“Truth is, the game was rigged from the start.”

From: Fallout: New Vegas

Genre: Video games

Who said it?: Benny

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Bethesda action RPG, Fallout: New Vegas. The game follows the player-character known as The Courier. Initially, The Courier only wants revenge against the man who tried to kill him. However, later on, The Courier gets wrapped up in a war between multiple factions all trying to take control of New Vegas and, ultimately, he (or she) is the one who gets to decide New Vegas’ fate.

The quote comes at the very start of the game. The Courier is ambushed by Benny (voiced by the late Matthew Perry) in order to get the package he (or she) was delivering. He and his crew is successful and take the package from the Courier. Before shooting your character, Benny “apologizes” to him (or her) for getting wrapped up in whatever scheme he has. He then delivers the quote before shooting The Courier, leaving him (or her) for dead.

Geek wisdom: Life isn’t going to be fair. In fact, for most of us, we will never get a lot of opportunities other more affluent people will get. But we have to make do with whatever we have and, you never know. In the end, like the Courier, we might actually be the most important person in the world.

“Seize the time, Meribor. Live now. Make ‘now’ always the most precious time. ‘Now’ will never come again.”

From: Star Trek: The Next Generation

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Captain Jean-Luc Picard as Kamin

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from Star Trek: The Next Generation. The show successfully introduced new fans to the sci-fi world where humans explored the final frontier. The series also gave us many memorable characters and, thankfully, lots of great quotes.

This week’s quote comes from landmark episode entitled “The Inner Light.” The Enterprise-D retrieves a deep space probe from an unknown civilization and, while examining it, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (played by Patrick Stewart) is zapped by it and falls unconscious. He then wakes up as a man named Kamin and relives the life of one of the citizens of the civilization who developed the space probe. In one memorable scene, Kamin’s scientist daughter, Meribor, wonders if she should marry the man she loves or should she just focus on trying to save their doomed planet. Picard, still as Kamin, delivers his advice using the quote.

Geek wisdom: While we can look to the past to learn from history and look to the future to show what we want to fulfill, never forget that the only thing we really control is the present. This makes the present actually the most important time of our lives. Make the most of the time we have right now.

“If oil company wants to buy your house, there’s oil underneath.”

From: Silicon Valley

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Jian Yang (but translating for another person)

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the HBO sitcom, Silicon Valley. The show focuses on a programmer who creates a new program that does file compression really well and manages to leverage that to create his own small startup called Pied Piper, which is the same name as the compression algorithm he created. Essentially a parody of the programming industry and how corporations can be rather cutthroat even when some people try to do good in the industry.

The quote is said in the Season 5 episode, Artificial Emotional Intelligence. In the episode, Jian Yang (played by Jimmy O. Yang) is trying to recreate the Pied Piper code in China. He’s approached by billionaire Gavin Benson (played by Matt Ross) to negotiate a price for the code. As Gavin keeps upping his purchasing price, one of Jian Yang’s programmers makes a comment in Chinese. Jian Yang then translates it for Gavin Belsom, telling him that he understands that the billionaire is intentionally lowballing him.

Geek wisdom: Powerful people will try to exploit others by various means. Whether it be with money, influence or power, they will try to deceive honest people by not telling them the full story. So, you have to be skeptical about offers that may seem too good to be true. That’s because it just might be true.

“No more. For the sake of our children. We must be better.”

From: God of War: Ragnarok

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Kratos

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from action-adventure game, God of War: Ragnarok. Technically the tenth game in the God of War franchise but the second entry since the 2018 reboot, the game continues the story of Kratos and his son, Atreus, now having to fight off Odin and the other Norse gods to prevent Ragnarok, the destruction of the Nine Realms.

The quote comes near the end of the game. Kratos battles Thor but, unlike their first fight, Kratos manages to win the fight. Thor demands Kratos take his life but Kratos refuses, citing his son and Thor’s daughter, Thrud, have become close. Thor rebuffs this and states they are both warriors. All they know is fighting and that will never change. Although Kratos does understand what Thor is saying, he still says that doesn’t mean that is all they can do, delivering the quote in response.

Geek wisdom: If all we do is destroy, then there will be nothing left for our children and future generations. We have to take care of the people around use, put aside our differences and think of the future. If we don’t, then there will be nothing left but pain and destruction.

“Because… I have faith.”

From: X-Men ’97

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Nightcrawler

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Disney+ animated show, X-Men ’97. Based on the Marvel comics series, X-Men ’97 is a continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series.

The quote comes from the last episode of the second season, Survival of the Fittest. In order for Rogue to save Gambit from Apocalypse taking over his consciousness, she bargains with the Celestial Eson to get enough power to expunge Apocalypse from his lover’s mind. But, in order to gain that power, she has to sacrifice herself in the end. Rogue does manage to do so but she does not die. It’s then revealed that Nightcrawler negotiated with Eson to exchange his life for hers instead. Nightcrawler explains that, while the X-Men will indeed mourn his loss, it will be worth it as new life will come out of his sacrifice. When Eson inquires how can Nightcrawler can be so sure this will happen, he replies by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: While there is no certainty in life, we have to believe that most people will try to do the right thing in order for the world to get better. We have to believe that doing good things will also lead to good outcomes. Although that is not a certainty, it’s something we have to have faith on.

“You know, hope is a mistake. If you can’t fix what’s broken, you’ll, uh… you’ll go insane.”

From: Mad Max: Fury Road

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Mad Max

The story behind the quote: This quote comes from the 2015 post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie, Mad Max: Fury Road. The film is another entry to the Mad Max films and follows the titular hero as he tries to make his way through this destroyed world. In Fury Road, he is captured but he escapes by joining a new ally, Furiosa, who is trying to save a group of children.

The quote comes near the end of the film. Mad Max (played here by Tom Hardy), Furiosa (played by Charlize Theron) arrive to what is supposed to be a safe haven. What they actually find an uninhabitable land. Furiosa decides that they will have to push on because there may be a safe haven beyond. Mad Max expresses his intent to leave despite Furiosa’s offer to let him stay with the group. Before they part, Mad Max comments on their choice to try to find a new place to live peacefully by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: While hope can be a good thing to keep you going, it can also be a detriment as this might be the very thing that will prevent you from trying to solve major problems. Sometimes, you just have to face your problems head on rather than try to run away from them.

“Well, it’s easy to be a saint in paradise.”

From: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Lt. Commander Sisko

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The show is set in the Star Trek universe but, instead of the show taking place in a starship, the events focus in Deep Space Nine, a space station that was a former penal colony. With the Bajorans liberating themselves from the oppressive rule of the Cardassians, they have turned to Starfleet to help them rebuild their planet, leading to Starfleet setting up base in the aforementioned space station.

The quote comes from the second season episode “The Maquis, Part II“. In the episode, Deep Space Nine’s Commander, Commander Benjamin Sisko (played by Avery Brooks) is ordered by Starfleet Command to try to negotiate with a group of rebels known as the Maquis who have captured Gul Dukat, a high ranking officer of Cardassia. Sisko laments that he understands the plight of the Maquis as they are only relying of more distasteful tactics as they are fighting for their lives and Starfleet is blind to it as Earth has basically resolved all of the strife. This is when he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. It is easy to be kind to other when everything is going your way. But when you have to struggle for everything, sometimes being kind isn’t an option anymore. Sometimes, having to fight means your very survival.

“Don’t cry for me. I’m already dead.”

From: The Simpsons

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Barney Gumble

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the longest running animated series in the United States, The Simpsons. Making it’s first debut way back in 1989, The Simpsons has been, as of this writing, on broadcast television for 37 seasons.

The quote comes from the 18th episode of the 6th season, A Star is Burns. The episode is all about how, after Springfield is voted the worst town of the country, the citizens create a Film Festival to help with its lagging popularity. One of the films made for the festival is from Barney Gumble (voiced by Dan Castellaneta), the town’s resident drunk. Surprisingly, he delivers a powerful piece dissecting his alcoholism called Pukahontas. The quote itself is given during the ending of Barney’s film.

Geek wisdom: People will pass on and we will grieve their passing. That’s only natural. However, we never really truly think about doing things with them while they’re still with us. We should try to appreciate the people in our lives while they are still alive, not when they’re no longer with us.

“Great warrior? Hmmm. Wars not make one great.”

From: The Empire Strikes Back

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Yoda

The story behind the quote: This week comes from the 1980 sci-fi fantasy film, The Empire Strikes Back. A sequel to the original Star Wars movie, The Empire Strikes Back has the Galactic Empire hunting down the Rebel Alliance. This leads to Luke Skywalker looking for a certain Jedi named Yoda to complete his training and, hopefully, become strong enough to help his friends.

The quote comes from the middle of the film as Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill) lands in Dagobah as this is where Yoda is supposed to have been hiding all these years. Instead, he finds a diminutive and silly individual who tries to steal his food and mess up his stuff. The creature says he can help but Luke rebuffs him, saying he’s looking for a “great warrior.” The creature finds this amusing as he rebukes the definition by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Wars cause a lot of misery and participating in one may seem glorious and patriotic. But, in reality, it doesn’t as all you’re actually doing is doing harm to others. While fighting may be necessary in extreme circumstances, finding a more peaceful way to resolve conflicts will always be better.

“Free will, right?”

From: The Devil’s Advocate

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Kevin Lomax

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 1997 supernatural thriller, The Devil’s Advocate. In the movie, small-town lawyer with dubious ethics, Kevin Lomax (played by Keanu Reeves), is brought into a big law firm in New York by the company’s head, John Milton (played by Al Pachino). However, while he does start to enjoy his new job, Kevin Lomax slowly realizes that John Milton may be a little more than he seems…

The quote comes during the climax of the film. Kevin Lomax confronts John Milton, who reveals that, not only is he the Devil, but he is also his father. Kevin tries to blame him for all of his recent misfortunes but John refutes this, as he never actually forced Kevin to do any of his actions as he does have free will to make all of his choices. It looks like Kevin will reluctantly agree to his father’s/the Devil’s wishes, but he instead delivers the quote before ending his life by shooting himself in the head.

Geek wisdom: We always have a choice. We can either do good in the world or we can do bad. All to different degrees, yes. But we all ultimately have to make the choice. It can be painful to do the right thing and it could be so much easier to do the wrong thing. Still, we all have the decision making power to choose which one.