Most Memorable Princess Leia Quotes In Star Wars
You don't have to watch or be a fan of "Star Wars" to know who Leia Organa — better known as Princess Leia — was and what she stood for. Princess Leia paved the road for women in science fiction from the moment she appeared on the silver screens. "Star Wars" became a phenomenon not just for boys but also for all the little girls who finally saw themselves in the face of a brave, commanding woman — a woman who could hold her own while simultaneously sustaining a softness that made her a well-drawn, multi-faceted character.
Carrie Fisher's performance throughout the "Star Wars" series is the stuff of legend. It's a rare and wondrous gift to have an actress care as much about the character as her fans do. Until her tragic passing, Fisher reminded audiences of Leia's importance. In her biographical novel, "The Princess Diarist," Fisher writes: "I liked being Princess Leia. Or Princess Leia's me. Over time I thought that we'd melded into one. I don't think you could think of Leia without my lurking in that thought somewhere." Between Fisher's memorable interviews and Princess Leia's iconic sayings, fans have plenty of inspiration. Here are some of Princess Leia's most memorable quotes.
Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope
This quote hardly needs an introduction. Within the "Star Wars" universe, there are three lines the entire world knows: "May the force be with you," "Luke, I am your father," and "Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope."
Leia speaks that last plea to Obi-Wan Kenobi, which R2-D2 plays back as a recorded hologram. The line showcases the high-stakes situation we're in. It also ignites the plot and creates an exciting mystery surrounding Leia's true identity. A single quote brings hope front and center when we had nothing else and no deeper content to expand the universe.
You knew at that moment that no matter what led Obi-Wan to a life of seclusion, he'd do everything he could to help Princess Leia. Before the prequels and the animated "Clone Wars," Leia's message allowed audiences to understand that the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi is especially crucial in this universe.
Aren't you a little short for a Stormtrooper?
The next scene we see Leia in "A New Hope" is when Luke Skywalker, disguised as a Stormtrooper, comes to rescue her. Leia's initial response to what she believes is a threat entering her cell is a sardonic comment on her attacker's height. It's a quote that leaps off the screen because of its humor.
But it's more than just a funny quip; it's also a revealing shorthand for Leia's character. Despite the brevity of the scene, it shows us Leia's bravery clear as day. Leia Organa is no damsel in distress even when she needs rescuing. In a time when many screenwriters didn't give female characters any personality to speak of, Leia had spunk and wit that made her stand out. It's also a subtle indication that Leia knows her way around the Empire's tactics better than anyone else present.
I don't know who you are or where you came from, but from now on you'll do as I tell you, okay?
Princess Leia finds her footing best when she clarifies to Han Solo that she's the one who'll be calling the shots on their missions. Leia's frustration is palpable throughout the obstacles they face, but it isn't until this moment that audiences understand how much control she has.
Leia continues to show that she isn't afraid of anyone, no matter their rank or size, because she knows her value and purpose (and because she's literal royalty). She'll take orders when necessary, as we see throughout the original trilogy, but uttering these words aloud is a testament to her position and a preview of the future. It isn't surprising that Leia becomes General because she tirelessly shows us that she knows how to be an effective leader.
I'd just as soon kiss a Wookiee
Han Solo and Leia Organa have all the markers of the "rivals-to-lovers" trope, and it's scenes like this that make it a thrill ride for fans to watch.
The romantic tension between Han and Leia is infectious. It's especially obvious when they're going head-to-head, and Leia holds her own against his blunt sarcasm. She has no patience for his bluster and ego.
This quote is also notable considering how much Leia grows to adore Chewie later in the series. Here, she uses him to insult Han, and at one point in "A New Hope," she even calls him a walking carpet. At least we know Lupita Nyong'o's Maz Kanata has no qualms with kissing Wookiees, as she asks Han Solo where her boyfriend is in "The Force Awakens."
Why you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf-herder!
One of the best things about "Star Wars" is the balance between dry humor that's universally appreciated and outright nonsense that wouldn't work in any other franchise. We're in a galaxy with all sorts of talking creatures and droids we should never underestimate (a lesson Leia teaches us in "The Last Jedi"). Leia's use of nerf-herder here is a tiny world-building detail, but the quote works mostly because it's delivered in the relatable, true-to-life context of a woman's frustration with an exasperating man.
It's a quote many fans have used in real life. It's also one of the quotes with hundreds of designs on websites like Etsy. There's even a band named after it. And though there's nothing deep or greatly meaningful about it, Fisher's delivery makes it iconic. No one insults anyone as uniquely as Princess Leia does.
Well, I guess you don't know everything about women yet
Feminism wasn't as prevalent in media consumption in the '80s as it is today, but Leia established herself as a feminist idol early in the "Star Wars" franchise. Assertive and brave, Leia is a force of nature. When Han Solo continues to badger her, Leia is unfazed, biting back with one insult after another. Since he has no plans to stop, Leia's rebellion leads to her kissing Luke to shatter Han's ego. But ultimately, the quote is a testament to Leia's upbringing—who she is as a woman has nothing to do with who she is as a princess.
Women have been running rebellions and wars for quite some time before Leia, and though the audience isn't aware of this while watching for the first time, the quote perfectly affirms their place in the resistance. It's also a reminder that even though we can sorta tell she has budding feelings for Han here, she isn't going to give in to his nonsense until he does better.
I love you
For as iconic and profound as Han Solo's "I know" is to audiences, it would be nothing without Leia's sincere "I love you." One of the best things about Han and Leia as a couple is the fact that we only hear these words twice, but they become a kind of trademark few romantic pairs in pop culture have established. It's also incredibly fitting that Leia says it first in "The Empire Strikes Back" because her hesitation is more evident than his. She fights the attraction longer than he does, and she's rightfully less trusting than him.
When Leia finally realizes that she loves him, she packs the words with colossal meaning, which is why Han's "I know" is even better. Director Irvin Keshner notes that Harrison Ford improvised the iconic line in an interview with Vanity Fair. "Han Solo's response in the script was, "I love you, too." I shot the line and it just didn't seem right for the character of Han Solo," Keshner tells Vanity Fair. Han and Leia's legacy is why fans get matching couples t-shirts at Disneyland resorts.
He is my brother
The love triangle between Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Leia Organa is still one of the most bizarre storytelling moments in film. Still, it's an arc that works because it leads to memorable quotes. The fact that they manage to salvage the storyline without turning it into something too creepy is no small feat. Though Leia doesn't immediately reveal to Han that Luke is her brother once she learns the truth in "The Return of the Jedi," the moment she tells him is close to perfect. Leia's playful tone reassures Han that she loves him, but it's also the first time she calls Luke her brother, which makes it even more special for fans watching.
The Skywalker family history gets darker with the addition of "Clone Wars" into the extended universe. Therefore, re-watching scenes like this become more emotional when you understand how much the two finding each other would mean to their mother, Padmé.
Too many losses. I can't take any more
Strong women don't always get the chance to vocalize their sadness or loss of hope. Much of the vulnerability we get from Leia is what Fisher chooses to show us through subtle mannerisms that exhibit the weight of the darkness she's feeling. In "The Last Jedi," before they evacuate and she is about to leave her oldest friend Holdo (Laura Dern) behind, Leia tells her there have been too many losses, and she can't take any more. It's a way of telling her friend to stay safe, but more than that, it's a sign to the audience that she's now at a point where the trials are harder to bear.
Leia is strong with the force, and she probably senses what is to come at that moment. We could even argue that perhaps this is her way of refusing to say goodbye and attempting to keep hope alive by believing that maybe, just maybe, the two women could see each other again. Still, it's an exhibition of her heart that tells us she aches tremendously in spite of the front she puts up.
Never be afraid of who you are
In "The Rise of Skywalker," Rey promises Leia that she'll earn Luke's lightsaber one day. As the women hug (unbeknownst to them, it's the last time), Leia leaves her with a touching, memorable quote that people will cherish for a long, long time. "Rey, never be afraid of who you are," she says gently into their embrace.
In more ways than one, this is something Leia Organa has shown to the audience long before she spoke the words out loud. As a leader in the rebellion, Leia stood her ground for everything that she believed in, and despite the natural fears and doubts, she continued to fight. She never shied away from who she truly was—a princess, a lover, a mother, a general, a Jedi. Passing along this message to Rey is a form of passing the torch—from one Skywalker to another.
Ben
Even though the sequel trilogy divides fans of the franchise, there's no denying that they do right by honoring Leia's character. The last word Leia Organa speaks on-screen is her son's name, "Ben." At this point, Leia is stronger with the force and it's clear in her curtain call that she realizes something is wrong with her and her son as well. Though she believes Ben is too far gone in "The Last Jedi," Luke softly reassures her that "no one's ever really gone." This quote, and ultimately, the fact that this is Leia's last moment, tells us that she believes she can still save Ben.
Leia never gave up hoping for something better despite all the loss and heartaches. The line is also a brilliant callback to the first words she ever speaks, which signify hope. She names Ben after Obi-Wan, and in uttering his name one last time, she reiterates that she still has faith. Though Leia isn't the one to speak the words on-screen, in "The Last Jedi," Holdo reminds Poe Dameron that Leia would always say, "Hope is like the sun. If you only believe it when you see it, you'll never make it through the night."
May the force be with you
There is no memorable "Star Wars" quote list without including the ever-noteworthy "May the force be with you." For Leia, though she probably says it frequently off-screen, we only see it once in "The Force Awakens." The first time we hear those words in the canon universe is when she bids Rey farewell before she goes off to find Luke.
Considering the fact that 32 years have passed from "The Return of the Jedi," there's something incredibly special about Carrie Fisher's General Leia finally uttering the words to the woman who'll be the next lead. There's also something deeply nostalgic about it. Leia's openness to Rey tells the audience that she'll always be in her corner. It's always refreshing to have women support each other instead of being pit against each other, and for such an exemplary character like Leia, this moment fits into her entire arc seamlessly.