Summary
TheStar Warsseries is renowned for its meaningful messages and captivating quotes. In a story where the power of light is on the verge of being engulfed by the forces of darkness, it is necessary for a few inspirational lines to be exchanged between characters every now and again.
Star Warsdialogue can influence how the viewer feels with its wonderfulmethod of conveying real emotion. It can also be a fantastic vehicle for conveying humor, though it is not always intentional. Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the most iconic characters present in the series, with much of his popularity being owed to his lines.
Updated on Jul 29, 2025, by Justin Flynn:TheKenobiseries may have come and gone, but that doesn’t mean that fans of the titular character have forgotten him. This Jedi played a vital role in both the original and prequel trilogy, and Ewan McGregor’s return to the role back in 2022 was something that countless fans had been begging for.
Though it seems like Obi-Wan’s story has truly ended since the release of Kenobi, fans of Star Wars still have a great deal to look forward to.Daisy Ridley will be reprising her role as Rey in a currently unscheduled movie,Mandalorianfans will be able to witness Din Djarin and Grogu make their movie debut on June 01, 2025, andSkeleton Crew, a TV series starring Jude Law, is set to release in 2024. It’s unlikely that Obi-Wan will return in any of these Star Wars projects, but if he did, fans could certainly expect the character to add some great quotes to his already iconic collection.
30"If You Strike Me Down, I Shall Become More Powerful Than You Can Possibly Imagine."
Said To Darth Vader During Their Final Battle
Little was known about the extent of a Jedi’s power back whenA New Hopereleased in 1977, so fans could be forgiven if they initially assumed that Obi-Wan bit the dust during his fight with his former apprentice aboard the Death Star. Before being struck down by Vader, Kenobi confidently remarks that his defeat will only lead to him becoming more powerful. Even knowing this,Vader refuses to lay his saber down; he takes the bait and slashes at a willingly defenseless Obi-Wan, ending his life once and for all.
Though Obi-Wan’s body vanishes, his spirit persists, playing an integral role during the trench run on the Death Star. This isn’t the only instance where Obi-Wan showcases his posthumous abilities, either, appearing inEmpire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jedias a Force Ghost in order to assist Luke on his journey. Though his words to Vader may have initially seemed like a hollow threat, his multiple returns showcase that he was being genuine and that the power of the Force is not something to be taken lightly.
29"I’m Sorry, Anakin. For All Of It."
Said To An Injured Darth Vader Whose Face Has Been Exposed
Obi-Wan felt a great deal of guilt about what happened to Anakin after their battle on Mustafar, and this guilt remained with him for many years. He believed that he failed his apprentice by allowing him to be seduced by the dark side, and the true extent of the regret he felt came to the surface during the final episode ofKenobi.
During their battle, Vader’s mask gets damaged, revealing a portion of Anakin’s face to Obi-Wan. It’s this sight that causes the aged Jedi to deliver this heartbreaking line. Seeing Anakin reminds him that beneath Vader’s intimidating exterior is a boy who Obi-Wan failed to protect from the evil influence of the Sith. The power behind the quote is further strengthened by Ewan McGregor’s tear-jerking performance, perfectly capturing the sadness Obi-Wan feels about what happened to old friend.
28"Don’t Be Afraid."
Said To R2-D2 After Luke Skywalker Is Attacked By A Group Of Tusken Raiders
Obi-Wan cemented himself as one of the most iconic characters inStar Warsfrom the very first moment he appeared on-screen. Hiding his face and body behind a brown robe, he approaches an unconscious Luke and gently places his hand on the young farmboy’s head while R2-D2 watches from afar. Viewers are briefly led to believe that the robed figure’s intentions could be sinister, but this all changes once the aged Jedi removes his hood and turns to R2-D2 to assure the droid that there is no need to be afraid.
“Don’t be afraid” may not be an overly memorable Obi-Wan quote in itself, but the way that it was recontextualized to serve a different purpose inThe Force Awakensmakes it one of the most significant dialogue pieces to feature throughout theStar Warsseries. Duringthe flashback scene on Takodana, viewers will hear a version of Alec Guinness' line, in which the word “afraid” is edited to sound like the actor is saying “Rey.” Though Guinness passed away in 2000, the way this line was repurposed allowed him to remain a part ofStar Warslong after he had retired from the role of Obi-Wan.
27"If You Define Yourself By The Power To Take Life, The Desire To Dominate, To Possess - Then You Have Nothing."
Said To Maul Prior To Their Final Battle
SomeStar Warsfans may not be aware of how complex the relationship between Obi-Wan and Maul is. For those who haveonly seen the movies, they may believe that Darth Maul met his end duringThe Phantom Menace, but this isn’t entirely true. Maul actually survived his battle with Obi-Wan and made it his goal to get revenge. Though it took a long time, he finally got his chance to do so in the “Twin Suns” episode ofStar Wars Rebels.
Here, Maul confronts an aged Obi-Wan in the Tatooine desert. He intends to kill the Jedi, but he also suggests that sparing him might be equally as punishing. To this, Obi-Wan responds by mocking Maul’s idea of what power is. Order 66 left Obi-Wan with nothing, but the proud Jedi found a new purpose in protecting Luke Skywalker. Maul, on the other hand, lost everything after his first encounter with Obi-Wan, but he somehow managed to lose even more throughout his quest for power and revenge.
26"Why Do I Sense We’ve Picked Up Another Pathetic Life-Form?"
Said To Qui-Gon Jinn In Response To Freeing Anakin
Though the Jedi tend to be quite a reserved bunch when it comes to communication, Obi-Wan is an exception. He speaks his mind more often than not, and this approach to life often results in him delivering some truly unforgettable quotes. He was especially direct with others during his youth, and one notable example of this can be seen inThe Phantom Menaceshortly after Qui-Gonn frees Anakin from Watto.
It’s made pretty clear that Obi-Wan isn’t exactly keen on having Jar Jar around, so it makes sense why he would be concerned about bringing Anakin along, too. Referring to Anakin as a “pathetic life-form,” it’s made clear that this young Jedi Padawan has no time for nonsense, and the sassy way in which he showcases this makes this particularObi-Wan quoteone ofhis most hilarious lines.
25"Sith Lords Are Our Speciality."
Said To Palpatine Before Fighting Count Dooku On General Grievous' Ship
Upon infiltrating General Grievous' ship, the Invisible Hand, during the opening ofRevenge of the Sith, Obi-Wan and Anakin encounter the chancellor they were tasked with rescuing, but before they can release him from his restraints, Count Dooku enters the scene.
Chancellor Palpatine warns the Jedi thatCount Dooku is a Sith Lord, implying that his abilities should not be taken lightly. To this, Obi-Wan responds by saying, “Sith Lords are our speciality.” Though this line is iconic, it may not be for the reasons Obi-Wan intended. The cockiness with which this line is delivered makes it seem like Obi-Wan has prepared for this battle, so watching him get knocked unconscious almost immediately after the fight ensues is quite hilarious, especially because of how confident he was beforehand.
24"Why Do I Get The Feeling You’re Going To Be The Death Of Me?
Said To Anakin After Scolding Him For Not Taking Care Of His Lightsaber
Obi-Wan loves incorporating sarcasm into his conversations, especially when he’s speaking to Anakin inAttack of the Clones. At this point of the story, Anakin just wants to succeed, but he often fails when attempting to do so. Because of this, Obi-Wan regularly steps in as the voice of reason, hoping to encourage his Padawan with lessons often sprinkled with sly jabs.
The “Why do I get the feeling you’re going to be the death of me?” line is one such example. This line is used to scold Anakin for giving into his temper and recklessly pursuing an assassin, putting both his and Obi-Wan’s life in danger. It’s a simple line that briefly showcases Obi-Wan’s attitude towards his Padawan, but it’s surprisingly important given how their final encounter ends. InA New Hope,Obi-Wan dies by Anakin’s hands, so he wasn’t really that out of line when he delivered this quote.
23"Who Is More Foolish? The Fool Or The Fool Who Follows Him?"
Said To Han Aboard The Death Star In Response To An Insult
Obi-Wan is one of the sassiest characters in all ofStar Wars. Though Ewan McGregor’s portrayal offers what is arguably the most sassy depiction of this character, Alec Guinness also delivered several cheeky lines duringhis time as the elusive Jediin the original trilogy. One such example can be seen inA New Hopewhen the Millennium Falcon is drawn inside the Death Star by its tractor beam.
To avoid capture, Obi-Wan and the gang conceal themselves in the ship’s lower compartment. When they emerge, Han remarks that flying away would be a bad idea since the tractor beam would simply bring them back, but Obi-Wan’s response suggests that he can fix that problem. Han scolds Kenobi for this comment by calling him a fool, and Obi-Wan responds with “Who is more foolish? The fool or the fool who follows him?” Not only does this line briefly showcase Obi-Wan’s quick-witted nature, but it also highlights how confident of an individual he is. It would’ve been easy to ignore Han’s comment, but in true Obi-Wan-style, the Jedi felt it necessary to poke back with an iconic verbal jab. Obi-Wan has a way with words, especially when it comes to concealing insults in otherwise ordinary statements, and the line he delivers here only further confirms it.
22"In My Experience, There Is No Such Thing As Luck."
Said To Han In Response To Him Referring To Luke’s Force Abilities As Luck
Upon leaving Tatooine aboard the Millennium Falcon, Obi-Wan takes a moment to show Lukehow to use a lightsaber. More specifically, he encourages Luke to reach out to the Force while he attempts to deflect blaster bolts from a lightsaber training drone.
Han Solo watches from the sidelines, frequently reminding both Luke and Obi-Wan that he does not believe in the Force. Even when Luke manages to deflect three blasts in a row without being able to see, Han still refers to it as luck. To this, Obi-Wan responds with “In my experience, there is no such thing as luck.” Given whatStar Warsfans now know about Obi-Wan’s colorful past, this is a pretty honest line. Though it’s hard to deny how luck played a part in certain moments of his life, it is clear that he tries to avoid relying on it. By saying this, he hopes to encourage Luke to do the same.
21"That’s No Moon. It’s A Space Station."
Said Aboard The Millennium Falcon Upon Seeing The Death Star For The First Time
After leaving Tatooineaboard the Millennium Falcon, Obi-Wan, Luke, Han, and Chewie set off to Alderaan; however, all they find at the planet’s coordinates is debris. A TIE-Fighter then appears from behind and lures the Falcon deeper into space, toward what Luke refers to as a “small moon.”
Though it takes a moment, Obi-Wan eventually realizes what the small moon is and tells his crewmates, “That’s no moon. It’s a space station.” This line serves to highlight exactlyhow powerful the Empire has becomewhile also reminding fans of how small the protagonists are in comparison.
