Original artwork, not a still
Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Yoda's whole philosophy in one sentence: the little green puppet in the swamp is telling a farm boy that bodies, ships and size are the least of what a Jedi is. It is the moment the Force stops being a trick and becomes a creed, which is why the line is quoted at funerals, in sermons and in every parody of Yoda's backwards speech.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes BackShow the scene
In The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Luke Skywalker is training with Yoda in the swamps of Dagobah when his X-wing starts to sink into the bog. Luke insists it is too big to lift, and Yoda tells him to look at him and not judge by size. The Force, he says, is life's energy, and we are luminous beings, not crude matter. Then Yoda raises the whole ship out of the swamp himself. Luke cannot believe it, and Yoda answers that this is why he fails.
Sources (2)
- Wikiquote: The Empire Strikes BackDialogue, Dagobah X-wing sceneReference checked
- Wikipedia: The Empire Strikes BackLead and infoboxReference checked
Context reviewed
