“Change is nature, dad. The part that you can influence. And it starts when we decide.”

From: Ratatouille

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Remy

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Pixar animated film, Ratatouille. The film is about a rat named Remy (voiced by Patton Oswald) who loves fine dining and learns to become a great cook, thanks to watching his favorite chef, Chef Gusteau. He then accidentally becomes partners with a young man named Linguini, the son of Gusteau, and together they try to become one of the greatest chefs in all of France.

The quote comes at the middle of the film. Remy’s dad tries to show his son that humans will always treat their kind, rats, as the enemy and it’s impossible to change how they think. Remy then delivers the quote, saying things don’t always have to be this way.

Geek wisdom: If you truly want to see things change, then you have to be willing to put in the work. You have to put in the effort and be the change you want to be.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”

From: Kung-Fu Panda

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Master Oogway

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote was suggested by our good friend, DJ Miller. He has contributed several quotes from Regular ShowAvatar: The Last AirbenderKing of the HillForrest Gump and Arthur. The quote comes from the animated film, Kung-Fu Panda. Kung-Fu Panda is the story of Po, a large and clumsy panda who dreams of being a great martial artist. He is announced as the next Dragon Warrior, much to the chagrin of the great master Shifu and the Furious Five. Throughout his training, it seems like there has been a mistake as Po’s clumsy and lazy attitude makes him virtually untrainable. 

The quote comes from middle of the film as Po starts his training with Master Shifu and the Furious Five. Po does not do well with the training and decides to take refuge away from the temple. Po (voiced by Jack Black) meets up with Master Oogway and he tells him about how much he sucked at training and the others hate him. He thinks about quitting as he does not seem to have the mettle to be the legendary Dragon Warrior. Master Oogway tells him he’s too concerned about the past and the future then delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: We all have a bad day from time to time. But we shouldn’t worry about what happens next. We should focus on the present situation instead of worrying about the failures of the past or future and concentrate on the now.

“It’s not about you. It’s about them.”

From: Rango

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: The Spirit of the West

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from CG animated movie, Rango. The film follows the titular character as he fools an entire town by pretending to be a tough hero. The movie won in the Best Animated Feature during the 84th Academy Awards.

The quote comes near the end of the film. Rango (voiced and motion captured by Johnny Depp), in a daze, talks to the Spirit of the West (voiced by Timothy Olyphant) and stating that the things he’s done and the lies he spread seems to have made things much worse for the town. The Spirit of the West tells Rango, since the town needs a hero, he should be that hero. Rango rebuffs this and says him being in the desert was a mistake in itself but The Spirit of the West rhetorically asks if it was a mistake to be where he needed to be when the people needed him the most. That’s when he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: It’s always nice to be needed. While it’s fine to be selfish once in a while, being that way all the time only benefits yourself. Sometimes, you just need to feel wanted and the only way to be that way is to give of yourself.

“If I could give you an answer to how the universe works, it wouldn’t be special.”

From: The Good Place

Genre: Televison

Who said it?: Janet

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the NBC comedy series, The Good Place. The show focuses on four humans who have died and are now supposedly spending eternity in The Good Place. One of the people, Eleanor Shellstrop, apparently isn’t supposed to be there as she was a bad person while she was alive. The first season then focuses on her journey to be a person worthy of being in The Good Place in order to avoid being sent to The Bad Place.

The quote comes from the Season 3 finale entitled “Pandemonium.” Due to the Bad Place demon’s plan, Chidi has to be mind wiped and Eleanor now has to pretend to be the Architect of this version of the Good Place. Eleanor (played by Kristen Bell) wonders if it’s all worth it and asks Janet (played by D’Arcy Carden) to what is the meaning of life. Janet, despite knowing everything, has some experience being human and notes that the universe doesn’t really make sense but that’s part of the beauty of life. This is when she delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Life has many ups and downs and, at times, things can feel too chaotic. However, it’s these peaks and valleys we experience that makes life worth living. We have to enjoy the highs and persevere through the lows. It is through all of these experiences that makes life worth living.

“Well, that’s just lazy writing.”

From: Deadpool

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Deadpool/Wade Wilson

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes the second Deadpool film, which was released in 2018. Deadpool is Wade Wilson,a Marvel anti-hero noted for being one of the funniest comic book characters ever created. Most of the humor is derived from the fact that he knows he’s in a comic book and he breaks the fourth wall often because of it.

The quote in the middle of the film, Cable (played by Josh Brolin) goes to Deadpool/Wade Wilson (played by Ryan Reynolds) and asks for his help in order to stop Russell before he makes his first kill. Deadpool then asks Cable, since he’s a time traveler, why doesn’t he just go back further in time and stop Russell when he was a baby. Cable then explains that the further you go back in time, the more difficult it gets to control. Also, he only has one charge left and he’s saving it to get back to his present. This is when Deadpool turns to the camera and delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom:  If you don’t put in the required effort, you can bet there will be someone to call you out for it. If you want the best, you have to put out the best yourself.