Meaning
What does Only a Sith Deals in Absolutes mean?
Only a Sith deals in absolutes refers to a memorable quote from Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.
Online, it is mainly used as a reaction image macro, to critique the confidence with which people proclaim things with certainty.
The meme is similar to the Only Villains Do That format.
Origin
What's the origin of Only a Sith Deals in Absolutes?
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith premiered in the United States on May 12th, 2005.
Toward the end of the film, Anakin tells Obi-Wan (portrayed by Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor respectively) that if he’s not with him, he’s against him.
Obi-Wan react to this with the line “Only a Sith deals in absolutes”.
Spread & Usage
How did Only a Sith Deals in Absolutes spread?
The meme format started emerging on the internet in the early 2010’s, appearing on sites like Facebook, Reddit and 9GAG.
“Only a Sith deals in absolutes” garnered larger attention after 2016, as the r/PrequelMemes subreddit was launched, collecting prequel memes like “Is It Possible to Learn This Power?” and “I Love Democracy”.

External resources
- Starwars.com – 8 Great Obi-Wan Kenobi Quotes
- Fictionhorizon.com – The Meaning of the “Only a Sith deals in absolutes” Quote
- Mygeekwisdom.com – Only a Sith deals in absolutes