Victor de la Cruz

“Either ten slaps right now in a row. Or five slaps that can be doled out at any point from here to eternity.”

From: How I Met Your Mother

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Lily Aldrin

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the hit CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother (abbreviated as HIMYM). The premise of the series is that the narrator, the future Ted Mosby, is telling his children the story of how he met their mother. However, he just doesn’t tell them the story about how they met (that would be a very short sitcom). Rather, he sits them down and relates the events in his life that led to him meeting his mother. Ted says it’s important to tell them all of that since, because of everything he went through, he became the man their mother fell in love with.

Anyway, the quote comes from the episode “Slap Bet.” Barney Stinson makes a bet with Marshall regarding why Robin hates going to the mall. Barney thinks it’s because Robin has done adult videos in the past. When Barney finds a video, thinking it proves him correct, he slaps Marshall. However, Robin continues playing the video, showing she was actually ashamed of being a Canadian teen pop star known as Robin Sparkles and, because of her hit song “Let’s Go To The Mall” and having to tour various malls, she hates going to those kinds of places.

Lily (played by Alyson Hannigan) chastises Barney for prematurely slapping Marshall before confirming the result. As punishment, Lily delivers the quote and, strangely, Barney thinks the former is the better deal.

Geek wisdom: Always think of the circumstances before making a decision. While five slaps is less than ten, the idea of five slaps until the end of time is generally much worse than receiving ten slaps in succession. At least, with the latter, it’s over quickly. Basically, look before you leap.

“Logic is the beginning of wisdom. Not the end.”

From: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Genre: Movies/ Television

Who said it?: Spock

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the sixth film of the Star Trek, The Original Series, franchise of films. Entitled The Undiscovered Country, the film has the crew of the Enterprise trying to find a traitor in the Federation who wishes to prevent the Klingons from joining after their home planet was destroyed.

The quote comes near the start of the movie. Captain Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy) talks to Valeris (played by Kim Cattrall), who is training her to be his apprentice. Valeris mentions that the Klingons is a landmark moment of history and Spock mentions that history is filled with these moments and she should have faith that the universe will make sure everything turns out right. Valeris starts to rebuke this idea but Spock interrupts and delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Logic is basically the data we’ve accrued and then we use this information to make an informed decision. However, wisdom is knowing that the information you may have gathered may not be the whole story. Wisdom is knowing that there may be more underlying all the information.

“I wrote a blog post about why I fucking hate video games. Because this is what it does. It appeals, like, the male fantasy.”

From: The Internet, Buzzfeed and memes

Genre: Internet, Video Games

Who said it?: Claudia Restrepo

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote is more of a meme that was derived from a Buzzfeed video. The video featured self-identified feminists playing Grand Theft Auto V for the first time. The video itself has been taken down from YouTube but is still available on Buzzfeed’s Facebook page here.

The clip has been used with a more satirical look as, after she delivers the quote, clips from other video games, which do not depict the classic “male fantasy” is played.

Geek wisdom: There is always more to the story that what you might see on the surface. People do have a habit of developing tunnel vision, either closing themselves to new ideas or refusing to see the negative aspects of things we enjoy. Always try to broaden your horizons.

“To live is to risk it all. Otherwise you’re just an inert chunk of randomly assembled molecules drifting wherever the universe blows you.”

From: Rick and Morty

Genre: Television, Cartoons

Who said it?: Rick Sanchez

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes the absurdist comedy sci-fi animated show, Rick and Morty on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. It follows the adventures of Rick Sanchez, the smartest person(s) in the multi-verse and his grandson and hapless companion, Morty Smith.

The quote comes from the third season episode “Rickmancing the Stone.” Summer Smith is now joining Rick and Morty on their adventures and they managed to escape from some unknown deadly situation. Morty (still voiced by Justin Roiland here) is angry at Summer as she’s the reason why they were nearly caught. Summer retorts that Morty should take it easy. This is when Rick (also voiced by Justin Roiland here) delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Life is hard but to live is to try out new and different things before we eventually expire. Otherwise, what’s the point of living if you never get to live life to its fullest?

“The randomness of death is merely a reflection of the unexpected joys we find in life.”

From: Star Trek: Lower Decks

Genre: Television, Cartoons

Who said it?: Captain Hikaru Sulu

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Paramount+ animated show, Star Trek: Lower Decks. Instead of being a serious sci-fi adventure, Star Trek: Lower Decks is more of a comedy, focusing more on the low-ranking officers instead of the captains and leaders usually seen in other Star Trek shows.

The quote comes from the episode entitled Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus, the 8th episode of the 3rd season. In the episode, Ensign Brad Boimler (voiced by Jack Quaid) has a crisis regarding the meaning of life and creates a simulation in the holodeck to try to find it. He stays too long and starts to hallucinate. In the hallucination, he sees himself talking to Captain Hikaru Sulu (voiced by George Takei) from the original Star Trek. Captain Sulu reminisces about how many of his friends have passed away before delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Like Boimler said and explained, we shouldn’t be too concerned about our death as it may hinder the way we live life. There are a lot of unknowns in life. But, then again, if we cower in fear from those unknowns, we won’t be open to doing the new and exciting things that makes life worth living.

“OK, it’s worth it.”

From: Isle of Dogs

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Chief

The story behind the quote: This quote comes from the animated film, Isle of Dogs. The film is a story about, in the future, all dogs have been isolated on an island as it is feared they carry a highly infectious disease. This leads a kid who ventures to the Isle of Dogs/Trash Island to try to find and rescue his pet dog.

The quote comes near the start of the film. Two packs of dogs come across a sack and the dogs are preparing to fight for it. Before they do, however, one of the dogs wisely states they first open the sack just so see if it’s worth it. They open the sack and see some moldy food. This is when the leader of one of the packs, Chief (voiced by Bryan Cranston), delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: There are going to be things that are worth fighting for. It may not make sense for us but it may make sense to the ones doing the fighting.

“This is my costume. I’m a homicidal maniac. They look just like everyone else.”

From: The Addams Family (1991)

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Wednesday Addams

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 1991 black comedy The Addams Family. Based on the comic strip and the old television series, the film focuses on the titular family who are creepy and kooky, mysterious and ooky.

The quote happens near the end of the film, which just so happens to fall on Halloween. Cousin Itt’s date talks to Wednesday Adams (played by Christina Ricci) and asks her where her costume is as she’s just wearing her ordinary (for her) clothes. This is when Wednesday delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: People all around us have a dark side but we usually never get to see them. This is just a warning as people who wish to do us harm don’t really look like monsters; they look like regular people.

“Life is effort and I’ll stop when I die!”

From: Rick and Morty

Genre: Television, Cartoons

Who said it?: Jerry Smith

The quote comes from the first season episode “Raising Gazorpazorp.” In the episode, Morty Smith accidentally sires a child with a sex robot. Rich Sanchez (still voiced by Justin Roiland here) then takes the sex robot to examine what it was designed to do to get more information on the child as it might become dangerous. Jerry Smith (voiced by Chris Parnell) then jokingly says it might become like the Insane Clown Posse, to which Rick insults Jerry regarding how old that reference is. It takes Jerry some time but he then tries to make a sly rebuff to no avail. His wife, Beth, then asks Jerry why he’s even trying when it’s so lame. This is when Jerry delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Although Jerry is a dullard, he is correct. Life is hard and we have to keep pushing and putting in the effort to make life work. All of this extra effort may work or it may not. But, ultimately, we still have to try.

“Who’s the more foolish? The fool or the fool who follows him?'”

From: Star Wars (specifically Episode IV)

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Obi-Wan Kenobi

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from, what else, Star Wars. Specifically, it comes from Episode IV, the first film in the film franchise. Honestly, do I even have to tell you what Star Wars is now?

The quote comes from the middle of the film. The Millennium Falcon is trapped in the Death Star. Han Solo (played by Harrison Ford) comments he can’t get off the space station because the tractor beam that pulled them in will just get them if they try. Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by Alec Guinness) then states he’ll be able to deactivate the tractor beam. Han Solo calls him a fool, which is when Obi-Wan retorts with the quote.

Geek wisdom: Be careful of who you idolize and choose to follow. Not all role models are good role models and not all leaders are good leaders.

“I wish to understand it. The more I do, the less it controls me. One day, who knows? I may even control it.”

From: Captain America: Civil War

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Vision

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Captain America: Civil War. In the movie, Captain America and Iron Man comes to odds against each other and, in the process, leads to the Avengers breaking up and splintering into two factions.

The quote comes early in the film. Vision (played by Paul Bettany) is talking to Wanda Maximoff (played by Elizabeth Olsen) and he states that most people are afraid of her because of her powers. Wanda makes a comment that, despite her having these powers, she’s still a person. Vision then talks about how the Mind Stone embedded in his forehead is still pretty much an unknown variable but it is still a part of him. Wanda then asks if he’s afraid of it and this is when Vision answers with the quote.

Geek wisdom: It is so easy to be afraid of things we don’t understand. It could be about the world, the universe and even other cultures. Something foreign to us can be scary. However, the more we try to learn and understand, the less we tend to fear whatever it is.