Summary

• The best Starship Troopers quotes exemplify why the satirical movie has gained such a cult following despite being misunderstood when it released.
• The over-exaggerated hypermasculinity present in many Starship Troopers quotes perfectly parodies both war movies and real world military hiring advertisements.
• While memorable and funny, many quotes from Starship Troopers are slyly incredibly biting take-downs of society's fascination with war and conflict.

One of the most misunderstood blockbuster movies ever made, many of the standout Starship Troopers quotes highlight its hidden message. Starship Troopers was released in theaters in 1997, entertaining audiences with its gritty (yet at times unintentionally comedic) take on a future militaristic Earth society. The film portrayed a conflict between humanity and an alien bug civilization in the far reaches of space. While the satire of this future was lost on some moviegoers, Starship Troopers quotes live on and help solidify its legacy.

Many great movies were misunderstood upon release, but Starship Troopers was criticized as if it was an earnest movie about patriotism and war when it was in reality a spoof of such ideas. Even the Starship Troopers that followed failed to recognize the satirical tone Paul Verhoeven struck with his original movie. The most memorable Starship Troopers quotes might often sound like goofy and over-the-top warmongering, but that is just the kind of thing the filmmaker is poking fun at in this action-packed and wild movie.

10 "Service Guarantees Citizenship."

Terran Federation Announcement

Many of the fake advertisements in Starship Troopers also lead to the best quotes, and one that frequently caps the newsreel announcements of the Terran Federation is the slogan "service guarantees citizenship". By "service," they mean military service. In this futuristic society, you are not considered a "citizen" unless you've gone through the rigors of military service.

Whenever these civic advertisements are displayed, they are enticing the youth of Earth to join up so they can become citizens. It's another form of indoctrination. Especially since once a person has gone through military training, they are bonded to their squad through the shared experience. It speaks to the aggressive "patriotic" messaging of military recruitment.

9 "Everybody Fights, No One Quits. If You Don't Do Your Job, I'll Kill You Myself."

Jean Rasczak (Michael Ironside)

Jean Rasczak is an old hand when it comes to the life of a soldier. When he commands his own squad, he uses this statement to get his soldiers to follow him. This quote is eventually repeated by protagonist Rico to encourage his own platoon of soldiers. Through this repetition, the movie shows the cycle of military indoctrination begins anew.

Rico has learned from his mentor and utilizes the same techniques on the soldiers under his command. Many saw Rico as the hero of the story but his radicalization isn't meant to be admired. While many movies about the military showcase this kind of unwavering willingness to die as bravery, Verhoeven is questioning if it might be brainwashing as well.

8 "Who Needs A Knife In A Nuke Fight?"

Ace Levy (Jake Busey)

Another standout character in the movie is Sgt. Zim, a drill sergeant and training instructor with a no-nonsense and sometimes violent approach. It becomes a running gag of Zim severely injuring a cadet then calmly calling for a medic. During training, loudmouth Ace complains about having to learn knife combat when the current weapons of the Terran Federation's military are of a higher caliber. Zim decides to give a practical demonstration by putting a knife through Ace's hand and then calling for a medic.

7 "A Citizen Has The Courage To Make The Safety Of The Human Race Their Personal Responsibility."

Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien)

Johnny Rico is the hero of Starship Troopers and some of the sequels. He goes from a simple high school boy to a man whose personality is totally defined by being a soldier. Dizzy's death is perhaps the second moment in Rico's military career that solidifies his mindset as a citizen of the Terran Federation. During her funeral, he makes this statement, underlying Dizzy's contribution in protecting humanity.

The two were very close, and to even consider her death a meaningless casualty in a war started by human imperialism is unthinkable. Therefore, Rico morally and emotionally cannot attribute anything less than courage and duty to her sacrifice.

6 "Naked Force Has Resolved More Conflicts Throughout History Than Any Other Factor."

Jean Rasczak (Michael Ironside)

Jean Rasczak is one of the most influential teachers at Rico's school. The very beginning of the film illustrates this point. As a product of the government, Rasczak is instilling in his students the same mindset he possesses. Since the Terran Federation is styled after a fascistic government, he is essentially saying that war is the answer to solving global conflicts. It's also the answer to solving galactic conflicts. As shown throughout the rest of the movie, Rasczak's teachings take hold among his students.

5 "M.I. Does The Dying. Fleet Just Does The Flying."

Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien)

The macho nature of the military against this extraterrestrial threat makes Starship Troopers feel similar to Aliens in many ways. This quote, spoken bitterly by Rico, is emblematic of the tension that exists between the different branches of the military. Rico is a part of the Mobile Infantry, the ground forces that attack the "bugs" head-on. Fleet is the branch that contains pilots and those who operate the giant spaceships that transport troops and fight in space combat. Carmen, Rico's high school sweetheart, joined Fleet, and the differences in their experiences are made clear throughout the film.

4 "When You Vote, You Are Exercising Political Authority, You're Using Force."

Jean Rasczak (Michael Ironside)

Many of Jean Rasczak's quotes illustrate how society under the Terran Federation functions. In Starship Troopers, voting is considered a privilege. Only citizens are allowed to vote and participate in political choices. A civilian can only become a citizen if they join military service. This mode of operating ensures that only like-minded people participate in politics and is a surefire way of keeping the status quo when it comes to how society behaves. It is a surprisingly deep thought to emerge in such a movie and feels even more relevant today.

3 "Funny How They Always Want To Be Friends After They Rip Your Guts Out."

Ace Levy (Jake Busey)

Ace Levy says this poignant Starship Troopers quote to Rico shortly after Carmen breaks up with him. On the surface, it's a commiserating statement meant to console Rico about the commonplace nature of break-ups. However, it is also thematically related to the war going on around them. The "bugs" and the Terran Federation have committed atrocity after atrocity to each other. However, neither group attempts to reconcile and resolve matters diplomatically.

2 "Come On, You Apes, You Wanna Live Forever?"

Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien)

This Starship Troopers quote comes from Rico after he's promoted and leads his own squad of soldiers. It's a clear challenge meant to bolster his soldiers' resolve, delivered in the hyper-macho way that gained the satirical script of Starship Troopers such a strong following.

Keen-eared viewers of Starship Troopers will also recognize this as a line spoken by Jean Rasczak. When Rasczak was trying to encourage the troopers under his command to prepare for a "bug" attack, he shouted out this line in very much the same vein as Rico took. This is yet another example of how Rico learned from his mentor.

1 "The Only Good Bug Is A Dead Bug."

Buenos Aires Survivor

If any line from Starship Troopers has become meme-able, it's this one. Spoken by a random civilian from the destruction of Buenos Aires in a propaganda video, this statement shows the venom felt by humanity toward the bugs. While the anger and fear inspired by the attack on Buenos Aires are completely understandable, the manner in which the government manipulates this hurt is shocking. It turns the "bugs" into enemies and stokes the fire of war under the people of Earth. The bugs are certainly memorable sci-fi movie aliens, but they are not the purely evil creatures that are presented as.