By Aimee Hart Published Nov 2, 2026, 12:00 AM EST Analysis The Last Jedi was unfairly maligned, but it gave us the best of Luke Skywalker
Photo: John Wilson/Lucasfilm Add Polygon.com on Google Add as Preferred Source Follow on Google Discover Summary Generate a summary of this story Jump links Jump Links Luke's best Star Wars moment isn't the one you think Why Luke Skywalker’s best quote is all about redemption Alternative meanings to Luke Skywalker’s best quote Like Like follow Follow followed Followed Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap Since its 2018 debut, Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi has sparked heated debate over whether it was a fantastic or terrible Star Wars film for Luke Skywalker. Still, whatever your opinion, it’s hard to deny that Johnson’s take on the greatest Jedi ever came with some truly epic quotes. And no, we’re not talking about the zinger, “Amazing. Every word of what you just said was wrong.”
The Last Jedi gave us Luke Skywalker’s best quote, perfectly capturing the poignancy at the heart of a galaxy far, far away.
Luke has delivered plenty of incredible quotes throughout Star Wars’ 50-year history. Many fans consider his declaration to Emperor Palpatine — "I am a Jedi, like my father before me" — in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi his best. And they’re not wrong: it’s a phenomenal line that defines Luke’s identity as a Jedi. Still, it doesn’t quite seal the deal for us as his best.
That honor belongs instead to one of Luke’s most underrated moments: when he briefly projects his image through the Force on Ahch-To to comfort his sister Leia. During the exchange, Leia expresses deep sorrow that she’s lost her son Ben Solo, also known as Kylo Ren, to the Dark Side forever.
Lucasfilm Luke, bright-eyed and once again full of belief after his meeting with Rey, reassures her with this beautiful quote:
After so long in guilt and shame, Luke’s quote shows how far he's come since the beginning of The Last Jedi .
A string of words can sometimes reveal wisdom in a way we hadn’t considered before. This is especially meaningful in a franchise like Star Wars, where mythological forces such as the Force, the Jedi, and the Sith play a central role, and we, the audience, are eager to uncover answers to many of the galaxy’s major mysteries and themes.
Walt Disney Studios Redemption is a central theme in Star Wars. Across its films, TV shows, comics, novels, and even video games, one idea remains clear: anyone can be redeemed. Redemption looks different for each character, and what one character sees as redemption doesn’t necessarily align with what others feel or believe. For example, while Anakin Skywalker was redeemed in the eyes of his son, Luke, his role as Darth Vader and the destruction of Alderaan ensured that his daughter, Leia, didn’t share her brother’s feelings towards Anakin.
Regardless, Luke’s quote to Leia reassures her that no matter how much someone changes, who they were before is never entirely out of reach. As we learn from many Star Wars spin-off works, such as Han Solo: Hunt for the Falcon , Ben was kind and caring as a child, a far cry from the mass-murderer he became as a man.
Yet, just because the Ben Solo that Luke, Han Solo, and Leia knew growing up isn’t recognizable right now, doesn’t mean Ben is lost forever.
Image: Lucasfilm Ltd. Great quotes can also have multi…