‘The Greatest Teacher, Failure Is’: George Lucas Reveals Why Yoda Talks the Way He Does
The wise green Jedi master shared his knowledge throughout the iconic ‘Star Wars’ films
Socrates and Aristotle? Star Wars fans might argue that these famous philosophers of days gone by hardly compare to the small, green Jedi master Yoda, who has spread his knowledge and wisdom over countless films within the franchise. Aside from his distinct appearance, Yoda is also known for his unique style of speaking, in which the phrases he says are almost spoken backwards. “The greatest teacher, failure is,” said the character in 2017’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi. “Always in motion, is the future,” he remarked in Star Wars—Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980).
While it might just seem like a character quirk, Star Wars creator George Lucas recently revealed the inspiration behind Yoda’s unique way of speaking. Attending the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival, where they screened Star Wars—Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) in honor of its 45th anniversary, Lucas shared that Yoda’s vernacular was a deliberate choice that allowed for his dialogue to stand out amongst others.
“Yoda had a very distinctive way of talking, and it was done purposely because if you were speaking regular English, people don’t listen that much,” Lucas shared at the event. “But if you have an accent, or it’s really hard to understand what he’s saying, they focus on what he’s saying.” Being that he was something of a philosopher in the films, “talking about all the things,” the franchise creator explained that he “had to figure out a way to get people to actually listen, especially 12-year-olds.”
While Lucas was looking out for his prime audience, it’s safe to say that the Star Wars films have resonated with those beyond just that age demographic.
The story behind Yoda
Small in size, Yoda’s stature is subsidized by his power and knowledge as a Jedi master who has trained for hundreds of years. When the character was first introduced, Yoda appeared on-screen as a puppet, but as the years went on, he gradually transitioned into CGI.
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George Lucas remained committed to the ‘Star Wars’ cause
At first, Lucas lacked the support from the studio he was hoping for, explaining how they were hesitant to agree to the terms he had drafted. “I said, ‘I’ll do it for $50,000, to write and direct and produce…But I do want the sequels.’ And I wanted the rights because I’m going to make those movies no matter what happens to this one,” he explained. Another aspect of his proposal that he was keen on was licensing. “I said, ‘besides that, I’d like licensing.’ They went, ‘What’s licensing?’” He continued, “They talked to themselves, and they went, ‘He’s never going to be able to do that. It takes them a billion dollars and a year to make a toy or make anything. There’s no money in that at all.’” Luckily, Lucas had the foresight to know what the future could hold for his vision, and today, Star Wars has exploded into a phenomenon of astronomical proportions.
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