Star Wars: Anakin Skywalker’s 10 Most Sinister Pre-Vader Quotes

Seeing Anakin and Ahsoka training together again in Tales of the Jedi is a bittersweet watch. It is fantastic to see them together, but it is hard to watch knowing what happens to them when Anakin falls to the dark side. That fall is not sudden, it is teased and built up for years of his life, and there are many moments in his life when he showcases his inner darkness.

As well as some brutal moments, Anakin has many sinister quotes before his transformation into Darth Vader, many of them coming in The Clone Wars and all of them further foreshadowing the tragic fall of a once great Star Warshero.

“If It Were Up To Me, I’d Kill You Right Here.”

The Clone Wars, 4.15 ‘Deception’

Just because a line or moment from Anakin is sinister and even bordering on evil does not mean his feelings are not sometimes justified. His anger when arresting Rako Hardeen for the ‘murder’ of Obi-Wan is one such moment.

Luckily for Rako, Anakin held the memory of Obi-Wan close enough so as not to murder the criminal. Still, the delivery of this line and the belief instilled in audiences that Anakin could murder the man make this one of his most sinister pre-Vader quotes.

“I Know I Went Too Far; It’s Just… It’s Just Something Inside Me Snapped.”

The Clone Wars, 6.06 ‘The Rise Of Clovis’

The fact that Anakin can recognize that he has done wrong, that something inside him did snap, can be considered a good thing. Whether he acknowledges it or not, though, the baleful darkness within Anakin remains a sinister beast.

It is understandable why he attacked Clovis, but Anakin nearly murdered the politician with his bare hands, an unforgivable act that shows the depth of Anakin’s emotional fragility. He is almost sympathetic in this quote, given that he genuinely seems not to understand his own emotions. That lack of comprehension itself, though, is scary, as it could (and did) lead to much more violence and hurt. What is extra painful about this is that Anakin could have used this as a turning point to be more conscious about his inner darkness and potentially turn away from the dark side path.

“Zygerrian Scum! I’ll Handle That Slaver.”

The Clone Wars, 4.11 ‘Kidnapped’

Anakin’s childhood in slavery is one of the most tragic elements of his character, so it is hard to blame him for becoming heated at the sight of Zygerrians. Nevertheless, the intent and fury here are further showcases of his deep-rooted emotional issues.

The fact that the Imperial March plays ominously behind this moment only adds to the sinister feel of the moment. On top of that, Anakin sounds as though he wants to go and murder the Zygerrian rather than figure out the location and safety status of the Togruta people, highlighting that violent streak that would rear its ugly head time and time again.

“Mercy Doesn’t Defeat An Enemy, Master. Which Is Why You’re Gonna Lose.”

Obi-Wan Kenobi, ‘Part V’

One of the most pleasant surprises of Obi-Wan Kenobi was the flashback scenes in episode 5, which saw Anakin in a training battle with Obi-Wan, where he says this line, highlighting his penchant for brutality once again.

Mercy is a virtue Jedi do and should try to show in most situations, even with the evilest of enemies. Anakin’s disregard for it, even in this training situation, is worrying as it shows his willingness to defeat enemies however necessary, even by sinister and overly-violent means.

“He’s Jealous, He’s Holding Me Back!”

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack Of The Clones (2002)

Attack of the Clones may be known for its cringe dialogue, but it should also be remembered for the crucial emotional volatility of Anakin that led to many great and sinister pre-Vader quotes.

One such line is this spoken about Obi-Wan. The way Anakin can spit such cruel allegations out about someone he truly loves is a brilliant way of displaying how overcome by rage he could and how he often struggled to control his inner darkness and emotion, which ultimately helped lead to his downfall.

“What? He Was Going To Blow Up The Ship.”

The Clone Wars, 2.13 ‘Voyage of Temptation’

While Anakin could often be scary in his anger or how upset he could get, sometimes he was at his most sinister (especially through hindsight) when he was not angry at all. The perfect example is when he kills Tal Merrik.

Anakin kills Merrik with ease rather than attempting to disarm him, and his “What?” indicates that he sees nothing wrong with that. Anakin was right to stop Merrik, but the ease with which he does so and the lack of care at taking a life can be seen as one of his most sinister pre-Vader moments.

“Mind Tricks? I Don’t Need Mind Tricks To Get You To Talk.”

The Clone Wars, 2.08 ‘Brain Invaders’

When those he loved – such as Obi-Wan, Padmé, Ahsoka, Artoo, etc. – were hurt or in danger, Anakin became a different animal, displaying an alarming ferocity that foreshadowed his fall to the dark side. His interrogation of Poggle the Lesser is one such moment.

It is another moment haunted by notes of the Imperial March, and everything from Anakin’s purposeful walk to his “leave us” to the clones inspires dread. This line, broken up by a punch to Poggle’s face, is one of his scariest, partially because it is spoken almost with swagger rather than overwhelming anger and partly because Anakin is willing to do anything to extract information from the Geonosian.

“One Day I Will Become The Greatest Jedi Ever. I Will Even Learn How To Stop People From Dying.”

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack Of The Clones (2002)

Anakin’s more significant goals/crippling fears of saving those he loves from dying do come from a place of not just fear but love; however, that does not stop him from being menacing when speaking about them.

The ambition that goes hand-in-hand with his quest to defy death in this quote is the truly sinister part. His need to be great and better than everyone else to achieve his goals goes against the Jedi way of things. Anakin did have a good heart, but it was buried under fear which decayed and turned into hatred, anger, and entitlement, which came spewing out of him at this moment.

“I Don’t Have Such Weaknesses.”

The Clone Wars, 7.04 ‘Unfinished Business’

The seventh season of The Clone Wars was a visually stunning affair that saw Anakin brought closer to his Revenge of the Sith look. That went a step further by having him closer to the dark side in his brutal killing of Admiral Trench.

The word choice here is the sinister aspect of it all – “Weakness.” To call mercy, kindness, legal/proper ways of keeping the peace, and being a Jedi a weakness is quite a thing and shows just how close to the edge Anakin was. He is a Jedi who does not generally follow the rules, but this was too far. It was as if he saw himself above those things. To follow this quote up by murdering Trench made it all the more harrowing.

“I Killed Them. I Killed Them All.”

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack Of The Clones (2002)

Anakin does a handful of bad things before his fall to Darth Vader. Still, arguably the worst and most unforgivable was the remorseless slaughter of the Sand People villagers who captured his mother.

The act itself was horrifying, and this quote is a constant, painful reminder of what this young man could do. It is the prime example of Anakin being blinded by his own uncontrollable emotions. Knowing what he would go on to do as Darth Vader, the atrocities he would perform make everything to do with his slaughter of the Tusken Raiders all the more sinister.

NEXT: 10 Jedi Who Don’t Play By The Rules