We reflect on the funniest, wittiest and wisest quotes in honor of the late James Earl Jones, the "voice of God" and the man who brought to life some of Hollywood's most memorable characters
80 of James Earl Jones’s Most Famous Lines
Updated Sep. 12, 2024
Plenty of actors elicit emotion with their expressions, but few can deliver goosebumps with their voice alone. And no voice was as powerfully evocative—or iconic—as the deep, throaty rumble of James Earl Jones. While you may be most familiar with his Darth Vader quotes, Jones had a long and celebrated career.
He made his professional acting debut in 1957 with the Broadway play The Blackstone. In the more than six decades that followed, he was featured in well over 100 movies, television shows and stage productions. From the comedic King Jaffe Joffer in Coming to America to the serious Admiral Greer in the Jack Ryan movies to the poignant Reverend Kumalo in Cry, the Beloved Country, he played an astoundingly wide range of characters. That said, most people remember him as either Darth Vader, one of Hollywood’s most notorious villains, or Mufasa, one of Hollywood’s most beloved heroes.
So our hearts were broken when we heard Jones passed away on Sept. 9, 2024, at the age of 93. In his honor, we have collected our favorite quotes from his biggest movies, including some of the most memorable Field of Dreams, Lion King and Star Wars quotes. They’ll make you laugh and cry, inspire you, give you chills and maybe even prompt some deep thoughts about the meaning of life. We hope that as you read these, you’ll hear them in Jones’s “voice of God” timbre.
Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more quotes, humor, travel, tech and fun facts all week long.
Star Wars series (1977–2019)
Role: Voice of Darth Vader
The original Star Wars trilogy (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi) centers on Luke Skywalker, a young farm boy who ultimately saves the entire galaxy. Along the way, he finds a mentor in Jedi masters Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, learns how to use the Force and fights the dark Sith Lord Darth Vader (who, spoiler alert, turns out to be his dad).
Jones’s iconic voice of Darth Vader, perhaps Hollywood’s most notorious villain, was a huge part of what made the character so scary—and the movies so much fun to watch. And to fans’ delight, Jones voiced Vader not only in the original Star Wars trilogy but also in the prequel films and later Star Wars projects.
Read on for our favorite Darth Vader quotes. (And yes, they’re a million times better in Jones’s deep voice.)
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
- “I find your lack of faith disturbing.”
- “The Force is strong with this one.”
- “The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner; now I am the master.”
- “You are part of the Rebel Alliance and a traitor. Take her away!”
- “I’ve been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again at last.”
- “Don’t be too proud of this technological terror you’ve constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.”
- “If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.”
- “There’ll be no one to stop us this time.”
- “Your powers are weak, old man.”
- “I sense something, a presence I’ve not felt since …”
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
- “I am your father.” (Nope, it’s not “Luke, I am your father.” That’s a quote most people get wrong.)
- “You don’t know the power of the dark side.”
- “You have failed me for the last time, Admiral.”
- “I am altering the deal. Pray I don’t alter it any further.”
- “Apology accepted, Captain Needa.”
- “All too easy.”
- “We would be honored if you would join us.”
- “You have learned much, young one.”
- “Perhaps you think you’re being treated unfairly?”
- “You are beaten. It is useless to resist. Don’t let yourself be destroyed as Obi-Wan did.”
- “He will join us or die, my master.”
- “He is as clumsy as he is stupid.”
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
- “You have controlled your fear. Now, release your anger. Only your hatred can destroy me.”
- “The emperor is not as forgiving as I am.”
- “You underestimate the power of the dark side. If you will not fight, then you will meet your destiny.”
- “It is too late for me, son.”
- “There is no conflict.”
- “I see you have constructed a new lightsaber. Your skills are complete. Indeed, you are powerful, as the emperor has foreseen.”
- “Give yourself to the dark side. It is the only way you can save your friends.”
- “Luke, help me take this mask off. … Just for once, let me look on you with my own eyes.”
Other Star Wars films and TV shows
- “Be careful not to choke on your aspirations, Director.” (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)
- “I am what you made me.” (Obi-Wan Kenobi)
- “Your pain has just begun.” (Obi-Wan Kenobi)
- “You didn’t kill Anakin Skywalker. I did.” (Obi-Wan Kenobi)
- “The years have made you weak.” (Obi-Wan Kenobi)
- “Our long-awaited meeting has come at last.” (Star Wars: Rebels)
The Lion King (1994)
Role: Voice of Mufasa
This animated Disney film was a childhood staple for generations of kids. The story starts with King Mufasa, who’s preparing his son, Simba, to rule in his stead. Mufasa’s murder by his brother, Scar, is the catalyst that sends Simba on a journey, eventually leading him to save the pride and rule as the lion king.
Part of what made this movie so memorable was Jones’s masterful portrayal of Mufasa. We still tear up during the seminal “remember who you are” scene featuring Jones’s resonant, fatherly voice. It’s more proof that Jones was an expert in stoking our emotions, whether he was portraying an evil dark lord or virtuous lion king. “The best thing about acting is that you get to step into someone else’s shoes and see the world through their eyes,” Jones once said. “It’s an opportunity to explore different facets of human experience and to express something deep and meaningful.”
- “Remember who you are.”
- “Everything the light touches is our kingdom.”
- “I’m only brave when I have to be. Being brave doesn’t mean you go looking for trouble.”
- “While others search for what they can take, a true king searches for what he can give.”
- “Look at the stars. The great kings of the past look down on us from those stars.”
- “That hairball is my son. And your future king.”
- “You have forgotten who you are and so have forgotten me.”
- “Remember, Simba, you are more than what you have become.”
- “We are all connected in the great circle of life.”
- “Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance.”
- “Being king is more than getting your way all the time.”
Field of Dreams (1989)
Role: Terence Mann
Baseball lover Ray Kinsella is prompted by a mysterious voice—”If you build it, he will come,” it says—until he gives in and builds a baseball field in the middle of a cornfield. Soon, a fantastical team of dead baseball greats shows up to play. Jones plays Terence Mann, the reclusive writer who aids Kinsella in his quest. Mann’s speech, voiced by Jones, about the enduring magic of baseball is a highlight of the film.
- “People will come, Ray. They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up your driveway, not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past.”
- “This field, this game: It’s a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good and that could be again.”
- “Peace, love, dope. Now get the hell out of here.”
- “The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time.”
- “We just don’t recognize life’s most significant moments while they’re happening.”
The Hunt for Red October (1990)
Role: Admiral James Greer
In this Cold War thriller, based on Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan book series, Jones plays Admiral James Greer, the CIA’s gruff deputy director. He helps Ryan hunt down a Soviet nuclear submarine that is fast approaching America. The twist, Ryan discovers, is that the Soviet submarine captain is planning to defect rather than launch a nuclear attack—something he has to work hard to convince Greer of. (Spoiler: The crisis is averted.)
- “I’m a politician, which means I’m a cheat and a liar, and when I’m not kissing babies, I’m stealing their lollipops.”
- “Welcome to the CIA, sport.”
- “You think this is a game, Jack? People are going to die.”
- “He’s defecting, Jack. And if he isn’t, then I’ll kill him myself.”
- “Now understand, Commander—that torpedo did not self-destruct. You heard it hit the hull. And I … was never here.”
- “It’s a game of chess, Jack. It’s all about moves and countermoves.”
Patriot Games (1992)
Role: Admiral James Greer
Jones reprised his role of Greer in the next two Jack Ryan movies—Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger. In Patriot Games, Ryan inadvertently thwarts an assassination attempt on a British royal, making him the target of a group of Irish extremists. Greer’s wisdom and experience help save the day.
- “You don’t get a lot of chances to be a hero.”
- “I don’t think there’s much you could do to make the situation worse.”
- “It’s the same thing in Washington: You don’t get an answer unless you ask the right question.”
- “You know, you’re the first person to ever bring a problem to me that I couldn’t solve.”
- “It’s not as simple as just blowing up a car, Jack.”
- “I think you’ve had enough of your own brand of courage.”
- “Excuse me, Jack—tell me one thing in life that is absolutely for certain.”
Coming to America (1988) and Coming 2 America (2021)
Role: King Jaffe Joffer
In this comedy, Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) of the fictional African nation of Zamunda comes to New York City to find a woman who will fall in love with him for who he really is rather than the fact that he’s a prince. In disguise, he learns about American culture and finds love. Akeem’s exploits are a riot, but a good number of the laughs (and funny quotes) come courtesy of Jones’s character, Akeem’s father, King Jaffe Joffer.
- “Do not alert him to my presence. I shall deal with him myself.”
- “So you see, my son, there is a very fine line between love and nausea.”
- “You are a prince who has never tied his shoes. Believe me, I tied my own shoes once. It is an overrated experience.”
- “You have disgraced yourself, and you must be punished. You will confine yourself to our royal suite at the Waldorf Astoria.”
- “I’m more than the exalted ruler of this land and the master of all I survey. I’m also a concerned dad.”
- “So you want to sow your royal oats?”
- “Get out, see the world, enjoy yourself. Fulfill every erotic desire.”
- “From this day forth, anyone who throws roses at my son’s feet will answer to me.”
- “Now, you will be king, but the throne must pass to a male heir. Akeem, it appears you have a son.”
Cry, the Beloved Country (1995)
Role: Rev. Stephen Kumalo
Set in apartheid-era South Africa, this movie follows Stephen Kumalo, a rural South African priest portrayed by Jones. Kumalo travels to Johannesburg hoping to find his son and is instead confronted with the harsh realities of racism and social decline. He discovers his son has been charged with the murder of a White boy. Instead of seeking revenge, Kumalo builds a relationship with the murdered man’s father. The powerful film offers some of the most moving movie quotes on this list.
- “Here in my heart, there is nothing but fear, fear, fear.”
- “Who knows for what we live, and struggle, and die? Who knows what keeps us living and struggling, while all things break about us?”
- “It was my son that killed your son.”
- “Truth? But how can he have truth on his side and not God?”
- “This, the end of our lives, is beyond all human wisdom.”
- “This thing, that is the heaviest of all my years, is the heaviest of your years also.”
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experience where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. For this piece on James Earl Jones’s Darth Vader quotes and quotes from other films, we relied on film clips and verified quotes. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Originally Published: September 12, 2024
