“We landed on the moon!”

From: Dumb and Dumber

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Lloyd Christmas

The story behind the quote: Dumb and Dumber is a film from the mid-90’s that tells the story of two best friends, Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne. Lloyd (Jim Carrey) works as a limo driver who was hired to drive Mary Swanson (Lauren Holly) to the airport and immediately falls in love with her. Seeing Mary leave a suitcase at the airport terminal, he picks it up with the plan of returning it to her, not knowing that it was left there intentionally as it contains the ransom money for her kidnapped husband. Lloyd travels with Harry (Jeff Daniels) travel to Aspen to return the briefcase to Mary… and hopefully the two of them will fall in love.

The quote comes in the middle of the film. After arriving in Aspen, Lloyd continues on his quest to find Mary. He enters a bar and the bartender gives him her address. While leaving the bar, Lloyd spots a headline regarding Neil Armstrong‘s historical journey to outer space hanging near the exit. Not knowing this happened way back in 1969, he joyfully expresses his shock to the news by yelling out the quote.

Geek wisdom: Always be looking to learn new things and be happy about knowing about it. Even if it is old and dated and something every else is familiar with, it is still something new to you.

“I don’t want to survive. I want to live.”

From: WALL-E

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Captain McCrea

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Pixar and Disney computer animated film, WALL-E. Set years in the future, mankind has polluted the planet to the point where Earth cannot sustain life. The entire population of Earth are launched into space and a group of robots are left behind in the hopes of making the planet habitable again. More years pass and only one robot, the titular WALL-E, is still dutifully doing his duty. However, it has also developed its own personality. One day, a recon droid known as EVE is sent back to Earth to check on its habitability and the two strike a relationship.

The quote comes near the end of the film. EVE, thanks to WALL-E, has found a living plant, proving the Earth can sustain life again. The captain of the ship, Captain McCrea (voiced by Jeff Garlin) wants to go back to earth but is stopped by the ship’s AI computer, AUTO, denies the order, saying they have to stay in space in order to stay alive. In a bout of frustration, Captain McCrea delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: There is a difference between being alive and actual living life. Being alive is going through life without passion and happiness and just gritting your teeth no matter how bad things are. Living life is to actually make an effort to make things better for yourself. We should all strive for the latter.

“The choices are yours and yours alone!”

From: Legends of the Hidden Temple

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Olmec

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Nickelodeon show, Legends of the Hidden Temple. Essentially a kid’s game show akin to shows like American Gladiators and Takeshi’s Castle, Legends of the Hidden Temple has the contestants perform games in order to win the chance to trek through the aforementioned Hidden Temple.

The quote is actually kind of a catchphrase of Olmec (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker), the stone face affixed to the Hidden Temple. Before the final game, the Temple Run, Olmec tells the contestants of the paths they can take through the Hidden Temple. He then gives them the option regarding which path to use via the quote.

Geek wisdom:  We all make are own decisions. While we may be given options and we also may be given suggestions on what to do, we ultimately are the ones which path to take in life.

“It’s not the years, honey. It’s the mileage.”

From: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Genre: Movies/Books

Who said it?: Indiana Jones

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes the first Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark. This is the film that launched a franchise, which not included a series of movies, but a live-action television series as well as various video games. The film introduces the series’ protagonist, archeologist and professor Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones, as he hunts for the Biblical Ark of the Covenant.

The quote comes from the the middle of the film. Indiana Jones (played by Harrison Ford) and Marion Ravenwood (played by Karen Allen) had just arrived in Cairo after escaping Nepal. Marion comments how Indiana Jones has changed the last they saw each other. Still beat up from their escape, Indy replies with the quote.

Geek wisdom: It’s never age that causes our ailments. Rather, it’s how time will batter a body as we keep using it. Sometimes, you do need to take it easy in order to recover.

“This morning was good. But then I got up.”

From: Freaky Friday (2003)

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Evan

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2003 comedy, Freaky Friday. Produced by Disney, the film stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsey Lohan as Tess and Anna Coleman, respectively. Tess is a hardworking psychologist and Anna mother while Anna is a rebellious teen. One Friday, they accidentally taunt each other about how hard their lives are. They then wake up the next morning in each other’s bodies.

The quote comes near the start of the film. Tess arrives at her office to find her most neurotic patient, Evan (played by the late Willie Garcon), waiting for her. After the regular pleasantries, Tess asks Evan how he’s doing and he replies with the quote.

Geek Wisdom: Not everyday is going to be the best day of your life. There are always going to be good days and there are always going to be bad days. We just have to take them as we get them.

“Is you taking notes on a criminal fucking conspiracy?”

From: The Wire

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Stringer Bell

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote from the HBO crime drama series, The Wire. The show features an ensemble cast and each season is a deep dive into how crime and the criminal underworld affects society as a whole.

This week’s quote comes from the season 3 episode entitled “Straight and True.” Stringer Bell (played by Idris Elba) holds the first meeting of the New Day Co-Op, which assembles the drug dealing gangs of the neighborhood in order to minimize gang fighting. After the meeting, Bell notices Shamrock recording what was said during the meeting and admonishes him by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Things that are supposed to be kept secret should be kept secret.

“Everyone keeps telling me how my story is supposed to go. Nah, Im’ma do my own thing.”

From: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Miles Morales

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the CGI animated superhero film, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Based on the Marvel superhero, The second entry in the Spider-Verse series of movies by Sony, this film has Miles Morales run into the Spider Society, a group of superheroes from all over the multiverse who have spider based powers just like him.

The quote comes during the end of the second act of the film. The leader of the Spider Society, Miguel O’Hara, trying to stop Miles from returning to his own timeline to prevent his father’s death. Miguel claims he has to let his father die as this is a “canon” event and preventing it will result in his timeline’s destruction. Miles (voiced by Shameik Moore), tired of being told what to do, delivers the quote before fighting off Miguel.

Geek Wisdom: While it’s okay to listen to other people when they tell you what they think is best for you, it’s still going to be your choice. It’s your life and you are ultimately responsible for it.

“Friendship means little when it’s convenient.”

From: John Wick: Chapter 4

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Shimazu Koji

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2023 action film, John Wick: Chapter 4. The final entry in the John Wick series, the film stars Keanu Reeves as the titular assassin, closing out his attack on the High Table for trying to kill him.

The quote comes near the very start of the movie. After he had successfully killed The Elder (the head of the High Table), John Wick seeks refuge in the Osaka Continental, which is owned by his close friend, Shimazu Koji (played by Hiroyuki Sanada). John is troubled as him merely staying there will bring Shimazu Koji in direct conflict with the High Table and he comments on this. Koji calmly reassure John by delivering the quote.

Geek Wisdom: Friends will stick with you in the good times and, more importantly, the bad. In fact, it is when you are in dire need you will know who your true friends are.

“…When it blooms, it will be the most beautiful of all.”

From: Mulan

Genre: Movies, Cartoons

Who said it?: Ron Swanson

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote from 1998 Disney animated film Mulan. Based on the stories of the Chinese folk hero, Hua Mulan, this has Mulan disguise herself as a man in order to save her elderly father from being conscripted into the army.

The quote comes near the start of the movie. Mulan feels ashamed after throwing her meeting with a matchmaker into disarray. Her father, Fa Zhao (voiced by Soon-Tek Oh) tries to comfort her inadvertently by commenting on the blooming flowers. He then points out one that has not opened up yet and this is when he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: People have to go at their own pace. We cannot rush things nor can we intentionally slow things down to wait for others.

“I’m your density… I mean, your destiny.”

From: Back to the Future

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: George McFly

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 1985 sci-fi comedy, Back to the Future. The film has Marty McFly (played by Michael J. Fox) travelling back in time in a time machine created by Doc Brown (played by Christopher Lloyd). While stuck in the past, he accidentally prevents his parents from ever getting together. So, in addition to Marty and the Doc trying to find a way to get him back to the future, they also have to make sure that Marty’s parents end up together or else he will be erased from the timeline.

The quote comes in the middle of the movie. Marty manages to convince his future father, George McFly (played by Crispin Glover) to try to talk and woo his future mother. He tries to give him pointers on what to say. When he does try to talk to her, he initially flubs his line but, as he has been infatuated with her for quite a while, he does recover to say it correctly.

Geek Wisdom: When there is a connection between two people, little mistakes can always be ignored. After all, the point is for the two of them to be together. So, words ultimately don’t matter.