Hayden Christensen's turn as Darth Vader and Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars character of all time. He is a tragic and complex individual with so much to his character, much of which can be summed up by many of his great quotes over the years.
Whether exemplifying what he is all about, vocalizing his struggles or simply being summations of his character and journey, Anakin has many quotes that capture who he is.
"Does This Always Happen To You?"
"Everywhere I Go."
The Clone Wars movie may not be the greatest piece of Star Wars ever, but it did kick off Ahsoka's time in the saga, and with Anakin, who she learns a lot from in this short time, including what she is getting into by being his Padawan.
Anakin is not lying when he says this kind of trouble follows him everywhere. He always finds himself in sticky situations, from being captured by enemies to being in time-sensitive life or death predicaments, whether by his own accord or pure bad luck. From this point on, Ahsoka would him on these risky adventures, and it is a joy to watch.
Laughing In The Face Of Threat
"General Grievous, You're Shorter Than I Expected."
Throughout the prequel era and the Clone Wars, Anakin faces various enemies ranging from incompetent tactical thinking villains to imposing figures like Grievous. He fears none of them. Instead, there is an air of arrogance in his encounters with them.
This quote comes in Anakin's first meeting with Grievous after avoiding each other for the entirety of the Clone Wars and is typical of Anakin. Unmoved by Grievous' intimidating presence while also confident in his abilities, Anakin is not above sass and petty insults; fans love him for it.
Unable To Control Himself
"I Know I Went Too Far. It's Just... It's Just Something Inside Of Me Snapped."
Anakin's internal struggle with his own emotions is a vital part of his story pre-Vader, and on multiple occasions, he lets his inner darkness burst through, such as when he beats Clovis to a pulp in the arguably underrated Clovis banking arc.
Anakin told Pé about when he slaughtered the Sand People, but this is different; this line vocalizes that inner battle that is constantly raging on within Anakin as he fights back his dangerous emotional urges in favor of the Jedi Code and a cool head. This also showcases how ionate and worked-up Anakin gets about Pé - and all those individuals he cares for - which is a crucial tool at the disposal of Sidious when it comes to seducing the young Jedi.
No Problem At All
"There's Only A Thousand Droids Down There, Tops."
Anakin may not have been involved in much of the Siege of Mandalore arc. Still, he is utterly fantastic when he does appear, shining with confidence/arrogance at the beginning during the Battle of Yerbanna, where he helps Obi-Wan and his troop.
This quip is not only indicative of Anakin's well-earned confidence in taking on battle droids but also shows the fun he takes when it comes to being in on the action, fighting in battles. Most Jedi take no joy in it, yet when it comes to taking out clankers, perhaps only clones enjoy it more than Anakin.
Neverending Struggle
"The Only Love I Feel In My Heart Is Haunted By What Would Happen, Should I Let Go."
The Mortis arc is one of the most fascinating looks into the Force and the idea of the Chosen One - they are also arguably three of the best episodes of The Clone Wars. The arc has an appearance from Shmi Skywalker, which proves an emotional affair from Anakin.
This is a perhaps over-the-top, wonderfully dramatic line but is still one that summarizes the emotional struggle of Anakin, who so ionately cares for and adores his friends and family, constantly haunted by the idea of losing them. What makes it even worse is that he loses so many of them, which only furthers his paranoia in the future.
Blaming Himself
"I Should've Paid Attention. I Should've Tried Harder. I…"
Anakin put a lot of pressure on himself to do well. This could be as a Jedi, as a Jedi Padawan, as a son, as a protector, and as a Jedi Master, blaming himself whenever the slightest hitch arose with Ahsoka, such as when Trandoshans capture her.
While Ahsoka quickly quenches Anakin's initial apologies and guilt with her own typically amazing quote, this line still represents an unnecessary responsibility Anakin placed on his shoulders throughout his life. Whether it be to Pé, Shmi, Ahsoka, Artoo, or Obi-Wan, Anakin always wanted to be the savior, both when one was needed and when it was not, something that proved vital in his downfall.
His Love For Pé
"To Me, There Is Nothing More Important Than The Way I Feel About You."
There are few aspects of Anakin's character, nor his story, as essential as his relationships with others, in particular Pé, who is not only his wife but a catalyst for his emotional struggle and questioning of his place in the Jedi Order.
He is utterly devoted to Pé, which creates friction with the part of him dedicated to the Jedi Order. While not always showcased in the best ways, Anakin's undying love for Pé adds so much to his tragedy, and they are often a joy to watch as the most critical relationship in Star Wars. Even Vader, in all of his hate and anger, could not let go of her memory.
The Simple Things
"Life Seems So Much Simpler When You're Fixing Things."
The dialogue in Attack of the Clones is so often lambasted and made fun of. Still, some lines in there genuinely reflect their characters, including this fleeting comment which comes moments before Anakin its his slaughtering of the Sand People to Pé.
In The Clone Wars and extended canon such as Brotherhood, Anakin can be shown having simple pleasures he uses to cope and deal with the stresses of everyday life, such as pod races or, as he says here, fixing things. It is an important yet often underappreciated aspect of the character that makes him even more relatable as he looks for those escapes. On top of that, it showcases Anakin's intelligence and skill, as he is pretty incredible with mechanics, fixing things, and also using them.
Ahsoka's Memories
"He Was Powerful, Rarely Lost A Battle, What Would Have Surprised People Was How Kind He Was, He Caared Deeply About His Friends And Looked Out For Them Until The End."
This is not a quote from Anakin, but rather from his Padawan and little sister Ahsoka Tano, long after he fell to become Darth Vader. While, at this point, she did not know his fate, this is an excellent summation of who Anakin was at his best.
Anakin will always be known as a mighty, powerful, intelligent warrior who led troops from the front and won battle after battle throughout The Clone Wars, saving countless lives. But, he was also kind. While his love for others gets the better of him sometimes, it is hard to look at him as a fan and see him as a bad person for being wholly devoted and caring for those he loves - until he becomes Vader, of course.
Constantly Questioning His Place
"I Understand. More Than You Realize I Understand Wanting To Walk Away From The Order."
Ahsoka Tano leaving the Jedi Order was heartbreaking for so many reasons, not least of all Anakin confessing his struggle with wanting to leave the Jedi Order, something that pretty much sums up the tragedy of his story.
