Thanos was the perfect villain for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He provided a terrifying agenda that quickly became a reality and some even more terrifying quotes. Thanos posed as one of the biggest threats to our beloved superheroes. He was a powerful titan who believed so passionately that everything needs to be perfectly balanced that he was willing to wipe out half the universe just because he thought it was the right thing to do. When the Avengers battled him in Infinity War, many fans expected to see him defeated, only to be met with the loss of their favorite characters.
All this combined to make the perfect villain. He had succeeded, and he had wiped out beloved heroes and innocents alike, and because of all this success, every fan was in awe of him, especially the words that came out of his mouth.
Updated on February 3rd, 2023 by Hodey Johns: Thanos will go down as one of the best villains of all time. His arrogance, his broken logic, his sympathetic backstory, his raw power, his merciless pursuit of an end by any means, all of it goes to form a character that audiences can't help but discuss. He's both believable and evil beyond words. It makes rooting against him a satisfying experience. After expanding upon this top ten list once for fifteen quotes, this latest update explores the Thanos of the comics, one that Marvel fans have had time to study even more. The movies may have made the evil entity a mainstream affair, but the fans of the comics had learned to fear the calm and despicable creature far earlier.
20 "What Care I For The Fate Of Three Souls When The Entire Universe Is Mine To Control?"
Mephisto is one of the evilest characters in the comics, so when his grand scheme isn't big enough for Thanos, that tells the readers that Thanos is a seriously messed up guy. Thanos has completely lost the forest for the trees.
Destroyed families, dead friends, lives shattered, so long as the quantity is less than a trillion, Thanos is unmoved by such violence and feels it is beneath him. He pushes other evildoers to do worse things. It's a shame that Thanos is one of the strongest villains in terms of power because his will and character are among the worst.
19 "I Am Transformed! I Have Left The Mortal Plane Behind Me! In Truth, I Have Risen Above The Mantle Of Godhood!"
When Thanos does get ahold of the Infinity Stones, all the illusion of a greater cause disappears. He embraces his godhood. Or, more accurately, he establishes that he is superior to the gods with his newfound power. It's a shame that he never saw any moral responsibility with his supposed divinity.
The MCU has had some real lowlights and bad moments. This kind of quote, while intriguing, might not have played as well on the screen as it did in the comics. Both versions of Thanos are completely given into narcissism, but he at least masks it for moviegoers.
18 "You Forced Me Into Doing What I Did. I Had To Be Faithful To My Nature. For, After All, I Am Thanos."
Some of the MCU's most memorable moments are from when Thanos tried to hunt down the Infinity Stones, called gems in the comics. Some who watch the movies might get the sense that Thanos sees this as his destiny, but it's even more sinister than that.
Thanos does not see himself, or anyone else, as an entity with a will. As sure as his name is Thanos, he must murder, kill, and destroy until his mission is achieved. This quote is delivered after a successful conquest for an Infinity Stone. Thanos does not allow himself to feel bad or responsible for the people he's just killed.
17 "My Mistress, Death, Likes A constant And Steady Harvest. The Balance Must Be Maintained. That Is Why I Have Returned."
Death is a character in the comics and her behavior is as ominous as her name. If they had decided to include her, fans can only imagine the incredible MCU performance fans would have gotten to witness. Still, this quote is as bad as it sounds, even without that bit of information.
Thanos truly enjoys killing and wants to do it on a larger scale. However, he must negotiate with Death for a more steady flow. As fans know, Thanos eventually gets his way, but this quote shows just how terrifying even a restrained Thanos can be.
16 "I Hold The Galaxy In My Palm, Ready To Crush It Like An Eggshell! All Who Oppose Me Must Die, And The First Of These Are The Earthian Superheroes! Destroy Them With All Dispatch!"
The comic book version of Thanos manages to be both more sympathetic and more arrogant. Thanos has had it tough, giving him a hatred of all humanity. He is scarcely able to control himself when getting the power to destroy the entire universe outright.
The fact that half of the universe was his compromise says it all, as does this quote. When measuring the most ruthless villains in the MCU, Thanos deserves serious consideration.
15 "What I'm About To Do To Your Stubborn, Annoying Little Planet, I'm Gonna Enjoy It, Very, Very Much."
One of the traits of a good villain is how dedicated they are to their broken logic. Thanos would fail an Economics 101 course, but at least maintains the air of someone who is doing these atrocities in the name of what he believes is the greater good based on his experience.
But after he believes he has won, he finally allows himself to become emotionally invested in his destruction, admitting a sadistic joy in murdering billions of lives. These kinds of moments from the movies are being brought into the comics because of their lasting impression on fans.
14 "I Will Shred This Universe Down To Its Last Atom. And Then... Create A New One... A Grateful Universe."
To the outside observer who watched Thanos take an early retirement instead of helping with the rebuilding process that this was all an act of selfishness. But hearing Thanos say that it's all about gratefulness for his tyranny drives home exactly how far gone he is.
Thanos won't just kill half of the universe, he'll kill the entire thing if it means they don't lick his boots in gratitude for his mass murder. He doesn't care if the best female superheroes try to stop him, he'll kill anybody that doesn't bow to him.
13 "The Hardest Choices Require The Strongest Wills."
While Thanos has many moral ineptitudes, his will is not one of those. He is driven by a force that overpowers education, observation, love, or social activity. Nothing can dissuade him from his goal and even the brilliant Dr. Strange can't change his mind.
It's perhaps the only time in the series that someone engages him philosophically. Most characters prefer to either insult him or challenge him in a show of strength. As Namor takes on various enemies, perhaps he'd be able to match wits with Thanos.
12 "Reality Is Often Disappointing. Now, Reality Can Be Whatever I Want."
It's validating to hear Thanos finally say that it's about what he wants reality to be. With the power in his gauntlet to either build up or tear down the universe, he's elected to tear it down based on personal desire.
That is the deeper meaning of the conversation. Topically, he's speaking to Gamora about her fight to do the right thing in her eyes. Of course, the Mad Titan prefers to do what is right in his eyes instead. Marvel Studios avoids hiring comic book fans but this moment is spot on with his self-indulgence from the literature.
11 "Fine. I'll Do It Myself."
There are many dreams about what Ultron might have been able to accomplish had the Avengers not stopped it. While the Avengers are left cursing that they ever let the monster out of its cage, Thanos is angry that the monster was shut down.
Personally interjecting was Plan B, but audiences don't get to see this until waiting after the credits roll in Avengers: Age of Ultron. There are many comic book tropes in the films, but seeing Thanos put on the gauntlet for the first time is genuinely frightening.