Star Wars: 12 Best Captain Rex Quotes, Ranked

Highlights

• Captain Rex is a beloved clone trooper with iconic quotes and incredible character growth in the
  Star Wars
  universe.
• Rex shows humor, loyalty, and emotional depth in memorable moments across
  The Clone Wars
  ,
  Rebels
  , and
  The Bad Batch
  .
• His experiences in war shaped his views on leadership, loyalty, and the value of making one’s own decisions in difficult situations.

Captain Rex is by far one of the most famous clone troopers in Star Wars, and has appeared throughout The Clone Wars, Rebels, and The Bad Batch. This famous Captain of Anakin Skywalker’s 501st is so popular among the community that he’s got his own fanbase and even featured in live-action with Disney Plus’ Ahsoka.

Rex has always proved to be a loyal brother to his siblings, and he is one of the many characters in Star Wars that has gone through tremendous character growth, from being a soldier who believes his life is expendable, to realizing he is so much more than that and making his own choices. Throughout the years, Captain Rex has provided many iconic and inspirational quotes.

12 “A Lot of the General’s Plans Involve Falling.”

A Humorous Dig At Anakin Skywalker’s Past Antics

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 2, Episode 19: The Zillo Beast Strikes Back

Even though Captain Rex is a soldier and is among his superiors when the Zillo Beast attempts to kill Star Wars‘ Palpatine, he does try to lighten the mood with a humorous quip about his general, Anakin Skywalker, who was in the process of saving Palpatine.

This line is both a call back to a previous episode in which Anakin throws Rex off a collapsing bridge, and a funny remark from Rex. The quote shows that Rex is more than a soldier, and that he also has a lighthearted side, which can be seen in many episodes throughout The Clone Wars.

11 “I’m Always First, Kid.”

Rex Shows The New Domino Squad That He Always Has Command

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 1, Episode 5: Rookies

When first meeting Echo, Fives, and Domino squad on the Rishi moon, clone trooper Fives asks Captain Rex if he can take point and lead the group against the droids. Rex responds with this line in a lighthearted but serious manner, showing that he’s in command.

This quote can be seen as humorous, yet at the same time showcases Rex’s loyalty and willingness to protect his brothers by putting himself at the front of a battle. Captain Rex is a natural leader, and the entire episode is a great example of his leadership.

10 “Ahsoka Tano. I Fought By Her Side From The Battle Of Christophsis To The Siege Of Mandalore And A Friend Of Hers, Is A Friend Of Mine.”

Rex Proves His Veteran Status & His Trust & Loyalty To Ahsoka Tano

• Star Wars: Rebels – Season 2, Episode 3: The Lost Commanders

When Star Wars‘ Ahsoka Tano sends the Ghost crew in Star Wars: Rebels to find her friend, they soon discover that her friend is none other than Captain Rex. When Rex is told that Ahsoka sent them to find him, he proudly utters this line.

It shows the bond Rex and Ahsoka have, and it shows that no matter what, he will always trust her, and anyone she sends his way. Even when she sends complete strangers to his doorstep. Ahsoka wasn’t just his commander in the Clone Wars, but she was also one of his best friends.

9 “I Hate to Tell You This, But They Don’t Care! This Ship is Going Down And Those Soldiers, My Brothers, Are Willing to Die to Take You And Me Along With Them!”

An Emotionally Devastating Speech That Shows Rex’s Love & Grief For His Brothers

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 7, Episode 12: Victory and Death

An episode that houses many iconic quotes from Captain Rex. This moment is devastatingly emotional as Rex realizes that he most likely won’t be able to save his brothers, who have lost their free will to Order 66.

As Rex emotionally says this line, it’s followed by Ahsoka removing his helmet, and for the first time in a long time, viewers see how distressed Rex is. From the tears rolling down his face to Rex looking away in shame at Ahsoka seeing him in this state. It’s truly a very emotional moment.

The quote “
Well, I’ve known no other way. Gives us clones all a mixed feeling about the war. Many people wish it never happened. But without it, we clones wouldn’t exist.
” deserves an honorable mention. It shows how, even though the Clone Wars were terrible, it gave birth to the Clones, with many of them becoming fan-favorite
Star Wars
characters.

8 “The War Left Its Scars On All Of Us.”

Rex Talks On The Effects Of War, And How Clones Aren’t Just Mindless Soldiers

• Star Wars: Rebels – Season 2, Episode 3, The Lost Commanders

Rex is a battle-hardened soldier who rarely admits that the Clone War affects him. However, after meeting the Ghost Crew in Star Wars: Rebels, he admits with this line to the young Jedi, Ezra Bridger, that the war did leave its scars on him as well as all the other surviving Jedi and Clones.

This episode in which Rex makes his debut in Rebels is a great one for fans of The Clone Wars, but it is also filled with bittersweet heartbreak. This great quote from Rex is filled with heartbreak and shows that he understands that both he and the Jedi, Kanan Jarrus, have suffered and are both left with emotional and mental scars from the devastating events of the Clone War and Order 66.

7 “I Used to Believe That Being a Good Soldier Meant Doing Everything They Told You. That’s How They Engineered Us. But We’re Not Droids. We’re Not Programmed. You Have to Learn to Make Your Own Decisions.”

Rex Challenges Authority From A Cruel Jedi, Showcasing Leadership & Defiance

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 4, Episode 10: Carnage of Krell

In one of the most devastating campaigns that the 501st Legion has been on, Captain Rex starts to learn that he has the right to make his own choices and that if he disagrees with an order, he is allowed to challenge it.

During the campaign on Umbara, many Clones had lost their lives to the poor leadership of general Pong Krell. However, there was a Clone trooper known as Dogma who was defending and following Pong Krell’s orders no matter what, even after Krell took the lives of many Clones. Captain Rex utters this line to convince Dogma to stop following Krell’s orders and to tell him that he is allowed to make his own decisions.

6 “Stay Back! Find Him, Find Him. Fives, Find Him.”

Rex Fights The Inhibitor Chip Caused By Order 66

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 7, Episode 11: Shattered

When Order 66 was executed by Palpatine, the vast majority of Clone Troopers followed it without question. However, Rex was able to resist it, albeit for a few seconds. Knowing he wouldn’t be able to resist the Order for much longer, he quickly shouts this line at Ahsoka in a desperate plea before succumbing to the Order and firing his blaster at Ahsoka.

This quote is quite an emotional call back to Arc Trooper Fives, who found out about Order 66 and the plot to destroy the Jedi. Although Fives sadly died while trying to expose the plot, Captain Rex silently believed him, and thus Fives was able to inadvertently save Ahsoka and therefore allow her to save the life of Captain Rex.

5 “I Don’t Want to Bury Any More of Our Brothers.”

The Compassion Of A Soldier Who Has Seen Too Many Good Men Die

• Star Wars: The Bad Batch – Season 1, Episode 7: Battle Scars

In Captain Rex’s debut in Star Wars: The Bad Batch, he utters this line when trying to convince Clone Force 99 (also known as the Bad Batch) that their inhibitor chips are dangerous and that they need to get them removed or else they could become a danger to themselves and Omega. At first, the Bad Batch doesn’t see why Rex is adamant about this, but once he remorsefully says this line, they agree to find a way to remove their chips.

This line is quite an emotional one, especially for viewers who have seen the finale of Star Wars: The Clone Wars where Rex ends up burying all his brothers at the crash site of the Resolute. The line shows that what happened still haunts Rex and that he will do anything to prevent any more of his brothers from dying.

4 “If That’s Where You Feel Your Place Is, Then That’s Where You Belong.”

Rex Is Like The Supportive Big Brother That Everyone Needs

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 7, Episode 4: Unfinished Business

During the Bad Batch story arc in season 7 of The Clone Wars, Captain Rex reunites with his long-thought-dead brother, Echo, with the help of Clone Force 99. At the culmination of the story, Echo is offered the chance to join Clone Force 99.

Unsure about what to do, Rex gives this heartfelt advice to his brother, and Echo chooses to accept the offer that Clone Force 99 offers him. This quote is quite a powerful one and can serve as great advice in anyone’s own life as well.

3 “I’m No Jedi.”

Words Since Repeated By The Iconic Ahsoka Tano

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 4, Episode 13: Escape From Kadavo

Long before this quote became one of Ahsoka Tano’s most famous and iconic lines, it was originally said by Captain Rex during the Zygerrian story arc in season 4 of the Clone Wars. While investigating the Zygerrian slavers with Anakin and Ahsoka, Captain Rex and Obi-Wan Kenobi get captured by the slavers and forced to work for them. Luckily for the two of them, the Republic eventually arrives to free those captured by the Zygerrians.

What makes this quote fascinating is how it shows that Rex is willing to do what needs to be done to protect those he cares for, no matter what. If that means killing a Zygerrian slaver to protect his friend and the lives of those captured by the slavers, then that’s what he will do.

2 “It’s Captain, Sir.”

Even From Jedi, Captain Rex Demands The Respect He Deserves

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 4, Episode 10: Carnage of Krell

This quote originates from one of the most emotional story arcs within The Clone Wars. The Umbara arc shows the clones being tested in their resilience against questionable orders from their temporary new general, Pong Krell. Krell, unlike other Jedi, doesn’t see the Clones as living beings, and soon enough betrays them.

This arc teaches Rex that he is more than just a Clone, not just a number in an army and that he has the right to voice his own opinions. Slowly, but surely, he defends his brothers and starts questioning Pong Krell’s orders. Near the tip of the iceberg, Rex defies an order from Pong Krell and utters this quote after once again being called a Clone.

1 “In My Book, Experience Outranks Everything.”

One Of Rex’s First Conversations With His Lifelong Friend, Ahsoka Tano

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)

Out of all of Captain Rex’s quotes, this is quite possibly his most famous and well-known quote. Rex first said this line in the 2008 Clone Wars movie in response to Anakin Skywalker’s newly appointed Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, when she tells him that since she is a Commander, and he is a Captain, she outranks him, to which he responds with this iconic line.

This quote certainly rings true in life, as sometimes the more experience a person has, the more efficient they may be. Rex repeats this quote to Ahsoka Tano several years later in the Star Wars: Rebels season 2 episode, Twilight of the Apprentice, to which she responds that she certainly outranks him now as she has gained far more experience in life since she first met him. It’s certainly a fascinating parallel between the two lifelong friends.