The Wachowskis' psychological sci-fi, The Matrix, is full of profound and memorable writing, laced with compelling storytelling and an imaginative dystopian backdrop. Much of this dynamic writing comes in the form of captivating quotes from many of the trilogy's great characters.
Some of the strongest examples come from Neo's mentor and truthsayer, The Oracle. Being a philosophical core of this thought-provoking saga, this seemingly all-knowing program has many words of wisdom for Neo - coupled with the occasional zinger and lighthearted remark.
10 "You Got The Gift, But It Looks Like You're Waiting For Something."
Fans of fantasy, sci-fi, and various action films are well aware of the cliches that come with the seasoned mentor speaking words of wisdom to our hero. And while The Oracle occasionally lapses into these tropes, this particular quote shines as a great example of her more interesting, unique methods.
With this downer of a line, it seems that she's only hindering Neo by shooting down any notion that he might be "The One." Yet, in a roundabout way, she is coaxing the protagonist to strive for greatness in the way that best suits hin, as it's established later in the saga. It's really a challenge, of sorts. This revelation just reinforces the cleverness and unique qualities of The Oracle.
9 "In One Hand You'll Have Morpheus' Life And In The Other Hand You'll Have Your Own."
As she's known to do, The Oracle hits our protagonist with this harsh dose of reality, with the ominous, ambiguous warning that either Neo or Morpheus will meet their end. As we now know from the trilogy's conclusion, this turned out to be fittingly prophetic. Yet, even in our naivety during the first Matrix, this makes for an eyebrow-raising line of dialogue, which further entices both Neo and the general audience.
Why is it the case that this unfortunate event will unfold - and that Neo must make this choice? How can The Oracle know this, and is she, in fact, telling the truth. Is she again just telling him what he needs to hear?" These are the questions the Wachowskis put into our head to further engage us in this narrative.
8 "You Just Have To Make Up Your Own Damn Mind..."
As we've established, The Oracle has a rather unique way of getting her points across, which are often only revealed to be effective farther down the road. This blunt statement to Neo, which is in response to his uncertainty in trusting her, is a prime example.
Given the circumstances, and the concepts The Oracle is trying to sell, it would indeed be tough to convince anyone of her legitimacy. Thus, she opts to be about as trustworthy as she can by simply imploring him to "believe whatever you want to believe." This is an effective way to convey sincerity, though it also ties in with one of The Matrix's central themes of trusting in one's self.
7 "Would You Still Have Broken It If I Hadn't Said Anything?"
Like Morpheus, The Oracle presents various mind-blowing concepts through some powerful, often profound statements. This is definitely the case in one of her first lines of dialogue to Neo, who's understandably shocked after she predicted his little vase accident in her home.
It a subtle way, this line works in terms of getting our protagonist to expand his mind and grow a bit mentally, as it relates to Neo's notion of being in control of his own life. But in terms of the "big picture," it's also a great representation of the philosophical nature of The Matrix. It coaxes its audience to ponder various concepts and open us up to a larger world, just as Neo is doing.
6 "Everything That Has A Beginning Has An End."
Despite its more mixed reception, the third film in The Matrix trilogy offers plenty of its own memorable Oracle moments, as she offers Neo her last bits of wisdom and warning before his final quest.
While it definitely seems simple at first glance, this somber line is powerful in its prophetic nature, and it's emblematic of this third film as a whole. The quote conveys a finality and a glimpse of what is to come for many of our heroes - and our villains for that matter. In fact, this line crops back up in the person of Smith, acting as an unwilling messenger coaxing Neo to commit the ultimate sacrifice.
5 "What Do All Men With Power Want? More Power."
Breaking from her more vague dialogue from the first film, The Oracle hits Neo with some more specific, engaging exposition in Reloaded.
Much of their conversation stands out in terms of its significance, but this line near the end of her scene is an emphatic way to close out their discussion. It's also a great segway in what's to come - a power-hungry gaggle of rogue Smiths who seek to absorb Neo to gain - what else? - more power.
This is a statement that's emblematic of the power structure of The Matrix, to be sure. Though it also humanizes the machines a bit, given the parallels drawn between power-hungry machines/programs and humankind.
4 "You've Already Made The Choice. You're Here To Understand Why You've Made It."
When Reloaded kicks off, it's established pretty early that Neo is committed to the path he's carved as The One, and that the next plan is to discover the reasons and significance behind his choices.
Along with The Oracle's similarly revealing line "we can never see past the choices we don't understand," this quote illustrates that there's still much for Neo (and for us) to understand.
On one level, it's a prophetic line that somewhat foreshadows the next beat in Neo and Trinity's love story. On a larger scale - it's yet another quote that represents The Matrix's premise of coming to terms with one's self and understanding our place in the universe.
3 "Change Always Is..."
This is a brief, yet powerful line that comes in response to The Architect's proclamation to The Oracle that she had "played a very dangerous game." The Oracle's rebuttal is quite a fitting way to end this trilogy, which was rife with chaotic and dangerous events for Neo and his fellow fighters on Zion and elsewhere.
Of course, its significance stretches beyond the landscape of The Matrix itself and proves relevant to our own society, too. Real positive change rarely tends to go smoothly...
2 "Know Thyself."
Taking the form of another brief, yet effective phrase, this quote actually comes from The Oracle's Latin sign posted above her doorway. For a sentence containing a total of just two words, it's quite significant and powerful. This is especially true given Neo's state of confusion and uncertainty at this point in the film.
The phrase really shines as a character-builder for our protagonist and an "entryway," as it were, towards enlightenment on his journey. This bit of wisdom in "knowing thyself" is confirmed at the end of the first film, especially after Morpheus claims "he's beginning to believe."
1 "Being The one Is Just like Being In Love..."
Coming off the heels of the previous line is an even more thought-provoking sermon from The Oracle. To give him a better idea of the notion of "The One," she compares it to the similarly unexplainable sensation of being in love. It's intangible and indescribable, yet a palpable inner-feeling.
It's a terrific description that helps enlighten us as to the film's constructed concept of being The One. It also ties in nicely with Neo and Trinity's love story, which is another prominent trait of the film.
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