Victor de la Cruz

“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.

“Boo this man!”

From: Half Baked

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Man from crowd

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the comedy film, Half Baked. The film focuses of a group of stoner friends who are forced to raise $1 million in order to get their friend out of prison.

The quote comes near the start of the film. Thurgood Jenkins (played by Dave Chapelle) goes to rehab. During the introduction, he mentions he’s addicted to marijuana. This riles up the other people they are addicted to harder substances. Even Bob Saget gets angry at Thurgood. This leads to one of the addicts (played by David Edwards) to yell out the quote.

Geek wisdom: Sometimes, you do have to call out people when they’ve done something inconsiderate. You do have to voice your displeasure to let them know how you feel.

“We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented. It’s as simple as that.”

From: The Truman Show

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Cristof

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the satirical dramedy, The Truman Show. The movie is all about Truman Burbank, played by Jim Carrey. While Truman thinks he’s living a normal life, he’s actually part of a reality show as the show’s creator, Cristof, purchased Truman as a baby and has created a world for him to live in but every aspect of his life is filmed and broadcast for millions to see.

The quote comes from the middle of the film. Cristof (played by Ed Harris) is being interviewed by a talk show host and he asks the show’s director why Truman has never discovered that his life has become a television show. Cristof replies with the quote.

Geek wisdom: It may be depressing to know but we do take things at face value all the time. We have a tendency to believe the world we live in one way based on our experience and totally ignoring how others may experience life differently. Sometimes, we have to get out of our own bubble.

“All work and moe play makes moe a moe moe.”

From: The Simpsons

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Marge Simpson

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from one of the episodes of The Simpsons. As one of the longest running shows ever (and since I’ve already used a lot of Simpsons quotes in the past), this show needs no introduction anymore.

The quote comes from the episode entitled “Flaming Moe,” which is the 10th episode of the 3rd season. In the episode, Moe’s bar is going out of business and, to help his friend out, Homer Simpson tells him how to make a drink by cobbling together old liquor but, by adding cough syrup and setting it on fire, the resulting drink will be spectacular. Moe then starts selling the drink and claiming he invented it, now calling it the Flaming Moe. Homer becomes obsessed that Moe won’t give him any credit, to the point where he sees and hears Moe wherever he is. This leads to Homer imagining Marge Simpson delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Getting obsessed with a certain topic is not healthy. You do have to get some things out of your system or else you will go crazy just like how Homer did.