Victor de la Cruz

“I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love.”

From: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Genre: Television, Cartoons

Who said it?: Linus Van Pelt

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from A Charlie Brown Christmas. Based on the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Shultz, this classic cartoon Christmas special focuses on Charlie Brown trying to deal with his feelings of depression despite it supposed to be the happiest time of the year.

The quote comes near the end of the special. Charlie Brown tries to decorate the skinny tree he got but, because of how heavy the ornament is, the tree bends. Charlie Brown walks away, thinking he killed the tree. The rest of the Peanuts gang then gather around the tree, with Linus Van Pelt looking at the tree and delivering the quote before the group starts decorating the tree themselves.

Geek wisdom: Sometimes, even the most difficult people just need a little bit of love and care in order for them to do better. You may just need to put a little more effort in people in general instead of just giving up on them.

“Geoffrey, break out Lucille.”

From: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Uncle Phil

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 90’s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The show is all about Will Smith (played by Will Smith) who, when a couple of guys, who were up to no good, started making trouble in his neighborhood, got into one little fight. Because of this, his mom got scared and told Will he was moving in with auntie and uncle in Bel-Air.

The quote comes from the from the 22nd episode of the 1st season, Banks Shot. After losing his Uncle Phil’s car in a bet, Uncle Phil (played by James Avery) and Geoffrey, the family butler and played by Joseph Marcell, go to the pool hall where Will lost the bet. It looks like Uncle Phil gets goaded into making another bet for more money, which he loses. When Uncle Phil hesitantly tries to make another bet to both get the car as well as more money, the hustlers agree. This in when Uncle Phil delivers the quote, showing he is actually more than just good at playing pool.

Geek wisdom: Never judge a book by its cover. Nor should you judge a person by their appearance. You never know their history so you should never underestimate their abilities and skills.

“If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.”

From: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Patches O’Houlihan

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2004 sports comedy film, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. The film is about a scrappy group of misfits who join a dodgeball tournament with the hopes of using the prize money to save their local gym from Globo Gym.

The quote comes in the middle of the film. Retired professional dodgeball player Patches O’Houlihan (played by Rip Torn) decides to train the group after finding out Globo Gym’s owner, White Goodman (played by Ben Stiller), created his own team to thwart the good guys. However, it turns out Patches O’Houlihan’s training is very unorthodox as his training involved throwing wrenches at them. He does explain why by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Skills aren’t just in a vacuum. Some of them will bleed into other skills and will actually help you learn new things.

“What are your Prime Directives?”

From: Robocop

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Bob Morton

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 1987 sci-fi/cyberpunk movie, Robocop. The film is about Officer Alex Murphy (played by Peter Weller) who is gunned down on duty. But, thanks to Omni Consumer Products, also known as OCP, Murphy is resurrected as Robocop to be the future of law enforcement.

The quote comes early in the film. After officer Alex Murphy is transformed into Robocop and is transported to his old police unit, Bob Morton (played by Miguel Ferrer) goes up to Robocop and delivers the quote as part of his initialization tests.

Geek wisdom: Everyone has their own special code of conduct within themselves. These help them navigate through the complex world we live in and guides us through life. You have to recognize your very own “prime directives” and keep them to heart.

“I made an educated wish!”

From: Deadpool and Wolverine

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Deadpool

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from, technically, the third Deadpool film, Deadpool and Wolverine. Featuring the Marvel superheroes, the aforementioned Deadpool and Wolverine, played by Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, respectively, the movie has the Merc with a Mouth partnering with the former Weapon X in a quest to save his universe.

The quote comes in the middle of the film. Deadpool and Wolverine are travelling when the former lets it slip that he doesn’t really know if the Time Variance Authority can fix the latter’s universe. Wolverine confronts Deadpool about this and, to defend himself, Deadpool delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: The world can be unfair at times and all you can do is try your best and hope all that hard work will bear fruit. Sometimes it will but sometimes it won’t. All we can do is make the “educated wish” things will work out.

“We have to go back!”

From: Lost

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Jack Shepard

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the sci-fi drama Lost. Released in 2004, the show deals with the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 who crash landed on a mysterious island that seems to have some kind of mystical powers.

The quote comes from the Season 3 Finale episode, entitled “Through the Looking Glass.” In one of the show’s big twists, it turns out that, instead of the usual flashbacks you see throughout the previous seasons, what the viewers have been seeing regarding Jack Shepard (played by Matthew Fox) was a flashforward, a glimpse of how his life has become very miserable after actually making it off the island. Jack meets up with Kate Austen (played by Evangeline Lilly) and Jack proclaims they weren’t supposed to escape, delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Sometimes, we will desire to go back to a time when things were better or, at the very least, better than your present circumstances. However, we can never go back. All we can do is more forward and deal with the hand we were dealt with. We have to make the most of what we have right now.

“Once you’re at rock bottom, the only way forward is up.”

From: Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Ichiban Kasuga

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote is another submission from Sabari Girish Srinivasan. He’s written previously about a quote from the Assassin’s Creed games. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you once againthe great submission as he did a wonderful job of writing up all of the details. The quote comes from the Sega action-adventure game, Yakuza: Like A Dragon.

The quote comes from the very end of the game. In fact, it comes after the ending credits. Ichiban Kasuga ponders over the death of a friend he had been close to for most of his life. The latter had taken an incorrect and dangerous path to shroud his insecurities, without considering the consequences the affected might face, and paid the heaviest price.

Ichiban speaks from experience as his life threw curveballs at every stage of his life, but the man was never swept away by hatred and still maintained his innocence and joy. No matter what happened to him, no matter who betrayed him, Ichiban never lost his smile and always gave the other person another chance as he firmly believed that he was the man who he was because of the various second chances he had received over the years.

Geek wisdom: The subtle message in this quote is to never lose hope. Ichiban asks the listener to keep looking and moving forward, as the world will always find ways to push a stubborn and passionate heart forward.

“So this is how liberty dies… with thunderous applause.”

From: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Padme Amidala

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote initially comes from Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. It is the final movie of the Prequel Trilogy and sets up the events which will lead to the Original Trilogy.

The quote comes from near the end of the film. Palpatine has managed to sow fear throughout the Galactic Republic and declares himself as Emperor in the guise of reining in all of the threats. Padme Amidala (played by Natalie Portman) sees this act as it truly is, people willing to give up their freedoms for this supposed security, delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Most dictatorships only happen when people declare their willingness to give up their freedoms for whatever reason. In fact, they might not even realize it and cheer on their new dictator as they believe that’s what’s right for them.

“The only me is me. Are you sure the only you is you?”

From: PT

Genre: Video games

Who said it?: The Brown Paper Bag

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the now defunct demo game PT. Released by Konami as a playable trailer for a proposed new entry in the Silent Hill franchise, the actual game was going to be produced and directed by acclaimed game designer, Hideo Kojima. However, after the two had a falling out, Hideo Kojima left Konami and the demo as well as the proposed game was scrapped.

The quote is given a couple of times throughout the demo. When you first start the game, the quote will be displayed on the screen, hinting at what’s to come. Later on, near the end of PT, the game will look like it crashes and the unnamed protagonist will wake up in the room just like at the start of the game. This time, a brown paper bag will appear in the table in the corner of the room and, in some circumstances, will utter the quote.

Geek wisdom: We like to think of ourselves are totally unique. However, this might not be the case as we do like to copy and imitate others. So, in a way, a good chunk of what we are is actually because of us mimicking others.

“I can see! I CAN FIGHT!”

From: The Fairly Oddparents

Genre: Television, Cartoons

Who said it?: King Arthur Liebowitz

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Nickelodeon animated series, The Fairly Oddparents. The show features Timmy Turner who gets into various adventures because he has two fairy godparents, Wanda and Cosmo, who can grant his every wish. And these wishes usually backfires, leading to Timmy to un-wish whatever it was to return everything to its status quo.

The quote comes from the episode entitled “Knightly Knight“. Timmy wishes to be transported to the actual Camelot and he encounters Arthur Liebowitz while saving his parents from being eaten by a dragon. Thinking Arthur would be happier to look at his impending doom, Timmy gives him his father’s glasses. This corrects Arthur Liebowitz’s vision and gives him the constitution to fight as he exclaims the quote.

Geek wisdom: A change in one aspect of someone’s life can lead to even more changes in that life. You learn one simple skill and this enables you to learn a more complex skill. Small steps can lead to bigger steps.