Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of Star Wars‘ most important characters, and he’s known for his memorable quotes. Largely in part due to his knack for sharing wisdom as well as wise cracks, Obi-Wan’s popularity began with Alec Guinness’s portrayal of the character in A New Hope back in 1977. When Ewan McGreggor picked up the mantle in 1999, reprising the role as a young Padawan for Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, the character saw a new wave of appreciation.
Obi-Wan was introduced as the wise old Jedi Master who introduces Luke Skywalker to the Force and his heritage as a Jedi Knight after years of living in hiding on Tatooine. The Star Wars prequels and shows like Star Wars: The Clone Wars elaborate on his younger years, before the Republic fell, and he enjoyed a calmer and more hopeful life. Every time of Obi-Wan’s life is full of memorable quotes, both wise and witty, and here are some of his best.
11 Obi-Wan Knows How To Make An Entrance
“Hello, there!”
Alec Guinness’ first line in the Star Wars movie retitled “A New Hope” would go on to become one of Obi-Wan’s more iconic lines. Spoken to R2-D2 after rescuing Luke from a band of Tusken Raiders, Obi-Wan’s cheerful greeting establishes his character’s trustworthiness despite his mysterious introduction. The line is brought back in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, when Obi-Wan begins his surprise attack on General Grievous.
10 Obi-Wan’s Description Of The Force
“Have you ever been afraid of the dark? How does it feel to turn on the light? It (the Force) feels like that.”
When young Princess Leia asks Obi-Wan about using the Force in the Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ TV show, he offers this sweet description to her. The Force can be an incredibly complex thing that runs through the entire galaxy, but it can also be as comforting as this simple, childlike analogy. It’s a beautiful moment, one in which Obi-Wan demonstrates his empathy to the young Princess Leia.
9 Obi-Wan’s Apology To Darth Vader
“I am sorry, Anakin, for all of it.”
The miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi covered Obi-Wan’s time of exile and his emotional recovery from Anakin’s betrayal. After the harrowing realization that Anakin was still alive and active in the Empire as the terrible Darth Vader, Obi-Wan takes up his lightsaber once again to face his friend-turned-enemy. After gaining the upper hand in their last battle of the series, Obi-Wan is overcome by the tragedy of their relationship, apologizing for the part he played in Anakin’s fall. Armed with a newfound peace, Obi-Wan leaves Vader on the ground and resumes his guardianship of young Luke with his renewed sense of purpose.
8 Obi-Wan’s Quick-Witted Comment About Wisdom
“Who is more foolish: the fool, or the fool who follows him?”
After things get bumpy on the way to rescue Princess Leia, Obi-Wan, Luke, and Han have to hide in Han’s special smuggling compartments aboard the Millennium Falcon. Realizing they’re trapped, Obi-Wan’s request that they let him take care of the tractor beam preventing their eventual escape is met with disdain from Han. Obi-Wan responds with this lighthearted remark, reminding Han that even if he distrusts his methods, Han knew what he was getting into from the get-go, and that whether he likes it or not, Obi-Wan is Han’s best chance at escape.
7 Obi-Wan Knows How Important A Lightsaber Is
“This weapon is your life, Anakin!”
As a Padawan, Anakin had many lessons that needed to be taught more than once, and as his Master, Obi-Wan spent a lot of time teaching him respect for his lightsaber through his training. Anakin’s recklessness and brash emotional responses can be exemplified by his often careless relationship with his weapon. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones implies that he’s lost or broken many lightsabers over the first 10 years of his Jedi training, and Obi-Wan has tried to instill in him better habits.
6 Jedi Mind Tricks At Their Best
“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for”
Obi-Wan had the honor of displaying the first on-screen use of a Jedi mind trick. When stopped by Stormtroopers hunting for R2-D2 and C-3PO, Obi-Wan takes care of the danger with a wave of his hand. This thrills Luke, who has only just made the request to become a Jedi himself. Of course, as Obi-Wan points out, mind tricks only work on the weak-minded, and aren’t always the best strategy when dealing with more formidable enemies. Still, it comes in handy from time to time…
5 Obi-Wan Kenobi, Life Coach
“You want to go home and rethink your life”
As Obi-Wan and Anakin pursue the assassin attacking Senator Padmé Amidala in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Obi-Wan takes a short break to grab a drink at the bar they’ve chased her into. As a death stick dealer approaches him, Obi-Wan uses a Jedi mind trick to convince him that, instead of selling death sticks, the man would much rather go home and rethink his choices, which he promptly does. While this use of Jedi power might not be strictly ethical, it can’t be said it wasn’t done with good intentions, and likely good results.
4 Obi-Wan Kenobi Can Keep A Cool Head
“A great leap forward often requires first taking two steps back”
Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 1,episode 17 features a horrible virus that threatens the lives of both Ahsoka and Padmé. Anakin is overcome by the prospect of losing them both, but Obi-Wan reminds him that they still have a chance to find a solution that would save them without releasing the virus to the rest of the planet. According to Obi-Wan, taking a moment to look at the bigger picture instead of acting rashly could provide the breakthrough they needed.
3 Obi-Wan Understands What True Power Looks Like
“If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine”
When Obi-Wan faces off against Darth Vader for the last time aboard the Death Star, he doesn’t try to best his old friend in combat. Instead, he keeps the Sith busy while Luke, Leia, and Han make their escape. By understanding that death would mean becoming one with the Force, he chooses the best way to continue mentoring Luke despite his loss of a physical body. This warning to Vader speaks to Obi-Wan’s deep understanding of the Force and a unique power he learned from Qui-Gon’s Force ghost during his exile.
2 Obi-Wan Knows When (And When Not) To Draw A Line
“Only a Sith deals in absolutes”
After Anakin declares that Obi-Wan can either work with him or against him, Obi-Wan understands that his friend has fully fallen to the Sith. As peacekeepers, the Jedi have no room for narrow thinking, and reacting in the name of a binary situation goes against everything they stand for. This remark comes as a grim realization that Anakin might already be past the point of saving.
1 Obi-Wan’s Strangest Battle Strategy
“I have the high ground”
When Anakin and Obi-Wan have their fateful duel on the firefly shores of Mustafar, Anakin loses himself in the chance to prove himself the more powerful Jedi. He leans on his own skills, whereas Obi-Wan takes the terrain and combat strategy into account. Though Anakin is great with a lightsaber, Obi-Wan’s sturdier position above him gave him the upper hand. In one last attempt to talk sense into his crazed former student, Obi-Wan pleads for Anakin not to attempt an attack in this iconic Star Wars scene.
