--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Prince Humperdinck: First things first…" description: "\"“Prince Humperdinck: First things first, to the death. Westley: No. To the pain. Prince Humperdinck: I don't think I'm quite familiar with that phrase...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/princess-bride-141347_dear-god_prince-humperdinck-first-things-first-to_1035035.jpg" --- # Prince Humperdinck: First things first, to the death… ![“Prince Humperdinck: First things first, to the death. Westley: No. To the pain. Prince Humperdinck: I don't think I'm quite familiar with that phrase. Westley: I'll explain and I'll use small words so that you'll be sure to understand, you warthog faced buffoon. Prince Humperdinck: That may be the…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/princess-bride-141347_dear-god_prince-humperdinck-first-things-first-to_1035035.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/princess-bride-141347_dear-god_prince-humperdinck-first-things-first-to_1035035.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/princess-bride-141347_dear-god_prince-humperdinck-first-things-first-to_1035035.jpg) > ““Prince Humperdinck: First things first, to the death. Westley: No. To the pain. Prince Humperdinck: I don't think I'm quite familiar with that phrase. Westley: I'll explain and I'll use small words so that you'll be sure to understand, you warthog faced buffoon. Prince Humperdinck: That may be the first time in my life a man has dared insult me. Westley: It won't be the last. To the pain means the first thing you will lose will be your feet below the ankles. Then your hands at the wrists. Next your nose. Prince Humperdinck: And then my tongue I suppose, I killed you too quickly the last time. A mistake I don't mean to duplicate tonight. Westley: I wasn't finished. The next thing you will lose will be your left eye followed by your right. Prince Humperdinck: And then my ears, I understand let's get on with it. Westley: WRONG. Your ears you keep and I'll tell you why. So that every shriek of every child at seeing your hideousness will be yours to cherish. Every babe that weeps at your approach, every woman who cries out, "Dear God! What is that thing," will echo in your perfect ears. That is what to the pain means. It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever. Prince Humperdinck: I think you're bluffing. Westley: It's possible, Pig, I might be bluffing. It's conceivable, you miserable, vomitous mass, that I'm only lying here because I lack the strength to stand. But, then again... perhaps I have the strength after all. \[slowly rises and points sword directly at the prince\] Westley: DROP... YOUR... SWORD!”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Westley threatens to inflict escalating physical loss, turning pain into a psychological torment that endures beyond death. **In simple terms:** He describes a cruel punishment that destroys body and spirit. Key Takeaway Beware how threats can become lasting trauma. Themes power psychological warfare revenge humor language Mood tense darkly humorous dramatic Type dialogue threat dramatic When to use this quote - relationship conflict - intimidation - storytelling - character dynamics Key Concepts pain escalation psychological torment humorous cruelty Questions to Reflect On - What impact do verbal threats have on a victim? - How does humor affect the perception of cruelty? 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Prince Humperdinck: I don't think I'm quite familiar with that phrase. Westley: I'll explain and I'll use small words so that you'll be sure to understand, you warthog faced buffoon. Prince Humperdinck: That may be the first time in my life a man has dared insult me. Westley: It won't be the last. To the pain means the first thing you will lose will be your feet below the ankles. Then your hands at the wrists. Next your nose. Prince Humperdinck: And then my tongue I suppose, I killed you too quickly the last time. A mistake I don't mean to duplicate tonight. Westley: I wasn't finished. The next thing you will lose will be your left eye followed by your right. Prince Humperdinck: And then my ears, I understand let's get on with it. Westley: WRONG. Your ears you keep and I'll tell you why. So that every shriek of every child at seeing your hideousness will be yours to cherish. Every babe that weeps at your approach, every woman who cries out, \"Dear God! What is that thing,\" will echo in your perfect ears. That is what to the pain means. It means I leave you in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery forever. Prince Humperdinck: I think you're bluffing. Westley: It's possible, Pig, I might be bluffing. It's conceivable, you miserable, vomitous mass, that I'm only lying here because I lack the strength to stand. But, then again... perhaps I have the strength after all. [slowly rises and points sword directly at the prince] Westley: DROP... YOUR... SWORD!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prince-humperdinck-first-things-first-to-the-death-westley-no-to-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dear god" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prince-humperdinck-first-things-first-to-the-death-westley-no-to-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/princess-bride-141347_dear-god_prince-humperdinck-first-things-first-to_1035035.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/princess-bride-141347_dear-god_prince-humperdinck-first-things-first-to_1035035.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/princess-bride-141347_dear-god_prince-humperdinck-first-things-first-to_1035035.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Prince Humperdinck: First things first, to the death. Westley: No. To the pain. 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