The dialogue from the Star Wars prequels has gained a deservedly infamous reputation for not being very good. From Anakin's now legendary dislike of sand to pretty much any line of romantic dialogue between Anakin and Padme, certain lines have seared themselves into our memory for how bad they are. All three prequel films were written and directed by George Lucas, a man who has two Oscar nominations for Best Original Screenplay (for American Graffiti and Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, respectively). Lucas himself even admits that dialogue is not his strength. Picking out the worst lines from the Star Wars prequels is low-hanging fruit. We all know which lines would make that list. The harder and more interesting challenge is finding lines that are actually good, and lo and behold, there are a few lines in the prequel films that are. Here's some of them.
6 "You can't stop the change any more than you can stop the suns from setting."
This line comes from The Phantom Menace. Qui-Gon Jinn has just told Anakin and his mother, Shmi, that Anakin is no longer a slave and that he's going to be trained as a Jedi. The elation is short-lived when Anakin learns that Qui-Gon was unable to free Shmi as well, prompting Anakin to say he doesn't want things to change. Shmi says the above quote and hugs her son, telling him how much she loves him. Changes can be scary. We are afraid of the unknown, but change can and will happen, and it's not necessarily a bad thing. After all, slave Anakin can't free his mother, but Jedi Anakin could. In fact, he even promises to do so a few scenes later after his mother tells him that change is as inevitable as the suns from setting.
5 "We have to keep our faith in the Republic. The day we stop believing democracy can work is the day we lose it."
This line comes from Attack of the Clones, when Padme Amidala speaks with Queen Jamillia, Padme's successor as Queen of Naboo. The scene in question goes over some of the inherent weaknesses the Republic is showing. One of the villains from The Phantom Menace is still in power despite four trials; the Senate looks weak and ineffective, and several planets have joined a growing Separatist movement. And yet, the Queen speaks this quote in the hopes that the system can work. It's a strong quote, and one with very strong real world applications. This film came out in 2002. In 2022, the US is seeing a rise in the number of people who are rejecting the democratic process. A prophetic warning not just for the US, but for other nations around the world as well. Democracy is fragile, and we will lose it if we stop believing in it. An impressive line for a relatively minor character in the prequel films.
4 "At an end your rule is, and not short enough it was."
Yoda says this pretty badass line when he confronts Emperor Palpatine, who has dialed up the evil cackling to eleven, in his office in Revenge of the Sith. Immediately before this, he Force pushes Palpatine, sending him flying backwards and toppling over his desk. Immediately after this, we get a second, just as epic quote from Yoda that also deserves an honorable mention. "If so powerful you are, why leave?" Yoda's lightsaber ignites and an epic battle between him and Palpatine begins. Admittedly, the duel ends in a draw, but when the galaxy's most powerful Jedi says he's going to end you, that's going to be awesome.
3 "Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?"
This line comes from Revenge of the Sith, when Anakin meets Palpatine at a literal space opera (We see what you did there, George). Palpatine proceeds to tell Anakin the story of Darth Plagueis, a Sith Lord so powerful in the ways of the Force that he could create life and stop other people from dying, exactly the story Anakin wants to hear since he earlier had a nightmare about Padme dying in childbirth. The story is told so perfectly by Ian McDiarmid, who adds so much to it just from his performance. He never tells us that Palpatine was Darth Plagueis' apprentice, who as the story goes, killed Darth Plagueis in his sleep, but he doesn't need to. The way McDiarmid delivers the lines tells us this without him having to say it. It's a wonderful first line to a very good monologue.
2 "I am the Senate."
The most meme-worthy line on the list, "I am the Senate" is a pretty awesome boast from Chancellor Palpatine, who says the quote to four Jedi (Mace Windu amongst them) as they get ready to arrest him. Windu says "The Senate will decide your fate," Palpatine says the quote, cue lightsaber battle where Palpatine slaughters three of the four Jedi in the room in the blink of an eye. It's always great when villains make big boasts and then back it up, and Palpatine sure as heck backs it up. It's simple, it's powerful, and the memes we got from it are pretty good, too.
1 "So this is how liberty dies. With thunderous applause."
Remember that quote earlier on this list about losing democracy once we no longer believe it can work? Here, we get the end result once that happens. The quote is spoken by Padme Amidala in the Senate as she watches Palpatine proclaim the First Galactic Empire; this quote is pretty darn good. Padme's been the biggest champion of democracy in the Senate, and to see the entire body cheer as Palpatine is declared emperor is twisting the knife as deep as you can. Another quote with many unfortunate real-world applications, it's a strong reminder that there will always be people clamoring for authoritarianism. It's a great line for Padme and a great line overall from a series of films not known for good dialogue.