Padmé Amidala: Are you allowed to love? I thought that was forbidden for a Jedi.
Anakin Skywalker: Attachment is forbidden. Possession is forbidden. Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love… is central to a Jedi’s life. So you might say that we are encouraged to love.
Where does this quote come from? (Source)
This quote is from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002), also known as Episode II. Produced by Lucasfilm, the film is a part of the Star Wars universe.
- Movie: Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Movie Number: Episode II
- Production: Lucasfilm
Why we collected this quote
Anakin’s philosophical loop-the-loop here is so perfectly him – technically correct, emotionally loaded, and just slightly too smooth. Our favourite thing about it is the way it manages to be both a genuine statement of Jedi philosophy and one of the most elaborate flirtations in the saga, all at once.
What does this quote mean? (Meaning & Context)
Padmé asks the natural question that any Republic citizen might ask about a Jedi: isn’t love forbidden? Anakin’s response draws a careful distinction between attachment and compassion – and then lands on “encouraged to love” in a way that leaves very little ambiguity about who he’s thinking of. Padmé’s response, that he hasn’t changed at all, suggests she sees through it completely.
Fun facts & Trivia
The distinction Anakin draws here – between forbidden attachment and permitted compassion – is a real point of Jedi doctrine that the prequels explore seriously. His inability to actually live by that distinction is precisely what makes him so vulnerable.
