“Who’s the more foolish? The fool or the fool who follows him?” – Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi is a wise old hermit when we meet him in A New Hope. He has a mysterious background, as there is a droid searching for him with an important message. Luke ends up finding the old recluse, who brings him on a life-changing journey.
Ben, as he’s known to Luke, tells the young naive farm boy tales from a more civilized age. Luke is fascinated by these and is basically entranced any time the wise old Jedi speaks. Later in the film, Obi-Wan meets Han Solo, who isn’t as enthralled with the wise old man as Luke is, as he has more street smarts and grew up a little more well versed in the real world.
After the group is pulled into the Death Star via its tractor beam, they quickly come up with a plan that involves hiding in the smuggling compartments of the Falcon. As they are coming out of hiding, Han gripes about the effectiveness of sneaking around, and Obi-Wan quips back, “Who’s the more foolish? The fool or the fool who follows him?” This is a great line and one that parents have certainly pressed upon their children a time or two.
It’s easy for kids to fall to peer pressure. If a friend or group of friends is doing something they know isn’t right, they could feel obligated to join them. If they were told this wise logic by Obi-Wan, they’d realize they are a bigger fool for following someone who is doing something they know is wrong and would opt to not repeat that mistake in the future.