"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away," are the words that so many love to read and see pop on-screen as they indicate the beginning of nearly anything Star Wars related. After the release of the original film, which was later retitled A New Hope, in the 1970s, Star Wars saw a surge in popularity from sci-fi fans everywhere. This popularity led to the creation of a complete trilogy — including The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi — which would later turn into a saga with a total of nine films.
While a great deal of movies and TV shows has been created over the years, many argue that none of the new stuff can rival that of the original Star Wars trilogy. Featuring big names like Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill, the original trilogy brought Star Wars to life, making the galaxy we all know and love a reality. Although the prequels have been receiving more attention for some of the quotable lines, the original has many of its own fantastic quotes. These are the best Star Wars quotes in the original trilogy.
8 "Do or do not. There is no try."
Living nearly 1000 years, much wisdom, Yoda has to give. Between living through Order 66 and seeing the fall of his own Padawans, Yoda knows more than any Jedi Master before him. In Empire Strikes Back, when Luke begins his training with Yoda, he is tasked with lifting his ship out of the bog. When Luke realizes what a monumental task this is, he says that he will try, but Yoda snaps and says, "No, try not. Do or do not. There is no try." This line says a lot about how your mentality when trying a new task makes a big difference in your success. If you believe you will succeed, then the chances are that you will.
7 "Scruffy-looking…Nerf herder!"
One of the more ridiculous, yet oh-so-memorable quotes is when Leia insults Han after some snide remarks from him in Empire Strikes Back. The full quote is "Why, you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking, nerf herder!" Han doesn't take kindly to being called scruffy-looking, but Leia's choice words have become one of the most iconic and original insults in cinematic history. This line has brought nothing but laughter from fans over the years, and even spawned a song by Galantis called "Scruffy-Looking Nerfherder."
6 "I love you." "I know."
While Star Wars is not jam-packed with romance, the storyline between Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa is one that has many fans squealing. From enemies to lovers, the pair finally admit their feelings for one another in Empire Strikes Back. Leia says, "I love you," to which Han replies "I know," before being frozen in carbonite and taken to Jabba the Hutt. The original line was meant to be Han saying "I love you," back to Leia, but Ford decided that "I know" would be a more appropriate response given the nature of Han and Leia's relationship (via CBR).
5 "These are not the droids you're looking for."
A New Hope introduces us to the Force, which can manifest itself as a sort of telekinesis, mind control, and a number of other actions. When Luke and Obi-Wan enter Mos Eisley to find a pilot to leave Tattooine, they encounter Stormtroopers who are searching for R2-D2 and C-3P0. As they ride up to the Stormtroopers, Obi-Wan uses the Force on the Troopers and says the iconic line, "These are not the droid you're looking for." This not only showed the power of the Force, but also gave us an iconic quote, which is always said by those hoping to get out of doing something.
4 "No, I am your father."
One of the best plot twists of all time comes in Empire Strikes Back when Luke and Darth Vader fight for the first time. Luke's emotions take hold of him, and Vader takes advantage of this weakness and cuts off Luke's hand. However, just when Luke is trying to escape, telling Vader how much he hates him for killing his father, Vader drops the bomb that he is Luke's father. His reaction is a mixture of disbelief and hatred for the fact that someone so cruel could be his flesh and blood. Luke does not give in to Vader's pleas for him to join him and leaves, calling Leia to come and find him. This line is iconic for several reasons, but considering that this is one of the best surprises in film of all time, needless to say, this line will forever remain one of the best in the Star Wars franchise.
3 "I find your lack of faith disturbing."
This intimidating line is spoken by Vader as he is Force-choking an Empire Admiral, who criticizes Vader's "sorcery" and believing his "Jedi ways" are archaic and no longer relevant. This entire scene, and the line that accompanies it, instills a base level of fear in the audience as Darth Vader not only looks intimidating, but is willing to torture and kill those who question his beliefs or his methods. This first action of Darth Vader turning and causing harm to his own men shows how ruthless he is. This quote has made the roster as one of the most iconic lines in the Star Wars franchise, making its way onto endless merchandise and getting its own Christmas iteration, which says, "I find your lack of cheer disturbing."
2 "In my experience, there's no such thing as luck."
In A New Hope, when Obi-Wan is training Luke to tune into his Force sensitivity, Han voices his skepticism and that luck plays a large role in success. To this, Obi-Wan said the famous line, "In my experience, there's no such thing as luck." This line has become memorable for a number of reasons: it hits hard with the point it makes, puts the cocky Han Solo in his place, and makes it clear how Obi-Wan Kenobi approaches everything, believing that he has complete control over every situation. That being said, this also means that he believes there are no coincidences and that the Force helps to guide everyone along their paths.
1 "May the Force be with you."
The most iconic line in the whole of the Star Wars universe. The line that is still used to this day is "May the Force be with you." Found on merch and said at conventions, this line is uttered many times throughout the franchise, but can be traced back to A New Hope, spoken by General Jan Dodonna, who said it while concluding a meeting about destroying the Death Star. Though many may not know the exact origin of the line, the reality is that if you've seen or heard even one Star Wars film, it's likely that you've heard someone say these words at some point. This has since become the line that basically defines the franchise and its fandom, even leading to the creation of Star Wars day in which it is said "May the 4th be with you."