How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Top Gun.
Quote #1
STINGER: Do not fire unless fired upon.
Stinger's warning encapsulates the Cold War backdrop of Top Gun perfectly. Cougar and Maverick are definitely in hot water during this scene, but Stinger knows better than to let them fire the first shot of what certainly would have turned into the most destructive war ever.
Quote #2
VIPER: Although we are not at war, we must always act as though we are.
Viper says it best. Even when there is no actual war, the military has to pretend they are in order to stay sharp. In some ways, the subtext of Viper's comment is this: war is a permanent state of affairs.
Quote #3
ICEMAN: Maverick, it's not your flying, it's your attitude. The enemy's dangerous, but right now you're worse than the enemy. You're dangerous and foolish. You may not like the guys flying with you, they may not like you, but whose side are you on?
The real war isn't with the enemy. Maverick is, essentially, waging war on his fellow pilots (and himself), if only because he's endangering them more than the enemy is, all because of his attitude.