Happy Star Wars Day! We here at Cultured Vultures know that sometimes real life can be unpredictable and bothersome, but we thought we’d take the opportunity to offer you 10 Star Wars quotes that can help you through even the trickiest of days, when things start to go less than smoothly:
“always pass on what you have learned.”
A Yoda quote that’s as painful as it is inspiring, his words are certainly words to live by when life is becoming frustrating or dull. Take the opportunity to pass on knowledge in everyday life to your friends and family, and ask what they can share with you, too. I know it’s horrible trying to teach your Dad what emojis are for the tenth time in a row, but he’ll be super pleased with himself when he can finally send you a tiny picture of a cow. Take the time to be patient with people–you’ll be surprised what your own life lessons and experiences can teach others.
“I THINK I CAN HANDLE MYSELF.”
One of my favourite Rey quotes from Force Awakens, her words remind us to have faith in ourselves and to be confident in our own abilities. I think my favourite part of this quote is Han’s reply, implying that he knows what her capabilities and strengths are. Be confident in yourself and abilities, and others will have confidence in you too. And never point a weapon directly at your face, either. Luke should’ve been taught that before he went pointing lightsabers at his eye.
“Yeah, I’m responsible now, the price you pay for being successful.”
Lando Calrissian: smuggler, smooth-talker…responsible businessman?! Whilst we don’t typically think of Lando as much more than a smoothie with a cape who had some difficult decisions to make in The Empire Strikes Back, Lando was more responsible than we often give him credit for. Despite his love of gambling and smuggling, he was also the Administrator for the entirety of Cloud City and had a lot of people to look out for in his role. Whilst he enjoyed a drink and a laugh, he knew when to take things seriously, and when to step up and become responsible. He joined the fight against the Empire when he saw his friends were in danger, and helped to eventually take down the Death Star. Be like Lando: a card-loving, smooth-talking guy who probably has a great filing system.
“THE STRONGEST STARS HAVE HEARTS OF KYBER.”
Probably my favourite Chirrut quote (I know “I am one with the Force” is the more popular one, I guess I’m just a quote hipster) because of its metaphorical interpretations. You can read this quote in so many ways, taking the “Kyber crystals” as being anything from a metaphor for being unique/special, to powerful, to being Force-attuned. Here, Chirrut is saying that the strongest people are made from something extraordinary, but quite what makes them extraordinary is open to interpretation. Everyone finds their strength from somewhere: you just have to decide where yours is coming from, and what makes you as powerful as the rare Kyber crystal.
“FROM NOW ON YOU’LL DO AS I TELL YOU, OKAY?”
Far more than a damsel in distress, Leia knew how to take charge when she needed to. Throughout her lifetime she held many titles, from Princess to General, and knew how to command those who were fighting for her cause. She made herself heard and got people on her side to make them care about fighting against injustice. She was sharp and authoritative when necessary, and was an all-round great leader. Take a page from her book next time you need to take charge.
“LOOK FOR THE FORCE, AND YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND ME.”
I promised myself I wouldn’t well up whilst writing this, and I’ll do my best to stick to that promise. Chirrut’s parting words in Rogue One remind us that those who leave us will always live on in one way or another, as long as we remember them. Whether or not you believe in an afterlife, there’s always ways to keep people alive in your hearts and in your thoughts, and this touching moment between Baze and Chirrut reinforces the power of faith in regards to loss. Chirrut, of course, was a large believer in the Force and Baze had abandoned his beliefs, but that didn’t matter. The idea of “The Force” meant more than any scriptures or ceremonies: looking to “The Force” can be taken as something personal, and can mean whatever you want it to mean, in terms of remembering those you have lost within your own journey.
“Someone has to save our skins. Into the garbage chute, fly boy.”
Another example of Leia taking charge, I love this quote because it shows that she doesn’t stand on ceremony: she’s super happy to jump into a trash compactor to save everyone’s skins, despite the fact that she knows it’s gonna be gross as heck down there. Again, she’s in control, she’s taking the lead, and she’s the picture of self-confidence. We should all aspire to be more like Leia Organa. Hair and all.
“YOUR FOCUS DETERMINES YOUR REALITY.”
A quote that resonates pretty well with anyone trying to make it on some kind of career path, Qui-Gon’s words are important for people like me who tend to find themselves getting easily distracted. (I’ve watched like three episodes of Kitchen Nightmares whilst researching this article.) It’s important to work hard to achieve your goals–whatever they may be–and to focus on the things that make you happy and fulfilled. It’s very easy to get sidetracked by things that don’t matter, but focusing on your happiness and health above all is one of the most important things you can do in life.
“just relax. concentrate.”
So, in placing this one in an Anakin-free, context-less void, I’m perhaps making this quote a little more serious than it’s portrayed in the film, but I still think it’s a great quote, nonetheless. There’s so many times in life where we can find ourselves stressed and panicked, and we need to remember to take a step back and breathe once in a while. By concentrating on the immediate task at hand and attempting to relax, we can tackle difficult tasks even when the pressure’s on. You can do it–Obi Wan and his facial hair believe in you and your abilities!
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
This is an iconic Star Wars quote for a good reason: it’s pretty impressive and thought-provoking. In a turbulent time for politics and beyond, it’s easy to fear those with different backgrounds and viewpoints than our own, but it’s important to listen to those around us. Shouting and arguing can never lead to a decent resolution, and it’s a good idea to just take a step back and think about if what you’re about to say will eventually lead to something helpful, or useful. That’s probably why Yoda lived in a cave so far away from everyone: he was tired of dealing with Twitter arguments.
In all seriousness, Star Wars at its best resonates well with our own world, and these are just a small handful of quotes which reflect some of the qualities I think most people strive to have in our day-to-day lives. I hope you all have a wonderful Star Wars Day, however you’re celebrating!
What’s your favourite Star Wars quote? Is there one in particular that has special meaning to you? Let us know in the comments below…
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