“Many things that seems threatening in the dark become welcoming when we shine light on them.”

From: The Legend of Korra

Genre: Television and Cartoons

Who said it?: Iroh

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from The Legend of Korra. The sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender, this Nickelodeon takes place some time after the events of the original series as a new Avatar, a water tribe girl named Korra, inherits the title.

The quote comes from the episode “A New Spiritual Age,” which was the 10th episode of the 2nd season. Korra is trapped in the Spirit Realm and is overwhelmed by her new surroundings. She is rescued by the spirit of Iroh (now voiced by Greg Baldwin) and the aged mentor helps Korra in finding a way to find her friend. He directs her to bring a bird she accidentally injured to her home atop a scary looking mountain. When Korra tells him she’s afraid, Iroh points to the bird and reminds her how she was afraid of it, too. This is when he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Things that are unknown and unfamiliar to us can be scary and off-putting. It will remain that way until we actually put the time to understand them. We have to remain open or else we will always be prejudiced to these things just because we don’t understand what they are.

“It never hurts to help!”

From: Eek! The Cat

Genre: Television, Cartoons

Who said it?: Eek

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Fox Kids animated show, Eek! The Cat, which was later named to Eek! Stravaganza during the fourth season. The show generally focuses on the misadventures of Eek, a blissfully positive cat.

Each episode usually sees Eek find a chance to assist someone or a cause and then, because of his desire to help out, gets into all sorts of trouble. However, before he does get into trouble, he always delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Although Eek does gets into all sorts of sticky predicaments whenever he tries to be helpful, he still has the right idea because if we do all try to be there whenever someone is in need, the world would be a much better place.

“Sorry, mom. The mob has spoken.”

From: The Simpsons

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Bart 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 4th season episode entitled “Marge vs. The Monorail.” When the town of Springfield suddenly becomes flush with cash, the town holds a meeting in order to decide how to use the money. While there are suggestions on how to use the money to improve Springfield, a quick talking shyster named Lyle Lanley persuades everyone to use the funds to buy a slick monorail. During the end of the song number, Marge Simpson laments that main street is still full of potholes. However, her son, Bart Simpson, slyly remarks that the town has already made the ill-fated decision to go build the monorail.

Geek wisdom: Sometimes, the most popular decision is not the correct one. There are going to be times when the most prudent choice might be unpopular but, ultimately, still the right one. So always keep an open mind to other thoughts and ideas.

“Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.”

From: America’s Top 40

Genre: Internet/Radio

Who said it?: Casey Kasem

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote is kind of an oddball because it didn’t originally come from the Internet, television, movies or cartoons. Rather, it comes from the radio, specifically, the America’s Top 40 program. However, it does have some geeky links as it comes from the original voice of Shaggy from Scooby-Doo.

The quote actually comes from Casey Kasem, a radio DJ and the aforementioned voice of Shaggy. As the host of America’s Top 40 and it’s subsequent television version, America’s Top 10, he would count down the biggest music hits of the time. Just before the show would end, he would sign off with his signature catchphrase, which would be this week’s quote.

Geek wisdom: There’s no harm in chasing for success. However, you should always remember your roots and keep yourself grounded.

“You know the thing about chaos? It’s fair.”

From: Batman, specifically, The Dark Knight

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: The Joker

The story behind the quote: You know a movie is good when you can pull off multiple quotes from it. And you know a character is fantastic when you can use a majority of his quotes! Once again, I’m pulling from The Dark Knight, the second from Christopher Nolan’s trilogy of Batman moves and, once again, the quote comes from The Joker, played by the late Heath Ledger.

The quote comes from late part of the movie. Harvey Dent (played by Aaron Ekhart) is laid up in the hospital when the Joker visits him. The Joker then tells Harvey that he’s not the reason for him becoming disfigured as he was just thwarting the normal order of things and how people go crazy when things don’t go according to their plans. The Joker then pulls a pistol and manipulates Harvey into thinking the way he does. He punctuates this by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Although the Joker is clinically insane, he does have a point. Life is unfair but good things and bad things happen to each and everyone of us. No one is spared from the randomness of life.

“This is my family. I found it all on my own. It’s little and broken… but still good. Yeah, still good.”

From: Lilo and Stitch

Genre: Movies, Cartoons

Who said it?: Stitch

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes the 2002 Disney animated film Lilo and Stitch. The film focuses on two mischievous beings, namely Lilo, a boisterous and rebellious child and Stitch, an alien experiment who fled to Earth to avoid being terminated. The two manage to find each other in Hawaii and create a strong bond.

The quote comes near the very end of the film. Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders, who incidentally is also the writer and director of the film) is finally captured by the alien peacekeeping force. To everyone’s surprise, Stitch asks if he can say goodbye to his “ohana” or family. The alien leader, shocked that Stitch’s more destructive personality has softened, asks Stitch who these people are. This is when Stitch delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: All families are not perfect. However, as long as you have a loving relationship with each other, then it’s easy to stick with them, despite their shortcomings.

“Change is nature, dad. The part that you can influence. And it starts when we decide.”

From: Ratatouille

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Remy

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Pixar animated film, Ratatouille. The film is about a rat named Remy (voiced by Patton Oswald) who loves fine dining and learns to become a great cook, thanks to watching his favorite chef, Chef Gusteau. He then accidentally becomes partners with a young man named Linguini, the son of Gusteau, and together they try to become one of the greatest chefs in all of France.

The quote comes at the middle of the film. Remy’s dad tries to show his son that humans will always treat their kind, rats, as the enemy and it’s impossible to change how they think. Remy then delivers the quote, saying things don’t always have to be this way.

Geek wisdom: If you truly want to see things change, then you have to be willing to put in the work. You have to put in the effort and be the change you want to be.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”

From: Kung-Fu Panda

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Master Oogway

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote was suggested by our good friend, DJ Miller. He has contributed several quotes from Regular Show, Avatar: The Last Airbender, King of the Hill, Forrest Gump and Arthur. The quote comes from the animated film, Kung-Fu Panda. Kung-Fu Panda is the story of Po, a large and clumsy panda who dreams of being a great martial artist. He is announced as the next Dragon Warrior, much to the chagrin of the great master Shifu and the Furious Five. Throughout his training, it seems like there has been a mistake as Po’s clumsy and lazy attitude makes him virtually untrainable. 

The quote comes from middle of the film as Po starts his training with Master Shifu and the Furious Five. Po does not do well with the training and decides to take refuge away from the temple. Po (voiced by Jack Black) meets up with Master Oogway and he tells him about how much he sucked at training and the others hate him. He thinks about quitting as he does not seem to have the mettle to be the legendary Dragon Warrior. Master Oogway tells him he’s too concerned about the past and the future then delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: We all have a bad day from time to time. But we shouldn’t worry about what happens next. We should focus on the present situation instead of worrying about the failures of the past or future and concentrate on the now.

“It’s not about you. It’s about them.”

From: Rango

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: The Spirit of the West

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from CG animated movie, Rango. The film follows the titular character as he fools an entire town by pretending to be a tough hero. The movie won in the Best Animated Feature during the 84th Academy Awards.

The quote comes near the end of the film. Rango (voiced and motion captured by Johnny Depp), in a daze, talks to the Spirit of the West (voiced by Timothy Olyphant) and stating that the things he’s done and the lies he spread seems to have made things much worse for the town. The Spirit of the West tells Rango, since the town needs a hero, he should be that hero. Rango rebuffs this and says him being in the desert was a mistake in itself but The Spirit of the West rhetorically asks if it was a mistake to be where he needed to be when the people needed him the most. That’s when he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: It’s always nice to be needed. While it’s fine to be selfish once in a while, being that way all the time only benefits yourself. Sometimes, you just need to feel wanted and the only way to be that way is to give of yourself.

“If I could give you an answer to how the universe works, it wouldn’t be special.”

From: The Good Place

Genre: Televison

Who said it?: Janet

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the NBC comedy series, The Good Place. The show focuses on four humans who have died and are now supposedly spending eternity in The Good Place. One of the people, Eleanor Shellstrop, apparently isn’t supposed to be there as she was a bad person while she was alive. The first season then focuses on her journey to be a person worthy of being in The Good Place in order to avoid being sent to The Bad Place.

The quote comes from the Season 3 finale entitled “Pandemonium.” Due to the Bad Place demon’s plan, Chidi has to be mind wiped and Eleanor now has to pretend to be the Architect of this version of the Good Place. Eleanor (played by Kristen Bell) wonders if it’s all worth it and asks Janet (played by D’Arcy Carden) to what is the meaning of life. Janet, despite knowing everything, has some experience being human and notes that the universe doesn’t really make sense but that’s part of the beauty of life. This is when she delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Life has many ups and downs and, at times, things can feel too chaotic. However, it’s these peaks and valleys we experience that makes life worth living. We have to enjoy the highs and persevere through the lows. It is through all of these experiences that makes life worth living.