41 Greatest Moments In The Marvel Cinematic Universe

26. Captain America: The Winter Soldier – “This isn’t freedom. This is fear.”

In his first movie and the first part of The Avengers, Captain America is very much the soldier that he’s been trained to be. He does as he’s ordered to the best of his ability, never thinking that he might disagree with the people giving him the missions.

By the time Captain America: The Winter Soldier comes around, Steve Rogers is starting to question a few things. Thus, even with the story about his grandfather to warm the Sentinel of Liberty up, Nick Fury probably shouldn’t be so surprised that Cap isn’t as crazy about Project Insight as he is.

After he gets the lowdown on the new weapons and technology installed in the new Helicarriers to eliminate threats before they even happen, Steve’s first comment is about how he thought the punishment came after the crime. Nick responds that they can’t afford to wait that long, and after challenging Steve with the fact that even the “Greatest Generation” got their hands dirty, Cap’s answer is that their compromises were made so that people could be free.

Then there’s the payoff line: “This isn’t freedom. This is fear.”

Too political for some? Maybe. But it’s an important moment in Captain America’s evolution, because when Fury tells him it’s time to get with the program, his final line is equally succinct: “Don’t hold your breath.”

(Write-up by Nick Tylwalk, Bam Smack Pow editor)

Next: No. 25: A foe worthy of the power of Thor