"Mankind was born on Earth. It was never meant to die here."
Interstellar - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
Do not go gentle into that good night; Old age should burn and rave at close of day. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
— Professor Brand (and others)
Context:
Professor Brand recites the poem multiple times throughout the film, first to inspire Cooper to undertake the mission and later as a mantra for humanity's struggle. It becomes the thematic anthem for the entire endeavor.
Meaning:
This quote from the Dylan Thomas poem serves as the film's central motif. It encapsulates the theme of humanity's indomitable will to survive, to fight against extinction and despair rather than passively accept fate. It's a call to action and a defiant cry against the encroaching darkness, both literal and metaphorical.
Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends dimensions of time and space.
— Dr. Amelia Brand
Context:
Brand makes this argument to Cooper when trying to convince him to travel to Edmunds' planet, which her heart is drawn to, over Mann's planet, which appears more logical. It is a moment of conflict between scientific reason and emotional intuition.
Meaning:
This line explicitly states the film's core message. Brand proposes that love is not merely a human emotion but a fundamental, physical force of the universe, akin to gravity. It suggests that this connection is a constant that should be trusted, even if it cannot be understood by science alone. The film's climax ultimately validates her hypothesis.
Mankind was born on Earth. It was never meant to die here.
— Cooper
Context:
Cooper says this to Donald, his father-in-law, before he leaves on the mission, explaining his conviction that humanity must look beyond its terrestrial origins to survive and fulfill its potential.
Meaning:
This quote embodies humanity's exploratory spirit and the film's argument that our destiny is not confined to our home planet. It is a declaration of intent and a rejection of the stagnation that has gripped Earth's society, advocating for a future among the stars.
Murphy's law doesn't mean that something bad will happen. It means that whatever can happen, will happen.
— Cooper
Context:
Cooper explains this to his young daughter, Murph, after she asks why she was named after something 'bad.' His explanation foreshadows the incredible, seemingly impossible events that will lead to humanity's salvation.
Meaning:
Cooper reframes the pessimistic interpretation of Murphy's Law into a statement of boundless possibility. This reinterpretation reflects the film's underlying theme of hope and human potential. It suggests that even in the face of overwhelming odds, positive and extraordinary outcomes are just as possible as negative ones.