Original artwork, not a still
Is it better to be feared or respected? I say, is it too much to ask for both?
— Iron Man · 2008
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
It is Tony Stark in one breath: a borrowed bit of power-politics wisdom turned into a sales pitch, with the punchline that he refuses to choose. The cocky arms dealer wants the fear and the applause, and the whole film exists to undo him. Fans quote it whenever someone wants the safe answer and the bold one at once.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Iron ManShow the scene
At the start of Iron Man (2008), Tony Stark is at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan to sell the army his newest weapon. Standing before a group of military officers, he opens his pitch by asking whether it is better to be feared or respected, then answers himself: why not both? He goes on to present the Jericho missile, which he says is the weapon you only have to fire once. Robert Downey Jr. created the demonstration speech himself, and soon after the pitch Stark's convoy is ambushed.
Sources (2)
- Iron Man (2008) script transcriptBagram Air Base weapons presentationReference checked
- Iron Man (2008 film), WikipediaPlot and Production sectionsReference checked
Context reviewed
