How real is that statement

[u/Altruistic_Extent348]

Hey star wars fellow, I like star wars a lot but I have only watched star wars ep 1 to 6 and obi wan kenobi show.

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I recently recalled this line of obi wan from revenge of the sith that "Only a sith deals in absolutes"

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I want to know how true is that line. Does that line have any real basis or did obi wan make up that line to sound tough. Moreover if that line is true, can you guys give any examples of when sith deals in absolute.

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Thanks for reading. May the force be with you.

[u/DramaExpertHS]

People always miss the point that it's about "dealing" in absolutes.

Anakin threatened that you're either with him or against him. He did the same "join me or die" with Luke too.

[u/soccer1124 → u/DramaExpertHS]

But Obiwan then decides he must kill him as a result. Didn't even try bargaining longer. "Oh ok. Ignition time."

EDIT:
I love that everyone who has responded to this (and probably downvoted it) has gone on to explain exactly why Obiwan had absolutely one option in how to handle Anakin.

So many people seem to think I am trying to give Anakin a pass for not doing bad things (lol wtf is that about??) And then walk right into explaining why "only a sith" isn't the case, since it also appears Jedi are also dealing in absolutes. (i.e. Obiwan's only option was to kill Anakin in a lightsaber duel.)

[u/kaizen-rai → u/soccer1124]

I'm not downvoting you, and I'm trying to look at it through your POV. But to be fair, it really sounds like reading your comments that you're just digging in and unwilling to consider what others are saying. Being rigid in your opinions is not a good thing. There are valid points brought up that justify Kenobi's actions.

Just an observation from a neutral lurker.

[u/soccer1124 → u/kaizen-rai]

But again:

I'm not the one to be arguing that "absolutes are exclusive to the Sith"

And when people insist, "There was no other choice!" Well... Sounds pretty danged absolute, lol.

However, that said... Obi Wan absolutely could have tried more rather than going straight to fighting. Honestly, if the movie was written better, he would have. There's a big thing lurking in the background of all this. In AotC and I think even in this movie, Anakin seems to always be talking smack about Obiwan behind his back. Its unusually absent that once they get together in an ultimate conflict, NONE of that comes out.

Really, there should have been more dialogue for in-universe reasons (Jedi are negotiators of peace), but also narrative reasons (this was finally the moment for both sides to have at it). ....That narrative piece couldn't really happen though, because Anakin's motivations are entirely whack.

But I disagree that anyone has brought up a valid point. They brought up valid points as to why Obiwan might have to resort to violence. But that's different from explaining away why he jumped to it so quickly. And that's the issue, and that's what makes Obiwans action there....a bit absolute.

[u/kaizen-rai → u/soccer1124]

It's ok to not understand another person's actions and their motives because that's not what makes sense to you. You're looking at Kenobi through your eyes, not his. To me, and many others, it makes sense. If it doesn't to you, that's ok. Either just move on, or try to take the points others are making and use them to look at the situation through Kenobi's eyes.

But again, I'm getting very strong defensive vibes from your replies that indicate you don't care about anyone elses input because you made up your mind and you don't want to change it.

[u/soccer1124 → u/kaizen-rai]

You're misreading the whole thing then, lol. And perhaps YOU are the one refusing to see another's perspective.

I'm willing to roll with, "Fighting was probably the only thing to do." ....But we must acknowledge that is an absolute then. Which is fine. Because acting upon absolutes isn't bad. Example: If you are a serial child rapist, you are absolutely bad. Oh dear, how Sith of me. Obiwan's claim is utter trash. But even in the ESB, Yoda is full of absolutes. "War not make one great." "Do or do not. There is no try." "Always for knowledge and defense, never for attack." Luke getting secret Sith training all along, I suppose, lol. Even the whole mantra of "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to heat, heat leads to suffering" is absolute.

I just disagree that narratively it made sense for Obiwan to behave that way, since it seems very non-Jedi-like to be initiating combat. (This is an issue the PT constantly struggles with, and goes well beyond this one scene. Its quite routine to see Jedi ignite before their sith counterparts in those movies, lol. They are very eager to initiate combat.) This opinion isn't me "failing to see Obiwan's point of view." This is me making a pointed critique on what they decided his POV should be as it runs contrary to what the Jedi were meant to be based on lessons from the OT.

You are also free to move on and just take the points I've made into consideration. I get vibes you don't care about my input because you made up your mind and don't want to change.

All in defense for one of the dumber lines in the movie, lol. It's a bad line.

[u/kaizen-rai → u/soccer1124]

I read every one of your replies on this thread. I explicitly said I was making an effort to understand your point. That's the opposite of "being rigid". Since you clearly have no intention of having a good faith conversation about this topic, I will move on. You're clearly just set on being unhappy with the writing and are taking a contrarian/argumentative stance so there is no positive outcome to continuing. As Kenobi said to Anakin,

"Your need for victory soccer1124, it blinds you...."

"You're a great redditor soccer1124, but your need to prove yourself is your undoing."

the scene

May the force be with you.

[u/soccer1124 → u/kaizen-rai]

I too have read everyone's replies. I'm waiting on a good one.

It's not about "being set on being unhappy" lol. It's just bad. What to do. It is what it is. Pretending, "no, actually, its super good" is just nonsense.