We prefer to die a hero, rather than live a slave.

宁为豪杰而死，舶讵仆隶死。

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Everyone wants to be a hero, but no one wants to die.

人人都想当一名英雄，但没有人想死。

《柯林斯英汉双解大词典》

Sigh. You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

哎，悲哀的是你或是像一个英雄般死去，或活的够长，以至于看到自己成为一个大反派。

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Will the US and Israeli belief that a hero will suddenly appear to save the day for the Palestinians never die?

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: No heroes in Act Three

Josef Trumpeldor is not remembered as a great hero for having said, "It is good to die for strategically significant hilltops, " - although that is what he died defending.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Jerusalem, the Eternal Front Line

But unlike most, I am convinced that the hero Liang did not die of a broken heart because his lover Zhu was forced to marry another man.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | Young China | 'Is There Anything Wrong with Love?'