The Star Wars films aren’t just loaded with great characters and special effects but also quotes. Here are three of the best quotes from the prequels.
Star Wars is loved by fans across the world for various reasons. The story of good triumphing over evil is one everyone can root for. It’s also loaded with great, action, special effects, creatures, and weaponry. George Lucas created a whole nother world and one that fans enjoy spending time in as they escape the pressures of everyday life.
One aspect of the films that don’t get as much recognition as some of the other elements listed above are the quotes. A lot of these quotes are thought-provoking, and others are quite inspiring. Many can be applied to our daily lives and even make sense in today’s society.
In the start of an ongoing series, we’ll look at a favorite quote from each Star Wars film. We will go in order and start at the beginning with the prequel trilogy.
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
Quote: “Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.” – Yoda
When Anakin is brought before the Jedi Council by Qui-Gon Jinn they eventually put him through testing. They ask him some questions and then put him through a quick test of his ability to use the Force, as he guesses objects Mace Windu is looking at on his holo-pad.
The Jedi Masters continue to question Anakin and when the talk turns to his mother and his fear of losing her, Yoda drops a very wise line and one that resonates today. He says that “Fear is the pathway to the Dark Side, fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.”
These words are so true and can be applied to many of the social issues we are facing in the world today. Often times people’s reactions to certain things are bred in fear. That fear can lead to anger, which can boil over into hate, and then the acts that hate spawns can turn into suffering for people.
Yoda knew what he was talking about when he spoke this powerful line. He wasn’t only right about Anakin, but also right about many of the problems our society faces today.
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Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
Quote: “I think you Jedi would have more respect for the difference between knowledge and wisdom” – Dexter Jettster
Attack of the Clones is one of the more disliked movies of the entire saga. It’s got some very cringe-worthy moments between Anakin and Padme, and also some second-rate animation when it comes to the clones. It also has a weak overall story but is saved by some great action sequences and the acting of Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi.
This movie isn’t well known for its quotes unless it’s about sand, however, there are a couple of very thought-provoking ones in this movie. One is in the scene where Obi-Wan looks to an old friend to figure out the source of the assassin dart he pulled out of Zam Wesell’s neck.
He visits a greasy spoon diner owned by Dexter Jettster. Dex tells Obi-Wan that it is a dart from those cloners on Kamino. He then laughs when Obi-Wan tells him the droids in the Jedi archives couldn’t identify it. Dex then teases his friend and tells the Jedi that “I think you Jedi would have more respect for the difference between knowledge and wisdom.”
Dropping lines like that, and of course, his knowledge of weapons, let us know there is much more to this diner owner than just delicious glasses of Jawa Juice. More respect for the difference between knowledge and wisdom is something that more people need to have today. On social media, people are quick to point out facts to prove whatever point they are trying to make.
In today’s world, it is very easy to pick up knowledge, as you can get any answer you want with a click of a button on Google. Wisdom, however, is something that many people today seem to lack. People are so quick to find the answer they often don’t take the time to find the why. Why are we doing the things we are doing, and are those the right things to be doing? The big picture is often ignored, and a dash of wisdom would do many people good.
Dexter Jettster pointed out a flaw in the Jedi, and while that didn’t lead to their fall, it was certainly one of the cracks that made the mighty Jedi Order crumble.
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
Quote: “So this is how liberty dies…with thunderous applause.” – Padme Amidala
Padme Amidala overall is a character who doesn’t get a lot of big moments in Revenge of the Sith. She spends the majority of the film pining over Anakin and doesn’t do a ton on her own. One moment she does get is when she’s in the Senate and Chancellor Palpatine is giving his speech about reforming the Republic into the Galactic Empire.
Stream all the prequel trilogy movies on Disney+.
The crowd erupts when he makes this declaration, but Padme is smart enough to realize what is really going on. She shakes her head in disgust and says to Bail Organa, “So this is how liberty dies…with thunderous applause.” It’s a great line that shows that the Senator from Naboo realizes what is happening and isn’t a blind follower like the majority of the senators.
To follow blindly is a scary thing and something that seems to be happening more in today’s world. Politicians nowadays are more loyal to their party lines than to do what is right. Obviously our society hasn’t fallen to a totalitarian type of governing body like the Empire.
What are some other great quotes from the prequels?