“Get off my lawn.”

From: Gran Torino

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Walt Kowalski

The story behind the quote: The quote comes the 2008 drama Gran Torino, which starred and also directed by Clint Eastwood. In the film, Clint Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, an aging Vietnam veteran who lives in a bad neighborhood of Detroit. Many poor Hmong immigrants have moved into the neighborhood as of late and, as such, gang violence has become rather commonplace in Walt’s area.

The quote comes from the early part of the film. One of the gang leaders try to bully Thao, one of the Hmong teens living in the area, to try out for his gain. However, this leads into a major squabble, which spills into Walt’s property. This is when Walt gets his shotgun and delivers the quote. And, despite the gang trying to intimidate Walt, he doesn’t back down.

Geek wisdom: You may be older but that doesn’t mean that the other, younger generation have the right to disrespect you. In fact, it is the younger people that should try to learn from the older generation and try to respect their boundaries. If they don’t, then it’s the older person/s right to demand the respect they deserve.

“Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon, we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.”

From: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Dumbledore

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the fourth film of the Harry Potter films, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Note that I said that the quote comes from the movies as, while Dumbledore does say something like this week’s quote, it isn’t the exact quote.

Anyway, the quote comes near the end of the film. Dumbledore (played by Michael Gambon) talks to Harry (played by Daniel Radcliffe) and the headmaster of Hogwarts tries to warn The Boy Who Lived about the impending attack of Lord Voldemort. This is when he delivers the quote.

On a side note, the quote from the book reads as such: Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right, and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good and kind and brave because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort.

Geek wisdom: It is difficult to fight back, especially when against specific circumstances. You may be fighting against a greater opponent who’s stronger or even something like a practice that is being done that is simply wrong but no one questions it. It would be so easy to just lay down and not fight back. However, that is the easy way and we have to be brave and look at injustice for what it is and decide to combat it.

“It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life.”

From: Star Trek: The Next Generation

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Captain Jean-Luc Picard

The story behind the quote: There are already several quotes from the old Star Trek cast. Now, it’s time to give a little respect to The Next Generation, the successor to the franchise. Star Trek: The Next Generation successfully introduced new fans to the sci-fi world where humans explored the final frontier. The series also gave us many memorable characters and, thankfully, lots of great quotes.

This week’s quote comes from The Next Generation Episode entitled Peak Performance, wherein Picard and Riker (played by Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes, respectively), take part of a series of war games to test their mettle as part of their training. During the episode, Lt. Commander Data (played by Brent Spiner) plays a competitive game against the the war games observer in a strategic game aptly named Strategema. To his surprise, Data, who just so happened to be an android, loses. This makes Data start to lose faith in himself as a strategist as there was supposedly no way he should have lost.

The quote happens during the second act. Picard asks Data to come to the bridge but the android has second thoughts. This is when Picard, after ordering him on to the bridge, gives the quote.

Geek wisdom:  Life isn’t fair all the time. Sometimes you will given lucky breaks and sometimes unlucky ones. There are also going to be times when, even if you think you’ve thought of every possible bad thing that could happen and prepare contingencies for them, things may still not swing your way. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try things anymore. The important thing is that you try.

“Hello, Newman…”

From: Seinfeld

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Jerry Seinfeld

The story behind the quote: We’ve already noted in a previous post that Seinfeld has a lot of memorable quotes. So… here’s another one! The quote is actually said throughout the entire show.

Jerry Seinfeld isn’t particularly a nice guy. He can be selfish and loves to mock others and, once he sees the girl he’s dating have one flaw, he can’t help but fixate with it. But Seinfeld still can get along with pretty much anyone, except for one particular person, and that would be Newman, his “sworn enemy.” Jerry has a particular distaste for Newman (played by Wayne Knight) but he will still greet him with the quote when their paths do cross.

Geek wisdom: It’s still common courtesy to be cordial to the people that we meet. Even if we may not like this person, we still have to be man enough to be civil with each other, even if we may not really mean it. It’s important to do this because, in the future, we may actually find a way to get along with these people that we dislike and just building animosity won’t solve any of our problems anyway.

“I’m ready! I’m ready! I’m ready!”

From: Spongebob Squarepants

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Spongebob Squarepants

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from a certain creature who lives in a pineapple under the sea, Spongebob Squarepants. One of Nickelodeon’s most popular cartoons, Spongebob Squarepants features the titular character who gets into different crazy adventures in Bikini Bottom (and sometimes outside the town).

The quote actually comes from the very first episode of the series, “Help Wanted.” Spongebob Squarepants notices that his favorite restaurant, The Krusty Krab, is looking for a new fry cook. As this is his dream job, Spongebob marches out, incessantly saying the quote.

Geek wisdom: When opportunity knocks, we always have to be prepared to answer it. We have to always be ready, or, at the least, psyche ourselves up to the point that we feel that we are ready to tackle any problems that may come our way.

“You must unlearn what you have learned.”

From: The Empire Strikes Back

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Yoda

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from one of the most popular sci-fi geek movie franchises of all time, Star Wars. More specifically, this week’s quote comes from The Empire Strikes Back. While I have already covered a bunch of quotes from Yoda, one of the greatest Jedi Masters from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, that doesn’t mean that I’ve run out of quotes from him! Actually, this quote is closely linked to one of Yoda’s other quotes I’ve covered before. But it is still worthy of getting a separate entry here.

The quote comes from the middle of the film, while Luke Skywalker is training in Dagobah with Yoda in the ways of The Force. R2-D2 alerts Luke that his X-Wing is sinking in the swamp. While Luke thinks it’s impossible to get his ship out now, Yoda tells him that he seems so sure of it when he really shouldn’t…

Geek wisdom: At some point, we are satisfied with what we know and we are so sure of ourselves regarding this knowledge. We stop questioning alternatives and just go with what we know without even seeing if these new methods or if these new discoveries are true. We have to be open to new ideas and give them a try even if they seem like they wouldn’t work.

“Oh, what a day… What a lovely day!”

From: Mad Max: Fury Road

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Nux

The story behind the quote: This quote comes from Mad Max: Fury Road. This is the fourth installment of the Mad Max series of films which takes place in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where gangs ravage the wasteland and scavenge for whatever food and fuel is left. In this entry, Mad Max (played this time by Tom Hardy) joins forces with Furiosa (played by Charlize Theron) as the latter tries to rescue a group of girls from a savage gang leader named Immortan Joe.

The quote comes from early in the film. Furiosa steers her tanker into a sandstorm in the hopes of shaking off a group of Immortan Joe’s party. The chasing party drives into the storm as well, leading to some of their deaths. However, one driver, Nux (played by Nicolas Hoult), manages to survive. As he has been trained since birth to treat death as a glorious new phase of life, he utters the quote in glee.

Geek wisdom: Always start out each day with a positive outlook. We do have a tendency to look at the day ahead with gloom because of various circumstances. But you never know. The day ahead may also be one of the best days of your life. Try to think positive and look forward to the day because it just may be one of the most fruitful ones you may experience.

“Stop, stop! He’s already dead!”

From: The Simpsons

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: A kid at the opening of a Krusty Burger

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the long running animated sitcom, The Simpsons. Specifically, the fifteenth episode of the show’s sixth season entitled “Homie the Clown.” The episode has Homer Simpson who, because of his uncanny likeness to Krusty the Clown, becomes a stand in for the clown. Homer gets sent to events that Krusty thinks are too demeaning to him.

The quote comes from the middle of the episode where Homer is sent in Krusty stead at one of the Krusty Burger openings. There is supposed to be a skit where the Krusty Burglar (a pastiche of the McDonalds Hamburglar) is stealing burgers. However, Homer thinks that the Krusty Burlar is real and proceeds to pummel the diminutive costumed individual in front of of a crowd of children, one of which delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: We can overdo things sometimes. It could be reacting to something bad that happens to us and then say it’s the worst thing to ever happen. We could overdo basic things like eating, leading to stomach aches. Or we could overdo even things that can be considered healthy, such as exercising to the point of exhaustion. The point is that we shouldn’t overdo or overreact to things. We should try to take things at what they’re supposed to be and nothing else.

“It was Beauty killed the Beast.”

From: King Kong (All Versions)

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Carl Denham

The story behind the quote: This quote is actually one of the most misquoted movie quotes ever for one good reason: it sounds like its grammatically incorrect. Still, this quote has been in all versions of King Kong as it perfectly encapsulated the tragic ending of the film.

The quote usually comes at the end of the films. After King Kong climbs a building (usually the Empire State Building but it has been revised in the past to feature the World Trade Center before) with Ann Darrow in tow, planes are sent to shoot the giant ape down. Knowing that Ann will be hurt, King Kong shields the woman with his own body. The “monster” eventually succumbs to the wounds and falls from atop the building. Although the crowds cheered for the creature’s demise, Carl Denham, the man that brought King Kong from Skull Island in the first place, is more sympathetic. While it was indeed the airplanes that shot down King Kong, Carl Denham knows why the giant ape allowed himself to get shot up in the first place…

As mentioned, the quote usually closes out the movie. It was done in the first King Kong movie released in 1933 with Robert Armstrong playing Carl Denham…

…as well as in the 2005 remake by Peter Jackson with Jack Black in the role.

Geek wisdom: People will do some imaginable things for their loved ones as they will try their best to protect and shield them from any possible harm. Love can be that powerful.

“Grappling hook!”

From: Gravity Falls

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Mabel Pines

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the rather short lived but much beloved animated series, Gravity Falls. The show follows twins Dipper Pines and Mabel Pines as they vacation in the sleepy town of Gravity Falls with their great-uncle/grunkle Stan. On the surface, the town seems like your regular (backwater) town, but underneath the surface are different supernatural things and the twins gradually discover the town’s darker secrets…

The quote comes from the impulsive of the twins, Mabel Pines (voice by Kristen Schaal). At the end of the first episode and their first adventure, Grunkle Stan (voiced by show creator Alex Hirsch) gives the twins any item that they want in the shop for free. Dipper (voiced by Jason Ritter) picks a cap while Mabel roots in a box and selects a grappling hook.

Throughout the majority of the season, the grappling hook is never put to good use and Dipper actually mentions that it’s caused more trouble than it’s worth. However, Mabel’s grappling hook does eventually proves its worth…

Geek wisdom: Some things may seem useless at the start and you may feel that it’s better to get rid of it. However, it is possible that item just hasn’t proven to be useful yet and can prove to be invaluable at the start. Try to always look at the intrinsic value of an item and not take things at face value.