The 10 Best Star Wars Quotes Of All Time That Still Hit Today

Yoda: "Do or do not, there is no try."

Aside from the obvious quotes like “May the Force be with you” and “I am your father,” it’s probably this simple yet smart motto from Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back that has had the most impact in the entire franchise. As he trains Luke Skywalker on Dagobah, the Jedi Master grows tired of his apprentice’s lack of faith and teaches him the power of belief.

Essentially, Yoda just wants Luke to truly put his mind to the task at hand, rather than worrying about whether something is feasible or difficult. He soon proves his point, too, as the little green alien manages to lift the submerged X-Wing out of the swamp that Luke believed was impossible to salvage.

Obi-Wan Kenobi: "Many of the truths we cling to depend on our point of view."

The world of Star Wars is a complex place, with darkness and light facing off against one another and both sides believing they are the salvation the galaxy needs. Sounds a lot like our own world, really, doesn’t it? Well, no one encapsulates that very notion of warring points of view more than Obi-Wan Kenobi in Return of the Jedi.

In this particular context, a Force Ghost of Obi-Wan tells Luke that he never lied about Darth Vader killing his father, because to him, Vader was the one who destroyed Anakin Skywalker. Truth is often subjective. What we believe in is shaped by our own personal experiences, and that can be positive, or it can also lead to us distorting reality completely.

Obi-Wan Kenobi: "Who's the more foolish? The fool or the fool who follows him?"

Clearly, Alec Guinness was in the business of dropping legendary truth bombs when he took on the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi because he’s on this list again. In A New Hope, as he’s plotting the mission to rescue Princess Leia, Han Solo brands the whole idea foolish, and yet he still goes ahead with it. Doesn’t that make him the biggest fool of all?

It’s a shrewd observation from Obi-Wan, and it hits home so much because it’s exactly the kind of thing we are all guilty of from time to time. Following others blindly, even when you know you probably shouldn’t, is rarely a good idea – or at least, we really shouldn’t blame those people for the consequences. It’s far better to take responsibility for your own actions.

Shmi Skywalker: "You can't stop the change, any more than you can stop the suns from setting."

She doesn’t get a lot of screen time, but Shmi Skywalker delivers an absolute belter of a line in The Phantom Menace. As she bids farewell to her young son, Anakin, and he hesitates about taking his first steps away from her, she reminds him that the only thing that’s constant in life is change.

Anakin flying the nest is inevitable, especially given how special he is. But that applies to all walks of life. It’s safe to say all of us have lost sleep over the things we cannot control, and while ignoring those feelings is easier said than done, embracing change is certainly the healthier path. It’s just a shame things didn’t really work out for Anakin in the long run.

Padme Amidala: "So this is how liberty dies... with thunderous applause."

Speaking of things not working out for Anakin, the architect of his downfall, Emperor Palpatine, prompts one of the most potent quotes in all of Star Wars history. When Padme Amidala witnesses her peers in the Senate applauding Palpatine’s push for power in Revenge of the Sith, she cannot believe that everything she has believed in and fought for has collapsed so quickly.

Not to get too political with this, but the concerning rise of fascism across the world over the last decade is not just about the manipulative, fearmongering politicians at the top; it’s about the masses of everyday people who cheer them on. All we can do is hope there is still a little bit of liberty left in our world.

Maz Kanada: "The belonging you seek is not behind you; it is ahead."

Let’s be honest, the sequel trilogy has its fair share of issues, but it also introduces some brilliant characters who offer up pearls of wisdom. Maz Kanata is one of them, and the way she nudges Rey along early in her journey in The Force Awakens is beautifully simple but effective. Rey had spent so long hoping her life would come together on Jakku, but the truth is, she was just afraid to move forward.

To be fair to Rey, she has had a lot to deal with at this point. Not only is she lightyears away from home and worrying about the fact her parents may or may not ever come back for her – not to mention the fact she doesn’t even know who they are – but she’s also trying to get her head around the whole Jedi and Force things. Understandably, she would be apprehensive about taking her next steps.

Jyn Erso: "Rebellions are built on hope."

It’s not just the Skywalker Saga that packs a punch when it comes to hard-hitting quotes – Rogue One has some incredible lines, too. Jyn Erso is the hero of that spin-off movie, and without her, the Rebels would never have gotten their hands on the plans to the Death Star. But she also gives the Rebellion an iconic motto that inspires the downtrodden and oppressed.

For my money, Rogue One is right up there as one of the very best things Star Wars has to offer. It’s a thrilling espionage movie, which culminates in a blistering battle, but it’s all underpinned by a relentless optimism and desire to do what’s right. It’s a film that gets better every time I watch it, especially after you watch prequel series Andor.

Luthen Rael: "I burn my life to make a sunrise that I know I'll never see."

And with that little segway, I now get to speak about my favourite Star Wars project and the Disney+ show that took the fandom by storm, largely by reflecting on what we have seen going on in the real world of late. It’s a gritty and intensely politically-driven story, and the dialogue in Andor is some of the most piercing and pertinent you’re ever likely to find on the small screen.

Luthen Rael says some pretty badass things through the course of the two-season show, but nothing hits quite as hard as his poignant rant to Lonni Jung, reminding him that backing out of the Rebellion is simply not an option. The sheer imagery of his words here and the fiery nature of the delivery make this scene the kind of moment that will live on for many, many years to come.

Cassian Andor: "I'd rather die trying to take them down than die giving them what they want."

There are simply too many outstanding quotes in Andor to only include one. And it really wouldn’t be right to leave Cassian Andor out of his own party, would it? One of the most enthralling arcs in the whole show is the Narkina 5 storyline, where Cassian is imprisoned and looking for a way out. While most of his fellow inmates are resigned to their fate, our brave hero doesn’t take it lying down, as per this quote.

Seeing Cassian lead an army of dogged prisoners in the fight against their captors is perhaps the most rousing moment in all of Star Wars. It’s the first real sign of Cassian’s ability to influence and inspire those around him, and it’s enough to give you goosebumps.

Yoda: "The greatest teacher, failure is."

We started this list with Yoda, and the little green fella is so wise that we just had to give him another shoutout to wrap things up. He reappears in The Last Jedi as a Force Ghost to give Luke Skywalker one last piece of advice, and it’s a classic. While most would probably say Yoda himself is the greatest teacher, he’s not wrong when he says that we learn more from failure than we do anything else.

In the film, it’s a message that allows Luke to realise that he has to let Rey make her own decisions if she is to grow into the hero she needs to be. For us as viewers, it’s a reminder that nothing is more important than getting back up and going again after things go wrong. The Last Jedi may have been divisive for how it handled Luke Skywalker’s character development, but there’s no denying it’s a film with some very compelling things to say.