Month: February 2018

“Stand in the ashes of a trillion dead souls and ask the ghosts if honor matters. The silence is your answer.”

From: Mass Effect 3

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Javik

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the third installment of the original Mass Effect trilogy of games from Bioware. The game puts you in the shoes of Commander Shepard as he tries to prevent the Reapers from destroying all sentient life in the galaxy.

The quote comes the Javik, the only survivor of the Prothean race from the last Reaper cycle. Commander Shepard and Liara try to communicate with the previously thought extinct race. Javik pledges his allegiance to Shepard but warns him that he will destroy anyone else who sides with the Reapers. Shepard says that there may be other reasons and that the war isn’t black and white. However, as the Prothean has experienced the war and how it decimated the galaxy before, he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Sometimes, life is all about survival and you will have to swallow your pride and you may have to do horrible things in order to just keep on living. It isn’t a pleasant thought but the world and life isn’t fair. Life can be harsh but we have to push on to live on.

“We’re made of star stuff. We are a way for the cosmos to know itself.”

From: Cosmos: A Personal Journey

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Carl Sagan

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 1980 13-part documentary series, Cosmos: A Personal Journey. The show was hosted by astronomer and scientist Carl Sagan. In the show, Carl Sagan teaches the viewers about numerous scientific lessons, such as the theory of evolution, how time slows down when someone moves close to the speed of light as well as the origins of the universe, all while using his “spaceship of the imagination.” The show was incredibly popular when PBS aired it in 1980 and it is still currently the most viewed PBS television program today.

The quote comes from the very first episode of the show, The Shores of the Cosmic Ocean. In his opening monologue, Carl Sagan talks about the cosmos and all of the mysteries it holds and that mankind is desperately trying to understand the inner workings of the universe while trying to understand ourselves at the same time. It is during this monologue when he delivers the quote, as he tells us that we long to explore and return to the cosmos.

Geek wisdom:  We are all connected. We may not really feel that connection but we are in some way. Whatever we do affects all of us in the future, even in minute ways. But there are times when we do things that cause harm to ourselves because we do not truly understand what we are. It is better to not pretend we know everything and keep plodding ignorantly along. Rather, it would be in all our best interests to learn what we can from each other so we can determine what actions will benefit all of us.

“I’m not a smart man. But I know what love is.”

From: Forrest Gump

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Forrest Gump

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the very quotable film from 1994 film, Forrest Gump. Based on the book of the same name, Forrest Gump is a person of low IQ but, despite his apparent handicap, he proceeds to go on different new adventures and meet people who would go on to make history, making his life one of the most fulfilling ones ever.

The quote comes from the middle of the film. Forrest (played by Tom Hanks) gets a visit from his childhood friend and longtime crush Jenny (played by Robin Wright). Jenny seems to be trying to get away from something painful so Forrest invites her to stay to live with her. After watching TV, Jenny tells Forrest she’s going to bed. Before she makes it up the stairs, Forrest abruptly proposes to Jenny but she declines because she won’t be good for him. This leaves Forrest confused as he instinctively knows of Jenny’s true feelings. This is about when he delivers the quote before leaving the house.

Geek wisdom: There are actually two meanings for this week’s quote. The first one deals with knowing what love is. Love is nothing we can really “learn.” It’s something we feel deep in our gut and we know about this feeling through pure instinct. And anyone can actually fall in love; there is no prerequisite to getting it.

The second piece of Geek Wisdom we can get from the quote has to deal with Jenny’s true feelings for Forrest. Although she does love him, she feels like she doesn’t deserve him. We sometimes deny ourselves of love because we feel we don’t deserve it like Jenny does. But that’s not true. We’re all deserving of love in our life. We just have to be willing to accept it.

“The only person you’re truly competing against, Wesley, is yourself.”

From: Star Trek: The Next Generation

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Captain Jean-Luc Picard

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Captain of the NCC-1701-D, AKA the Enterprise, Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Unlike his predecessor, who had a habit of charging in full force into trouble, Picard (played by Patrick Stewart) is a more calm and strategic thinking, preferring to take a more logical and level-headed manner to resolve issues.

The quote comes from the closing moments of the Season 1 episode entitled “Coming of Age.” One of the stories in the episode deals with Wesley Crusher taking the entrance exam for Starfleet Academy. He does not get in but not for lack of trying. Wesley is disappointed with himself and apologizes to Picard for letting him and the entire crew of the Enterprise down. Picard tries to comfort the boy by asking him if he tried his best. This is when he delivers the quote to encourage him.

Geek wisdom:  People tend to take too much stock in how people think of them or how they stack up against each other. We try to compare ourselves with others and then ask ourselves how to outdo what they did. In actuality, the best way to do better in life tomorrow is to try to outdo what we are today.