If A New Hope ignited the spark, then The Empire Strikes Back was the conflagration. The second installment of the original Star Wars trilogy, released in 1980 and directed by Irvin Kershner, took everything deeper — the story, the emotions, the galaxy. It’s darker, more personal and stuffed with some of the most iconic lines in movie history.
This is the episode that gave us that twist, brought Yoda into the mix and demonstrated that Darth Vader isn’t just the bad guy — and it is this moment. If you’re searching for the most memorable Empire Strikes Back quotes, muscle you may feel here you may run through another wall — oh, and you’re in the right galaxy. The movie itself can be viewed on platforms like Disney Plus or 123 movies alternatives.
Here are the 15 lines that helped make Episode V the crown jewel of the saga.
- Darth Vader: “No… I am your father.”
- Yoda: “Do or do not. There is no try.”
- Han Solo: “I know.”
- Leia: “I love you.”
- Yoda: “Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you?”
- Darth Vader: “You have learned much, young one.”
- Yoda: “Always in motion is the future.”
- Han Solo: “Then I’ll see you in hell!”
- C-3PO: “Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!”
- Leia: “You stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder!”
- Han Solo: “Laugh it up, fuzzball.”
- Lando Calrissian: “This deal is getting worse all the time.”
- Darth Vader: “We would be honored… if you would join us.”
- Luke Skywalker: “I won’t turn. I’m a Jedi, like my father before me.”
- Yoda: “That is why you fail.”
The Empire Strikes Back did not need fan service — it became the fan service. These Star Wars quotes aren’t just great — they’re essential. They influenced how we speak of the Force, fate and what it means to fight for something larger than yourself.
Whether you’re cursing Darth Vader, soaking up the wisdom of Yoda or power-walking through gnarly feelings between Han and Leia, these Empire Strikes Back quotes are why this movie still hits harder than a Star Destroyer.
