unbridled master of the prison.

Moreover, he escaped and sought to subdue the symbol of his only fear: bats. Traveling to Gotham, Bane succeeded in defeating Batman and taking over the city. Bane lives his nihilistic motto, proving that he can indeed rule the prison that is his world. That should give anyone cause for concern.

16 "I Choose That I Die."

Fans may think that Venom is Bane's true strength, but he was never stronger than when he was off the junk for good. In Secret Six #5, Bane is held captive and tortured for information, having bricks thrown at his body one by one. When offered a reprieve to give up the desired info, Bane coldly says "I die. I choose that I die."

For better or worse, Bane is a man of principles, and he's willing to sacrifice his life for the values he holds dear. But it's a terrifying notion that he's so committed to his way that he's willing to die for it. Batman has had to compromise in his own beliefs before, and having an antagonist that refuses to capitulate is a dire thought indeed.

15 "I Am Necessary Evil."

Bane’s conviction in his own ideals and aims went far beyond simple belief. His fanaticism bordered on the religious, and he was more than willing to sacrifice anything, even himself, to fulfill the mandate of The League of Shadows.

Like a good acolyte, he had no qualms about picking up where Ra’s Al Ghul failed and tried his utmost to not only destroy Gotham City physically but reduce it a husk of its former spirit. He truly believed he was “a necessary evil” to rid humanity of Gotham’s corruption, and the lengths he went to were enough to chill anyone’s soul.

14 "I Am Not A Joke! I Am Not A Riddle! I Am Bane!"

"I am not a joke. I am not a riddle! I am not a bird or a cat or a penguin! I'm not a scarecrow or a plant or a puppet! I am not your broken friend! I am not your regretful teacher! I am not a child's fairy tale! I am not a circus act here to amuse and frighten you! I am not another one of your madmen howling at the moon! And I... I am not... I am not some rich boy playing dress-up! I AM BANE!"

This quote from Batman, Volume 3: I Am Bane shows how Bane differs from a lot of Batman villains. Characters like The Riddler play a lot of games, while the Joker has some goofy, yet cruel antics. There are also the likes of The Penguin, Mr. Freeze, and more who have been played for comedic jokes in the past. Bane is different though.

Bane's one of the few Batman villains who everyone can take seriously and who looks like he can actually do damage. He shouted here that he's not some kind of joke as his superhuman strength and genius-level intellect have made him more than a match for Batman.

13 "I'd Kill For Anything..."

"I’d kill for anything. I’d kill to silence a grating voice, to darken the light in the eyes that dared look at me."

Beautiful and brutal, Bane's smarts are as big as his muscles, so his threats are far from surprising. Growing up in prison, Bane learned to speak several languages including English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin.

Bane has proven to be intolerant of failures or blunders, both from himself or his henchmen. At one point, Bane has even taken over Gotham's underworld and became the supreme kingpin, defeating everyone-- even the Joker. This happens because he's completely ruthless. It doesn't take a lot for him to be ready to kill.

12 "You Merely Adopted The Dark..."

"You merely adopted the dark; I was born in it, molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but blinding! The shadows betray you because they belong to me.”

This is one of the most popular quotes by Bane. Christopher Nolan took a few liberties with his version of Bane for The Dark Knight Rises but in the end, he gave live-action Bane some justice on-screen.

Bane's words have established how better he is as a warrior than Batman. Even without his Venom drug, his strength was equal to or better than Batman's. Batman attempted to use the darkness to his advantage as he's known to do but Bane was basically bred in darkness.

11 "Gotham Will Be Mine!"

In Bane's very first appearance in Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1, fans got to meet the highly intelligent foe for the first time. The villain makes himself known to Batman by killing a high-profile crime family, giving Bane the chance to size up Batman for the first time. As the Dark Knight looks on at him, Bane says "The Batman is Gotham City. I will watch him. Study Him. And when I know him and why he does not kill, I will know this city. And then Gotham will be mine!".

It's an inspired speech and one that gets to the core of who Bane really is. A lesser muscle-bound villain would have just come to Gotham and challenged Batman immediately. But Bane is highly calculating and cunning. He's aware that in order to truly conquer the city, he has to know its most infamous byproduct inside and out.

10 "There Is No Such Thing As Childhood. It's A Myth."

Bane first said this in the comic book series, Secret Six Vol. 3 #16. In his established origin story, Bane was imprisoned as a child after his insurgent and incarcerated father escaped prison. The corrupt government of the fictional Latin American country of Santa Prisca decreed Bane should serve his father's prison sentence as a replacement despite his young age.

There, Bane learned the hard way to grow up. He spent most of his time in the prison gym and learning to defend himself. Still, he did not let prison dull his wisdom. He grabbed and read any book he could find and learned what he can. He also committed his first murder at the age of eight, the same age Bruce Wayne's parents were murdered. Both skipped childhood and had to learn to become a man. Regardless, Bane's childhood makes Bruce's billion-dollar support system look like paradise.

9 "Peace Has Cost You Your Strength!"

Batman is as tough as they come but by the time his fight rolls around in The Dark Knight Rises, he's been in retirement. Gotham was mostly cleaned up so peace allowed him to sit on the sidelines. Unlike Batman, Bane is a man who never stops or has never known peace.

During their fight, Bane said this and it's just another in a long line of memorable quotes during that exchange. Bane was in full control, battering Batman in a way that hadn't been seen on screen before or since. He could do this because not knowing peace ensured that he'd never become weakened by it.

8 “I am Gotham’s King!”

Bane and Batman's relationship has always been contentious with both men fighting for the soul of Gotham. And Bane had no problem calling out Batman for failing his beloved city in Forever Evil Aftermath: Batman vs. Bane #1. In the wake of the Crime Syndicate's invasion, Batman comes back to Gotham to reestablish order after Bane seized control in the Caped Crusader's absence. As Batman tears down Bane, the villain replies "Scarecrow, Croc, Clayface...Your entire hall of broken mirrors took Gotham as their whore. Only I was here to protect them. I saved this city...I am Gotham's King!".

The pure hatred in this quote is palpable. During one of the worst events in DC history, Bane feels that Batman left Gotham when it needed him the most. Not only does it show that Bane takes his conquest of Gotham seriously, but that he holds Batman accountable for its well-being. Failing Gotham in any capacity is something that Bane won't tolerate from the person claiming to be the city's hero.

7 "Do You Feel In Charge?"

One of the most iconic moments of The Dark Knight Rise saw Bane put his hand on a noisy and bossy rich guy, ask this question, and immediately shut him up and send him trembling. You can feel the violence in his voice and gesture and the most threatening part was that he merely used words.

Even the Joker would not be able to do that to an unruly thug without having to hurt him physically. That goes to show Bane's confidence and dominance; no need for loud tantrums or outright violence. If simple and calm words can't do the trick, then you're not scary or authoritative enough.

6 "We Will Destroy Gotham... Then You Have My Permission To Die."

The Bane in The Dark Knight Rises wasn't just about going straight for the kill. That's why he made Batman watch him and his henchmen rip Gotham apart piece by piece while he lay helpless in a cell with a broken back.

It shows just how diabolical Bane can be, destroying what his enemy loves while he is watching. Of course, there's no doubt that Batman loves Gotham more than anything, so this hurt in more ways than one. On top of that, telling someone they can only die on your terms is pretty chilling.

5 "Mine By Right of Power"

In his heart of hearts, Bane knows that Gotham City isn't his alone. In Bane: Conquest #2, he talks with Bruce Wayne and describes Gotham as "our city". When Bruce asks for clarification, Bane replies "Yours by right of birth. Mine by right of power".

That may be as close to a compliment as he can give to Batman. But what Bane is really saying is that he believes his strength and intelligence have given him a claim to the city. It's a display of the egotism that has driven him his whole life, and shows just how dangerous a mentality Bane actually holds.

4 "You Will Know My Name One Day. And On That Day, You Will Beg For Mercy."

Batman encountered Bane briefly on his arrival in Gotham when Bane was performing reconnaissance to learn about his foe. There, he issued a stark warning to Batman, stating, "You will know my name one day. And on that day you will beg for mercy. You will scream my name! SCREAM IT!"

Used to being threatened, Batman shrugged it off. Perhaps if he had known how devastatingly disastrous Bane's emergence would have on both his life and Gotham's history, Batman may have taken that proclamation more seriously.

3 "Let's Not Stand On Ceremony... Mr. Wayne."

Bane uttering these words in The Dark Knight Rises was something unexpected even for the World's Best Detective. As much chaos as Scarecrow and Joker caused in Nolan's first two movies, neither managed to learn the truth about Batman's secret identity. Yet Bane showed that somehow, he knew.

The line is especially scary because not even the audience knew that he was aware of Bruce Wayne's vigilante escapades. Bane knew the truth, making him frightening on both a physical and intellectual level. Batman was completely on his heels and it showed once the fight actually began.

2 "No One Cared Who I Was Until I Put On The Mask."

This quote showed how similar Bane is at times to Batman. They are both children who got the short end of the stick with Bane getting only splinters. Moreover, Bane was probably what Batman would have been if Bruce Wayne wasn't wealthy.

For both damaged characters, the mask was everything. It was their true face, their ambition, and their reputation. The man behind it was merely the disguise, though Bane never really took his off, willingly.

1 "I Am Bane-- And I Could Kill You... Instead, I Will Simply... Break You!"

"I am Bane -- and I could kill you... but death would only end your agony -- and silence your shame. Instead, I will simply... BREAK YOU!"

Bane was one of the first supervillains to dominate Batman. He's the one who "broke the bat" so to speak, by literally breaking Batman's back and forcing him into a temporary retirement while he heals. Bane did this in Batman Vol 1 #497 which is the origin of that quote.

Bane simply could have killed him, as he said, but he's no simple criminal-- he actually has his own rules and conviction.

To this day, Batman's easy and disgraceful defeat at the hands of Bane is one of the most notable disasters in the Dark Knight's crime-fighting career.