---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Surrender,\" the Prince said. \"It will not…"
description: "\"“Surrender,\" the Prince said. \"It will not happen.\" \"SURRENDER!\" the Prince shouted. \"DEATH FIRST!”\" — William Goldman"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f81/william-goldman-1095_death_surrender-the-prince-said-it-will-not-ha_3052172.png"
---

#  Surrender," the Prince said. "It will not happen."…

![“Surrender,&quot; the Prince said. &quot;It will not happen.&quot; &quot;SURRENDER!&quot; the Prince shouted. &quot;DEATH FIRST!” quote by William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f81/william-goldman-1095_death_surrender-the-prince-said-it-will-not-ha_3052172.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f81/william-goldman-1095_death_surrender-the-prince-said-it-will-not-ha_3052172.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f81/william-goldman-1095_death_surrender-the-prince-said-it-will-not-ha_3052172.png)

> ““Surrender," the Prince said. "It will not happen." "SURRENDER!" the Prince shouted. "DEATH FIRST!””

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Defiant surrender leads to death; true surrender is impossible.

**In simple terms:** Defiance leads to death.

Key Takeaway

Accept reality over futile resistance.

Themes

defiance death philosophy

Mood

dramatic philosophical

Type

literary theatrical

When to use this quote

- conflict resolution
- personal crises
- storytelling

Key Concepts

existentialism narrative heroism

Questions to Reflect On

- When is surrender wise?
- What does “death first” symbolize?

A Different Perspective

Blind defiance may ignore alternatives.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender/)

## Related quotes

> [“Half the Armada had begun to give chase to the great ship Revenge. And the Revenge, alone, was sailing, as it had to do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/half-the-armada-had-begun-to-give-chase-to-the-great-ship-revenge-and/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

> [“You absolutely don't know what's going to happen next - that's surrender.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-hochberg/you-absolutely-don-t-know-what-s-going-to-happen-next-that-s-surrender/)

[Art Hochberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-hochberg/)

> [“Dear Charls. Whatever will you do with your own Kemptian silk? It will spoil on the road.’ ‘We aren’t carrying any Kemptian silk,’ said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/dear-charls-whatever-will-you-do-with-your-own-kemptian-silk-it-will/)

[C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/)

> [“Look into my eyes...' the Prince said. I have been calling you. The peace you seek you will find if you follow Me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-black/look-into-my-eyes-the-prince-said-i-have-been-calling-you-the-peace/)

[Chuck Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-black/)

> [“The guard said, 'Our orders are no one in or out.' 'You can tell the Prince that,' said Damen, 'after you tell him you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/the-guard-said-our-orders-are-no-one-in-or-out-you-can-tell-the/)

[S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/)

> [“I cannot come with you, my prince," he said with great tenderness, as he kneeled over the sleeping Neriah and placed the chain around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shira-anthony/i-cannot-come-with-you-my-prince-he-said-with-great-tenderness-as-he/)

[Shira Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shira-anthony/)

> [“People where you live,' the little prince said, 'grow five thousand roses in one garden...yet they don't find what they're looking for'...'And yet what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/people-where-you-live-the-little-prince-said-grow-five-thousand-roses-2/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [“Prince,' said Puck's voice, drawing me out of my dark thoughts, back to the present. 'Prince. Oy, ice-boy!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/prince-said-puck-s-voice-drawing-me-out-of-my-dark-thoughts-back-to/)

[Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/)

> [“I do not need the strength of your arm to make a knight of you, Gavin. All I need is your heart, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-black/i-do-not-need-the-strength-of-your-arm-to-make-a-knight-of-you-gavin/)

[Chuck Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-black/)

> [Freaky monsters were trying to kill us," Sabrina said. "Should I have just died out there so you could keep your clubhouse secret?" "Absolutely!"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buckley/freaky-monsters-were-trying-to-kill-us-sabrina-said-should-i-have/)

[Michael Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buckley/)

> [A Saudi Arabian prince has said that oil may never again rise above $100 a barrel. He said it's gotten so bad he can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/a-saudi-arabian-prince-has-said-that-oil-may-never-again-rise-above/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [“People where you live, the little prince said, grow five thousand roses in one garden... Yet they don't find what they're looking for... And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/people-where-you-live-the-little-prince-said-grow-five-thousand-roses/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

> [The Crown Prince has said he needs to broaden political participation in the governing of Saudi Arabia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-carlucci/the-crown-prince-has-said-he-needs-to-broaden-political-participation/)

[Frank Carlucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-carlucci/)

> [“He was a prince,’ said Damen. ‘He was a prince and I was just—’ He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/he-was-a-prince-said-damen-he-was-a-prince-and-i-was-just-he/)

[C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/)

> [What have you come to Earth for?' 'I'm having difficulties with a flower,' the little prince said. 'Ah!' said the snake. And they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/what-have-you-come-to-earth-for-i-m-having-difficulties-with-a-flower/)

[Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/)

## More by William Goldman

> [“aaron would not come out aaron entered into agony.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/aaron-would-not-come-out-aaron-entered-into-agony/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

> [“INIGO WAS IN Despair. Hard to find on the map (this was after maps) not because cartographers didn't know of its existence, but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/inigo-was-in-despair-hard-to-find-on-the-map-this-was-after-maps-not/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

> [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

> [“You thought I was answering "As you wish" but that's only because you were hearing wrong. "I love you" was what it was, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-thought-i-was-answering-as-you-wish-but-that-s-only-because-you/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

> [One way an author dies a little each day is when his books go out of print.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/one-way-an-author-dies-a-little-each-day-is-when-his-books-go-out-of/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

> [“And when she at last came out, her eyes were dry. Her parents stared up from their silent breakfast at her. They both started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/and-when-she-at-last-came-out-her-eyes-were-dry-her-parents-stared-up/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

> [“En mi cuerpo no hay sitio más que para tí.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/en-mi-cuerpo-no-hay-sitio-m-s-que-para-t/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

> [“any experience is profitable if you allow it to be, all actions are profitable, no matter how badly you may suffer from them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/any-experience-is-profitable-if-you-allow-it-to-be-all-actions-are/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

> [You have a dizzying intellect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-have-a-dizzying-intellect/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

> [“Buttercup could picture Westley rounding the final corner. There were four guards outside waiting. At ten seconds per guard, she began figuring, but then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/buttercup-could-picture-westley-rounding-the-final-corner-there-were/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

> [“Well, you haven’t once said you loved me.’ ‘That’s all you need? Easy. I love you. Okay? Want it louder? I love you. Spell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/well-you-haven-t-once-said-you-loved-me-that-s-all-you-need-easy-i/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

> [You think this is a trap then?" the Count asked. "I always think everything is a trap until proven otherwise," the Prince answered. "Which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-think-this-is-a-trap-then-the-count-asked-i-always-think/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

> [“He nodded, took a step away. “I’ll send for you soon. Believe me." “Would my Westley ever lie?” He took another step. “I’m late.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/he-nodded-took-a-step-away-i-ll-send-for-you-soon-believe-me-would-my/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

> [“This was not before doctors, but in Turkey they hadn't gotten around to claiming the bone business yet; milkmen still were in charge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/this-was-not-before-doctors-but-in-turkey-they-hadn-t-gotten-around/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

> [“Sonny, don't you tell me what's worthwhile--true love is the best thing in the world, except for cough drops. Everybody knows that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/sonny-don-t-you-tell-me-what-s-worthwhile-true-love-is-the-best-thing/)

[William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

[Explore all 281 William Goldman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/)

## More Death quotes

> [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/)

[Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/)

> [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/)

[Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/)

> [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/)

[Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/)

> [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/)

J. Anthony Torino

> [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/)

Alan W. Powers

> [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/)

[Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/)

> [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/)

[Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/)

> [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/)

[Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/)

[Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Surrender,\" the Prince said. \"It will not happen.\" \"SURRENDER!\" the Prince shouted. \"DEATH FIRST!”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Goldman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/surrender-the-prince-said-it-will-not-happen-surrender-the-prince/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Death"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/surrender-the-prince-said-it-will-not-happen-surrender-the-prince/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f81/william-goldman-1095_death_surrender-the-prince-said-it-will-not-ha_3052172.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f81/william-goldman-1095_death_surrender-the-prince-said-it-will-not-ha_3052172.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f81/william-goldman-1095_death_surrender-the-prince-said-it-will-not-ha_3052172.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Surrender,\" the Prince said. \"It will not happen.\" \"SURRENDER!\" the Prince shouted. \"DEATH FIRST!” — William Goldman",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "William Goldman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Surrender,\" the Prince said. \"It will...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/surrender-the-prince-said-it-will-not-happen-surrender-the-prince/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/surrender-the-prince-said-it-will-not-happen-surrender-the-prince/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
