THE WAY OF THE KLINGONSTHE WAY OF THE KLINGONS</HEAD>



1.

We Are Klingons

(tlhIngan maH!)

This is the strongest expression of joy among Klingons and probably the most frequently heard Klingon phrase.

2.

When a warrior dies, his spirit escapes.

(HeghDI' SuvwI' nargh Suvwl' qa'.)

When a Klingon dies, it is thought that his spirit leaves his body and goes to join the the spirits of other dead Klingons to fight in the Black Fleet.

3.

Hear the warrior cry out

(jac Suvwl' 'e' ylQoy!)

Gowron referred to this well-known cry when he said to Worf,"Do you tremble and quake with fear at the approach of combat, hoping to talk your way out of a fight like a Human? Or do you hear the cry of the warrior calling you to battle, calling you to glory,like a Klingon? are you one of us?"Worf later told Picard,"I do hear the cry of the warrior"

4.

Revenge is a dish which is best served cold.

(bortaS bIr jablu'DI' reh QaQqu' nay'.)

This old Klingon proverb is known beyond the Empire. For example, it was cited by Khan Noonien Singh, who came two the twenty third century from earths twentieth century.

5.

Today I am a warrior.

(DaHjaj SuvwI''e' jIH)

I must show you my heart.

(tIqwIj Sa'angnIS.)

I travel the river of blood.

('Iw bIQtIqDaq jIjaH.)

Upon reaching a certain age, the age of Ascension, a young Klingon undergoes a rite of passage symbolizing the attainmeant of a certain spiritual level. After intoning the three ancient and sacred phrases recorded above, the initiate, while walking along a path lined by painstik-wielding warriors, expresses his or her deepest feelings.

6.

A Klingon Warrior is always
Prepared to fight

(reH Suvrup tIhIngan SuvwI'.)

In Klingon it is not customary to say "to be prepared" without saying what one is preparaed to do. There are, consequently several versions of this proverb, the general meaning of which is "A Klingon warrior is always prepared to die"("reH Heghrup tIhIngan SuvwI'")It is even acceptable to use this proverb for less weighty matters, such as to eat and to drink. Not unexpectedly. using it to refer to an activity not prized by Klingons, such as to flee, to surrender, or to apologize, is particularly insulting.

7.

Only a fool fights in a burning house.

(meQtaHbogh qachDaq Suv qoH neH)

Even Klingons recognize that there are times not to fight, when battle is not productive it has no honor. Kang quoted this proverb to the alien life form that caused him and his fellow Klingon worriors to engage in a bloody battle with the Enterprise crew, informing the being that it had created circumstances tht actually made combat inappropriate.

8.

Even the best blade will rust and grow
dull unless it is cared for

('etlh QorghHa'lu'chugh ragh 'etlh nIvqu' 'ej jejHa'choH)

one of the oldest of the Klingon Proverbs. Though couched in militaristic terms, the expression is also interpreted figuratively to mean that one must take care of oneself, both physically and spiritually.

9.

Fear is power

(vay' DaghIjlaHchugh bIHoSghaj)

The meaning of this saying, is that one who has the ability to instill fear can exert control over those who are afaid; There is more to power than physical force.

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All these sayings come from Marc Okrand (in the book "The Klingon Way") copyright © 1996 Paramount Pictures.