The Jedi are often seen as a fount of wisdom in Star Wars, but these eight quotes prove there’s more to their wisdom than we think. The Jedi have meditated on the ways of the Force for 25,000 years by the time of the Skywalker saga, and it has granted them unprecedented wisdom and insight.
We’re all familiar with some of Master Yoda’s oft-quoted maxims, but there’s so much more to the wisdom of the Jedi. These ten Jedi quotes shine a light on the central themes of the Skywalker saga, and are of so much more significance than they seem at first glance…
10
“Be mindful of the Living Force, my young Padawan.”
Early on in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan Kenobi expresses concern to his master, Qui-Gon Jinn. The Jedi Padawan senses a dark hand manipulating events on Naboo, but Qui-Gon tells him to be mindful of the Living Force and live in the moment.
The Force is often divided into two aspects: the Cosmic Force (which binds all things, and shapes destiny) and the Living Force (the Force’s presence in a given moment, flowing from the Cosmic Force). Qui-Gon believed the Jedi had become diminished and less significant because they had focused too much on the Cosmic Force.
Modern Star Wars has tended to treat Qui-Gon as a fount of knowledge the Jedi Council should have listened more to. But Qui-Gon is wrong here; Obi-Wan is sensing the shadow of the Sith, and his master is ignorant of it.
9
“To say that if the Jedi die, the light dies, is vanity”
Luke Skywalker has something of a downer on the Jedi by the time of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but there’s a lot of his truth to his complaints. In this key quote, he dismisses the arrogance of the Jedi to perceive themselves as avatars of the light side of the Force.
The Jedi are servants of the light, but they are not the light themselves.
This is a truth the Jedi have often forgotten. The Jedi of the High Republic Era were willing to work with other light side Force traditions, such as the Guardians of the Whills, but this had been forgotten by the time of the prequels. How much better would they have been had they just remained humble?
8
“To answer power with power, the Jedi way this is not.”
One of Yoda’s key quotes in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, this single line explains why the Clone Wars were the ultimate Jedi trap. War is about dominance, and the desire to dominate – to triumph over an enemy and overwhelm them – is not the Jedi way. By waging war, the Jedi lost their focus.
We see this in so much fan discussion, too. How much time is spent debating who is the most powerful Jedi? But a Jedi seeks wisdom, not power; their greatness is defined by their intimacy with the Force, not with the feats they are able to perform.
7
“It’s not about whether or not we fight. It’s how we fight that matters.”
One of Kanan Jarrus’ maxims in Star Wars Rebels, this is far more important than you may think at first glance. As a Sith Lord, Palpatine grew in power as the galaxy tipped towards darkness. Even rebel cells like those established by Saw Gerrera served his purpose, for they encouraged fear.
Kanan’s words point to a different way, to a higher truth that would ultimately save the galaxy from the Sith. It is telling that the Rebel Alliance only succeeds when the generation of leaders who compromised and who dealt in fear have all fallen; it is only light that casts out darkness, not darkness.
6
“We’re not defined by what we lose. We’re defined by what we survive.”
One of the most intriguing quotes from The Acolyte, this – spoken by Master Sol, a trainer of younglings – shines a light on the Jedi philosophy of non-attachment. Sol understands that even a Jedi can suffer loss, but to be a Jedi is to go beyond the loss; to release the pain of it, and to embrace the Force.
A person who is defined by their loss will forever be imprisoned by the pain of it. In contrast, one who truly “survives” it is able to learn from it, becoming stronger and better for it.
Notice the lack of triumphalism in Sol’s philosophy. To a person struggling with the pain of loss, the prospect of moving on and becoming stronger from their pain seems impossible. The best they can hope for at that moment is simply to survive.
5
“To let go of his pupil, a harder challenge, it will be.”
We’re sometimes too hard on the Jedi of the prequel era. Master Yoda recognized Anakin Skywalker’s greatest weakness, the difficulty he has letting go of those he loves, and he engineered circumstances to try to help. He gave Anakin an apprentice, knowing Ahsoka Tano would one day leave him.
In normal times, this would have been a masterstroke; Anakin would have eventually had to release Ahsoka to become a Jedi Knight in her own right. But Yoda underestimated the extent to which the dark side had become dominant, and everything played out in a very different way.
4
“The dark side clouds everything.”
Spoken by Master Yoda in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, this line hints at the true nature of the Force. As the balance of the Force tilts towards the dark side, the Jedi find their ability to draw on the Force diminished – especially when it comes to using it for wisdom and insight.
This is why the Jedi make so many mistakes during the prequel era. They are confused and uncertain, because they have lost their natural advantage over the Sith.
3
“If what you have told me is true, you will have gained my trust.”
Spoken by Mace Windu in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, this single line shows how far the Jedi have fallen from their ideals. Mace is the Master of the Order, responsible for the day-to-day running of the Jedi, and yet he openly admits that Anakin Skywalker does not have his trust.
I can’t help feeling this single sentence did more than we think to set Anakin on the path to becoming Darth Vader. Despite all he has done for the Jedi, despite everything he has lost and risked for them, he never had the trust of the Order.
2
“In my experience, there is no such thing as luck.”
It’s a simple statement from Obi-Wan Kenobi in the first Star Wars movie, but this sentence reframes so much of the Star Wars saga. Obi-Wan has come to a place where he trusts in the will of the Force, depending on it to orchestrate the events of his life.
This is particularly significant given the same movie introduces Han Solo, a character who’s renowned for his good luck. If there is no such thing as luck, then in truth, Han is simply a man with a role in the will of the Force, unconsciously aligning himself with it.
1
“I hope you at least told Padmé I said hello”
Let’s end with a line from Star Wars: The Clone Wars that subtly reframes the entire saga. Obi-Wan had known about Anakin and Padmé since shortly after the Clone Wars began (see Mike Chen’s Brotherhood for that story). He had chosen not to do anything about it, and here he finally hints to Anakin that he knows.
Anakin lived a double life throughout the Clone Wars, fearful of the truth being discovered. But were his fears in fact exaggerated? Would the Jedi really have turfed him out if they discovered the truth about his marriage to Padmé? Obi-Wan’s reaction raises the possibility the entire Star Wars saga could have played out so differently, had Anakin just chosen to be honest.
Star Wars
- Created by
-
George Lucas
- First Film
-
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
- Cast
-
Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
-
The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Movie(s)
-
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
- Character(s)
-
Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
