“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds”—J Robert Oppenheimer

These words, from the 700-verse Sanskrit scriptural text, Bhagavad Gita, are famously quoted by J Robert Oppenheimer as he witnessed the successful detonation of the first atomic bomb in 1945. 

In Christopher Nolan’s three-hour epic movie that chronicled the theoretical physicist’s life, we are presented with the chilling reality that the development of the deadly nuclear weapon could result in the obliteration of humanity. Whether Oppenheimer was an evil genius is a separate discussion to be had, but we can see that as a leader, his drive, intellect and charm were a highly persuasive—and frighteningly fatal—combination.

The quote encompasses the moral dilemmas surrounding Oppenheimer’s destructive creation while serving as a reminder of the ethical responsibilities that come with any scientific innovation. Echoing another famous and oft-cited quote, “With great power comes great responsibility”, popularised by Spider-Man, the creation of the atomic bomb has had far-reaching, irreversible consequences on history and society. 

Winner of Best Motion Picture, Drama, Nolan’s Oppenheimer was based on the 2005 Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin.

Read more: Was Oppenheimer’s hat in Christopher Nolan’s latest masterpiece accurate? Hong Kong hatter Richard Avery breaks down Cillian Murphy’s fedora

“Sometimes, rock bottom is your trampoline”—Danny Cho

The Netflix original series, Beef—named after the slang of having a problem with another person and not the meat—made history by earning a slew of awards at the Golden Globes. On top of winning Best Limited Series, the show’s two main stars, Ali Wong and Steven Yeun, took home the awards for Best Actress and Best Actor in Limited Series, Anthology Series or TV Movie, respectively. Wong is the first winner of Asian descent to win the category, while Yeun is the first Korean American to win the category. 

The premise of the ten-part miniseries revolves around Wong and Yeun’s characters, Amy Lau and Danny Cho, who get entangled in a road rage incident that escalates as they find ways to get back at each other. The plot unveils deeper and more complex issues that feed into the anger they feel towards each other and shines a light on issues related to mental health and the need for healthy expressions of emotions, even negative ones.

Through witnessing Cho’s struggles as an owner of a failing contracting business and his financial challenges, mood disorders and—trigger alert—attempt at taking his life, this quote is a message of hope and resilience. It suggests that hitting rock bottom can paradoxically serve as a starting point for a significant rebound or recovery. 

Read more: Review: ‘Beef’ on Netflix is a thrilling exploration of repressed trauma and its explosive repercussions

“The most valuable thing you have is your time”—Logan Roy

Through the four seasons of HBO’s award-winning drama series Succession, Logan Roy, the show’s foul-mouthed patriarch who runs a New York-based family media business, comes across as abrasive, controlling and the physical embodiment of founderitis. Still, viewers can pick up some useful tips from his peculiar ways of running a business, leading and planning his succession.

From his life philosophy of “The future is real. The past is all made up” to “You make your own reality. And once you’ve done it, apparently, everyone’s of the opinion it was all so f**king obvious”, he has shared some words of wisdom.

A ruthless, time-pressed authoritarian, Roy’s quote about time stands out the most as it reminds us to use our time wisely and focus on what matters. 

Read more: Binod Chaudhary and Nirvana Chaudhary on how to balance business and family

“It is the goal of all to improve, advance, progress, grow”—Bella Baxter

The science-fiction dark comedy, Poor Things, follows the journey of Bella Baxter, played by Emma Stone, as she navigates life after being resurrected post-suicide. Dr Godwin “God” Baxter, portrayed by Willem Dafoe, replaces Baxter’s brain with a baby’s, resulting in her having an infant’s mind—innocent and keen for knowledge. And as she crosses continents and encounters a variety of experiences throughout the film, audiences watch how she develops intellectually.

This quote that Baxter says underscores the transformative power of knowledge and education. Her journey emphasises the importance of self-empowerment through learning and personal development. Baxter makes decisions free from shame and societal pressures, which makes the narrative of Poor Things complex and layered, as it explores several topics including gender, power, and the potential dangers of playing God.

Before winning the award for Best Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy at the 2024 Golden Globes, Poor Things premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival and won its highest prize, the Golden Lion.

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