May the Force be with you/Legends

"And may the Force be with you."

- General Jan Dodonna

May the Force be with you was a phrase used to wish luck, generally when individuals parted ways or the object of the expression was facing some sort of imminent challenge. The phrase implied the speaker's wish that the power of the Force would be working alongside the addressee, in order that the addressee's goals would be more effectively accomplished.

It was first known to be used as a formal "'goodbye' and 'goodluck" among Jedi, and members of the Jedi High Council often recited it after assigning missions to their Jedi Knights. After the Great Jedi Purge it was adopted as a similar premartial 'goodluck' as a show of the ongoing struggle against the Galactic Empire and admiration for the Jedi Order after their failed attempt to survive the corrupt Emperors power struggle.

Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi was known to have used a variation of this phrase, telling Luke Skywalker, "The Force will be with you. Always." shortly after joining with the force, and shortly after Luke Skywalker sucessfully shot a pair of proton torpedoes into the exhaust port of the first Death Star, destroying it completely.

Although not a firm believer of the Force, Han Solo, before leaving Yavin 4, said to Luke Skywalker "May the Force be with you." as a way of saying 'goodluck.'

Another similar phrase, which Darth Vader used on Bespin to greet Luke Skywalker saying "The Force is with you, young Skywalker", which perhaps expresses recognition and estimation of the foe's value and strength.

Additionally, the phrase was used by Admiral Ackbar just before the mission to destroy the second Death Star. To be precise, as Ackbar would personally lead the mission, he said "May the Force be with us"; this might indicate that Ackbar, although not a Force-sensitive being, was a firm believer in the power of the Jedi and disagreed with Imperial-supported tradition of criticizing the then-extinct Jedi Order.

In Old Corellian, the phrase was said as Mahn uhl Fharth bey ihn valle.

Behind the scenes
"The Force will be with you. Always."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi

The phrase is used by some characters in (and fans of) the films, meaning something like "Good luck", although usually only Jedi and other believers in the Force use the expression. Han Solo, who expresses his doubt about the Force in A New Hope, eventually uses this expression to wish Luke good luck. In the expanded universe, it is revealed that the Alliance for the Restoration of the Republic used the phrase to call upon the legendary Jedi order, a symbol of the Old Republic, and also to differentiate themselves from the Empire.

The expression has found its way into popular culture as a result of the popularity of the films. Recently it got the 8th position in the TOPS AFI'S LIST OF 100 GREATEST MOVIE QUOTES OF ALL TIME.

Some might believe that, as the Force exists between all living things in any case, the phrase reflects a misunderstanding of its nature. In fact, the phrase implies a wish that the power of the Force is working alongside you, in order that your goals are more effectively accomplished. Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi once used a different form that expressed a reminder rather than a wish: "The Force will be with you, always", stating that Luke would succeed, as he was working alongside the power of the Force.

The phrase itself is borrowed from Catholicism, which utilizes the phrase "May the Lord be with you," to which the response is "And also with you."

Some fans celebrate May 4th as 'Star Wars Day' because of this particular line: 'May the fourth be with you'.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Before the Storm