Since its 2018 debut, Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi has sparked heated debate over whether it was a fantastic or terrible Star Wars film for Luke Skywalker. Still, whatever your opinion, it’s hard to deny that Johnson’s take on the greatest Jedi ever came with some truly epic quotes. And no, we’re not talking about the zinger, “Amazing.
Every word of what you just said was wrong.” The Last Jedi gave us Luke Skywalker’s best quote, perfectly capturing the poignancy at the heart of a galaxy far, far away. Luke has delivered plenty of incredible quotes throughout Star Wars’ 50-year history. Many fans consider his declaration to Emperor Palpatine — "I am a Jedi, like my father before me" — in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi his best.
And they’re not wrong: it’s a phenomenal line that defines Luke’s identity as a Jedi. Still, it doesn’t quite seal the deal for us as his best. That honor belongs instead to one of Luke’s most underrated moments: when he briefly projects his image through the Force on Ahch-To to comfort his sister Leia.
During the exchange, Leia expresses deep sorrow that she’s lost her son Ben Solo, also known as Kylo Ren, to the Dark Side forever. Luke, bright-eyed and once again full of belief after his meeting with Rey, reassures her with this beautiful quote: After so long in guilt and shame, Luke’s quote shows how far he's come since the beginning of The Last Jedi. A string of words can sometimes reveal wisdom in a way we hadn’t considered before.
This is especially meaningful in a franchise like Star Wars, where mythological forces such as the Force, the Jedi, and the Sith play a central role, and we, the audience, are eager to uncover answers to many of the galaxy’s major mysteries and themes. Redemption is a central theme in Star Wars. Across its films, TV shows, comics, novels, and even video games, one idea remains clear: anyone can be redeemed.
Redemption looks different for each character, and what one character sees as redemption doesn’t necessarily align with what others feel or believe. For example, while Anakin Skywalker was redeemed in the eyes of his son, Luke, his role as Darth Vader and the destruction of Alderaan ensured that his daughter, Leia, didn’t share her brother’s feelings towards Anakin. Regardless, Luke’s quote to Leia reassures her that no matter how much someone changes, who they were before is never entirely out of reach.
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