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| Strike me down... |
Great Obi-Wan Kenobi quotes from the Star Wars films
When Star Wars was first released way back in 1977 it seemed an unlikely space adventure but it soon struck a chord with a million fans around the world.
Part of its appeal beyond lightsabers and space ships was the character of the quotable old Jedi Master known as Obi-Wan Kenobi.
A New Hope saw the introduction of a seemingly a tired old man, a former General "who fought in The Clone Wars" who needed to get Luke Skywalker from Mos Eisley to Alderaan.
‘Old Ben’ proved to be have been one of the key Jedi in the history of their time – Kenobi had actually unwittingly been caught up in the Sith’s plans to take over the Republic, fought bravely in the Clone Wars and nearly killed Vader (well, he dealt him a mortal blow and left him for dead).
‘Old Ben’ proved to be have been one of the key Jedi in the history of their time – Kenobi had actually unwittingly been caught up in the Sith’s plans to take over the Republic, fought bravely in the Clone Wars and nearly killed Vader (well, he dealt him a mortal blow and left him for dead).
Originally played by Sir Alec Guinness, his acting skills earned him a Best Supporting Oscar nomination.
Decades later the younger prequel version by Ewan MacGregor brought new life to the character by showing his Jedi chops and quotes against a couple of Sith Lords and his Clone Army.
![obi wan kenobi macgregor]( "Obi Wan Kenobi quotes from Episode 3")
Decades later the younger prequel version by Ewan MacGregor brought new life to the character by showing his Jedi chops and quotes against a couple of Sith Lords and his Clone Army.
Guinness and MacGregor both brought different elements of the character to their roles and fans will argue over who did what better but they both delivered some classic lines and quotes.
It's my view the Obi-Wan of Episode 3 was the best realization of the character but that's only because MacGregor was standing on the shoulders of an acting giant.
Here's my favourite quotes – not necessarily the most popular ones.
It's my view the Obi-Wan of Episode 3 was the best realization of the character but that's only because MacGregor was standing on the shoulders of an acting giant.
Here's my favourite quotes – not necessarily the most popular ones.
We’ll start with several quotes from A New Hope.
Mocked by many fans for being very incorrect as the original trilogy showed the Clone troopers were pretty bad shots, this quote is very accurate as the Stormtroopers on the Death Star were ordered to miss.
If you'd managed to live through Order 66 like Obi-Wan had, you could forgive him for thinking about stormtrooper precision, and again remember this quote was said before Obi-Wan and the others found themselves running around the Death Star.
- "And these blast points, too accurate for sand people. Only Imperial Stormtroopers are so precise"
Mocked by many fans for being very incorrect as the original trilogy showed the Clone troopers were pretty bad shots, this quote is very accurate as the Stormtroopers on the Death Star were ordered to miss.
If you'd managed to live through Order 66 like Obi-Wan had, you could forgive him for thinking about stormtrooper precision, and again remember this quote was said before Obi-Wan and the others found themselves running around the Death Star.
- "These aren't the droids you're looking for."
But how they were the droids!
One of the first examples of a Jedi's powers being used in the Star Wars universe has become one of the all time classic Star Wars quotes and a trick repeated by Qui Gon Gin in The Phantom Menace and Luke in Return of the Jedi.
It's also up there with Ackbar's "It's a trap" in terms of popularity via internet memes and pop culture references.
How right was Kenobi?
Luke gets his life threatened by a bar patron, sees an arm sliced off, witnessed Han Solo kill Greedo and then is sold out to the Imperial Troopers all in the space of about an hour!
One of the first examples of a Jedi's powers being used in the Star Wars universe has become one of the all time classic Star Wars quotes and a trick repeated by Qui Gon Gin in The Phantom Menace and Luke in Return of the Jedi.
It's also up there with Ackbar's "It's a trap" in terms of popularity via internet memes and pop culture references.
- "Mos Eisley spaceport. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy."
Luke gets his life threatened by a bar patron, sees an arm sliced off, witnessed Han Solo kill Greedo and then is sold out to the Imperial Troopers all in the space of about an hour!
- "I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced."
How Kenobi felt on board the Millennium Falcon when Alderaan was destroyed by the Death Star.
This Force device was used later in The Force Awakens when Leia felt the death of Han Solo.
This Force device was used later in The Force Awakens when Leia felt the death of Han Solo.
Revenge of the Sith quotes - where you could argue MacGregor’s version of Kenobi shone more brightly than anything else in the other prequels.
"Only a Sith Lord deals in absolutes."
This is my favourite line from Episode 3 (albeit it drives me crazy when people misunderstand it).
It's not as famous as some of Old Ben's others but it's a wise read on Anakin and shows Kenobi has firmly and finally made his mind up about Anakin's state of mind and where his loyalties lie being he has turned to the dark side.
What happened next is now the stuff of Star Wars legend. Which leads to another great quote:
It's not as famous as some of Old Ben's others but it's a wise read on Anakin and shows Kenobi has firmly and finally made his mind up about Anakin's state of mind and where his loyalties lie being he has turned to the dark side.
What happened next is now the stuff of Star Wars legend. Which leads to another great quote:
- Obi-Wan: "It's over, Anakin. I have the high ground."
- Vader: "You underestimate my power."
- Obi-Wan: "Don't try it."
Which results in Anakin trying it and having his legs cut off as result.
Of politics:
- Anakin: "The Chancellor doesn't appear to be corrupt."
- Obi-Wan: "Chancellor Palpatine is a politician."
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| Don't try it Anakin! |
The Phantom Menace obliged with:
- Obi-Wan: "I have a bad feeling about this."
- Qui-Gon: "I don't sense anything."
How many characters have said that line in a Star Wars movie? It's here because it adds to the long-running gag that runs throughout every Star Wars film.
On the swamps of the Dagobah system with Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back:
- Yoda: "I cannot teach him. The boy has no patience."
- Obi-Wan: "He will learn patience."
- Yoda: "Hmm. Much anger in him, like his father."
- Obi-Wan: "Was I any different when you taught me?"
This was an interesting exchange with Yoda and Obi-Wan from Empire Strikes Back. Yoda seemingly was talking to himself and boom, the disembodied voice of a dead Obi-Wan replies.
Ghosts indeed.
Ghosts indeed.
We’ll end with some more A New Hope quotes
- Obi-Wan: "That's no moon. It's a space station"
As the Millennium Falcon arrived where the planet Alderran used to be, it quickly found itself flying towards the Death Star at which point our would-be heroes were put to the test.
- Darth Vader: Your powers are weak, old man.
- Obi-Wan: You can't win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.
Obi-wan and his young Padawan learner are having their second life or death duel, the first being where Obi-wan had bested Anakin while he was having one of the greatest tantrums in the history of the galaxy. Obi-Wan left him for dead.
First-time viewers of A New Hope never really knew the backstory between these two Jedi - why was Obi-Wan so ready to let Vader kill him? Why did his body disappear? The new prequel movies explained it all and cast more light on the outcome of the duel.
First-time viewers of A New Hope never really knew the backstory between these two Jedi - why was Obi-Wan so ready to let Vader kill him? Why did his body disappear? The new prequel movies explained it all and cast more light on the outcome of the duel.
This time round the Jedi was 19 years older and his powers were arguably on the wane while Vader was one of the greatest warriors there had ever been.
But did Vader beat our brown-robed hero?
No, Obi-Wan let Vader’s red saber slice through him and in doing so allowed him to join the Force and thus be able to ultimately guide Luke to destroy the Death Star and then finally defeat Vader which then brought about the death of the Emperor ending a certain reign of terror.
Call it the butterfly effect if you will, Kenobi's actions in ANH led directly to Luke and Vader's final confrontation.
But did Vader beat our brown-robed hero?
No, Obi-Wan let Vader’s red saber slice through him and in doing so allowed him to join the Force and thus be able to ultimately guide Luke to destroy the Death Star and then finally defeat Vader which then brought about the death of the Emperor ending a certain reign of terror.
Call it the butterfly effect if you will, Kenobi's actions in ANH led directly to Luke and Vader's final confrontation.
Recall the scene in the movie when Ben looks at Luke. It was a knowing look that Luke was the key to everything from that point on, not that of a defeated man. Indeed moments after his death, he is channeling a Force warning to Luke tell him 'run Luke, run!'.
- "Use the Force, Luke."
Even though Han suggested that the Force should be with Luke before they left to take on the giant Death Star, Luke needed this nudge from the dead Jedi to get his groove on so do something important with womp rats back home.
Dialogue from both Ewan MacGregor and Alec Guinness was used to this line could be placed in Rey's flashback when she touches Luke's so-called Bespin Saber for the first time:
Extra for experts:
What are your favourite Obi-Wan Kenobi quotes? Do you prefer them from the prequels? What would you add to this list?"You'll find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view"
Update: it's now 15 great quotes as Obi-Wan made a surprise appearance in The Force Awakens.
Dialogue from both Ewan MacGregor and Alec Guinness was used to this line could be placed in Rey's flashback when she touches Luke's so-called Bespin Saber for the first time:
- “Rey . . . these are your first steps"
This article explains how JJ's team was able to conjure up Alec Guiness saying 'Rey!'.
And in The Rise of Skywalker, the line goes full circle when the Force Ghost says:
- "Rey, these are your final steps"
As per The Force Awakens, both the voices of MacGregor and Guinness were combined.
Extra for experts:
- So how did they get Obi-Wan Kenobi into The Force Awakens?
- Was Gandalf the inspiration for Obi-Wan Kenobi?
- Is Wedge Antilles really Obi-Wan Kenobi's Uncle? Yes, from a certain point of view.
- Is the best ever cosplay of Obi-Wan Kenobi?
- This is the last time Anakin and Obi-Wan spoke as friends.