Zhang feels that, as opposed to uncompromising heroes, heroes who have given up the quest achieve a kind of sublimation of consciousness. One of the film's underlying themes is that of placing the good of the country above all else.
張藝謀認為，放棄的英雄比勇往直前的英雄，更具有另一種精神上的昇華，所以設了一個「胸懷天下」的大主題，讓秦王知道「現在不殺你，是留你有用。」