Captain America is a pretty inspiring guy all around. While he’s definitely not a perfect character, as Dr. Erskine said in his first Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance, Steve Rogers is a good man at his core. Captain America has had quite the journey in the MCU films, from a scrawny kid in Brooklyn fighting bullies in alleyways to a leader of the Avengers, to a fugitive after the events of Captain America: Civil War. As Steve Rogers' time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has seemingly come to an end, it seems like an appropriate time to look back on some of the best Captain America quotes from his time in the franchise.
Updated on May 30th, 2021 by Amanda Bruce: There's no denying that every Marvel fan has their own favorite character that they would prefer lead the Avengers into battle. While Captain America and Iron Man might have butted heads a lot, they were both respected leaders of the team. Much of the respect for Steve Rogers comes from the fact that he has a good heart and he isn't afraid to put his feelings into words. Most of his most inspirational moments in the movies come from his desire to do the right thing. It's easy to be inspired by someone who has so many iconic lines.
YOU START RUNNING, THEY'LL NEVER LET YOU STOP. (CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER)
One of the reasons that Steve Rogers never backs down from a fight is explained to Peggy Carter before he ever undergoes the super-soldier experiment. In their cab ride together, he explains all the places bullies went after him, and when she wonders why he didn't run, Steve offered up this explanation. It really creates the foundation of his leadership for the Avengers. Running away is never his answer to solving a problem unless there is literally no other feasible option for him.
... WALK IT OFF. (AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON)
It's not hyperbole to say that there are a large number of MCU fans who don't particularly care for Avengers: Age Of Ultron. That doesn't mean the movie doesn't have some great exchanges between the characters. As Steve tries to motivate the Avengers in the wake of hoards of Ultron's copies destroying Sokovia, he tells them, "If you get killed... walk it off." It's not the most sensitive comment, but it shows how committed he is to cleaning up the mess the Avengers made by creating Ultron in the first place.
WHATEVER IT TAKES. (AVENGERS: ENDGAME)
This particular line got a lot of mileage as the "Infinity Saga" drew to a close in the MCU. Steve Rogers reminded what was left of the Avengers repeatedly that they weren't giving up on defeating Thanos or on getting the missing half of Earth's population back. "Whatever it takes" wasn't just a reminder for him, but essentially a battle cry. Even Black Widow used the Steve Rogers quote. Considering not everyone made it out of the movie alive, the phrase proved true as well.
THE LAST TIME I WAS IN GERMANY... (THE AVENGERS)
If there's one thing Captain America doesn’t like, it’s bigotry and hatred. He has always been a figure for the ideals of America, whether America in actuality lives up to those ideals or not. From his origins in comics fighting Nazis, Captain America calls attention to World War II and the horrors that can happen when certain people think they are better than others. This powerful Captain America quote, "The last time I was in Germany and saw a man standing above everyone else, we ended up disagreeing," might be aimed at Loki, but it's a reminder of the horrors Steve has already seen in the world and that he's not willing to let them go unchecked.
THEN FINISH IT. CAUSE I’M WITH YOU TILL THE END OF THE LINE. (CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER)
One thing Steve Rogers is known for is his loyalty to his friends. He’s definitely the type of guy you want to have your back. His closest and oldest friend is Bucky Barnes, and, at the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, he is willing to die instead of continuing to fight Barnes.
This line is an emotionally packed one as it’s something that the two characters said to each other in their past, and it clearly sparks something in the Winter Soldier as he ends up saving Steve from the river after the helicarrier fall. It's so memorable that it gets repeated by the duo in a later film as well.
I'M JUST A KID FROM BROOKLYN. (CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER)
One of the things that makes Captain America so relatable as a character, even after he becomes a super-soldier, is that he has a lot of heart. His stubbornness and willingness to sacrifice himself were always there, even before he got the serum. This quote is a reminder that Captain America really didn’t come from a special background, but his inherent goodness is what makes him special and is why he was chosen. The Red Skull just doesn't understand how a regular kid can be "worthy" of power, but that's his own downfall.
FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, I JUST WANTED TO DO WHAT WAS RIGHT. (CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER)
This quote from The Winter Soldier once again gets to the core of what Captain America is all about. He is a man who has always wanted to do the right thing. He wanted to be a soldier to protect others and do his part. While his ideals are sometimes too high, and he often gets burned because of them, it’s clear that striving to do the right thing and save other people is one of his driving motivations. He might make the wrong decisions once in a while, but he never wants to make anyone else suffer as a result of his actions.
THE PRICE OF FREEDOM IS HIGH... (CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER)
A quote about freedom has to be included on a list of Captain America’s most inspiring quotes since he is a symbol of America. Coming from the World War II generation, Cap has a lot to say about freedom and what America should stand for. Even when institutions and the government let him down, Captain America is still there to uphold the values of freedom and equality and fight for them to his last breath.
"The price of freedom is high; it always has been. And it's a price I'm willing to pay. And if I'm the only one, then so be it."
This quote is part of the speech he makes after discovering Hydra operatives within SHIELD. It's this speech that inspires several SHIELD agents, including Sharon Carter, to stand up to the Hydra operatives taking over headquarters as they don't want Captain America standing alone.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IF IT DOESN'T. (AVENGERS: ENDGAME)
This quote comes from Avengers: Endgame in response to Natasha Romanoff attempting to reassure Steve that their plan will work. Clearly, Steve is more downtrodden than ever before, but he still hasn’t given up hope. Throughout the first half of the movie, he makes it clear that he can't move on from what's happened, and he doesn't have all the answers. It's humanizing to see that even someone who has such strong convictions can get a little lost in the big picture.
I’M NOT LOOKING FOR FORGIVENESS... (AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR)
In Avengers: Infinity War, Captain America is a fugitive from the law and done playing by other people’s rules. When he returns for the fight he asserts, "I'm not looking for forgiveness, and I'm way past asking for permission."
This is a more badass Steve Rogers quote than usual and speaks to the side of him that is willing to break rules if it means doing what he thinks is right. He is all about saving people and following his own moral compass which is a message the audience can all learn from.
I’VE KNOCKED OUT ADOLF HITLER... (CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER)
This is both an inspiring and funny quote. While Captain America in the MCU didn’t actually ever knock out Adolf Hitler, he was a figurehead for fighting against Hitler and Nazism. In the shows meant to encourage support for the troops, Cap mocked fighting himself and he, "knocked out Adolf Hitler over two hundred times," before he ever got the chance to help defend his fellow soldiers. It's pretty clear that, if given the chance, Captain America definitely would have knocked out Hitler more than two hundred times, and he does fight and win over Red Skull.
I DON’T LIKE BULLIES. I DON’T CARE WHERE THEY’RE FROM. (CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER)
One of the best things about Captain America is how he stands up for the little guy. He was a little guy himself who never backed down from a fight. His commitment to standing up for people who can’t fight for themselves is admirable, and this is one of his best and most inspiring lines from the entire MCU.
Whether the bully is a big, mean jerk in an alley in Brooklyn or a purple alien who has traveled the universe like Thanos, Captain America is here to keep other people safe from bigots and bullies.
I CAN DO THIS ALL DAY. (CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER)
Probably the most memorable and quoted Steve Rogers line from the MCU is this one. This line really gets to everything that Captain America stands for. This is a man who believes that if you get knocked down a million times, you get up a million and one times. He doesn’t back down and can even sometimes be too stubborn. These qualities are what make him willing to sacrifice himself for others and do whatever he must to save the world. Even he gets on his own nerves when this often remembered Captain America quote is revisited in Avengers: Endgame as he battles his past self and has the refrain repeated back to him.