--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's the issue that I've been…" description: "\"That's the issue that I've been exploring: How did the Republic turn into the Empire? That's paralleled with: How did Anakin turn into Darth Vader? How..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/george-lucas-1038_darth-vader_that-s-the-issue-that-i-ve-been-explorin_3113694.png" --- # That's the issue that I've been exploring: How did the… ![“That's the issue that I've been exploring: How did the Republic turn into the Empire? That's paralleled with: How did Anakin turn into Darth Vader? How does a good person go bad, and how does a democracy become a dictatorship? It isn't that the Empire conquered the Republic, it's that the Empire…” quote by George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/george-lucas-1038_darth-vader_that-s-the-issue-that-i-ve-been-explorin_3113694.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/george-lucas-1038_darth-vader_that-s-the-issue-that-i-ve-been-explorin_3113694.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/862/george-lucas-1038_darth-vader_that-s-the-issue-that-i-ve-been-explorin_3113694.png) > “That's the issue that I've been exploring: How did the Republic turn into the Empire? That's paralleled with: How did Anakin turn into Darth Vader? How does a good person go bad, and how does a democracy become a dictatorship? It isn't that the Empire conquered the Republic, it's that the Empire is the Republic.” [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote explores the transformation of a democratic republic into an empire, paralleling Anakin’s fall to Darth Vader, suggesting that the empire is essentially the republic’s own evolution rather than an external conquest. **In simple terms:** Democracy can become a dictatorship from within, like a good person turning bad. Key Takeaway Watch for internal shifts that erode democratic values. Themes politics power corruption transformation parallels Mood cautionary thought‑provoking historical Type analysis warning When to use this quote - government policy - organizational leadership - personal ethics - historical analysis - media narratives Key Concepts political theory moral decay systemic change Questions to Reflect On - What early signs indicate a healthy democracy is deteriorating? - How can individuals prevent personal moral decline? A Different Perspective Change can be gradual and subtle, making resistance harder. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Darth vader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darth-vader/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Dictatorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictatorship/) [Empires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empires/) [Good person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-person/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Republic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republic/) [Vader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vader/) ## Related quotes > [The United States is now The Empire. There isn't an empire; there's The Empire, and that empire is the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/the-united-states-is-now-the-empire-there-isn-t-an-empire-there-s-the/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [I felt that one of the major issues in the third film is that Luke is finally on his own and has to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/i-felt-that-one-of-the-major-issues-in-the-third-film-is-that-luke-is/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [“Up to that time, the Republic, the Empire, had been to him only monstrous words. The Republic, a guillotine in the twilight; the Empire,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/up-to-that-time-the-republic-the-empire-had-been-to-him-only/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“the very definition of a Republic, is "an Empire of Laws, and not of men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/the-very-definition-of-a-republic-is-an-empire-of-laws-and-not-of-men/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [The difference between a republic and an empire is the loyalty of one's army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-caesar/the-difference-between-a-republic-and-an-empire-is-the-loyalty-of-one/) [Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-caesar/) > [“enough for the Republic—but the Empire is order from chaos. What we do here—and in thousands of systems just like this one—brings us closer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jackson-miller/enough-for-the-republic-but-the-empire-is-order-from-chaos-what-we-do/) [John Jackson Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jackson-miller/) > [I think it's a great shame that America stopped being a republic and became an empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-faithfull/i-think-it-s-a-great-shame-that-america-stopped-being-a-republic-and/) [Marianne Faithfull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-faithfull/) > [A long time ago, in a country not so far away, I was eight years old, doing my best Darth Vader imitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayden-christensen/a-long-time-ago-in-a-country-not-so-far-away-i-was-eight-years-old/) [Hayden Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayden-christensen/) > [To me, Darth Vader is the epitome of evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-bennett/to-me-darth-vader-is-the-epitome-of-evil/) [Manu Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-bennett/) > [Some people may contend that there is no image more charming that a child holding a puppy or kitten. But for me that's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-allsburg/some-people-may-contend-that-there-is-no-image-more-charming-that-a/) [Chris Van Allsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-allsburg/) > [That furniture cost me a fortune! It's designer furniture." "Designed by whom ? Darth Vader ? The Hitler Youth ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-crusie/that-furniture-cost-me-a-fortune-it-s-designer-furniture-designed-by/) [Jennifer Crusie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-crusie/) > [We wish we were Obi-Wan Kenobi, and for the most part we are, but there's a little Darth Vader in all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-christopher-stevens/we-wish-we-were-obi-wan-kenobi-and-for-the-most-part-we-are-but-there/) J. Christopher Stevens > [Beware the power of the dark side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-angleberger/beware-the-power-of-the-dark-side/) [Tom Angleberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-angleberger/) > [Be Luke Skywalker, not Darth Vader. Ultimately love is stronger than evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-burr/be-luke-skywalker-not-darth-vader-ultimately-love-is-stronger-than/) Don Burr > [In three hundred feet, turn right," Darth Vader said. The Darth Vader. I felt like we were friends now. Like I could tell him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/in-three-hundred-feet-turn-right-darth-vader-said-the-darth-vader-i/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) ## More by George Lucas > [The story being told in 'Star Wars' is a classic one. Every few hundred years, the story is retold because we have a tendency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/the-story-being-told-in-star-wars-is-a-classic-one-every-few-hundred/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [I'm very proud of all the movies I made. I am very happy with everything I've done. I like to watch my movies. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/i-m-very-proud-of-all-the-movies-i-made-i-am-very-happy-with/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [If this were a fantasy world, there would be ten of me and we would each be doing what we wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/if-this-were-a-fantasy-world-there-would-be-ten-of-me-and-we-would/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [All democracies turn into dictatorships - but not by coup. The people give their democracy to a dictator, whether it's Julius Caesar or Napoleon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/all-democracies-turn-into-dictatorships-but-not-by-coup-the-people/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [ I thought it \[Star Wars\] was too wacky for the general public. Right or wrong this is my movie, this is my decision, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/i-thought-it-star-wars-was-too-wacky-for-the-general-public-right-or/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [A special effect is a tool, a means of telling a story. A special effect without a story is a pretty boring thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/a-special-effect-is-a-tool-a-means-of-telling-a-story-a-special/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [It wasn't long after I began writing Star Wars that I realized the story was more than a single film could hold. As the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/it-wasn-t-long-after-i-began-writing-star-wars-that-i-realized-the/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [If you look at 'Blade Runner,' it's been cut sixteen ways from Sunday, and there are all kinds of different versions of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/if-you-look-at-blade-runner-it-s-been-cut-sixteen-ways-from-sunday/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [“Dreams are extremely important. You can’t do it unless you imagine it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/dreams-are-extremely-important-you-can-t-do-it-unless-you-imagine-it/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [Never tell me the odds!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/never-tell-me-the-odds/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [There's nothing worse than the frustration of having somebody who you feel doesn't get what you're doing, trying to turn it into something else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/there-s-nothing-worse-than-the-frustration-of-having-somebody-who-you/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [If you really love films, and you really want to get the full impact, there's a huge difference between watching something on a small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/if-you-really-love-films-and-you-really-want-to-get-the-full-impact/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [I've never been that much of a money guy. I'm more of a film guy, and most of the money I've made is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/i-ve-never-been-that-much-of-a-money-guy-i-m-more-of-a-film-guy-and/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [I made lots of movies while in school while everybody else was running around saying, "Oh, I wish I could make a movie. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/i-made-lots-of-movies-while-in-school-while-everybody-else-was/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [One of the amazing things about 'Seven Samurai' is that there are a lot of characters. And considering you have so many, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/one-of-the-amazing-things-about-seven-samurai-is-that-there-are-a-lot/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) [Explore all 304 George Lucas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) ## More Darth vader quotes > [“But you can make you happy, my father's voice repeats over and over as I stare at my ceiling. Have I been trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-rae-miller/but-you-can-make-you-happy-my-father-s-voice-repeats-over-and-over-as/) [Leah Rae Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-rae-miller/) > [In three hundred feet, turn right," Darth Vader said. The Darth Vader. I felt like we were friends now. Like I could tell him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/in-three-hundred-feet-turn-right-darth-vader-said-the-darth-vader-i/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [Be Luke Skywalker, not Darth Vader. Ultimately love is stronger than evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-burr/be-luke-skywalker-not-darth-vader-ultimately-love-is-stronger-than/) Don Burr > [I desperately wanted to play the part of Darth Vader's mother - I think she ended up being played by a Scandinavian actress -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-duncan/i-desperately-wanted-to-play-the-part-of-darth-vader-s-mother-i-think/) [Lindsay Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-duncan/) > [We wish we were Obi-Wan Kenobi, and for the most part we are, but there's a little Darth Vader in all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-christopher-stevens/we-wish-we-were-obi-wan-kenobi-and-for-the-most-part-we-are-but-there/) J. Christopher Stevens > [Even to this day, when I think about the fact that I'm in this 'Star Wars' world, that I'm a half-brother to Darth Vader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-edgerton/even-to-this-day-when-i-think-about-the-fact-that-i-m-in-this-star/) [Joel Edgerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-edgerton/) > [“You've either bat-shit insane or you've watched too many movies. This isn't Star Wars , Mandel. I'm not Luke Skywalker. My dad's not Darth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-miller/you-ve-either-bat-shit-insane-or-you-ve-watched-too-many-movies-this/) [Kirsten Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-miller/) > [That furniture cost me a fortune! It's designer furniture." "Designed by whom ? Darth Vader ? The Hitler Youth ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-crusie/that-furniture-cost-me-a-fortune-it-s-designer-furniture-designed-by/) [Jennifer Crusie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-crusie/) > [“He turned back to her stomach and got very close. She thought he meant to kiss her again and prepared to enjoy his lips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caris-roane/he-turned-back-to-her-stomach-and-got-very-close-she-thought-he-meant/) [Caris Roane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caris-roane/) > [Some people may contend that there is no image more charming that a child holding a puppy or kitten. But for me that's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-allsburg/some-people-may-contend-that-there-is-no-image-more-charming-that-a/) [Chris Van Allsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-allsburg/) > [To me, Darth Vader is the epitome of evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-bennett/to-me-darth-vader-is-the-epitome-of-evil/) [Manu Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-bennett/) > [“One peek inside his top drawer had been enough for Sophie. Swimming goggles, nail clippers, a Ferragamo tie wound into a tight coil, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-hemphill/one-peek-inside-his-top-drawer-had-been-enough-for-sophie-swimming/) Laura Hemphill > [We all take Mother's Day seriously and then it's like a month later, a bunch of kids get together and say, "I guess we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/we-all-take-mother-s-day-seriously-and-then-it-s-like-a-month-later-a/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [“Today is a day of celebration. We have triumphed over villainy and oppression and have given our Alliance—and the galaxy beyond it—a chance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-wendig/today-is-a-day-of-celebration-we-have-triumphed-over-villainy-and/) [Chuck Wendig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-wendig/) > [Science offers no brief for the telekinetic powers of Darth Vader and hardly any greater justification for the faster-than-light travel that makes his empire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-di-filippo/science-offers-no-brief-for-the-telekinetic-powers-of-darth-vader-and/) [Paul Di Filippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-di-filippo/) [Browse all 89 Darth vader quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darth-vader/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's the issue that I've been exploring: How did the Republic turn into the Empire? That's paralleled with: How did Anakin turn into Darth Vader? 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