Clone Wars: 15 Best Quotes From The Opening Crawls

As the realm of Jedi, lightsabers, and the Force, the Star Wars universe is absolutely stuffed with wise mentors and their teachings. But, while Master Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi might be the best teachers in the galaxy, there is truly something to be said about the wisdom found in The Clone Wars series.

The characters in the series can provide applicable lessons and morals, but the quotes from the opening of each episode hit viewers on a more philosophical level. Some are a bit on the nose, and others are a bit cliche, but many just say it all.

Updated on February 18th, 2022, by Rhys McGinley: The Clone Wars is widely regarded as the best Star Wars TV show out there, and through its cast of incredible characters, it has some of the greatest Star Wars quotes ever. Some of the best Clone Wars quotes do not come from the characters, rather from the opening crawls that come before most episodes.

These crawls often contain inspirational or wise messages that have a thematic tie to the episode, and so many of them stand out to fans as not only awesome Clone Wars quotes, but great nuggets of wisdom.

The Cost Of War

“The Cost Of War Can Never Truly Be Accounted For.”

One of the big things that The Clone Wars and Star Wars in general does is show the abhorrence of war, and how it has such disastrous effects not only for those fighting in it but the civilians of the Galaxy.

This crawl comes during season 1’s Ryloth arc, a planet caught in the middle of the war, where many people lose their lives. The number of deaths in the war as well as the emotional and psychological toll it took on millions can never be truly understood, nor can it ever get underestimated.

A Spark To Light The Fire

“A Single Chance Is A Galaxy Of Hope.”

This opening quote, which comes at the beginning of the episode “Mystery Of A Thousand Moons” is a line that perfectly encapsulates some of Star Wars’ most iconic moments, moments that gave the Galaxy hope in the face of pure evil and tyranny.

Luke had one shot to destroy the first Death Star, and that one chance gave the Galaxy hope that the Empire would be defeated. Luke sacrificed himself to give a sliver of the Resistance a chance to save the Galaxy from the First Order. Moments like these sum up the idea of hope that Star Wars puts forth. All that is needed to inspire hope is a single chance.

Accept The Differences Of Others

“Embrace Others For Their Differences For That Makes You Whole.”

The Bad Batch arc of The Clone Wars’ seventh season deals a lot with the individuality of clones as well as the differences between individuals, shown through Echo and Clone Force 99. This opening crawl connects excellently to this theme while also offering sage advice.

People should not be shunned for being different. Rex did not abandon Echo just because he had been turned into part machine, he still loved his brother and encouraged him to go join Clone Force 99 where he felt he belonged. People should not be criticized or looked down on for who they are, for their differences, and this simple quote puts that message across.

Keep Moving Forward

“Never Give Up Hope, No Matter How Dark Things Seem.”

The end of season 5 arc, in which Ahsoka gets framed for murder and leaves the Jedi Order, is one of the most heartbreaking stories told in Star Wars but is one full of important lessons including this.

Ahsoka, no matter what happened, no matter what others believed, no matter how much she got let down by Jedi not named Anakin, never gave up. She knew her truth and fought for it, even when the situation was wholly hopeless. It is a great inspirational quote for audiences and characters alike and connects wonderfully to Ahsoka’s story – as well as doing a lot to improve Anakin’s downfall in the prequel trilogy.

Loyalty Is Earned

“The First Step Towards Loyalty Is Trust.”

The Umbara arc is one of The Clone Wars’ best stories, not just for its incredible action and story, but for the exploration into clones it provides audiences, and how it delves into their individuality. The arc, and the show overall, massively improve the prequel trilogy with their look into the clones

This opening crawl quote ties well into that, as just because they are soldiers bred for war does not mean they are not people, and it does not mean they should hold blind loyalty to those who treat them as numbers, such as Krell. As anyone would expect, trust comes before loyalty, and trust has to be earned, like Anakin, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan, Plo Koon, etc, did with their troops.

The Value Of Truth

“Truth Enlightens The Mind, But Won’t Always Bring Happiness To Your Heart.”

When there is a traitor amongst the clones in Anakin and Obi-Wan’s troop, friends and brothers have to question their own comrades to find the spy and save the mission. A betrayal of any level is awful, but the loss of a friend is just salt in a bleeding wound.

There’s a saying that the truth isn’t always pretty, and this quote only expands on the maxim by including ramifications of learning it. Both the Jedi and the clones are certainly warier of their company after this reveal.

Learning Is Earning

“A Lesson Learned Is A Lesson Earned.”

A better way to put this line might be “a lesson learned is better than one told.” Whether that means learning from a mistake, consequences, or fallout, it’s one that’s better retained and applied in the future.

After an encounter almost costs Ahsoka and her troops their lives, the young padawan learns the risks of an over-confident attack. When she learns from her mistakes is she able to defend against Cad Bane and his minions in one of the bounty hunter’s best episodes.

It Is Important To Put Pride Aside, Sometimes

“Sometimes Accepting Help Is Harder Than Offering It.”

This is one nugget of Jedi wisdom that applies to nearly everyone across the board no matter what planet they call home. As powerful and respected as Master Luminara is, she is still prone to danger when outnumbered by zombified Geonotians.

Needing help is not a sign of weakness, but it isn’t always easy to admit when it’s needed. Going after one enemy agent might seem easy for a Jedi, but, when the numbers are greatly stacked against them, it might be time to even the odds with reinforcements.

Choosing The Right Path No Matter The Difficulty

“Easy Isn’t Always Simple.”

A better phrase might be “the easy way isn’t always the right way,” but the meaning still remains the same. When Ahsoka’s lightsaber is stolen by a pickpocket on Coruscant, she is given a choice: either tell her master that her most valuable tool was lost, or take action and find it herself.

It would be easy to concede defeat and face those consequences, but it would be easier to keep her honor intact by going after the thief herself. It certainly wins her favor with Master Yoda at the end.

Learn From The Past

“Ignore The Past And You Jeopardize The Future.”

History repeats itself, as the saying goes, and Duchess Satine learns that Mandalorians are awfully hard to defeat. Even with the aid of Master Kenobi, she still falls prey to an old enemy.

So far, viewers have been taught about learning from past mistakes and accepting help when needed, and now the duchess must learn that those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it. Her continuous neutrality proves to be a flaw even after learning of the plot between the Mandalorians and the Separatists.

A Crucial Trick For Surviving

“Adaptation Is The Key To Survival.”

Improvise, adapt, overcome, these are skills that Ahsoka Tano proves to have in the episode, “The Citadel.” As the young Jedi and her squad of troopers must infiltrate an Imperial prison to rescue General Piel, all of them are forced to think on their feet as they become trapped in the titular fortress.

Learn fast or die is the message in this quote, and, while that might seem a tad abrasive for Jedi wisdom, it’s nevertheless true. A Jedi must be prepared for all outcomes, after all.

Nobody Is Born Evil

“Evil Is Not Born, It Is Taught.”

Clone Wars episode aside, this can be said of any villain in or out of the Star Wars universe. Does anyone really choose to be evil?  The short answer is no, but it all boils down to their choices and environment.

The quote above is clearly referencing the rise of Darth Vader and how tragic of a character Anakin is, but even characters like Voldemort, Scar, and Loki did not seek out their path of evil – at first. Not only is the phrase a cautionary one, but it reinforces the idea that not everything is so black and white.

Struggles Strengthen People

“Only Through Fire Is A Strong Sword Forged.”

Winston Churchill once said, “if you’re going through Hell, keep going.” As fire makes the sword, so does battle improve a great army. Although Riff Tamson is given an imposing amount of droid soldiers, there’s a reason the Great Gungan Army bears its namesake.

Wars are not won by numbers alone, and the battle in the “Gungan Attack” episode absolutely rolls the waters in its fury. Simply put, struggles make people stronger, and even an army of battle droids can fall to frogmen.

Respect Both The Past And The Future

“Learn From The Past But Live For The Future.”

There’s something very ‘Hakuna Matata’ about this phrase. To take a page from Timon, “Ya gotta put your past behind ya.”

A lot of wisdom from these crawls deals with learning from the past, but there is nothing wrong with living for tomorrow, either. Dwelling on the past can blind one to the future, and, since Jedi need to be in tune with both, it does not serve well to fixate on what has come before.

How To Have True Belief

“Belief Is Not A Matter Of Choice, But Of Conviction.”

If there is one thing that perfectly captures the belief in the Force or the divine, it’s this quote right here. Acceptance is a choice, but belief stretches into something further than that.

Trusting in the Force is not just accepting it by will alone, it’s knowing that it is the energy and element that binds the universe together. All in all, it boils down to the realization that there is something bigger than just oneself.

About The Author