iron man – My Geek Wisdom

“I understood that reference.”

From: Marvel’s The Avengers

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Captain America/Steve Rogers

The story behind the quote: This quote comes from Marvel‘s The Avengers. Released in 2012, this movie was the culmination of years long storytelling with the heroes of the previous Marvel films joining forces to face off against a threat that may destroy the planet. This was groundbreaking for its time as comic book fans have been dreaming of and anticipating this very moment when Nick Fury appeared in the after credits scene of the first Iron Man movie.

The quote comes during the first act of the movie. Nick Fury had managed to gather all of the Marvel superheroes in one room and makes a comment on how two of his agents are being mind controlled by calling them “flying monkeys”; a reference to The Wizard of Oz. Although Thor doesn’t understand what that means, Captain America/Steve Rogers (played by Chris Evans) exclaims that he does, as he probably saw it before he got frozen.

Geek wisdom: Knowledge is always going to be knowledge, even when it doesn’t seem important. Something like understanding a movie reference may not seem important but it does help if someone you are talking to brings it up. So, try to accumulate as much knowledge there is. You never know when it might come in handy.

“You know, I keep telling everybody they should move on. Grow. Some do. But not us.”

From: Avengers: Endgame

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Captain America/Steve Rogers

The story behind the quote: This quote comes from the 22nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Endgame. This film not only closes out the Infinity Saga but also serves as the conclusion to some of the Marvel heroes’ stories, such as Iron Man/Tony Stark and Captain America/Steve Rogers, among others. The story picks up around five years after the events of Avengers: Infinity War with the heroes picking up the pieces after Thanos‘ successful purge of half of the universe’s population.

The quote comes near the start of the film with Captain America/Steve Rogers (played by Chris Evans) returns to the Avengers base after leading a group grief counseling meeting and has a talk with Black Widow about what he discusses during these meetings but he knows what he’s saying is hypocritical by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: It is important to move on from the past. But, like with what Captain America said, it can be very difficult and, at times, it actually might be the right way to handle things. Simply moving on may not be the answer when you can still do something about what happened in the past. Sometimes, focusing on what went wrong may be the only way to find a solution.

“Every time someone tries to win a war before it starts, innocent people die. Every time.”

From: Avengers: Age of Ultron

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Tony Stark

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2015 superhero film from Marvel, Avengers: Age of Ultron. In the film, Tony Stark/Iron Man creates a machine that is supposed to help defend to world from imminent threats. However, the machine, now named Ultron, decides that humans are too destructive and deduces that the best way to ensure the planet is safe is to eradicate the human race. This leads the Avengers to try to stop him before he accomplishes his goal.

The quote comes in the middle of the film when the Avengers seek refuge in Hawkeye/Clint Barton‘s secluded home. Iron Man/Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey Jr) and Captain America/Steve Rogers (played by Chris Evans) are reflecting on how handily Ultron defeated them. The two start fighting regarding why Tony Stark would even create something like Ultron. Tony Stark defends himself by saying he did it so none of the Avengers would have to fight as Ultron would stop all fighting before it even starts. This is when Captain America replies by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: While there is some wisdom to try to stop a fight or a war before it even starts, doing so through violent means or trying to do so without thinking of possible negative outcomes, isn’t. Preemptively doing so just might cause more problems.

“It’s an imperfect world but it’s the only one we’ve got.”

From: Iron Man

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Tony Stark

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the very first Iron Man movie from 2008. Based on the Marvel character and starring Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, this was the film that launched the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe and made it so superhero movies could be more than just silly films about comic book characters. The movie also reinvigorated Robert Downey Jr’s career after his life spiraled out of control in the 90’s.

The quote comes very early in the film. Tony Stark is called out to do an impromptu interview. Assuming the reporter will just ask him questions about a fluff piece, Tony takes the interview. However, it was actually an ambush as the reporter asks him about how he can manufacture weapons. This is when Tony Stark delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Although Tony Stark may have been somewhat insincere at that time when he delivered the quote, that doesn’t make his statement any less correct. We all live in this planet and it’s definitely not perfect. But until we find another world, this is the only one we have. So, we have to take care of it and try to get along with each other.

“I don’t trust a guy without a dark side. Call me old fashioned.”

From: Avengers: Age of Ultron

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Tony Stark

The story behind the quote: This quote comes from the second Avengers movie: Avengers: Age of Ultron. In the film, Tony Stark creates a machine that is supposed to help defend to world but the machine, called Ultron, decides the best way to save humans from themselves is to enslave them.

The quote comes in the middle of the film when the Avengers seek refuge in Hawkeye/Clint Barton’s secluded home. Iron Man/Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey Jr) and Captain America/Steve Rogers (played by Chris Evans) are reflecting on how Ultron defeated them. Tony Stark then comments on how Steve Rogers got out remarkably unscathed. Steve Rogers asks why that seems to bother him and this is when Tony Stark delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Every single person has flaws and it’s okay to admit what they are. In fact, the more you try to hide them, the more people will think you’re trying to hide something.

“Because Tony learns from his mistakes.”

From: YouTube and Marvel, kinda

Genre: Internet

Who said it?: Allan Tsai

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from Allan Tsai, a YouTuber who does a lot of videos looking at little known facts about various movies.

A lot of the time, Allan Tsai would focus on the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. He has focused a lot of times on Tony Stark/Iron Man and usually comments on some of the upgrades he’s made to his suits based on what’s happened in previous films.

Geek wisdom: There’s nothing wrong with making mistakes. What’s not okay is actually not learning from them. So, be like Tony Stark and take note of your errors so you can either fix them or not let them happen again.

“No amount of money ever bought a second of time.”

From: Avengers: Endgame

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Tony Stark/Iron Man

The story behind the quote: This quote comes from Avengers: Endgame. This was the closing film for the entire Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The quote comes from the middle of the film. Tony Stark/Iron Man (played by Robert Downey Jr.) has travelled back in time in order to recover the Space Stone that is encased in the Tesseract. While retrieving the item, Tony runs into his father, Howard Stark. Tony then bonds with his father, even though Howard doesn’t realize he’s actually talking to his yet to be born child. Howard asks Tony for advice on how to raise his soon-to-be born son. Tony then comments he had to wing it most of the time and he then tells his father the quote.

Geek wisdom: Even if you have all the money in the world, we cannot use it to buy back whatever time we’ve lost. We are only on this planet for a limited time and we have to cherish whatever time we have with them.

“Tony Stark was able to build this in a cave! With a bunch of scraps!”

From: Iron Man

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Obadiah Stane

The story behind the quote: This quote comes from the 2009 superhero film, Iron Man. The film stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark who, after getting kidnapped by terrorists, builds a suit of armor to escape his captors. After realizing his weapons were being used by the terrorists, he decides to refine the armor to fight them as well as becoming the first superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The quote comes from the middle of the film movie. Tony Stark’s business partner, Obadiah Stane (played by Jeff Bridges), hires a group of scientist to recreate Stark’s huge arc reactor in miniature form as he needs it to power up his own Iron Man suit. His scientists tell him they’re unable to duplicate the technology. This make Stane very upset and he berates the head scientist by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Most of anything is possible but you have to be ready to put in the time and the hard work to achieve it. If you have the mindset that it cannot be done, then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy as you’ll never put in the required work to accomplish your goal.

“Part of the journey is the end.”

From: Avengers: Endgame

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Tony Stark

The story behind the quote: This quote comes from the 22nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Endgame. The film has received both critical and financial success and has surpassed Avatar as the highest grossing films of all time.

The quote comes near the end of the film. Iron Man/Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey, Jr.) has recorded his own eulogy in case of his untimely demise, which does happen. He does realize the riskiness of his plan and there’s a chance it will not go well. He does rationalize it by deliver the quote before, somewhat jokingly, reassures everyone it’s all going to work out.

Geek wisdom: Everything in the world and in this universe is finite. That is why we have to appreciate everything we have right now, both the good and the bad.

“I love you 3000.”

From: Avengers: Endgame

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Tony Stark and Morgan Stark

The quote comes near the start and the end of the movie. The first time it’s uttered, Tony Stark/Iron Man (played by Robert Downey) is tucking in his daughter, Morgan Stark, in bed. Tony says that he loves her a lot and Morgan delivers the quote to her dad.

The quote is said once more by a recording of Tony Stark during his wake. In a holographic recording to both Pepper Pots (played by Gwyneth Paltrow) and Morgan, he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: We may think we have all the time in the world but we don’t know when life may just suddenly be cut short. So never forget to tell the people you care about how you feel.