May the Force be with you

"Good bye, old friend. May the Force be with you."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi, to his former Padawan Anakin Skywalker before traveling to Utapau



"May the Force be with you" was a phrase used to wish luck or good will, 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.

Jedi
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 successfully shot a pair of proton torpedoes into the exhaust port of the first Death Star, destroying it completely.

Non-Jedi
After explaining the plan to destroy the first Death Star, General Jan Dodonna said "May the Force be with you" to the pilots of Red Group and Gold Group before the mission.

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 "good luck."

Additionally, the phrase was used by Admiral Ackbar just before the mission to destroy the Second Death Star. To be precise, as Ackbar was personally leading the mission, he said "May the Force be with us".

Sith
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. Darth Vader insisted to a skeptical Tarkin that "Obi-Wan is here ... the Force is with him," before engaging in their last duel.

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. The phrase, and variations of it, were widely used in products of the Star Wars Expanded Universe, later re-branded as Star Wars Legends along with details of its origins, but these details cannot be considered canon.

The expression has found its way into popular culture as a result of the popularity of the films. It received the 8th position in the AFI's 100 years....100 movie quotes ranking.

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.

Some fans celebrate May 4th as "Star Wars Day" by paraphrasing the phrase as "May the fourth be with you".