Threat is imminent. And I have to protect the one thing that I can’t live without.
I’m the man who killed the Avengers. I saw them all dead, Nick. Felt it. The whole world too. Because of me. I wasn’t ready. I didn’t do all I could. I watched my friends die. You’d think that’d be as bad as it gets, right? Nope. It wasn’t the worst part. The worst part is that you didn’t.
Skip the spinning rims, we’re on the clock.
I’m your nuclear deterrent. It’s working. We’re safe. America is secure. You want my property? You can’t have it. But I did you a big favor. I’ve successfully privatized world peace. What more do you want? For now! I tried to play ball with these ass-clowns.
— Iron Man 2 (2010)