where does the line 'today is a good day to die' originate?

[Henry]

Actually, my favorite version of the Quote is from Captain Worf in Star Trek: First Contact. Worf, just informed that his shields are down, his weapons are shot, and he's losing air, says:

"Perhaps today IS a good day to die! Prepare for RAMMING SPEED!"

The sheer venom and defiance of that jewels-to-the-wall order, just before the Enterprise shows up, gets me laughing every time I think about it.

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

Actually, my favorite version of the Quote is from Captain Worf in Star Trek: First Contact. Worf, just informed that his shields are down, his weapons are shot, and he's losing air, says:

"Perhaps today IS a good day to die! Prepare for RAMMING SPEED!"

The sheer venom and defiance of that jewels-to-the-wall order, just before the Enterprise shows up, gets me laughing every time I think about it.

Hijacking the thread just for a moment, my favorite part of that movie is Picard's "line in the sand" speech. I swear, had there been a Starfleet recruiter nearby, I'd have signed up right then!

 

[Arbiter of Wyrms]

Hail, the king

Hail the queen! As cool as Shakepeare's fiction is, my favorite rally-the-troops speech was given by Queen Elizabeth when she was expecting the Spanish Armada to overrun England:

Speech to the Troops at Tillbury​

My loving people: We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery. But I assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear! I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chief strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and goodwill of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst of the heat of battle, to live or die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and for my people, my honor and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which rather than dishonor should grow by my, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field. I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and we do assure you on the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you. In the meantime, my lieutenant-general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valor in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of my God, of my kingdoms, and of my people.

-from The Norton Anthology of English Literature, seventh edition.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

Actually, my favorite version of the Quote is from Captain Worf in Star Trek: First Contact. Worf, just informed that his shields are down, his weapons are shot, and he's losing air, says:

"Perhaps today IS a good day to die! Prepare for RAMMING SPEED!"

The sheer venom and defiance of that jewels-to-the-wall order, just before the Enterprise shows up, gets me laughing every time I think about it.

That was awesome! Worf at his best.

This is the scene where he should've had that line: "ASSIMILATE THIS!!!!" like they had on the tshirt as opposed to when they did have it.

 

[Romulan_Knight]

Prepare to decloak and prepare for ramming speed.
"TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO DIE......FOR YOU"

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

The important question is who coined the SMART version of the war-cry, i.e. "Today is a good day for somebody else to die!"

I believe the first time I read it was in a Prattchet novel - maybe one about Cohon?

 

[shilsen]

I believe the first time I read it was in a Prattchet novel - maybe one about Cohon?

Bingo! "Interesting Times", IIRC.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

Prepare to decloak and prepare for ramming speed.
"TODAY IS A GOOD DAY TO DIE......FOR YOU"

Romulans.... what a bunch of pointy eared cowards!

They wouldn't know a straight up fight if one erupted in the middle of them!

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Star Trek - A Future of Misattribution.

Today is a good day to die, and Vengeance is a dish best served cold are not original to Klingons. (And for that matter did Kahn ever meet a Klingon?)

Though Spock claiming Sherlock Holmes (or possibly Arthur Conan Doyle) as an ancestor was amusing...

The Auld Grump

 

[ledded]

I've seen this phrase attributed to several Native American sources, however most often I've seen it associated with the Lakotas/Soiux. And for them, the full version I've read of the phase is:

Today is a good day to die; only the sun and moon last forever.

Note: There was a third line to this warriors saying that I cant recall for the life of me right now, sorry.