Victor de la Cruz

“Turns out I don’t need a medal to tell me I’m a good guy. If that little kid likes me, how bad can I be?”

From: Wreck-It Ralph

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Wreck-It Ralph

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Disney animated film, Wreck-It Ralph. The film is about a video game character named Wreck-It Ralph who plays the villain in a game called Fix-It Felix. Tired of playing the antagonist, Ralph decides to go on a quest to get a medal just like the one Felix gets for defeating Ralph in the hopes of becoming a “good guy” and much more well liked.

The quote actually comes at the very end of the film. Ralph (played by John C. Reilly) is garnering more respect after his adventure and has even made friends with Vanelope, another video game character. He reminisces that, as he is lifted and thrown off the roof of the building, he doesn’t need a material object to prove he’s a good guy and be liked, which is when he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: A lot of people confuse obtaining material wealth to being well liked. While some strangers might admire you for it, you don’t actually need a lot of stuff to be well-liked. All you need to do is to show kindness to others and it will be returned.

“But what is grief if not love persevering?”

From: WandaVision

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Vision

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the recently concluded WandaVision on Disney+. This is the first entry in Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first live-action television series to be released featuring Marvel’s characters. The show features Wanda Maximoff and Vision, two of the Avengers that have appeared in the earlier films.

The quote comes from the 8th episode “Previously On.” As seen in a flashback, Wanda (played by Elizabeth Olsen) is grieving over the death of her twin brother, Pietro, during the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron. Vision (played by Paul Bettany) tries to comfort her. Wanda tries to explain the metaphorical weight of her sadness to Vision. Vision tries to explain that he’s never experienced grief like Wanda’s as he’s never really lost anyone. This is when he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Grieving is known for being a negative emotion as it’s overwhelming sadness. However, the only reason why we feel this level of sadness is because of the love we feel for that person we lost. The grief is actually the love we feel for that person. It’s a reminder that we loved once and that love will remain within us. Hence, grief is love persevering.

“Superman is what I can do. Clark is who I am.”

From: Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Clark Kent

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 1993 superhero series, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. This was a live-action show mostly revolving around the relationship of Clark Kent and Lois Lane.

The quote comes from the second season episode entitled Tempus Fugitive. Lois Lane (played by Teri Hatcher) finds out about Clark Kent’s dual identity as Superman. Clark (played by Dean Cain) tries to apologize to Lois for lying to her all these years. When Lois sounds confused as to why Clark would be jealous of her feelings for Superman as they are the same person, he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: There is more to you than what you can do. You may be good at something but that doesn’t mean that it’s your entire identity. The same goes with others so we must realize that we are more than what we seem on the surface.

“Why are you booing me? I’m right!”

From: The Eric Andre Show

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Hannibal Buress

The story behind the quote: This quote comes Adult Swim talk show, The Eric Andre Show. Hosted by the titular comedian, is basically a spoof of low-budget regional talk shows.

The quote comes from Hannibal Buress, his co-host during the first five seasons. During his monologue for The Eric Andre New Year’s Eve Spooktacular, Eric Andre comments President Barack Obama will have two more years, leading to the crowd cheering. Hannibal Buress corrects the host as a full presidential term is four years. The crowd starts booing him, leading to the co-host delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Sometimes, the truth isn’t something everyone will like to hear. Even if you tell them facts and show them proof, there will be some unwilling to change their mind.

“A future is not given to you. It is something you must take for yourself.”

From: Nier: Automata

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Pod 042

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Square Enix action RPG game, Nier: Automata. The game has you controlling androids who are fighting a proxy war against the alien machine invasion that has taken over the Earth in the far away future. The game has received numerous accolades thanks to its generally fluid gameplay but has garnered a lot of attention due to its focus on asking philosophical questions about life.

The quote comes from the “real” ending, Ending E. All of the androids you control, 2B, 9S and A2, have been destroyed. However their support pods, Pod 042 (voiced by DC Douglas) and Pod 153 (voiced by Abby Trott), gain some form of sentience and have gotten attached to their masters and are trying to rebuild them. Pod 153 questions the futility of repairing them with the exact same parts and memories as it would logically mean they would repeat the same mistakes. Pod 042 doesn’t deny that it’s a possibility but, as he delivers the quote, says that the opposite also exist.

Geek wisdom: Our future never determined from the outset. It is, ultimately, up to us to mold our destiny. While we all have different starting points, our destiny will always lead us to different paths. And these are always paths of our own choosing.

“NOTHING IS MORE BADASS THAN TREATING A WOMAN WITH RESPECT!”

From: Borderlands 2 (Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage)

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Mr. Torgue

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes one of the DLC campaign packs you can get for Borderlands 2, Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage. This game still has the same general gameplay as it’s still a first person shooter with numerous gun drops. The campaign has you, the Vault Hunter, entering a tournament organized by Mr. Torgue, the uncouth head of the Torgue gun company.

The quote comes after defeating one of your competition from the tournament, Pyro Pete. In the process, you do save Mad Moxxi, a buxom and business savvy woman. Mr. Torgue will eventually congratulate the Vault Hunter for moving up in the tournament. Additionally, knowing that Moxxi is now your sponsor, delivers the quote.

Oh, and the reason why the quote is in all caps… it’s because that’s exactly how Mr. Torgue would say it. I’m just being accurate.

Geek wisdom: Despite his rough exterior, what Mr. Torgue said is true. However, this also should apply on both sides of the aisle.

“Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on.”

From: Marvel’s Avengers

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Nick Fury

The story behind the quote: This quote comes from the first Avengers movie. It was the culmination of separate superhero films made my Marvel and put together their best superheroes, who each had their own standalone films, in a live-action movie.

The quote comes at the start of the film. Nick Fury (played by Samuel L. Jackson) in confronted by Maria Hill (played by Cobie Smulders). She asks the leader of SHIELD if they really should be concerned about getting prototype weapons out of the base when they do need to evacuate the area. This is when Nick Fury delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Even when things look hopeless, that should not mean we give up. We have to trudge on even if it looks like the odds are against us. Because there’s always going to be a chance our efforts might not be in vain.

“Maybe if we started looking at what’s the same instead of always looking at what’s different… well, who knows?”

From: Pokemon: The First Movie

Genre: Movies, Cartoons

Who said it?: Meowth

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes the aptly titled Pokemon: The First Movie… which just so happens to be the first theatrical film of the hugely popular Pokemon franchise.

The quote comes from Meowth from Team Rocket (voiced by the late Maddie Blaustein) during the second segment of the film, Mewtwo Strikes Back. He initially thinks of battling his clone but the two decide against it. Meowth then realizes the similarities between him and his clone and delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: We are more similar and alike that we realize. The issue is we focus on the differences instead of concentrating on the common ground we all have between everyone who lives on the planet. Maybe if we do reflect on our commonalities, we might just start understanding each other.

“Friends don’t lie.”

From: Stranger Things

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Eleven

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Netflix series, Stranger Things. The show borrows a lot of atmosphere from ’80s sci-fi teen shows as, appropriately, it is set in the time period. The show generally revolves around a group of friends who discover a mysterious girl named Eleven (played by Millie Bobby Brown) who has developed psychic powers thanks to experiments performed on her.

The quote actually is initially mentioned by Mike Wheeler (played by Finn Wolfhard) when trying to convince Eleven he’s a friend. However, the quote is delivered with much more impact later when Eleven delivers it later on when the gang tries to make amends for all the misunderstandings that happened.

Geek wisdom: True friends will tell the truth to each other. The truth may hurt but, if that person is someone you trust, then you know they are telling it to you because they really care for you.

“Freedom. Boundless, terrifying freedom.”

From: Final Fantasy VII Remake

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Aerith Gainsborough

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes the Square Enix game, Final Fantasy VII Remake. As the name suggests, the game is an enhanced version of the original 1997 game that was released on the PlayStation. The game follows Cloud Strife, a mercenary who gets wrapped up in a plot that will destroy the planet.

The quote comes near the end of the game. Cloud and company encounter Sephiroth but Sephiroth leaves through a portal he creates. When deciding if they should chase after him, they wonder where the portal will lead. This is when Aerith delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Freedom is good but also scary as it hold so many unknowns. But this is what freedom entails as the choices we make do have consequences.