Tag: mark hamill

“That is why you fail.”

From: Star Wars (specifically, The Empire Strikes Back)

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Yoda

The story behind the quote: I have posted a lot of quotes from Star Wars and, more specifically from The Empire Strikes Back. Even more specifically, from that scene when Luke Skywalker is training with Yoda on the planet of Dagobah. Even though I have done so, I still have another one!

While Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill) and Yoda are training, Luke’s X-Wing sinks into the swamp bog. Luke does try to lift it up using The Force but, believing it’s too big, he gives up and fails. Yoda, however, does manage to raise it up and even place the X-Wing onto solid ground. Luke exclaims he cannot believe that Yoda could do it. This is when Yoda delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: If you do not believe in yourself or if you immediately tell yourself something is impossible, then there is no way you’ll ever try your best at it. You have to throw all your effort into something, especially something difficult, if you want to succeed.

“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.

“The greatest teacher, failure is.”

From: Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Yoda

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from one of the most divisive films in the Star Wars series, The Last Jedi. Although most critics loved the film, there is a strong contingent of Star Wars fans that absolutely detest The Last Jedi. It’s legacy has yet to be determined and it will actually be fun to see how people will remember the film in the years to come.

The quote comes near the end of the film. After Rey (played by Daisy Ridley) leaves in an attempt to bring Kylo Ren back to the Light Side, Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill) attempts to set the first Jedi temple ablaze but relents. Then, the ghost of Yoda (still voiced by Frank Oz) appears and does the deed instead. Luke is surprised to see his former master burn the temple with the last Jedi books with it. Yoda explains to Luke that Rey has already learned what she needed to learn, making the books essentially useless. Yoda then delivers the quote, encouraging Luke to pick himself up and correct his previous mistake that led Kylo Ren to the First Order.

Geek wisdom: While it is a great feeling to win, we can actually learn so much more from our own failures and the failures of others. In fact, we have to be mentally prepared to fail and take them as an opportunity to study what went wrong and to get better from them.

“Who’s scruffy looking?”

From: The Empire Strikes Back

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Han Solo

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from Episode V of the Star Wars films, The Empire Strikes Back. I don’t really think that there’s much I have to say about the franchise as it’s one of the most popular franchises of all time. So, let’s get to the quote!

The quote comes early in the film, just after Han Solo (played by Harrison Ford) rescues Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill) on the icy (and ironically named) planet Hoth. Han Solo then makes a snarky comment to Princess Leia, making it seem like she made the order to ground all flights from leaving the planet to keep him in the base. The confrontation escalates and Leia insults Han by calling him a “half-witted, scruffy looking nerf herder.” Strangely, Han doesn’t have any issues with being called a half-wit or a nerf herder…

Geek wisdom:  People will take offense to the weirdest things. You can call a certain person all kinds of bad things and it will just roll off their back. However, there is a chance you may say the wrong thing to the same person, something you may think is innocuous and unoffensive, and they’re take it as the ultimate form of insult. So, always think first of what you want to say and choose your words carefully as much as possible.