“A strong man doesn’t need to read the future. He makes his own.”

From: Metal Gear Solid 

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Solid Snake

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the PlayStation game, Metal Gear Solid. The game was a big hit for Konami and put Hideo Kojima on the map as one of the best game producers and directors. The game was also remade as Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes for the Nintendo Gamecube. The game follows Solid Snake as he attempts to stop FOXHOUND, a rogue special unit and their attempt to steal Metal Gear REX, a bipedal tank with nuclear launch capability.

The quote comes from the middle of the game, after the battle with Psycho Mantis. One of the tricks to beat the boss is to connect the controller into another port, which stops Psycho Mantis from “reading” your inputs. Mantis laments that he wasn’t able to see the future this time around. Solid Snake (voiced by David Hayter) then delivers the quote.

Note: the clip above does come from the Gamecube version, The Twin Snakes.

Geek wisdom: We have no idea what our future holds. But our future isn’t written. We can control our destiny as long as we are willing to put the effort.

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“Infinite ammo.”

From: Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Solid Snake

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the PlayStation 2 game, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, the much anticipated sequel to the PlayStation smash-hit, Metal Gear Solid. In a rather controversial move, Hideo Kojima places you in the skin-tight sneaking suit of Raiden instead of Solid Snake.

The quote comes near the end of the game. Raiden has just escaped capture on board Arsenal Gear. He meets up with Solid Snake, who gives Raiden his sneaking suit and a sword. As they are about to take on great enemy forces, Snake tells Raiden that, if he runs out of ammo, he will give him some. Raiden then asks if Snake would need some of it. Snake then points to his bandanna/head and delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Snake pointing to the bandanna is a wink and a nod to an Easter Egg from the first Metal Gear Solid, as it’s a special item that does grand him unlimited ammunition. However, you can also say that Snake is pointing to his head, referring that his brain has “infinite ammo.”

The brain has limitless possibility and potential. You can actually say it’s unlimited in what it can do. The thing is you have to put it to work.

“Fighting was the only thing… the only thing I was good at. But… at least I always fought for what I believed in.”

From: Metal Gear Solid series

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Gray Fox

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the incredibly popular PlayStation video game, Metal Gear Solid, which was created by Hideo Kojima. In the game, you take control of Solid Snake, a retired solider called back to action to stop a terrorist organization from stealing a mobile tank that’s able to launch a nuclear missile from any where in the world, the titular Metal Gear.

The quote is said near the end of the game. Solid Snake attempts to take down the new Metal Gear model, dubbed Metal Gear Rex. During the battle, a former ally named Gray Fox rescues him and sacrifices himself. Before dying himself, Gray Fox tells Solid Snake that he isn’t a tool for the government before delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Always stick to your convictions and beliefs. It may be hard to do so because the world is telling you what you know and what you can do goes contrary to your beliefs. But there is always a way to make things work out to your goals, not theirs.

“Kept you waiting, huh?”

From: Metal Gear Solid series

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Solid Snake, Naked Snake and Big Boss

The story behind the quote: Before anything else, I’d like to give an extremely belated shoutout to Pouria Memarvar who gave me the idea for this quote…

The quote comes from the Metal Gear Solid series of games. The series is the brainchild of Hideo Kojima and the man has directed every single Metal Gear Solid game but that was before his falling out with Konami. It’s hard to say what Konami will do with the series now that Kojima is out of the picture and it’s difficult to see if other Metal Gear Solid games will actually be good since a lot of what made the games great was Kojima’s rather cinematic way of telling a story… which is probably why the man with the “Snake” codename (whether it be Solid, Snake or Naked Snake/Big Boss) says the quote in practically all installments of the game.

Geek wisdom: Patience is a virtue. It can be maddening to be waiting for something to happen but, most of the time, the wait will be worth it.

“Do you think love can bloom even on the battlefield?”

From: Metal Gear Solid

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Hal “Otacon” Emmerich

The story behind the quote: Here’s another quote from the highly rated Metal Gear Solid. The game tackles a lot of weighty topics, such as genetic engineering, the evils of war and, for this post, love.

The quote is mentioned during one conversation between Hal “Otacon” Emmerich and the hero of the game, Solid Snake. After Snake managed to get up a huge staircase, Otacon shows up. Knowing that Otacon is good with machines, Snake requests for the tech genius to check what’s wrong with the elevator. However, before that, Otacon asks Snake a rather personal question.

Geek wisdom: Love is something that will appear when you least expect it. You may find your significant other when you least expect it. Or you may already know that person but never thought of him/her in a romantic fashion. Love is funny and unpredictable. But, when you do find it (or it reveals itself to you), be sure you’re ready to accept it wholeheartedly.

“Plug your Controller into Controller port 2.”

From: Metal Gear Solid

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Col. Campbell

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the highly acclaimed Metal Gear Solid for the original PlayStation. The game has you controlling Solid Snake who is on a mission to stop the elite FOXHOUND squad from stealing the latest version of the Metal Gear mobile nuclear launcher, Metal Gear Rex.

The quote comes during the middle of the game, during Snake’s battle with Psycho Mantis. Normally, your attacks will not connect on Mantis as he is constantly reading your mind so he knows when to avoid your attacks. Defeating him is almost impossible if you play normally.

However, if you contact Col. Campbell (your commanding officer) enough times, he figures out that Mantis is actually reading your controller inputs! He suggests to Snake (actually, the player) to use a controller in the other port so the mindreader will not be able to check on your movements.

Also, if you cannot use controller port 2 for any reason, Col. Campbell and Naomi Hunter gives you another way to defeat Psycho Mantis…

Geek wisdom: It’s always best to look think out of the box to find great solutions. This is much easier said than done. But by looking at a problem from a different angle, we can, at times, find extremely simple but brilliant answers to them.

Never restrain yourself by looking at a problem one way. Get another person’s views. Put yourself in another person shoes. Try to come up with solutions that are “impossible” to do. You can even try talking to yourself about the problem! There are a lot more ways to “think outside the box” than what’s mentioned here!