Conan the Barbarian's famous quote on What is good in life? - he didn't really say it [View all]

[quinnox]

One of the most famous quotes, perhaps the most famous quote, from Conan is: "Conan! What is best in life?" "To crush your enemies -- See them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women!"

As brilliant as director/writer John Milius is, he did not invent this dialogue. Who did? Was it taken from the Conan script by Oliver Stone that was rewritten by Milius? No, it came from a book. I know what you're thinking... a Robert E. Howard book, right? Wrong! Milius actually lifted it from a book by Harlod Lamb titled, GENGHIS KAHN: THE EMPEROR OF ALL MEN, pages 106-107:

One day in the pavilion at Karakorum he [Genghis Kahn] asked an officer of the Mongol guard what, in all the world, could bring the greatest happiness.

"The open steppe, a clear day, and a swift horse under you," responded the officer after a little thought, "and a falcon on your wrist to start up hares."

"Nay," responded the Kahn, "to crush your enemies, to see them fall at your feet -- to take their horses and goods and hear the lamentation of their women. That is best."

www.barbariankeep.com/ctbsecrets.html

So, now you know. I am proud to serve to clear up misconceptions about the famous fictional, hyper-masculine and macho hero Conan. Maybe he was really a sensitive guy at heart, just misunderstood.