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Most Memorable Captain America Quotes In The MCU

He might not be known for his hilarious one-liners or his sarcastic comebacks, but Captain America (Chris Evans) certainly had some memorable dialogue during his tenure in the MCU. While his frenemy Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) delivered some memorable quotes full of wit and sass, Steve Rogers was more of a motivational speaker. We could always rely on Cap to pick us up when we were down and make impending doom seem a little less doomy.

Comparing Captain America to some of our other favorite heroes proves he's got some of the most memorable lines ever spoken in the MCU — and quite possibly the most memorable line. Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) can't quite hold a candle to Cap's dialogue, and a lot of it has to do with how these lines are delivered. Evans perfectly portrayed Steve Rogers and delivered his lines with gumption and authority. And yes, occasionally, we got a funny quip from the patriotic hero. The inspirational outweighs the comedic, though, and we prefer it that way when it comes to God's righteous man.

So pick your favorite Captain America line and see if it made our list.

'I can do this all day.'

It was evident from the start that there was inherent goodness in Steve Rogers. In "Captain America: The First Avenger," we saw the scrawny character stand up to the biggest bullies. After shushing a rude moviegoer in the first act, Steve is taken outside by the jerk (who's twice his size) and beaten on repeatedly. As the macho man continues delivering blows, Steve gets up and fights back over and over, knowing he stands no chance of winning.

The tough guy eventually responds to Steve's determination, saying, "You don't know when to give up, do ya?" It's here that Steve comes back with a line we would hear repeated two more times throughout the MCU, eventually becoming something of a joke in the end. "I can do this all day," little Steve replies. Thankfully, Bucky (Sebastian Stan) interrupts the fight, but there's no doubt that future Cap certainly would have fought for as long as he could.

The first time Steve repeats the line is in "Captain America: Civil War" during his and Bucky's final fight against Iron Man. After Tony tells Cap to "stay down," threatening it's his "final warning," Steve spits the line back out. Later, in "Avengers: Endgame," when the two Caps fight each other in the time heist, the 2012 version of Steve quips, "I can do this all day" to present-day Cap. "Yeah, I know," future Steve says with annoyance.

'Before we get started, does anyone want to get out?'

What a scene. What a moment. What a line. In "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," it's revealed that a nice chunk of S.H.I.E.L.D. is actually Hydra, and most of the organization turns on Steve Rogers. The nerve. While Cap has a sense that something is askew, he comes to the full realization that he's on his own when Hydra's biggest roughnecks jump him in an elevator.

As the elevator continues to stop floor-by-floor, picking up more Hydra members, Steve begins to mentally prepare for the impending fight. Once the elevator is full — with nine men in black and one in blue — Steve gives the occupants one last chance to leave unscathed. "Before we get started, does anyone want to get out?" he asks. It's the ultimate badass line and an excellent moment for Steve as we see him really own his strength and abilities. None of the nine morons take Cap up on his offer, and they all proceed to get their Hydra you-know-whats kicked. Hail, Steve Rogers!

'If I see a situation pointed south, I can't ignore it. Sometimes I wish I could.'

In "Captain America: Civil War," Steve Rogers and Tony Stark's ongoing tension comes to a head. After their initial disagreement about the necessity of the Sokovia Accords, the two split up when Steve needs to leave for Peggy Carter's (Hayley Atwell) funeral. The next time they meet is after Cap has been captured by Rhodes (Don Cheadle) for helping aid Bucky. He's brought into holding where Tony tries to convince him to sign the Accords.

As someone who always wants to help right wrongs and aid those in need, the Accords (which limit how often the Avengers can intervene in a conflict) are something Steve just can't get behind. "If I see a situation pointed south, I can't ignore it. Sometimes I wish I could," he tells an annoyed Tony. He starts up again, getting ready to say something else before Tony cuts in with, "Sometimes I want to punch you in your perfect teeth." He knows as well as we all do that Steve will always do what's right and will not be told by anyone to do anything differently.

'I'm with you to the end of the line.'

The MCU is full of bromances: Tony Stark and James Rhodes; Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon); and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Mobius (Owen Wilson). While surely every MCU fan has their favorite, you could argue that Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes' friendship reigns supreme. From the get-go, we saw how much respect the duo had for one another in "Captain America: The First Avenger." Bucky always stood up for Steve when he was still small and weak and promised his friend he'd always be there.

In "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," we flash back to just after Steve's mother's funeral when he still had his smaller physique. Bucky offers to help Steve out and even hints at their living together. Steve, however, turns his friend down. "I'm with you to the end of the line, pal," Bucky says. Later, in the present day, Steve says the line back to Bucky (sans "pal"), but the quote bears much more weight. It's the moment the Winter Soldier realizes he knows the man he's beating the life out of, and it somewhat resets him.

This is also one of the prime examples of the Mandela Effect in the MCU. It never was "I'm with you till the end of the line." It's always been "to the end," and the closed-captioning on the film will prove it if you have doubts.

'No. No, I don't think I will.'

In "Avengers: Endgame," when Captain America travels back in time to return the Infinity Stones to their rightful place in the Sacred Timeline, he ends up staying in the past to live out a life with Peggy Carter. It's the perfect ending for the two characters who finally get to have their dance. We see Steve again in the present, but he's a much older man. With a head of slick, white hair and a Members Only-inspired khaki jacket, Cap passes off his shield to Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie).

After Sam tells Steve that he'll do his best, the two men shake hands. Steve then takes his left hand and places it on top of their grip to reveal a gold wedding band to Sam and the audience. "You wanna tell me about her?" Sam asks Old Man Cap. "No. No, I don't think I will," he responds to his friend. It's a funny response, but it's even more memorable because (for now) the quote stands as the last line spoken by Chris Evans in the MCU.

'I'm not looking for forgiveness. And I'm way past asking for permission.'

For some reason, the world's most arrogant man tries to have Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson, Natasha Romanoff, Vision, and Wanda Maximoff arrested after Thanos' (Josh Brolin) children come to Earth to claim the Infinity Stones. Secretary Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt) is on a virtual call with James Rhodes at the Avengers compound when Steve and company arrive. "You got some nerve," Ross says. "The world's on fire. And you think all is forgiven?" He's referring to the aftermath of "Captain America: Civil War" and how Steve and the others have been on the run after defying his orders.

Naturally (and understandably), Steve doesn't give two flips about Ross' concern here. "I'm not looking for forgiveness. And I'm way past asking for permission," he replies. Captain America and the other heroes are the Earth's only shot at surviving, so the last thing he cares about is what Ross has to say about the matter.

'We don't trade lives, Vision.'

After the heroes dismiss Secretary Ross by flicking the annoying bureaucrat away, they all start working on a plan to fight back against Thanos and his sycophantic children. Vision (Paul Bettany) says his stone has to be destroyed and tells Wanda that she is the only person strong enough to pay that price. She refuses and gets upset, walking away from Vision. "Thanos threatens half the universe," the synthezoid says. "One life cannot stand in the way of defeating him."

Being the very good boy that he is, Steve replies, "But it should. We don't trade lives, Vision." The memorable quote comes full-circle during the Battle of Wakanda when Vision saves Cap from Corvus Glaive. As Cap is being choked by the Black Order member, Vision uses the baddy's spear to impale him. "I thought I told you to go," Steve says to Vision. "We don't trade lives, Captain," he says back.

'Together' & 'Then we'll do that together too.'

In "Avengers: Age of Ultron," Tony Stark comes to the realization that the biggest threat to Earth is nothing on it. "That up there," he says as he points up, "that's the endgame." He explains the need for Ultron (the intended version) to protect the Earth from intergalactic threats. "How were you guys planning on beating that?" he asks the Avengers, referring to villains in space. "Together," Cap replies. The always positive Tony comes back with, "We'll lose." "Then we'll do that together, too," Steve answers.

Later in the film, Vision tells the team that Ultron must be destroyed and that "not one of us can do it without the others," which circles back to Cap's "together" comment. Iron Man also references the quote later when the Avengers are face to face with Ultron. When the murder-bot asks the superheroes how they plan on taking him down, Tony says, "Well, like the old man said, 'Together.'"

'Some people move on, but not us.'

Natasha Romanoff is having a real hard time dealing with the fallout of the Blip in "Avengers: Endgame." Of course, no one is taking it lightly, but she is one of the heroes who seems to be taking it the hardest. When Cap enters her office at the Avengers Compound, he offers to make her dinner but admits that would put her in a worse mood. He also tells her he saw a whale in the Hudson River and says the water is cleaner now. Somewhat annoyed, Natasha tells him she's going to throw her sandwich at him if he tells her to "look on the bright side."

"You know, I keep telling everybody they should move on and ... grow. Some do. But not us," Steve tells her with a slight grin. It's not in their DNA to just move on — they know something else has to be done. It's not only a memorable line because of its context; It was also used heavily in the marketing of "Endgame," especially in the trailers.

'On your left.'

Sam Wilson's debut in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" is one of the best character introductions in the MCU to date. The veteran is taking a nice jog by the Washington Monument when Steve Rogers passes him, saying "On your left" as he runs by. He keeps repeating the phrase every time he laps him, which increasingly frustrates Sam. Cap says it a total of three times in the opening scene, and later, a fourth, when he wakes up in the hospital room and sees his new pal sitting to his right.

"On your left" goes on to become one of the most iconic lines in MCU history when Sam says it over Cap's earpiece just before the final battle in "Avengers: Endgame." It's the moment that reassured millions of fans that their beloved, blipped heroes were back — a fact further confirmed by that beautiful, glowing portal.

'Language!'

Who knew a one-word quote would have such power? Okay, so this might not have as much force behind it as Snape's "Always," but it's still a memorable line that MCU fans won't soon forget. In "Avengers: Age of Ultron," the team is working to take down a Hydra base. Most of the action happens in the forest outside of the base, but Iron Man eventually takes off for the building itself. When he gets close, he hits an invisible forcefield and shouts, "S***!"

Mr. Goody Two-Shoes isn't a fan of bad words and responds, "Language!" Cap then starts talking to Jarvis while Thor and Natasha also speak over the coms. "Wait a second. No one else is going to deal with the fact that Cap just said "language?" Tony interjects. Cap knows he said something silly and replies, "I know," with a little embarrassment. "It just slipped out." The "language" quote is made fun of throughout the movie: Agent Hill (Cobie Smulders) notes that Rhodes said a "bad language word," and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) says, "Oooh, you kiss your mother with that mouth?" when Cap calls him a "son-of-a-b****."

'I am Steve Rogers.'

One of the most exciting moments in the MCU to date is when Thor lands in Wakanda for one hell of a superhero entrance in "Avengers: Infinity War." With Groot (Vin Diesel) and Rocket (Bradley Cooper) by his side, he's able to eliminate dozens of Outriders with one strike from Stormbreaker. Thor eventually encounters Cap, and the two have a funny exchange about their beards. The Asgardian then introduces Steve to Groot, who he refers to as Tree.

A little unhappy with his introduction, teenage Groot yells out, "I am Groot!" As he points to his chest, Cap responds, "I am Steve Rogers." What makes this line so great is how it's delivered by Cap as he mimics the way Groot always speaks. The quote got a good laugh in theaters and is one of the few breath-of-fresh-air moments in the very tense and scary Battle of Wakanda. It's also the only time Groot and Cap ever interact with each other. 

'The price of freedom is high. It always has been. And it's a price I'm willing to pay.'

In "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," Steve Rogers delivers one of his most inspiring speeches ever. Before Cap and company enact their plan to take down Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford) and Hydra, he gives a speech over S.H.I.E.L.D.'s loudspeaker system. He lets everyone who works there know that Hydra has taken over, and the S.T.R.I.K.E. and Project Insight crews have also been compromised.

As Cap speaks to the good guys who remain, he warns that Hydra almost has complete control. He tries to talk down those who are about to launch the Helicarriers, saying that the airships can kill anyone Hydra wants. "I know I'm asking a lot," Steve says. "But 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. But I'm willing to bet I'm not." Unfortunately, the Helicarriers are still launched, but Cap's speech inspires the uncorrupted to fight back.

'We lost. All of us. We lost friends. We lost family. We lost a part of ourselves. This is the fight of our lives.'

Cap gives the inspirational speech of all inspirational speeches just before the surviving team embarks on the time heist in "Avengers: Endgame." Some of the lengthy speech is heard as a voiceover as the team walks in slow motion toward the portal, and it's concluded when they're all standing on the platform about to take off. It's easily one of the best quotes in the MCU, and there's no one better to give it than Captain America himself. The speech is so good that even Rocket and Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) are impressed.

"Five years ago, we lost. All of us," Cap starts off. "We lost friends... We lost family... We lost a part of ourselves. Today, we have a chance to take it all back. You know your teams. You know your missions. Get the stones — get them back. One round trip each. No mistakes. No do-overs. Most of us are going somewhere we know. But it doesn't mean we should know what to expect. Be careful. Look out for each other. This is the fight of our lives. And we're gonna win. Whatever it takes. Good luck."

'​​Every time someone tries to win a war before it starts, innocent people die. Every time.'

To tease the greatness that was to come in "Captain America: Civil War," Kevin Feige used an "Avengers: Age of Ultron" scene at a special Marvel Studios event — captured here by an attending fan. This is one of the most important scenes in the movie in which Steve Rogers and Tony Stark argue about the creation of Ultron. Tony tries to explain why he and Bruce Banner did what they did, but as usual, Steve sees the danger in it.

"Every time someone tries to win a war before it starts, innocent people die. Every time," he says. This couldn't be more evident in the creation of Ultron as Tony's attempt to get ahead of a threat ends up costing the lives of almost 200 people. Tony knows Steve is right when he says this, but luckily, Laura Barton (Linda Cardellini) comes along and breaks up the conversation. Steve always speaks the truth, but this is possibly one of the most on-point statements he makes in the MCU.

'Well, I couldn't leave my best girl. Not when she owes me a dance.'

One scene in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" is especially difficult to watch. When Steve Rogers goes to visit Peggy Carter, she's not in the best shape as she lies in bed as a much older woman. Although the nature of her illness is never revealed, Peggy is clearly sick, and it's evident she has either dementia or Alzheimer's Disease on top of another serious ailment. She recognizes Steve, and the two have a conversation about S.H.E.I.L.D. and his getting back into the routine of following orders.

Unfortunately, there's a turning point in the conversation, and Peggy forgets what's going on. She looks at Steve again, shocked to see him. It's as if she's learning that Steve survived the plane crash for the first time. "You're alive! You ... you came ... You came back," she says, fighting off tears. "It's been so long. So long," she adds. With a sad smile, Steve replies, "Well, I couldn't leave my best girl. Not when she owes me a dance." Thankfully, Steve eventually treats Peggy to that dance — we just had to wait a long time to see it in "Avengers: Endgame."

'This isn't freedom. This is fear.'

While Nick Fury's motives aren't always clear, we know that he is always on the side of good. Unfortunately, Fury is so sure he's doing the right thing that sometimes his judgment can become clouded. This is apparent in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" when he is showing off Project Insight to Captain America. Steve has no idea that this is going on in the underground levels of S.H.I.E.L.D., and he immediately realizes that it is a no-good-very-bad thing.

The secret project eliminates threats before they exist. When Steve starts to question Fury about this, the S.H.I.E.L.D. director claps back at Steve, saying, "You know, I read those SSR files. Greatest generation? You guys did some nasty stuff." Always having the correct response, Steve replies, "Yeah, we compromised — sometimes in ways that made us not sleep so well. But we did it so the people could be free. This isn't freedom. This is fear," as he points at the massive Helicarriers. He's certainly right. "Holding a gun to everyone on Earth and calling it protection" sounds like the worst idea ever.

'That is America's ass.'

We can always rely on Paul Rudd to deliver a perfectly-timed comedic line. During the time heist In "Avengers: Endgame," Ant-Man (Rudd) is hanging out in tiny form on Tony Stark's soldier. As the duo watches on in secret, we see the 2012 Avengers walking around Stark Tower just after capturing Loki and closing the portal. Tony looks at the Captain America of the past and whispers, "Uh, Mr. Rogers. I almost forgot that suit did nothing for your ass." However, Ant-Man comes back to defend Steve in fanboy-style, commenting with a salute, "I think you look great, Cap. As far as I'm concerned, that's America's ass."

Later, when 2012 Cap fights present-day Cap, the latter gets the upper hand and knocks out his former self. As current Steve gets up and adjusts himself, he looks at 2012 Steve lying face down on the floor. "That is America's ass," he says, walking away with the Scepter. It's one of the funniest lines in "Endgame" and an out-of-character moment for Steve, but one audiences appreciated nonetheless.

'I don't want to kill anyone. But I don't like bullies. I don't care where they're from.'

Steve Rogers has never been on the side of bullies, and his opinion doesn't change — no matter how big or small he is. In "Captain America: The First Avenger," Steve meets Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci), the creator of the original Super-Soldier Serum. Working for the Strategic Scientific Reserve, Dr. Erksine recruits Steve to become the first American soldier to take the serum after noticing how badly the young man wants to join the war.

In their first meeting, Dr. Erksine asks Steve if he wants to go to Germany and kill some Nazis. Steve, unsure of the question, asks if it's a test. Dr. Erksine confirms it is and again asks if Steve wants to kill Nazis. "I don't want to kill anyone," he says. " But I don't like bullies. I don't care where they're from." That's all Dr. Erksine really needs to hear to know that Steve is the right candidate for his experiment. It's not the size of the dog in the fight; it's the size of the fight in the dog. With Steve, the SSR and U.S. Army can have the best of both worlds in Captain America.

'I understood that reference.'

While it isn't an intentionally funny line, it certainly elicits a laugh from the audience. In "The Avengers," the new team assembles in mission control aboard a Helicarrier. Tony Stark enters last and starts discussing some very scientific things with Bruce Banner. Cap is clearly confused by what the two men are talking about — it might as well be a foreign language to him. "Is that what just happened?" Steve asks as the two geniuses discuss the quantum tunnel effect.

Shortly after, Nick Fury enters and begins talking about Loki's scepter. Fury says, "... I would like to know how Loki used it to turn two of the sharpest men I know into his personal flying monkeys." Thor speaks up and reveals he is confused at the metaphor. Steve interjects, "I do! I understood that reference." Steve would have been 21-years-old when "The Wizard of Oz" was released in 1939 — six years before he went into the ice.

This quote is all the more memorable because it has been immortalized in a meme.

'Avengers, assemble!'

We waited 11 years and 22 movies for an iconic comic book quote to make its way into the MCU. It looked like it was coming in "Avengers: Age of Ultron" when Captain America and Natasha Romanoff meet with the newest members of the superhero team to "beat them into shape." When all the newbies do their superhero landings, Cap stands on a platform above them and says, "Avengers..." Then, the screen abruptly cuts to the credits.

Thankfully, they didn't waste the line there because it's uttered at the best possible moment in "Avengers: Endgame." Just after our heroes have snapped back into existence, they all line up triumphantly, ready to take on Thanos and his army. As Cap hails Mjolnir, he yells, "Avengers" and then whispers, "assemble," setting off a stampede.

Were the Avengers already assembled? Yes. Did it make any sense? No. Was it the greatest moment in MCU history? Yes.