Death is inevitable. Our fear of it makes us play safe, blocks out emotion. It's a losing game. Without passion you are already dead.

We all make choices in life, but in the end our choices make us.

The truth, Walker, is that you're here because you wanted to feel like something you're not: A hero.

The United States Military does not condone the killing of civilians.

You are still a good person.

Can you even remember why you came here?

Cognitive dissonance is an uncomfortable feeling caused by holding two conflicting ideas simultaneously.

Do you feel like a hero now?

This is all your fault

Some trees flourish, others die. Some cattle grow strong, others are taken by wolves. Some men are born rich enough and dumb enough to enjoy their lives. Ain't nothing fair. You know that.

It ain't no secret I didn't get these scars falling over in church.

The genius of the hole: No matter how long you spend climbing out, you can still fall back down in an instant.

Just when you thought you had reached the deepest depths of horror, it suddenly got worse. How to turn off that small voice inside your head that started to whisper that you should be glad… that now, if not before, your revenge was justifiable on any conceivable moral scale. That small voice proved, beyond any doubt, that I was damned.

They let me pick, did I ever tell you that? Choose whichever Spartan I wanted. You know me. I did my research. Watched as you became the soldier we needed you to be. Like the others, you were strong and swift and brave. A natural leader. But you had something they didn't. Something no one saw... but me. Can you guess? Luck. Was I wrong?

Rise and shine, Mr. Freeman. Rise and shine. Not that I wish to imply you have been sleeping on the job. No one is more deserving of a rest. And all the effort in the world would have gone to waste until... well, let's just say your hour has come again. The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world. So, wake up, Mr. Freeman. Wake up and smell the ashes.