Who Said It: Star Wars Vs. Star Trek?
- by Sosa Manuel
- – on
- in The Geek Corner
Ah, the age old debate... Star Wars or Star Trek? Which is the better franchise? I'm sure everyone has a point of view about this touchy subject, so I'm not touching that particular issue with a 50-foot-pole. I don't want to get on the bad side of trekkies or Star Wars junkies. I have something more interesting in mind... I've devised a quiz that brings together 50 of Star Wars and Star Trek's quotes. Some of these are obscure, some memorable, some bizarre, and some just plain stupid. Instead of debating which franchise is better, see if you can figure out whether each of these quotes came from Star Wars or Star Trek.
And at the end of the quiz, when you've examined all of the random things characters from both sides have said, perhaps you will finally understand which franchise is better. Some of these questions will be easy, while others will provide more of a challenge. And if you don't even care which franchise is better - we've got you covered. All of these quotes are designed to help you relive all the ridiculous moments of both series, and fill your heart with the fuzzy goodness of nostalgia.
“When 900 years old, you reach… Look as good, you will not.”
Most fans of BOTH Star Wars AND Star Trek will recognize this line. After all, it's pretty iconic. It was spoken by a an aging creature, and these words were some of this creature's last. This creature was a great master and a very wise man. Also, what might give it away is this person's slightly 'backwards' way of speaking - that is, he says things in a very strange order. Can you remember if this line was from Star Wars or Star Trek?
“Live long, and prosper.”
Another iconic line that probably both sets of fans will recognize. Even if you've never watched an single episode or movie from this franchise, you'll probably know where it's from. Again, this was spoken by a non-human entity, and funnily enough, this person was also quite old when they spoke these words. It's interesting how both Star Trek and Star Wars have invented different races of aliens, and then invent peculiarities when it comes to their communication. So - Star Wars or Star Trek?
“I changed the conditions of the test. I don’t like to lose.”
This one might be a little more tricky. Both sets of films have leaders, commanders, Jedi, whatever you want to call them. And both sets of leaders are usually extremely headstrong. They'll do whatever it takes to achieve victory. That's what makes this question a little tricky. Both leaders in Star Trek and Star Wars "don't like to lose." But this particular person "changed the conditions of the test." If this rings a bell, you'll probably know where this quote is from.
"What does God need with a starship?"
This one should be easy, at least if you know about the representation of religion in each franchise. In Star Wars, we know very little about religion. There may be some who believe in God, but the most prominent religion in the Star Trek universe is the Jedi religion and their belief in the Force - which I suppose is a God in many respects. On the other hand, the universe of Star Trek is very much our own. So where is this quote from?
"You don’t know how hard I found it, signing the order to terminate your life.”
This is another tricky question. Both sets of franchises have some pretty intense villains, and each of the would probably say something like this. In Star Wars, you of course have the Empire and everything they stand for. In Star Trek, there a wide range of alien races that are sometimes seen as enemies, from the Romulans to the Borg. But which set of villains is most suited to a quote like this? Answer this question, and you'll know where this quote is from.
“He’s holding a thermal detonator!”
Sometimes the one-liners are the best part of any movie. These are often the quotes that stick with you, rather than those long, winding monologues that don't actually seem to say anything of note. Often, these one-liners get turned into memes or are referenced in pop culture endlessly. I, for one, remembered instantly the exact moment from the correct franchise when I heard this quote, along with who said it. But did this ring a bell for you as well?
“Great, kid. Don’t get cocky”
There are some characters that take on a life of their own. You immediately know exactly who they are just by reading their lines, because they have their own special personality. Part of this is due to the writers, but a lot of it has to do with the actors as well. When they say their lines a particular way, we immediately get a sense of that character's personality and charm. So who said this iconic line? Was it from Star Wars or Star Trek?
"I am a doctor, not a brick layer."
Okay, everyone should get this line. Here's another iconic line from a very iconic character. Sometimes, certain lines become a running joke on the series they represent. Fans love it so much that the writers keep on adding it in to the franchise, adjusting it slightly every time. It becomes the trademark of the character, and by extension, the entire franchise. So if you can recognize the character behind this line, then you can recognize whether it's Star Wars or Star Trek...
"Treat her like a lady, and she’ll always bring you home."
Here's another quote that might well have appeared in either Star Wars or Star Trek. It might be hard to tell which, because both franchises do such a great job of bringing space down to Earth. What I mean by that is that they allow us to relate to life on a starship and what it's like to be in space. When someone says something like "Treat her like a lady, and she’ll always bring you home," we immediately think of a prized sportscar or yacht. So which franchise is this quote from?
"Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?"
Considering stormtroopers only appear in one of these franchises, this question should be pretty damn easy. But which one is it? If you can't remember, then this question might be tough, because both franchises have characters that use this flippant style of humor. Sarcasm is aplenty in Star Wars and Star Trek, and it does a pretty great job of making this alien, spaced out setting seem more human. But which franchise was this quote from? Star Wars or Star Trek?
"Why you stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf-herder!"
Whoever said this line was obviously very angry. And they were so angry in fact that they resorted to some pretty bad insults. A "Nerf-Herder" in one of these universes is pretty much the worst insult one can receive. It's never really explained what exactly nerfs are, but one can assume that they are lowly, disgusting creatures that only the dregs of society resort to herding for a paltry income. But which franchise is this devastating remark attributed to exactly?
“Lando’s not a system he’s a man!”
If you're familiar with the characters of each franchise, this shouldn't be too hard. After all, there aren't too many characters in each of the franchises. And one's such as Lando are extremely memorable. Lando himself is one of the most charismatic characters in either of the series, and he was a definite fan-favorite. But whoever confused Lando for a system shouldn't feel too embarrassed - Lando does sound like a star system, at least in my view. So where is this line from?
“Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, farm boy.”
This is another quote that should be pretty easy to identify. This is because there's really only one farm boy I can think of, and he quite clearly belongs in one of these two franchises. Also, I'm pretty sure only one franchise makes use of the word "hyperspace." But it can also be said that both franchises employ a "rags to riches" story, where the person who isn't going anywhere in life decides to go to space, and there discovers who he really is. Can you identify this quote?
"I’m a doctor, not an escalator."
Out of these two franchises, I think it's safe to say that one took itself a little less seriously. Sure, both of them used humor, but only one would use a line like this so repeatedly. Admittedly, the franchise that included this line "matured" a little in later iterations, and started to tone down the campy jokes such as this, but they were great while they lasted. Some say space SHOULD be taken very seriously. Who knows. The real question is whether you can identify this particular quote.
"There are four lights!"
A show like Star Wars or Star Trek is going to be prefect material for countless memes. These memes basically write themselves. There are so many weird, awkward, or just downright hilarious moments in each of these franchises. And these moments are just begging to be turned into memes. This quote is from a scene that was one of those moments. It was so strange, so bizarre, that it went down in history as one of the craziest moments ever. But which franchise is this from?
"Resistance is futile."
While we're on the subject of Star Wars vs Star Trek, we might as well discuss the potential fighting strength of each franchise's strongest warriors. The general consensus is that Star Trek has more advanced weaponry, given the fact that they have shields whereas Star Wars ships do not. And they also have some of the strongest enemies. The enemy who is famous for this line, for example, is one of the most feared out of any science fiction universe, let alone the one that it belongs in. So where is this quote from?
“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for...”
Okay, if you can't identify this quote, there's something seriously wrong with you. This one is basically a freebie. If you can't figure out whether this quote is from Star Wars or Star Trek, you must have had your head in the ground for the last 50 years. It's just that simple. This is probably one of the most iconic lines in all of science fiction, let alone within the franchise it belongs. So, hopefully you can identify this famous quote?
“If there's a bright centre to the universe, you're on the planet that it's farthest from.”
I think it's safe to say that both franchises had their moments. Although some of the lines spoken were a little awkward, both Star Wars and Star Trek has lines that are incredibly well-written. Take this one for example. It does a perfect job of putting your right in the scene with the other characters, and it almost makes you feel like you've been living on this planet along with the one who said this line for the last 5 years. So which franchise is this from?
“Don't call me a mindless philosopher, you overweight glob of grease.”
Here's another hilarious insult from one of these two incredible franchises. I really love the way even the most innocuous characters are able to hurl insults at each other, although perhaps one show is more famous for that than the other. This should give you a hint as to where this quote is from. All things aside, this is obviously an insult from someone who is prone to rambling on and on. Who could that be? Do you know which franchise this quote is from?
"Yeah. Well, I got nowhere else to go. The ex-wife took the whole damn planet in the divorce. All I got left is my bones."
Obviously this quote was said by someone who was incredibly bitter. It does a great job of establishing the character's personality and backstory in one fell swoop. We can immediately relate to this character, as he's going through problems we are familiar with here on present day Earth, which makes the sci-fi setting all the more easy to believe for the audience. And that really is the key to building a universe like that of Star Wars or Star Trek. So where is this line from?
"The only emotion I wish to convey is gratitude. Thank you, Ministers, for your consideration."
I'm going to go out on a limb on this one and give you a clue. This quote is from a modern movie. As in the last 5 or 6 years. If you've seen the movie where this quote comes from, you'll probably immediately be able to guess where it's from, as it was spoken during one of the most epic scenes in any of the franchise's history. It seems pretty innocent, but it's all about the way the character says it. So, can you identify who said this line, and where it's from?
“I find your lack of faith disturbing.”
This is another line which you should probably be able to identify. I mean, come on people. This is one of the most iconic lines in science fiction, period - never mind Star Wars or Star Trek. Again, this is a reference to religion within these two science fiction universes. It seems that even in the far future (or a long long time ago, in a galaxy far away), we still have debates about religion. But which universe is this quote from?
“Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end.”
As we have previously made clear, religion is a big part of both universes. But perhaps these are better described as ideologies rather than religions. For example, you have the warrior monks of the Jedi, who value a kind of zen focus similar to that of our Shaolin Monks. On the other hand, you have the logic-obsessed Vulcan society that rejects emotion in favor of reason. This quote refers to one of these ideologies. In which franchise does it belong?
"There's always a bigger fish."
One of the most interesting things about sci-fi settings is that it's possible to include a wide variety of different creatures. The sky is the limit when it comes to creating various alien monsters that the main characters have to fight. Both Star Wars and Star Trek do this well, but Star Wars tends to go a little bigger most of the time. They love to include larger-than-life creatures that make audiences gasp and revel over. That being said, is this quote from Star Wars or Star Trek?
“Everyone remember where we parked.”
Yes, this quote comes from one of these two franchises. And no, this isn't a trick question. Seriously. We all know that certain characters of both Star Wars and Star Trek are pretty huge jokers. Take Han Solo, for example. Always cracking those one-liners. But recently, Star Wars has some competition as far as dry humor goes. In the newer Star Trek films, James T. Kirk has also shown his ability to get some laughs. The question is, which joker said this line, and more importantly, which franchise does he belong in?
"General Grievous, you're shorter than I expected."
Whenever there's an actual character mentioned in the quote, it should be pretty easy to figure out whether it's from Star Wars or Stark Trek. That's why I've been trying not to include specific names of characters until now. But I figure a character like General Grievous is somewhat lesser known than the bigger characters from Star Wars and Star Trek. And obviously whoever was saying this line was being sarcastic... General Grievous is actually pretty tall. But who said this line?
“Lieutenant, you are looking at the only man to beat the no-win scenario.”
This one might be tough for some people... Until you realize a very important face. You see, only one of these franchises really mentions military ranks like these on a regular basis. So you have to ask yourself which franchise focuses on people in a strict military setting, and which focuses on a group of people in a more loosely organized, guerrilla style fighting force? If you can answer this question, you can answer the quiz question. So where's this quote from?
"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought."
Another key difference between Star Trek and Star Wars is the actual star ships. When you look at Star Wars spaceships, a lot of them (especially those owned by the rebels and the non-Empire characters) look pretty ramshackle. This is a stark contrast to the sleek, streamlined ships of the Star Trek federation. Knowing this, look at the quote once more and try to figure out which franchise this quote fits better with, especially considering that whoever is saying this is referring to a starship as "that thing."
"Laugh it up, Fuzz ball."
This kind of flippant comment can only be found in one of the two franchises. We've already established the origin of terms like "nerf herder," so attributing this quote shouldn't be too hard, given our previous knowledge. And can you think of any character that might be called a fuzz ball? There is one character that is incredibly hairy, and I think you all know who that is, and which franchise he's from. So where do you think this quote is from?
"Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1."
Only a robot could say a line like this. But unfortunately for all of you who are trying to ace this quiz, there are actually robots in Star Wars and Star Trek, which might make this question somewhat tricky. Of course, each franchise depicts robots in a different way. One of them imagines a world in which androids such as Data exist, almost completely human in appearance. Star Wars, on the other hand, imagines creations like C3-PO. So where is this quote from?
"Great shot kid, that was one in a million."
At first glance, this may seem like a hard quote to attribute to one particular franchise. It's obvious that this quote is referring to interstellar warfare, and the tricky thing to consider is that both Star Wars and Star Trek both involve lots of this. But while one series involves a much more frantic, action-oriented type of ship-to-ship combat, the other is much more calm and calculated, not to mention the fact that they don't actually have to aim their weapons manually. So where's this quote from?
“I’ve done far worse than kill you. …I’ve hurt you; and I intend to go on… hurting you. I will leave you as you left me; as you left her. Marooned for all eternity at the center of a dead planet. …Buried alive; buried alive….”
This long-winded monologue is probably one of the hardest quotes in this quiz to attribute to a particular franchise. At first glance, it might belong in either of the two franchises. After all, there are monologues in both Star Wars and Star Trek. But one of these franchises is much more action-oriented, and tends to get straight to the point most of the time when it comes to dialogue. With that in mind, where do you think this quote belongs?
"There is good in him. I've felt it."
This is another interesting quote from either Star Wars or Star Trek, and it should be easy to attribute to the right franchise, at least for those who have a basic knowledge of both the Star Trek and the Star Wars universe. If you can't figure it out, think about which franchise places a larger emphasis on feeling and intuition. Because that's what the quote is referring to. The other franchise places more emphasis on reason and logic. So where is this quote from?
“But good words; that’s where ideas begin. …Maybe you should listen to them.”
This is probably one of the toughest questions on this quiz. Unless of course, you are a true fan of the franchise where this quote belongs. Each franchise involves people coming up with elaborate plans to overcome insurmountable odds, and that's what this quote is referring to: The art of hatching a good plan. Just when all seems lost, we realize that we have what it takes to defeat evil. That's the general gist of most plots. But where does this quote belong?
"You may dispense with the pleasantries, Commander. I am here to put you back on schedule."
It's clear that whoever said this had no time for pleasantries. His only purpose was to put them back on schedule. All kidding aside, it's pretty obvious there's a strict military hierarchy in the universe where this quote belongs. But that's where we run into trouble. Because both universes involve a military hierarchy of sorts, although one is stricter and is evil, where the other is a system that the protagonists follow. Use your judgement. Where does this quote belong?
“Don’t tell me — you’re from outer space.” “…No, I’m from Iowa. I only work in space.”
This quote should be easy to identify for anyone with a somewhat logical brain. After all, only one of these franchises even takes place in a galaxy where Earth exists, and Iowa is of course a location on Earth. In fact, Earth is the home world of the protagonists of the franchise where this quote belongs, just like us. So it should be pretty easy to put this quote in the right slot as far as these two franchises go. Can you guess which one?
"Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force."
Here's another quote that mentions something that only exists in one franchise. Because of this, it should be pretty easy for you to identify it as belonging to the correct one. This quote of course discusses the belief surrounding death and rebirth, which is thoroughly explored in one particular franchise. In this franchise, many people, often protagonists, lose their lives in the battle against evil. It's because of these many deaths that it's necessary to address death directly. So where does this quote belong?
“Please let me know if there’s some other way we can screw up tonight.”
This quote is totally, inescapably, human. There's no other way around it. Only an average person like you or I would say something like this, and the fact that it appears in the futuristic confines of space is just hilarious. But the problem is that both franchises make use of this type of natural, free-flowing dialogue. So this is a question that might be difficult to crack. But maybe you remember the exact scene this quote is from. If not, go out on a limb and guess where this quote belongs.
“To boldly go where no man — where no one — has gone… before.”
Okay, this one should be super, super easy. It's basically a free question. You're welcome. At least... I think it's easy... I mean, everyone in the civilized world MUST have heard this quote at least once in their life... Right? Maybe you didn't know where it was from... But you should at least be familiar with it. It's the same quote that's played at the beginning of almost every iteration of the franchise from which this quote belongs. Can you guess what it is?
“Yousa thinking yousa people ganna die?”
This is one quote of many from a particular character that prompts a collective groan out of sci-fi fans whenever he opens his stupid mouth. He was quite possibly the worst addition to any movie, ever. I think the director revealed something about appealing more to children, but whatever he was trying to do with this character, it fell flat on its face. It's obviously pretty easy to figure out this character's personality from the way it talks. But do you know which franchise this is from?
“I don’t like sand. It’s coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere.”
Another quote from one of these two franchises that was not very well received at all. When you see it on paper, it looks just as bad as it sounds. I'm not quite sure what the writers were thinking when they came up with this line, but obviously it did not go down well. And it wasn't even the actor's fault - at all. There is no way you can make a line like this NOT sound cringy as hell. But where's this quote from?
“I’ve been wondering… what are midi-chlorians?”
This is another quote that shouldn't be too much of a challenge for most people. This is due to the fact that it mentions a piece of lore that is only present in one of these two franchises. So, what are 'midi-chlorians?' (By the way, I know that's spelled wrong, it was written to reflect the way the actor pronounced [or mispronounced] the word). 'Midi-chlorians' are the things that make all of the wonderful things possible in one of these franchises. But which one is it?
“Could you please continue the petty bickering? I find it most intriguing.”
Who could find bickering intriguing? A very interesting character, that's who. And there are interesting characters in both Star Wars and Star Trek, so this is not too easy of a question to answer. I'll give you a hint - the person saying this line is not being sarcastic - he genuinely finds bickering intriguing. Such a person would probably find the social behavior of all humans very interesting. Can you think of a character that fits the bill? Moreover, can you think of the franchise in which that character belongs?
“Now this is pod racing!”
Another infamous lines from an often criticized iteration of one of these two fine franchises. In fact, it's another line which was turned into a meme, and rose to the top echelons of memedom, finding its place as one of the most well-known memes of all time. Of course, the exposure this quote got from being turned into a meme isn't the only thing that makes this an easy question to answer. Only one of these franchises even included pod-racing. Which one was it?
“So this is how liberty dies… with thunderous applause.”
A slightly more difficult question, and one that reeks of political commentary. Was the writer trying to make a statement about our current political system? Or was it just a really cool line that they thought of one day? Perhaps we shall never know. What's sure is that this became one of the more famous lines from one of these two mighty franchises. But both Star Wars and Star Trek involved politically centered storylines. So which one used this particular line?
"But I Was Gonna Go To Toschi Station To Pick Up Some Power Converters!"
Another hilarious line that will probably live on for as long as science fiction is being created. This line has been referenced, ridiculed, and celebrated ever since it was first spoken. Ever since people heard this, they asked themselves many questions: Where and what exactly is Toschi Station? What's so important about power converters? They don't sound too exciting. But it's the way the character says it that makes this funnier than expected. The question remains: Where is this quote from?
"Get the cheese to sickbay."
Another line which has lived on for many years, thanks to the chuckles of fans on internet forums compiling lists of the worst and funniest lines from this particular franchise. I actually don't even remember why this was even said. But it's pretty obvious on close inspection which franchise this line belongs to, given the fact that sick bays are only mentioned in one particular franchise. If you can stop yourself from laughing, this shouldn't be a hard question to answer.
“Would you object to your Captain ordering a clearly illegal kidnapping?”
Now this one might give you some trouble. Those intent on acing this quiz will have to think long and hard over this one. This is because captains of ships in both Star Wars and Star Trek are observed doing things that are immoral for the greater good. These types of questions are asked not only to the other characters, but to the audience themselves. Is is acceptable to kidnap someone to defeat evil? Maybe. But the real question is which franchise this quote belongs to.
“…It is only natural. He cut off your arm, and you wanted revenge.”
Ignore the picture. It will only confuse you and make your brain hurt if you stare too long. Now, onto the quote. Clearly this quote is referring to a sequence of events that ended in a character losing a limb. This should be ringing alarm bells for you. Because between Star Wars and Star Trek, A LOT more limbs are lost in one of those two franchises, almost to a comical degree. So which of these two franchises is responsible for this line?
“There was no father. I carried him, I gave birth, I raised him. I can’t explain what happened.”
This line always kind of annoyed me. It's an attempt to explain the obvious lack of a father figure for one of the most important characters in one of these two franchises. But to me, it always seemed kind of half-hearted. As in, the writers couldn't be bothered to make up a backstory, and so they included this throwaway line. It's lines like these that caused so much hate towards one particular franchise. Oops. Have I given the answer away?