Molon Labe

Modern Greek Pronunciation (mo'lawn la'va) means "Come and take." It is a classical expression of defiance reportedly spoken by King Leonidas I in response to the Persian Army's demand that the Spartans surrender their weapons at the Battle of Termopylae.


Molon Labe has been repeated by many later generals and politicians in order to express an army's or nation's determination not to surrender.


Molon Labe is also the motto of the United States Special Operations Command Central. The expression "Come and take it" was a slogan in the Texas Revolution as well.

​In America, both the original Greek phrase and its English translation is popular among supporters of the Second Amendment, as the phrase has connotation of a strong belief in the ideals of personal Freedom and in the individual right to self-protection.


In the Second Amendment, or firearms freedom context, the phrase expresses the notion that the person uttering the phrase is a strong believer in these ideals and will not surrender their firearms to anyone, including governmental authority, without strong resistance.

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