Luke Skywalker: If I don’t make it back, you’re the only hope for the Alliance.
Leia Organa: Luke, don’t talk that way. You have a power I don’t understand and could never have.
Luke Skywalker: You’re wrong, Leia. You have that power, too. In time, you’ll learn to use it as I have. The Force is strong in my family. My father has it. I have it. And my sister has it. Yes. It’s you, Leia.
Leia Organa: I know. Somehow, I’ve always known.
Where does this quote come from? (Source)
This quote is from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983), also known as Episode VI. Produced by Lucasfilm, the film is a part of the Star Wars universe.
- Movie: Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)
- Movie Number: Episode VI
- Production: Lucasfilm
Why we collected this quote
Luke’s quiet revelation to Leia that she is his sister – and Force-sensitive – is one of the most touching and pivotal moments in the trilogy. It reframes everything the audience thought they understood about Leia, and “Somehow, I’ve always known” is one of the most emotionally resonant lines Carrie Fisher ever delivered.
What does this quote mean? (Meaning & Context)
Luke is about to surrender to Vader, and he tells Leia the truth before he goes – in case he doesn’t come back. The confession that the Force runs through their whole family, and that Leia carries the same potential, is delivered with complete sincerity. Leia’s answer – that she somehow always knew – is bittersweet and beautiful.
Fun facts & Trivia
Behind the scenes: This revelation retroactively recontextualises the kiss between Luke and Leia in The Empire Strikes Back – something the filmmakers had not fully planned at the time. George Lucas has confirmed that Leia as the “other” was only fully decided during the writing of Return of the Jedi.
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