Anakin Skywalker: If you’re not with me then you’re my enemy.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Only a Sith deals in absolutes.
Where does this quote come from? (Source)
This quote is from Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005), also known as Episode III. Produced by Lucasfilm, the film is a part of the Star Wars universe.
- Movie: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- Movie Number: Episode III
- Production: Lucasfilm
Why we collected this quote
This line became a meme and a philosophical touchstone simultaneously – which is rare, and which tells you something about how well it works. We love it because Obi-Wan is right, and Anakin’s line is a perfect demonstration of the thing Obi-Wan is calling out: he’s dealing in an absolute right now. The irony is complete and the scene earns it fully.
What does this quote mean? (Meaning & Context)
Anakin has declared Obi-Wan his enemy for not pledging support to the new order. Obi-Wan’s reply is not a refusal to fight – it’s a diagnosis. The point is that Jedi think in nuance, in situations, in context; the Sith think in loyalty and betrayal, with us or against us. Anakin’s line is the most Sith thing he’s said yet, which is why Obi-Wan responds to the philosophy rather than the threat.
Fun facts & Trivia
The line’s underlying philosophical point – that absolute thinking is itself a form of dogmatism – was also noted by critics as slightly ironic given that “only a Sith deals in absolutes” is itself an absolute statement. George Lucas acknowledged the irony in interviews, saying it was intentional: Obi-Wan is not perfectly wise, just wiser than Anakin in this moment.
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