For nearly 50 years, Star Wars has enjoyed a lofty status as one of the most popular and profitable media franchises of all time. George Lucas’s epic space opera universe was first introduced to the world in 1977 with the simply-named Star Wars (now rebranded as Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope). The movie was a smash success, spawning a pop culture phenomenon that now includes nearly a dozen films, as well as TV shows, books, video games, and even theme parks.
The sci-fi franchise’s iconic characters — characters like Luke Skywalker, Yoda, Princess Leia, and Han Solo — have played a major role in catapulting Star Wars into a seemingly unparalleled stratosphere of cultural relevance. By that same token, there are several quotes from both the original trilogy and subsequent prequel trilogy that enjoy popularity among people who aren’t even diehard Star Wars fans.
Maybe they’re inspired by Yoda’s meditative musings, or they recently sent a Darth Vader reaction GIF in a group text, or they just heard “May the force be with you” on one of their favorite TV shows. Maybe they’re even wearing an “It’s a trap!” t-shirt right now. With that in mind, here are 10 Star Wars quotes that transcended the films and entered the zeitgeist.
10 “Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.”
Yoda, the Frank Oz-voiced Jedi Master known for his object-subject-verb pattern of speech, serves up wise sayings throughout the Star Wars films, and the first entry in our list is one of the small, green humanoid alien’s most profound proverbs. Yoda delivers the quote in question during a scene in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, when a young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) appears before the Jedi Council with the intent of being trained as a Jedi. The council initially refuses, as Yoda senses that Anakin’s fear makes him vulnerable to the dark side of the Force. Yoda’s inclinations are, of course, correct, as Anakin goes on to become the diabolical Darth Vader.
It’s Used to Encourage Someone to Conquer Their Fears
Like most of Yoda’s quotes, “Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering” resonates outside the Star Wars universe. If you remove the science fiction-based dark side element, the maxim can be universally applied to encourage someone to conquer their fears to avoid being totally consumed by them. Those who try to regularly practice mindfulness and self-examination are likely familiar with the quote, even if they can’t pinpoint its exact origins.
9 “Do it.”
In the Star Wars prequel films, Ian McDiarmid plays Palpatine, a senator from the planet Naboo who goes on to become the leader of the Galactic Empire. Of course, he is most recognizable as the villainous Darth Sidious (known simply as “The Emperor” in the first three films), but before his dark side corruptness is officially confirmed in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, he is simply a hapless politician in need of rescuing. After Anakin and Obi-Wan save Palpatine from the Separatist forces led by cyborg commander General Grievous, the duo dukes it out with Count Dooku (Sidious’ Sith apprentice). Anakin is ultimately able to de-saber Dooku himself, after which Palpatine urges him to finish the job. Anakin initially hesitates, but after a swift “do it” from the Dark Lord, the young Jedi ultimately obliges.
A Meme for Many
For many Star Wars fans, Palpatine’s two-word command demonstrates his influence over Anakin and his eventual ability to turn him over to the dark side. But, a number of viewers also found McDiarmid’s distinct delivery of the line (“Dew it.”) to be incredibly amusing, which led to its eventual entrance into the meme-based zeitgeist.
8 “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.”
This quote comes from Alec Guinness’s Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope during the sequence where he, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, and C-3PO are traveling to the spaceport town of Mos Eisley to recruit Han Solo. When the group is stopped by Stormtroopers along the way, Obi-Wan flashes a subtle hand gesture before uttering the phrase “these aren’t the droids you’re looking for,” successfully applying a “Jedi Mind Trick” that manipulates the imperial soldiers into allowing the foursome to pass through unscathed.
The Quote Has Infiltrated Every Medium
“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for” has gone on to become a humorous catchphrase that essentially means “there’s nothing to see here, move along.” Aside from its popularity in meme culture, the quote has been referenced and parodied in everything from movies (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) to television shows (House and The Mentalist) to music (rock band Queens of the Stone Age released the song These Aren’t the Droids You’re Looking For in 1998). The line even made its way into U.S. politics, when Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney quoted it (albeit incorrectly) in a 2008 New York Times interview.
7 “I have a bad feeling about this.”
In A New Hope, Luke Skywalker utters the phrase “I have a bad feeling about this” while looking out of the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon. This comes after Obi-Wan Kenobi’s nearly-as-memorable line “that’s no moon,” and it turns out that Luke’s “bad feeling” is well-reasoned, as the observed object in question is actually the Death Star, the Empire’s moon-sized, planet-destroying space station. Luke’s ill-omened quip became a recurring quote in the Star Wars franchise, as it’s not only referenced in every subsequent Star Wars film, but also in canonical TV shows, video games, and even comic books.
Instantly Recognizable
“I have a bad feeling about this” is referenced so often in Star Wars media that even many diehard fans have become sick of it. Still, it is this repetitive usage that has given it a life outside the franchise, as it is incredibly recognizable even among those with limited Star Wars knowledge.
6 “I love you.” “I know.”
One of the most unforgettable moments from Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back is the romantic exchange between Princess Leia and Han Solo before the latter is frozen in carbonite by Darth Vader. Han’s initially-scripted response to Leia’s “I love you” was “I love you, too,” though Harrison Ford decided to ad-lib the line “I know” to stay consistent with the cheeky rapport between the two. The rest is history.
A Deep Romance
Leia’s “I love you” and Han’s “I know” transcend Star Wars because these lines have nothing to do with The Force, or lightsaber duels, or space battles. In tandem, they represent a powerful and profoundly human interaction that highlights the emotional bond between two beloved characters. While this isn’t the only instance of romance in the Star Wars films, it is, without a doubt, the most iconic due to the pithiness-yet-heartfelt nature of the dialogue and the heightened conflict of the scene.
5 “Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.”
Before any of the major action starts in A New Hope, Princess Leia delivers one of the most memorable quotes from the film series. The Alderaanian royal’s desperate plea to Obi-Wan Kenobi, delivered via holographic recording by the beloved beeping-and-whistling droid known as R2-D2, not only incites Luke and Obi-Wan’s immediate rescue mission in the first film, but also propels them to their grander task of taking on, and eventually defeating, the Galactic Empire.
The Universal Way to Ask for Help
“Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.” While this line essentially introduced the world to Princess Leia, one of the greatest cultural icons of the 1980s and film itself, there’s also an almost-lyrical quality to the quote that helped to cement it into the zeitgeist.
4 “Do. Or do not. There is no try.”
After Luke crash-lands his X-wing fighter on a swamp-like planet called Dagobah, he meets Yoda, who agrees to take on Luke as a Jedi apprentice and teach him to master the light side of the Force. During a pivotal moment in Luke’s training, Yoda urges him to put what he’s learned to the ultimate test and levitate his X-wing from the swamp. A reluctant Luke says that “he’ll try,” to which Yoda forcefully responds: “Do. Or do not. There is no try.”
Words of Encouragement
Yoda’s most iconic quote culturally resonates due to its guru-like simplicity, showcasing the power of decisive action. Highlighted by Yoda’s odd delivery, it has gone on to gain mainstream traction as an inspiring axiom.
3 “It’s a trap.”
Admiral Ackbar, the amphibious humanoid who commands the Rebel Fleet during the Battle of Endor in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, has less than four minutes of screen time in the original Star Wars films, but he nevertheless cemented his legacy as a franchise icon with just three simple words. Ackbar’s shining moment comes during the Rebel assault on the Death Star, when he discovers that the weapon’s shields are still active and that the Imperial forces are prepared to attack. So, he states the obvious: “It’s a trap!”
Gif-Worthy
“It’s a trap” made its mark on the zeitgeist as the first Star Wars meme (and eventual reaction GIF), which in turn spawned t-shirts and other merchandise featuring the phrase, introducing a humorous connotation to the otherwise foreboding line. Ackbar’s quote has had such a massive impact on pop culture that it became a part of Star Wars canon nearly 50 years after its delivery when it was referenced in a season three episode of The Mandalorian.
2 “No. I am your father.”
During Darth Vader’s attempt to turn Luke over to the dark side in their first major Star Wars face-off, the cyborg Sith Lord drops the major knowledge bomb that, contrary to what Obi-Wan had previously told the young Jedi, Luke’s father is not dead but is actually Vader himself. Made all the more powerful thanks to James Earl Jones’s booming voice, the renowned quote from The Empire Strikes Back (“No. I am your father.”) is also one of the biggest plot twists in movie history.
Parodied, Memed, and More
Darth Vader’s stunning revelation has been referenced, parodied, and memed countless times over. Despite being oft-misquoted as “Luke, I am your father,” it is typically delivered humorously, usually with the intent of mimicking Jones’s legendary delivery.
1 “May the force be with you.”
May the force be with you” is a phrase used throughout the Star Wars franchise by Jedis or members of the Republic to either wish someone luck on an impending challenge or to simply bid them farewell. While its first usage is sometimes falsely attributed to Obi-Wan Kenobi (he tells Luke, “The Force will be with you. Always.”), the exact quote was first spoken in A New Hope by General Jan Dodonna (played by Alex McCrindle) during the Death Star briefing scene.
It Has its Own Holiday
The quote has its own date on the calendar (May 4, as in May the Fourth). Enough said.
