The Most Inspiring Rebellion Quotes in 'Star Wars: Andor'

Star Wars

Jul 16

Star Wars: Andor was a step back from the lightsaber duels and the Jedi versus Sith formula. Instead it showed us something much deeper.

Through the series the seeds of rebellion are planted and spout up into something the Empire fears most. It sprouts into something beyond their control. Here are a few quotes that show the fruits of those seeds.

Warning: Spoilers for Andor and Rogue One

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5: “Freedom is a pure idea. It occurs spontaneously and without instruction. Random acts of insurrection are occurring constantly throughout the galaxy. There are whole armies, battalions that have no idea that they've already enlisted in the cause. Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.” -Nemik

In his manifesto, Nemik takes a philosophical approach to the Rebellion. It’s inevitable. The more the Empire asserts its power, the more they are breeding discontent and rebellion throughout the galaxy. The Rebellion starts small and many Rebels aren’t yet aware that they’re part of it, but the fight against oppression has already begun. This manifesto returns in season two, and drives a high-ranking Imperial Officer to despair.

4: “Gets to you, doesn’t it? That’s what a reckoning sounds like. You want it to stop but it just keeps coming. It’s when it stops, that’s when you’ll really start to fret.” -Maarva

When Imperial occupation comes to her home planet, Maarva wastes no time in making her stance known. As the town bells clang, she says this quote to an Imperial Officer stationed in her home to get into his head and under his skin.

The quote paired with the clanking has a chilling effect on the officer. Her final act of rebellion comes with her recorded funeral speech encouraging everyone to fight against the Empire.

3: “I’m condemned to use the tools of my enemy... to defeat them. I burn my decency for someone else’s future! I burn my life to make a sunrise that I know I’ll never see!” -Luthen Rael

While this quote isn’t as inspiring, Luthen’s sacrifice is. He is the one willing to do the dirty work to make sure the Rebellion succeeds and gets very little love for it. The Rebels view him, and by extension Kleya, with suspicion and distrust. Cassian comes to his defense, but Luthen will always be remembered as a mysterious and dangerous figure. This is his sacrifice: his reputation, his legacy, and his soul. He gives everything to make sure the Empire loses.

2: “The distance between what is said and what is known to be true has become an abyss. Of all the things at risk, the loss of an objective reality is perhaps the most dangerous. The death of truth is the ultimate victory of evil! When truth leaves us, when we let it slip away, when it is ripped from our hands, we become vulnerable to the appetite of whatever monster screams the loudest.” -Mon Mothma

This speech doubles as Senator Mon Mothma’s announcement that she is part of the Rebellion and exiles her from the Senate. But her words have the sting of truth, so much so that the Empire tries to silence the broadcast.

Her courage in this moment being projected onto the airwaves will inspire many others to join the cause. Those who were asleep or willfully ignorant can’t ignore the Empire’s atrocities anymore.

1: “You’re coming home to yourself. You’ve become more than your fear. Let that protect you.” -Cassian

Cassian says this as he recruits an Imperial Pilot into the Rebellion. The pilot is nervous about turning against the Empire because of their sheer power. On the surface, this quote is about calming her nerves, but it’s also an apt description of Cassian’s own journey. He started out as a keep-your-head-down type of guy but through his work with Luthen, he becomes a natural leader for the Rebellion. It’s a pep talk that will carry him to his final sacrifice in Rogue One.

Several people from all walks of life, typical nobodies in the grand scheme of the galaxy, find their courage, their heart, and their purpose. No longer nobodies, they leave behind a legacy of inspiration and a ripe ground for the Rebellion to rise.

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