“…Baby, you’ve got a stew going!”

From: Arrested Development

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Carl Weathers

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from Arrested Development, a sitcom that was first released on Fox. It was then picked up on Netflix six years later, showing the longevity of the series that focuses on  the Bluths, a dysfunctional family who lost their wealth when it was discovered that the patriarch of the family, George Bluth, Sr. (played by Jeffrey Tambor), had been stealing from the company.

The quote comes from the 12th episode of the first season, Matha Complex. A running storyline from this season was Tobias Funke (played by David Cross) has hired Carl Weathers to be his acting coach. During a party, Tobias is about to toss a bone but Carl Weathers stops him as he notices there’s some meat left on the bone. The seasoned actor then advises to save the bone as it can still be made into something else. This is when he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: In a way, Carl Weathers is right as there are always ways to make use of things that people would think is just garbage. It’s just realizing the potential. As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

“Your problem is you’ve spent your whole life thinking there are rules. There aren’t.”

From: Fargo

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Lorne Malvo

The story behind the quote: This quote comes from the anthology series from FX, Fargo. While none of the seasons are directly linked to each other, they do follow the same theme of crime stories that take place in or close to the city of Fargo.

This quote comes from the very first season and very first episode of the show, The Crocodile’s Dilemma. After learning his neighbor and bully was murdered, Lester Nygaard (played by Martin Freeman), he recalls encountering a man named Lorne Malvo (played by Billy Bob Thorton) offered to kill him for free. He confronts the Malvo in a diner and they discuss the situation. Malvo reminds Lester that, while he never said he wanted to kill him, he didn’t say he didn’t. Malvo also reminds Lester of the terrible things he did to him. This is when he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Bad people will always try to take advantage of good people. On a certain level, the quote is true as there is no one who will step in to defend the latter when the former attempts to take things by force. It is all our responsibility to defend ourselves when we need to.

“So I’ve spent every day since then chasing Amy…so to speak.”

From: Chasing Amy

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Silent Bob

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the 1997 film, Chasing Amy. The film is about a male comic artist named Holden McNeil who falls in love with a girl named Alyssa who turns out to be a lesbian.

The quote comes after Holden McNeil (played by Ben Affleck) has a big fight with Alyssa and they break up because she is much more experienced in bed than he thought because she’s a lesbian. He goes have lunch with his friends, Jay and Silent Bob (played by Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith, respectively). Silent Bob reveals he was in the same type of situation as Holden and he talks about his past with a girl named Amy, who he broke up with when she revealed she was also more adventurous in bed. After the story, Silent Bob delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Always cherish the people you have in your life. They may make mistakes but, if they really are important to you, you shouldn’t let those mistakes sour your relationship with them. Because you may regret losing them in the future.

“Because when you really know who you are and what you like about yourself, changing for other people isn’t such a big deal.”

From: Community

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Abed Nadir 

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the geek cult comedy Community. Created by Dan Harmon, the show focuses on the Greendale Community College and a specific study group of six eccentric personalities. The show has become a geeky cult classic and fans may have gotten their six seasons… but we’re still screaming for six seasons and a movie.

The quote comes from the 17th episode of the 1st season, Physical Education. When the group finds out that one of their classmates has a crush on Abed Nadir (played by Daniel Pudi), the group forces him to pursue a romantic relationship with her. It turns out the girl already has a boyfriend who looks exactly like Abed.

The group think Abed is crushed but he reveals he isn’t. He recognizes that a lot of people want to help him and the group wanted him to change as they were worried for him that he wouldn’t find a girlfriend. He tells them was going along with what they wanted as he knew it would make them happy and he was willing to change to do that. This is when he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: You can’t force another person to change and, if you do, they might resent you for it. They have to be willing to change.

Also, it is okay to change for others as long as it doesn’t contradict who you are on the inside.

“The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural.”

From: Star Wars, specifically Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Supreme Councilor/Emperor Palpatine

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Star Wars series. More specifically, it comes from Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, the final chapter of the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

The quote comes near the end of the film. Anakin Skywalker (played by Hayden Christensen) is talking to Supreme Councilor Palpatine (played by Ian McDiarmin) and Palpatine tells the story of Darth Plagueis the Wise who managed to use the Force in ways like reviving the dead. When Anakin questions this ability, Palpatine delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: There are actually two pieces of Geek Wisdom we can pull from this quote. The first one is the Dark Side of the Force/evil may seem like it’s unnatural but it actually is. Everyone of us has this “dark side’ inside of us and the reason it seems unnatural is because we’re not supposed to acknowledge this side. We have to be aware that everyone is capable of evil.

The second piece of Geek Wisdom is about death and how it is a natural part of life. We have to accept that all life will eventually end.

“There’s still some stuff in the basement.”

From: Rocky Balboa (2008)

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Rocky Balboa

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2008 film Rocky Balboa. This is the sixth film in the Rocky series of movies. The movie has Rocky Balboa, in his mid-sixties, going up against Mason “The Line” Dixon, in a exhibition dream match. Still, Rocky takes the fight as seriously as when he was a championship boxer.

The film comes in the middle of the film. Rocky (played by Sylvester Stallone) talks to his brother-in-law, Paulie (played by Burt Young). Paulie questions Rocky’s motivation for the fight. Rocky then says the reason, which is the quote in question.

Geek wisdom: We do sometimes feel we need to prove ourselves. Not to others but to ourselves. You can use this as a motivator to push through the doubt in our minds and go for the things we want.

“And boom goes the dynamite.”

From: YouTube

Genre: Internet/Web Series

Who said it?: Brian Collins

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from an old viral video depicting probably the most deadpan way of exclaiming excitement.

In March 2005, Brian Collins, a college freshman attending Ball State University, found out the regular sportscaster for their college’s television station was sick. As he wanted to become a reporter himself, he volunteered to fill in. The only problems were, one, Brian was not a sports guy and, two, he was hastily given the topics and wasn’t awarded any time to prepare. This resulted in Brian giving one of the most stilted, monotone and definitely the least exciting sports reel and forever embedding the quote in the public consciousness.

Geek wisdom: People forget that there’s more to just the words when you talk. It’s also the manner in how you express it and how you’re emotions are conveyed when you talk. Things like emphasis and tone can greatly alter the meaning of what you say.

“Only Imperial Stormtroopers are so precise.”

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 the first ever Star Wars film ever released. It was originally just Star Wars but later releases of the film retconned it to be Episode IV: A New Hope.

The quote comes near the start of the film. As Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by Alec Guinness) come across the wreckage of the Jawa Sandcrawler that sold Luke R2-D2 and C3-P0. Luke thinks that the Sand People did the attack but Obi-Wan says it was the work of Imperial Stormtroopers because of how good the show are. However, throughout the film, it seems like Obi-Wan’s statement about the Imperial Stormtroopers and the Sand People’s markmanship are false.

Geek wisdom: Sometimes, what you think is correct can be wrong but we will still believe it in because we can be blind by popular opinion or that point has been ingrained in us. We have to use our own senses and actually think and observe to determine what is fact or fiction.

“Did we just become best friends?”

From: Step Brothers

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Brennan Huff

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2008 comedy film, Step Brothers. The film has two grown men who are forced to live together in the same house when both their parents get married.

The quote comes early in the film. After Dale Dobeck (played by John C. Reilly) punches his step brother’s real brother in the face, Brennan Huff (played by Will Ferrell) try to get to know each other better after days of feuding. The two find they have a lot in common and, when Brennan finds this out, he exclaims the quote.

Geek wisdom: You never know who are the people you have a lot in common with. You may even find out that even your worst enemy might have the capacity to become someone you would want to be friends with. The only way to find out is to get past the anger and try to find common ground.

“It’s not that I’m lazy. It’s that I just don’t care”

From: Office Space

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Peter Gibbons

The story behind the quote: Office Space is a cult classic movie from Mike Judge, the creator of Beavis and Butt-head. The story generally focuses of a group of frustrated office workers who work for Initech, a software company. Peter Gibbons, a rather meek person, gets hypnotized to a state of complete relaxation. Even though he openly shows his distaste for working at Initech due to being hypnotized, he’s the one that gets to keep his job while his friends get downsized.

The quote comes near the start of the film when Peter Gibbons (played by Ron Livingston) is interviewed by two people who are figuring out who can be laid off. He gives the interview in the hypnotized state, speaking very frankly as to why he only does the minimum amount of work. During the middle of the speech, he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: It is difficult to do things, especially when you’re not feeling it or you are just not passionate about that job. This is why it’s very important to find something you love or, at the very least, enjoy doing and make that your way to make a living. That way, you will always be motivated to do your very best.