We're not retreating, we're advancing! Towards future victory.
— Sarge, Red vs. Blue
Initiate... a tactical withdrawal!
— Morale Break for a Space Marine squad, Dawn of War
Tactical Retreat!
— Morale Break for a Fire Warrior squad, Dawn of War
There is no glory in pointless defeat!
— Line said when Space Marines are ordered to retreat, Dawn of War 2
Retreat Hell! We're just attacking in another direction.
— Attributed to Major General Oliver P. Smith, USMC, during the retreat from the Chinese trap at the Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War, December 1950
We're not retreating, we're advancing in reverse.
— China Sorrows, Skulduggery Pleasant
Orkses is never defeated in battle. If we win we win, if we die we die fighting so it don't count. If we runs for it we don't die neither, cos we can come back for annuver go, see!
—Recurring Ork catchphrase, Warhammer 40,000.
Pompey: We must make... a tactical retreat to the south — a tactical retreat, mind you.
Cato: Leave the city! Juno's cunt, have you gone mad?!
Pompey: You cannot speak to me in that tone.
Cicero: My friends let us cleave to the matter at hand. Is there no... alternative to retreat, then?
Pompey: None. We shall withdrawal to Corfinium, and rally my legions there. Once they are gathered and in good order we will simply retake the city. Caesar has no hope of reinforcement until spring. The towns of Italy will close their gates to him. We will have, an unassailable advantage in men and resources.
Pompey: Calm yourself, Cato. You lack understanding of things military, else you would see that my actions have been perfectly correct at all times.
Cato: You have lost Rome without unsheathing your sword! You have lost Rome!
— Rome, "An Owl in a Thornbush"
Tarrant: You going to tell us what we've got planned, Avon?
Vila: We know what we've got planned. Running away is what we've got planned.
Dayna: A strategic withdrawal is what we've got planned.
Vila: There's a difference?
Tarrant: Oh, yes. A strategic withdrawal is running away, but with dignity.
— Blake's 7, "Blake"
Well, time to advance in the other direction!
Six more of the warlike androids appeared at the far end of the corridor.
"You know what I think?" said Telson.
"That they've come to surrender to us?" asked Darv.
"That we should consider withdrawing in good order."
"A triumphant retreat before an enemy advancing in utter disorder?"
"Something like that," said Telson.
"You know what I think?" said Telson.
"That they've come to surrender to us?" asked Darv.
"That we should consider withdrawing in good order."
"A triumphant retreat before an enemy advancing in utter disorder?"
"Something like that," said Telson.
— Earthsearch II: Deathship, by James Follett
Sure, you can take the heroic stand against the forces of darkness. Or you can not die. It's entirely up to you.
— Evelyn Baker, InCryptid
"'Strategic retreat'. How successfully we are retreating, and offer 'triumphant resistance'."
— Kurt Diebner, The Heavy Water War
The Doctor: You used to control the whole of the Mutter's Spiral once. Now the Sontarans have driven you to the far fringes of the galaxy.
Rutan: The glorious Rutan army is making a series of strategic withdrawals to selected strong points!
The Doctor: Rutan, that's the empty rhetoric of a defeated dictator, and I don't like your face, either.
— Doctor Who, "Horror of Fang Rock"
The Doctor: I warned you this planet was protected. Now, retreat.
Commander Skaak: That word shall never pass my lips. (beat) We shall make a strategic withdrawal. But we shall return.
The Doctor: Not while I'm around. Now, hit the road, Skaak.
— Doctor Who, "War of the Sontarans"
"The plan was as follows: wherever Napoleon advanced, whoever he advanced on, would avoid battle, allowing the others to sweep in from the sides and attack the French marshalls guarding his flanks. Essentially the plan was: DON'T TRY TO FIGHT NAPOLEON!"
— OverSimplified, "The Napoleonic Wars - OverSimplified (Part 2)"
Ikharos: ...We're leaving. Now. It's a swim up, but there's a landmass nearby. My own ship crashed there. We'll make camp by the shore, set up temporary fortifications in a more defensible position and recoup our losses as best we can. We'll launch salvage missions once we're settled.
Vindica'aur: You want us to... to run?
Ikharos: Yes. Or would you rather I dress it up differently? We're moving out and that's the end of it.
Vindica'aur: You want us to... to run?
Ikharos: Yes. Or would you rather I dress it up differently? We're moving out and that's the end of it.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: It's time for me to leave.
Leahandra Ordane: You...you are retreating?
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Maybe, I suppose you could say that. I prefer to say I'm tactically withdrawing.
Leahandra Ordane: You...you are retreating?
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Maybe, I suppose you could say that. I prefer to say I'm tactically withdrawing.
— Star Wars vs Warhammer 40K, "Mortal Fall Part 4"
