Victor de la Cruz

“You put the wrong em-PHA-sis on the wrong sy-LAH-ble.”

From: View from the Top

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: John Whitney

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from 2003 romantic comedy, View from the Top. The movie stars Gwyneth Paltrow as Donna, a smalltown girl hoping to become a high class airline flight attendant.

The quote comes early in the movie during her training under John Whitney (played by Mike Myers). While testing one of the students in a mock emergency, the student mispronounces the word “assess.” John Whitney teases the student by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: While it’s okay to mispronounce words once in a while, it’s also important to note that how we say things can have different meanings. In other words, we do have to be careful with not only what we say, but how we say it.

“No force in Heaven or on Earth will make me answer that question.”

From: Assassin’s Creed series, specifically Assassin’s Creed Unity

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Arno Dorian

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote is a submission from Sabari Girish Srinivasan. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for the great submission as he did a wonderful job of writing up all of the details. The quote itself comes from the Ubisoft action-adventure game, Assassin’s Creed Unity. The 8th installment of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, Unity has you controlling Arno Dorian searching for the reasons of his adoptive father’s murder. From this point on, I’ll let Sabari Girish Srinivasan take over from here.

In the mission “A Dinner Engagement” in Sequence 10 of Assassin’s Creed Unity, the protagonist Arno Dorian approaches his complicated ally, the Marquis de Sade, to get the location of a target to assassinate. The latter in turn, asks Arno a rather harrowing question on his opinion related to the corruption in the Bishopric concerning nuns and priests involved in debauchery or the sodomy of a goat by a Benedictine monk to which Arno replies with this quote.

Geek wisdom: Not all questions need answers or opinions from people with a layman’s knowledge of the field. It also trickles down to consent, with which Arno defiantly took his stance and, although de Sade could be a handful, he did not push further (at least in the fictional story set in the late 18th century).

“Am I so out of touch? No, it’s the children who are wrong.”

From: The Simpsons

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Principal Skinner

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the longest running animated series in the United States, The Simpsons. The show has been on for numerous seasons and counting and is a general smorgasbord for quotes.

The quote comes from the 5th season episode, entitled “The Boy Who Knew Too Much.” In the episode, Bart Simpson passes a fake note to his teacher to skip school. Principal Skinner (voiced by Harry Shearer) rightfully believes the note is fake and tries to catch Bart in the act of truancy. He goes to the places he liked to visit as a kid but neither sees Bart no any other truant children. He starts second guessing himself but then dismisses it, delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: As time moves on, things change. What was once okay can be thought of as despicable later down the line. The opposite can also be true in that what was once thought of to be terrible can turn out to be okay in the future. All we can do is adapt to the new situation and never stay rigid in our own ways.

“What we do in life echoes in eternity.”

From: Gladiator

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Maximus Decimus Meridius

The story behind the quote: The quote comes Ridley Scott’s Gladiator starring Russell Crowe as Maximus, the titular “Gladiator” of the film. The movie is about a former Roman general who, because he didn’t give his fealty to Commodus (played by Joaquin Pheonix) and after some heartbreaking events, became a gladiator in the Roman colosseum.

The quote comes very early in the film. During a speech for his troops before they go to battle, he tells them to visualize where they will be after the war and, if they will it hard enough, it will become true. After this, he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Every thing we do, good and bad, right or wrong, grand and mundane, will have an affect in the world. It may not make a huge impact but everything we do will make even the slightest change to the future. This is why we should think before we take action.

“If a lot of people love each other, the world would be a better place to live.”

From: The Room (2003)

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Johnny

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from “the Citizen Kane of bad movies,” The Room. Written, directed and produced by the enigmatic Tommy Wiseau, the movie is about a love triangle between Johnny (played by Tommy Wiseau himself), his fiancee Lisa and his best friend, Mark. At least, that’s what I’ve been able to piece together as The Room is generally a mess of unrelated stories and plot points, some of which are never addressed or discussed in the film.

The quote comes sometime in the middle of the film. Denny (played by Philip Haldiman) tells Johnny that he may be in love with Lisa. Johnny, with all his wisdom, says that okay and, in fact, that it’s great. That’s when the wise sage delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: While this may be very obvious, it’s still on point. If more people did love each other, the world would indeed be a better place.

“I survived because the fire inside me burned brighter than the fire around me.”

From: Fallout: New Vegas

Genre: Video games

Who said it?: Joshua Graham

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Bethesda action RPG, Fallout: New Vegas. The game follows the player-character known as The Courier who gets wrapped up in a war between multiple factions all trying to take control of New Vegas.

Specifically, the quote comes from the Honest Hearts DLC and comes from Joshua Graham, a man supposedly executed by Caesar’s Legion for failing to take Hoover Dam. You can talk to him and ask how he managed to survive being burned alive. He replies with the quote.

Geek wisdom: When you have a goal you want to achieve, nothing should get in the way of getting it. It all depends on your willpower.

“The question is, will you still want the same things when you’ve become a different animal altogether?”

From: Fallout (Amazon television series)

Genre: Movies/Books

Who said it?: Dr. Siggi Wilzig

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Amazon Prime Video television series, Fallout. Based on the Bethesda video game franchise of the same name, the series takes place in an alternate timeline where a nuclear war has ravaged the world and people scrouge to survive mutated nightmares as well as each other in the Wasteland. Like with the games, the show focuses on a Vault Dweller, who leaves the comfort and safety of the Vault to explore the Wasteland on a mission.

The quote actually doesn’t come from Lucy (played by Ella Purnell), the aforementioned Vault Dweller in the series. Rather it comes from Dr. Siggi Wilzig (played by Michael Emerson), an Enclave scientist who carries with him a big secret. Lucy comes across him in Episode 2: The Target. Wilzig pleads with Lucy to return to the safety of the Vault but Lucy is defiant, stating she’s only returning once she rescues her father. Wilzig then tells her that she needs to adapt quickly to her new surroundings but then delivers the quote, wondering if she’ll have the same goals once she does conform.

Geek wisdom: People do change over time and, when they do, their wants and needs also change. It’s always okay to change your goals to fit your current needs.

“Congratulations, San Francisco! You’ve ruined pizza! First the Hawaiians and now you!”

From: Inside Out

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Anger

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Pixar animated film, Inside Out. Released by Disney in 2015, the film revolves around the inner emotions of Riley, a pre-teen who had to move to San Francisco with her family.

The quote comes early in the film when Riley and her mom go to a pizza place and they realize the people in San Francisco put broccoli on their pizza. This prompts Anger (voiced by Lewis Black) to deliver the quote.

Geek wisdom: Different locations and different cultures will take one thing and adapt it for their own. While it may “ruin” it for some, some others may actually like it. Trying something different that may be terrible might not be so bad after all.

“Sure, we want to learn to become good adults. But we’re only kids for a little while. So just give us a break. Please?”

From: Disney’s Recess

Genre: Television, Cartoons

Who said it?: TJ Detweiler

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote is another submission from DJ Miller, who has helped us with a quote from Avatar: The Last Airbender, Kung Fu Panda, King of the Hill, Forrest Gump and Arthur. This time, the quote comes from the Disney animated program, Recess.

The quote comes from the episode “The Kids in the Mist.” When a video threatening to cut back on Recess due to a teacher wanting to focus more teaching discipline, TJ and the gang get ahold of the video and film themselves defending why recess is important. At the end of the video, TJ pops into view and delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: We shouldn’t be in a rush to grow up. Parents and teachers need to let kids stay a kid for a little while.

“Please, do not make me let you down.”

From: X-Men ’97

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Magneto

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Disney+ animated show, X-Men ’97. Based on the Marvel comics series, X-Men ’97 is a continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series. The world thinks Professor X is dead and Magneto, the X-Men’s greatest villain, now is in control of the X-Men.

The quote comes from the second episode, entitled Mutant Liberation Begins. Magneto (voiced here by Matthew Waterson) subdues an attack by the Friends of Humanity on the United Nations during his trial. He mentions how he would’ve killed everyone in the past, especially due to how the X-Cutioner managed to remove Storm‘s mutant abilities during the battle. However, Professor X challenged him to try a different path and he is trying to be a better person. He closes the monologue by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Sometimes, people would like to change and change for the better. However, a lot of us have difficulty letting go of the past. With that in mind, we should never try to hold them back just because of their past mistakes. In fact, we should encourage these people and help them as they are trying instead of telling them they cannot change. At the very least, get out of their way when they are trying to better themselves.