My son introduced me to Marvel movies and we have shared the experience of watching these together through his childhood and growing up. At the beginning, it was precious time we spent together while watching fights, explosions, and feats that defied the laws of Physics.
Then we watched Dr. Strange. As the Ancient One was trying to show a new perspective to an incredibly arrogant neurosurgeon, she said something that was absolutely profound: “Silence your ego and your power will rise”.
Wow! We frequently see examples where success is stalled by self-serving, personal agendas. Later in the movie, the Ancient one states what she calls the most important lesson of all: “it’s not about you”.
So I decided to seek out other meaningful quotes from the Marvel universe. What I found was an uncanny wisdom that applies to many aspects of leadership and life.
Here are some more of my favorites.
1. “Sometimes you have to run before you can walk.”
This statement was made by the Ironman himself, Tony Stark.
In the movie, Ironman, Tony Stark tries out his Mark I suit for the first time. Rather than playing it safe as his Artificial Intelligence JARVIS tells him to, Tony decides to push boundaries and see what the suit can do. Living your life comfortably may be safe but stepping out and trying new things is where those real opportunities are.
2. “I don’t judge people on their worst mistakes”
Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, stated this in Avengers: Endgame as she battles Clint to be the sacrifice that will produce the Soul Stone. Natasha has a dark past and seems to live her Avengers time and even her death trying to make up for that past. So she tries not to judge other people. It is not our failures that define us, but how we choose to learn from them.
3, “There Is Nothing More Reassuring Than Realizing The World Is Crazier Than You Are.” Dr. Eric Selvig
Dr. Eric Selvig is an astrophysicist who first appears in the movie Thor. In Thor: The Dark World, two movies later, Dr. Selvig has PTSD because of what happened to him in the prior movies. He makes this statement as his “crazy” research that put him in a mental hospital turns out to be true. Lesson: believe in yourself.
4. “A thing isn’t beautiful because it lasts”
At the end of the movie Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ultron (the villain who is an AI), has a conversation with newly created good-guy Vision; also an AI. Ultron talks about humans being doomed. Vision agrees but then says this quote. This quote is the truth about everything in life: flowers wilt, summer ends, pets die. Their value is not in how long they last; but in the effect they have on us.
5. “What is grief, if not love persevering“
Another great quote from Vision – this time from the Wandavision series. Wandavision is a world magically constructed by Wanda from her trauma when Vision died. She created an alternate world where she is married to Vision and raises a family with him. In that alternate world, Wanda speaks to Vision about the deep loss she felt when she lost her twin brother. Vision opines that her sorrow is borne of love, and love is the way through her grief.
6. “No amount of money ever bought a second of time”
Another quote by the Ironman, Tony Stark; Tony quoted his father when he met his dad while time traveling. Tony’s father worked very hard to make sure his family would want for nothing – only to realize that he missed the opportunity to bond with his son. One of Tony’s biggest regrets was that he was not able to spend enough time with his father. Time is precious and once it’s gone, it’s gone. Be careful with how you spend it.
7. “With great power comes great responsibility”
No analysis of Marvel wisdom would be complete without those famous words spoken by Spiderman – Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben – versions of this quote go way back to Voltaire in 18th century France. Its simplest interpretation is one of stewardship: nurturing what has been given to you. It is also a warning to not allow power to corrupt – your power does not put you above another; but rather, in service to those who need your help.
What are your favorite quotes that come from unexpected places – like from a movie enterprise based on a comic book series?