Highlander Quotes

Context

This line was originally spoken by Kurgan (played by Clancy Brown) in Highlander, directed by Russell Mulcahy (1986).

With its multiple Queen songs, sword fights, and Sean Connery playing a character with four last names, Highlander is a great little film from the mid-1980s. The movie follows a New York antique dealer named Russell Nash, who is actually an immortal Scotsman named Connor MacLeod.

For some reason, throughout the centuries, all the immortals have to fight each other to the death. The last immortal gets something called the Prize. So, the plot of Highlander is basically a centuries-long version of Survivor with broadswords.

And throughout the movie, various immortals bite the dust, including Connor's Obi Wan-like mentor, Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez (played by Connery). He is killed by the evil, tacky makeup-rocking immortal Kurgan, who also murdered Connor's wife.

These two events tick Connor MacLeod off very much, and he ends up beheading Kurgan in an epic final battle. After this, he receives the prize, which is mortality.

Because who wants to live forever?

Where you've heard it

You've probably heard this line misquoted as "There can only be one." It's part of the holy geek trinity of misquoted lines, with "Beam me up, Scotty" and "Luke, I am your father." It's also a great thing to yell before engaging in a duel to the death, or just beginning a game of dodgeball or table tennis.

Additional Notable References:

• "There Can Be Only One" is the name of a quest in the popular fantasy video game Witcher 3. The prize is a silver sword that would make Connor MacLeod smile.
• This quote found its way into the TV version's intro, along with the most epic Queen song of all time, "Princes of the Universe."

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

This is a very bold thing to say, so hopefully you have some sword swinging or immortality skills to back up your trash talk.