Without question, Yoda has some of the most genius quotes in the Star Wars franchise (even if they are said backwards). Practically every line from the diminutive yet incredibly powerful Jedi Master is memorable, in part thanks to his unique object-subject-verb speech pattern. However, we’ve managed to select some quotes we think are the absolute best.

A Jedi Grandmaster, Yoda plays a critical role in the Star Wars franchise: leading the Jedi Order during the prequels, training Luke Skywalker in the original trilogy, and continuing to offer guidance in the sequels. Hundreds of years old, Yoda is easily one of the oldest and wisest characters in the entire Star Wars franchise, so here are 15 Yoda quotes we think are pure absolute genius.

“Wars Not Make One Great” – The Empire Strikes Back

One of the very first (and best) lines we hear from Yoda, this quote perfectly sets up the entire Jedi philosophy that wielders of the light should use their power for defense, never for attack. A hero’s true greatness comes not from seeking out violence or engaging in widespread conflicts.

The quote also takes on a whole other level of additional context after seeing Yoda and the Jedi Order’s active and compromised role during the Clone Wars, proving that this was a lesson Yoda himself very much learned firsthand following the Clone Wars’ end and his subsequent exile.

“Always Catch You, Will I, When You Fall” – Dark Rendezvous

While this quote may come from a Clone Wars novel that’s now considered part of Star Wars’ non-canon “Legends”, it’s still one of Yoda’s best. Dark Rendezvous brilliantly examines the relationship between the Grandmaster and Count Dooku, Yoda’s former Jedi apprentice before he was corrupted, becoming Darth Tyranus under Palpatine/Darth Sidious.

This line was said to Dooku himself in the middle of the Clone Wars when the former master and apprentice met in secret to discuss a possible means of bringing the war to an end, demonstrating the care Yoda still had for his fallen apprentice by offering him a way back to the light.

“Size Matters Not. Look At Me. Judge Me By My Size, Do You?” – The Empire Strikes Back

Perhaps one of the most memorable Yoda quotes of all time, the Grandmaster proved to Luke in more ways than one that the limits of the Force’s power were only in Skywalker’s doubting mind.

Using his own size as an example after Luke claimed his X-Wing was too big to lift, Yoda confirmed the Force transcends the physical. The quote is also a great rejection of those who might judge only on one’s superficial characteristics.

“When Nine Hundred Years Old You Reach, Look As Good You Will Not” – Return Of The Jedi

Without a doubt, this Yoda quote is so genius for the simple fact that it’s easily one of the funniest in the entire Star Wars franchise, proving the elderly Jedi Master still had an incredible sense of humor after nine centuries of life in the Star Wars timeline (not to mention pretending to be a crazy old hermit when he first met Luke in The Empire Strikes Back).

“If So Powerful You Are, Why Leave?” – Revenge Of The Sith

Easily one of Yoda’s most intimidating quotes, the Grandmaster basically dares Darth Sidious to stay and duel in Revenge of the Sith.

Calling Palpatine’s dark side power into question, the result was one of Star Wars’ best lightsaber duels in the Galactic Senate Chamber (even if Yoda was forced to flee and go into exile in the battle’s aftermath). With one line, the quote is such a brilliantly calm defiance of the Dark Lord of the Sith.

“Truly Wonderful The Mind Of A Child Is” – Attack Of The Clones

With this quote, Yoda highlights the virtues of innocent curiosity and discovery that come so much more easily to younger minds. It’s a pretty great reminder that the danger of cynicism becomes greater the older we get (if we’re not careful), and to try and always keep an open mind.

“Luminous Beings Are We… Not This Crude Matter” – The Empire Strikes Back

Again, this quote from Yoda confirmed the mysticism of the Force itself, and its transcendent/spiritual existence beyond the connected physical matter we see before us. The same goes for those who are attuned to the Force in the Star Wars galaxy, both its cosmic and living aspects.

“Train Yourself To Let Go Of Everything You Fear To Lose” – Revenge Of The Sith

Highlighting the greatest failure of Anakin Skywalker’s Jedi path, this quote from Yoda is the core of the Jedi Order’s doctrines when it comes to non-attachment.

While the Jedi aren’t called to be emotionally cold and are called to care and have compᴀssion, they must do so without having an overabundance of pᴀssion and possession that can lead to the fear of loss, which in turn can lead down the path of the dark side.

Tragically, Anakin is unable to follow this teaching, as his fear of losing Padmé is exactly what led him to embrace the dark side, becoming Darth Vader.

“Smaller In Number Are We, But Larger In Mind” – The Clone Wars

Coming from the very first episode of The Clone Wars, Yoda and a handful of clones are surrounded by a much larger force of battle droids commanded by Asajj Ventress.

Encouraging the troopers under his command, Yoda highlights their quality of heart and spirit over the quanтιтy of the droids opposing them. Together, they outsmart the droids and eventually become the victors, a wonderful evolution of the classic “size matters not” line.

“When You Look At The Dark Side, Careful You Must Be … For The Dark Side Looks Back” – Dark Rendezvous

Also from Legends’ Dark Rendezvous’, this exceptional Yoda line exposes the true danger of the dark side and its ability to corrupt and seduce. While the temptation may be to examine and study the dark side to better understand it, there is an inherent risk.