“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.

“If you focus on what you left behind, you will never be able to see what lies ahead.”

From: Ratatouille

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Chef Gusteau (in Remy’s mind)

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Disney/Pixar animated film, Ratatouille. The film is about a rat named Remy (voiced by Patton Oswalt) who loves fine dining and learns to become a great cook, thanks to watching his favorite chef, Chef Gusteau (voiced by Brad Garrett). He then accidentally becomes partners with a young man named Linguini, the son of Gusteau, and together they try to become one of the greatest chefs in all of France.

The quote comes very early in the film. After being forced out of his home, Remy finds himself living in the streets of France. As it was his actions which led to him and his family leaving their home, Remy feels guilty. This is when Chef Gusteau (or, at least, Remy’s image of Chef Gusteau) tries to get him to pick himself up by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: While it is good to learn from our past and our mistakes, we should never let them control our lives. All of us has a future to live for and we should always look towards tomorrow and not yesterday. This is especially true for the upcoming new year.

“Congratulations, San Francisco! You’ve ruined pizza! First the Hawaiians and now you!”

From: Inside Out

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Anger

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Pixar animated film, Inside Out. Released by Disney in 2015, the film revolves around the inner emotions of Riley, a pre-teen who had to move to San Francisco with her family. 

The quote comes early in the film when Riley and her mom go to a pizza place and they realize the people in San Francisco put broccoli on their pizza. This prompts Anger (voiced by Lewis Black) to deliver the quote.

Geek wisdom: Different locations and different cultures will take one thing and adapt it for their own. While it may “ruin” it for some, some others may actually like it. Trying something different that may be terrible might not be so bad after all.

“Go confront the problem! Fight! Win!”

From: The Incredibles

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Edna Mode

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from Disney/Pixar CG animated movie The Incredibles. The film is about a family of retired superheroes headed by Mr. Incredible. He is hired by a mysterious company to take out a rogue robot. Once he does, he starts to use his powers more openly, not knowing the company he’s working for has nefarious motives.

The quote comes in the middle of the problem. Helen Parr/Elastigirl (voiced by Holly Hunter) goes and visits former superhero costume designer Edna Mode (voiced by The Incredibles director Brad Bird) and she laments that her husband, Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible, may be having an affair. Edna Mode cannot believe that Elasigirl is just crying about it and tells her to go after her husband and confront him while delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Whining and crying about a problem won’t help solve it. Take action in solving the problem to get rid of it.

“Just keep swimming.”

From: Finding Nemo

Genre: Movies, Cartoons

Who said it?: Dory

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Disney/Pixar animated film, Finding Nemo. Released in 2003, the film follows a clownfish named Marlin and a forgetful regal blue tang named Dory as they search for Marlin’s son, Nemo.

The quote comes in the middle of the film. Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) and Dory (played by Ellen DeGeneres) managed to escape from certain death but, in the process, lose the diver’s mask, which they believe will lead them to Nemo. Marlin is in despair as he believe he’ll never find his son after this incident. However, Dory tries to encourage him to move forward by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: You might feel the urge to give up during the low points in life. But life is all about peaks and valleys. If you give up and do nothing then you’ll never pick yourself up and see that the bad times are just temporary.

“Not everyone can become a great artist. But a great artist can come from anywhere.”

From: Ratatouille

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Anton Ego

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Pixar animated film, Ratatouille. The film is about a rat named Remy (voiced by Patton Oswald) who loves fine dining and learns to become a great cook, thanks to watching his favorite chef, Chef Gusteau (voiced by Brad Garrett). He then accidentally becomes partners with a young man named Linguini, the son of Gusteau, and together they try to become one of the greatest chefs in all of France.

The quote comes from the very end of the film. Food critic Anton Ego (voiced by Peter O’Toole). After eating Remy dish, he writes his review regarding what a great meal it was. However, the mere fact it was created by a rat makes him reconsider who could be a great chef. This is when he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: We may not have all the opportunities we want but we have to make do with the ones that we have. Never sell yourself short just because you come from a not-so well-to-do upbringing.

“Change is nature, dad. The part that you can influence. And it starts when we decide.”

From: Ratatouille

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Remy

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Pixar animated film, Ratatouille. The film is about a rat named Remy (voiced by Patton Oswald) who loves fine dining and learns to become a great cook, thanks to watching his favorite chef, Chef Gusteau. He then accidentally becomes partners with a young man named Linguini, the son of Gusteau, and together they try to become one of the greatest chefs in all of France.

The quote comes at the middle of the film. Remy’s dad tries to show his son that humans will always treat their kind, rats, as the enemy and it’s impossible to change how they think. Remy then delivers the quote, saying things don’t always have to be this way.

Geek wisdom: If you truly want to see things change, then you have to be willing to put in the work. You have to put in the effort and be the change you want to be.

“Your identity is your most valuable possession. Protect it.”

From: The Incredibles

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Elastigirl/Helen Parr

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from Disney/Pixar CG animated movie The Incredibles. The film is about a family of retired superheroes headed by Mr. Incredible. He is hired by a mysterious company to take out a rogue robot. Once he does, he starts to use his powers more openly, not knowing the company he’s working for has nefarious motives.

The quote comes in the middle of the film. After arriving on the island where Mr. Incredible is being held, Helen Parr AKA Elastigirl (voiced by Holly Hunter) tells her children she’s going to explore the island to rescue her husband and their father. She tells them to put on the mask to disguise themselves, delivering the quote in the process.

Geek wisdom: You are who you are and you should always be proud of who you are. Your very being is what makes you special and unique, after all.

“You can’t never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him.”

From: Finding Nemo

Genre: Movies, Cartoons

Who said it?: Dory

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Disney/Pixar animated film, Finding Nemo. Released in 2003, the film follows a clownfish named Marlin and a forgetful regal blue tang named Dory as they search for Marlin’s son, Nemo.

The quote comes sometime in Act 2. Marlin (played by Albert Brooks) and Dory (played by Ellen Degeneres) are swallowed by a whale. Marlin is distraught as he promised to Nemo that he wouldn’t let anything happen to him and now he himself is trapped. Dory does think this is a weird thing to promise to someone, especially a child…

Geek wisdom: Parents will instinctively try to protect their children from harm. However, by doing this, they may be preventing them from learning from life’s greatest teacher: experience. Children will need to experience rejection and failure and, while it is painful, they will learn and adapt from the experience, making them stronger. Parents should never overprotect their children and let them experience life.

“Done properly, parenting can be a heroic act… Done properly.”

From: The Incredibles 2

Genre: Movies, Cartoons

Who said it?: Edna Mode

The story behind the quote: This quote comes from The Incredibles 2, Disney and Pixar second film in the franchise. The film takes place a few weeks after the first Incredibles film. But this time, it’s Elastigirl doing the superheroing while Mr. Incredible stays home to take care of the household duties.

The quote comes from the middle of the film. Thanks to Jack-Jack’s plethora of emerging powers, Mr. Incredible (voiced by Craig T. Nelson) goes to Edna Mode (once again voiced by Brad Bird, who also wrote and directed the film) for assistance as he has become incredible tired dealing with Jack-Jack. Mr. Incredible tells Edna the woes he’s experienced since becoming head of the household. This is when Edna Mode turns to Mr. Incredible and delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Being a parent can be a thankless job but it’s actually one of the most noble jobs out there as you are taking care of someone. However, it’s only noble if you really pour some time and effort into it. You can’t just half-ass the job of raising children.