Quotes from Legend of the Galactic Heroes (OVA, 1988)

Reinhard von Lohengramm: The stars are good. Unmoving, they keep watch over us, forever shining, the only constant left to us.

Yang Wen-li: Kids grow by exploiting adults.

Jessica Edwards: Secretary of Defence! Where were you?! Where were you, you who glorify the war dead? Where was your family? I offered my fiancé as a sacrifice. So where was your family, you who preach the necessity of citizens' sacrifice? Are you practising what you preach?!

Yang Wen-li: The freedom to not get involved is perhaps the most valued freedom we have in this country.

Reinhard von Lohengramm: What I need is power. If I should want to get my sister back, then I must first, first of all, possess power that would make those idiots bow to my command. If my enemies are to be the aristocracy, then I need a power greater than theirs. If the emperor is to be my enemy, I must be mightier than even him.

Yang Wen-li: There has never been 'permanent peace' in human history. But, there have been plenty of ages with decades of peace. In short, my hope is, haughtily enough, for a few decades of peace in the future.

Walter von Schönkopf: Admiral, if, as the rumors say, I'm the 7th traitor, what will you do?

Walter von Schönkopf: Whether in the Empire or the Alliance, corruption in the military is the same.

Friedrich IV: As with the genesis of the human race, there's no reason for the existence of the Goldenbaum dynasty. Just as there is no immortal person, I'm afraid there is also no indestructible nation. The evil truth may be that the Galactic Empire will die out in my era. At any rate, if it is to be destroyed, it should be destroyed as magnificently as possible.

Reinhard von Lohengramm: Kircheis, do you think what was possible for Rudolf is impossible for me?

Reinhard von Lohengramm: I don't think I can forgive Rudolf and what he did, becoming Kaiser. He set up the people who flattered him as nobles, and the result of that is this disgrace. Haven't you had thoughts like this, Kircheis? The Goldenbaum dynasty, as with the birth of the human race, need not have happened. It's only been 500 years since Rudolf built it. Before that, neither the Empire nor the Goldenbaum family existed, and he was no more than one citizen. Originally, Rudolf was no more than an upstart man of ambition, and who, riding the current of the times, was made into a sacred, inviolable Kaiser.

Reinhard von Lohengramm: From here on, my battle is not just a matter for the battlefield. Political struggles. Imperial Court struggles. To avoid complications, both unending deceit and murder may be necessary.

Paul von Oberstein: The Goldenbaum dynasty must fall. Then, after that, there is nobody other than your Excellency who can build a new empire.

Paul von Oberstein: The Galactic Empire – no, the Goldenbaum Dynasty must perish. If it is possible, I want to destroy it with my own hands.

Paul von Oberstein: As you see, both of my eyes are cybernetic. I had no right to live, as a weakling. If it had been during the reign of Kaiser Rudolf, I would have been killed long ago. Do you understand? I hate them: Kaiser Rudolf, his descendants, and all those influenced by him.

Paul von Oberstein: I am the only living survivor of the Iserlohn stationed fleet. Just by surviving I am to be punished.

Reinhard von Lohengramm: What do they think people are? Assuming it's a matter of course to rule over them. Stealing from people and insulting people... yet they say it's their privilege to be forgiven?! Those people are corrupt! This empire is corrupt!

Yang Wen-li: The Empire, with a few nobles ruling the masses, is bad government. The Alliance, with a government chosen by the people, is badly governed. Which one do you think is wrong?

Alexander Bucock: Commodore Fork! You're being rude. Accusing anyone who questions your ideas, or advises caution, of aiding the enemy – that's impolite.

Reinhard von Lohengramm: Strange, isn't it... When rain is falling, it mysteriously makes the heart heavy. But once it's over, it displays everything beautifully.

Reinhard von Lohengramm: Reinforcements, is it? Does he think I have a magic jar that gushes forth fleets?

Fritz Joseph Bittenfeld: The goddess of victory is waving her underwear in your faces!

Yang Wen-li: I only studied a little history. I've learned that there are two currents of thought in human society. The opinion that there are things worth more than human life and the opinion that there is nothing preferable to life. When people begin to fight, it's on the pretext of the former type of people and it justifies the latter when they stop.

Yang Wen-li: Strange, isn't it? Liking an enemy commander better than our own politicians.

Bernhard von Schneider: Prince Braunschweig is unlucky. But since our future is in his hands aren't we unlucky, too?

Yang Wen-li: By causing a big storm and hiding during the storm, he's never been damaged himself. Before you know it, he'll be exercising even more authority. The thought leaves me panic stricken. And then, I had a nasty thought. What good is democracy if it gives power to a man like that?

Reinhard von Lohengramm: Already, I have nothing to lose. But even so, I will fight. To keep my promise to you, and... to gain something to quench the thirst in my heart.

Reinhard von Lohengramm: I won't take their lives. If when they've grown, they attack me, that's fine. It's to be expected that supreme rulers without real power are overthrown, you see. The same goes for all of you. When you're prepared to overthrow me yourselves, come challenge me, I don't care.

Julian Mintz: I don't want to die while still young enough to be called "boy".

Reinhard von Lohengramm: I'm afraid one hundred battles can't be one hundred victories.

Alex Cazerne: It's an absurd luxury to be a bachelor past the age of thirty-one. Don't you think it's unforgivable anti-social behavior?

Yang Wen-li: A military is a tool. And a bad tool at that. Remembering that, try to be as harmless a tool as possible.

Yang Wen-li: The nation that neglects social inequality, mischievously increases military budgets, and then uses its power internally to suppress the citizens on the pretext of invasion by an external enemy is on the road to extinction.

Yang Wen-li: People may need societies, but they don't necessarily need nations.

Negroponte: You are a pretty radical anarchist.
Yang Wen-li: No, but you could say I'm a vegetarian. Although as soon as I look at a delicious meat dish, I break my commandments at once.

Enrique Oliveira: Peace and freedom, lacking a sense of tension, cause people to degenerate. It's war that gives people a sense of vitality. War is what makes civilizations advance, and psychologically elevates people! Prolonged periods of peace and freedom will only decrease the vitality in an already decadent age. Doesn't your precious history proves that?
Yang Wen-li: What a wonderful observation. If only there was no one who had lost their life or family to war then maybe I'd even come to believe it. For people who prefer to take advantage of war and try to establish their on profit on other peoples' sacrifices, it's an unusually fascinating idea. And for people who show false patriotism to deceive other people as well.

Yang Wen-li: If the defence of our homeland and self-sacrifice are as necessary as you say, before you tell other people do "do this and that", how about if you actually do it yourselves?

Yang Wen-li: Has there been some change in the government again? I'd be overjoyed if they told me the Chairman was dead.

Yang Wen-li: Dictatorship itself isn't absolutely evil, it's just another form of government. The point is how you can run it for the benefit of society.

Yang Wen-li: In reality, it's dictatorship rather than democracy that drastically advances government reforms. But I think humanity ought to avoid being united by a dictatorship. While it's true Duke Lohengramm might have that talent, what about his descendants? His heir? Rulers aren't necessarily wise through generations. He's like a miracle which could happen only once every few centuries. I don't think the entire human race should be ruled by a system where everything depends on one person's character.