The Wisdom of G'kar

G'Kar is sharing his wisdom to a group of followers. He tells them that in the past they had little to do with other races. Evolution taught them that they must fight that which is different so they could secure food, land and mates. But now they must reach a point where the nobility of intellect asserts itself and says no. They need not be afraid of those who are different. They should embrace that difference and learn from if.
One of his followers interrupts, referring to G'Kar as "most holy". G'Kar makes it clear that there is no "most holy", only G'Kar. The student understands what G'Kar is telling them, but in the Book of G'Kar it states that the Centauri are not to be trusted.
G'Kar: When was that written in the book?
Narn: In the beginning.
G'Kar: Exactly. Over time, I learned, as you will learn.
Narn: The Book of G'Kar is holy. If it was written under the direct inspiration of the universe itself as everyone believes it to be, then the whole of it must be true. How then can you go against it?
G'Kar is becoming exasperated. They just don't get it. He asks the Narn to show him the passage in the book, then tells him to put his face in the book. The Narn is hesitant.
G'Kar: Well, if the book is holy and I am holy, then I must help you become closer to the thoughts of the universe. Put your face in the book.
The Narn still hesitates.
G'Kar: The first thing we are taught is that while outsiders cannot be trusted, we can always trust a fellow Narn, yes? This is your point, is it not? (the Narn nods) Good. Then put your face in the book.
With confidence, the Narn leans over and puts his face in the book....which G'Kar slams shut. The Narn whimpers in pain.
Ta'Lon: There's lesson number one.

[@ankhi3585]

I just imagine that in couple of generations there will be a strange Narn ritual of putting one's face in the book of G'kar and getting slapped by it. Nobody will know why.

[@differous01]

Opening the book at the page of Holy Coffee Stain. [1:19]

[@Ladco77]

Instead of the human practice of placing a hand on their holy book when taking an oath, the Narn practice will be to punctuate their oaths by putting their face in the Book of G'kar and having it forcefully closed on their face. Naturally, the more pain that one endures by this the more devout their oath, so the tradition will be to use larger and larger books, closing them with more and more force to the point it draws blood. It will then be considered a blood oath and the oath will only be seen as valid IF blood was drawn. If no blood is drawn, then the person making the oath or the person closing the book will be deemed unfaithful and shunned, or worse.

[@JaniceHope]

Hahahaha! Bwahahaha! Thanks for the laugh. But damn yeah this is so accurate.

[@ledarbyromeo9667]

I laughed so hard at this.

[@angelangelis8362]

To be quite fair, it's a good lesson.

[@SMAXZO]

You know, when I hear "There is no Most Holy, there is only me", when it comes from anyone else, I hear pride and boastful..but when it comes from G'Kar, I hear humbleness.

[@micahwhite1246]

Who is called most holy?

[@SMAXZO]

@@micahwhite1246 One of the Narn called G'Kar Most Holy.

[@AccidentalNinja]

This is one of my favorite scenes. Nothing like someone arguing with the author about what their own book means.

[@morlokvestai-kurak9680]

My favorite G'Kar moment is when Vir and G'Kar are in the lift and tries to apologize to him and G'Kar takes out a blade, cuts his hand. As the blood drips to the floor... "Dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, how do you apologize to them?"

[@RandallHallKaizenReiki]

That's the dangers of religions and literary interpretation.

[@r.c.auclair2042]

There was a similar scene in the Star Trek episode Relics, when Geordi La Forge & Captain Scott were working on an obsolete ship together, Captain Scott recommended something, La Forge said it was impossible, Captain Scott asked where he got that idea, La Forge quoted impulse engine specs, Captain Scott said, "Forget it. I wrote the bloody thing."

[@robertcampbell8070]

I mean, I would say sometimes an author doesn't write what they intended to write, they write what the needed to write. Fahrenheit 451 was Ray Bradbury writing about the dangers of television and how it would destroy the written word. Yet 99% of people that have read the book would tell you it's clearly about the dangers of censorship and authoritarianism, so much so that when Bradbury gave a lecture of the book at a university, the students straight up told him he was wrong. And you know what? They were right. He WAS wrong. He didn't write a book about television. He wrote a book about censorship, whether he intended to or not

[@deniseboldea1624]

The scene does drive home a point, if Jesus did pop down to Earth to straighten all the ultra religious out about what his teachings really meant, how many would disagree with him, or still how many would go so far as to label him a blasphemer? The other funny scene from this episode is where G'Kar bumps into Londo, The Centauri notices the crowd following his friend and remarks that he didn't know he had so many kids. G'Kar glibly replies "Neither did I"?😄

[@DoremiFasolatido1979]

I love the bodyguard. Dude sittin there the whole time...knowing what's coming as soon as G'kar facepalms. Fully in the know because that's the whole reason he now follows G'kar. He, like so few at this point in the show, completely gets the fundamentals. He's no quester of spirituality, but he gets the basics, and gets why they matter, and why protecting G'kar is important to it all. And he just sits and waits and watches the dummies learn it all the hard way.

[@JC130676]

Also note how he leans forward slightly with anticipation. He's clearly thinking: "Oh this is gonna be good."

[@ireallyreallyhategoogle]

He knows how important G'kar is as a leader for the future of the Narns.

[@greggoat6570]

I wish that bodyguard character had been able to do more. G’kar doesn’t get the luxury of aids that stick around unlike other characters I suppose.

[@davidcampbell1420]

Did he not also say he's guarding the message, as well? If G'kar lets it get to his head and make it about himself, he'd strike G'kar down?

[@Soulsphere001]

It's actually scary that there are people like that follower who just doesn't get it. Some people who think that everyone different than them can't be trusted.

[@mimikiryuu]

ive watched this series a MILLION times (no kidding i can probably quote it all) and i JUST noticed that the page he opened, has the coffee stain made by Mr. Garibaldi. made it even funnier

[@roguishpaladin]

It's also thematically appropriate, since the reproduction of the coffee mug stain in the book was itself due to people being too literal about the importance of the media rather than the themes behind the media.

[@darthXreven]

they even mention it at some point too, i think G'Kar himself brings it up lol

[@zarabada6125]

@@darthXreven Garibaldi makes coffee stains in two books. G'Kar lends him the book of G'Quon (not sure of official spelling) which he stains within the series. Later G'Kar mentions that Garibaldi left a coffee stain in his own book, which must have occurred off camera. I've never been able to work out whether the writers intended for Garibaldi to deface both books or they got muddled over which one he defaced originally.

[@edthejester]

Well it IS the best part of the book, you know.

[@1darkironman1]

and now mr.garibaldi's coffee stain will be regarded as a holy symbol for thousands of years

[@Violent2aShadow]

That Narn should be glad that it wasn't written in stone.

[@mountainstartemple6041]

yeah Moses' Ten Commandments must have been hell ....or the Flintstone Bible

[@anamericancelt6534]

Made my day.

[@MarpoLoco]

;-D

[@ryanarment5393]

If it was then it would be written on stone in blood

[@proadmin1]

Like that would help - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pInIhaaNfLWHZtk

[@BaconMinion]

One could say that G'Kar... drew that chapter to a close. ... I'll be leaving now.

[@ryanarment5393]

Yes, it's fair to say that he closed the book on it.

[@KellendirsCorner]

I believe you mean, "drew that chapter to a nose".

[@tricky2258]

G'Kar speeches were inspiring when he became wise and put aside revenge against the Centauri. Even Londo respected him and that's not easy getting his respect!

[@DrJReefer]

After getting his mind broken by epic space acid.

[@WERTY123]

religious fanatics can learn a lot from this scene.

[@saquist]

And atheist can learn even more from the series.

[@samuelvine]

The show was written by an Atheist.

[@saquist]

GOOOD. Then you know exactly what I mean. "I think it behooves us to treat our characters' beliefs with some measure of respect, whatever he believes in. I mean I'm an atheist myself, but I don't have to believe in Minbari to write about Minbari. I think if that person is a religious character, then you have to treat them with integrity and deal with them properly. As a result, this show is very popular with a lot of religious folks. "

[@dreadcthulhu5]

+just me at home *WHUMP!* XD

[@Asher_Tye]

saquist 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@xenalover99]

out of all the sci-fi shows i have watched over 45yrs this show(even more than star trek)has affected me in my personal life more than any show.i gained so much wisdom from this series and how everyone can be redeemed.i hated G'Kar when this series started but at the end of the series i could not get enough his words.great actors all thru this series and Andreas Katsulas's work bringing this iconic character to life may be the best acting in SciFI series history.

[@piotrd.4850]

That's when awesome concept, writer and actor - become one!

[@DrJReefer]

@@piotrd.4850 The costumes and fx look a bit iffy on a 40inch Hd tv but it doesn't matter. The story and acting wouldn't be out of place now.

[@perfectsplit5515]

"Look at us! We're at each other's throats! Have I taught you no better than this? By G'Quan, I won't have this!"

[@every116]

@@DrJReefer Speaking of which is GKar missing one of his red contact lenses or is there a reason he only has one red eye in this scene?

[@DrJReefer]

@every116 This one gets asked a lot. He loses an eye but gets a replacement from Franklin. Because B5 is under embargo, he can't order a new Narn eye and has to modify a human cybernetic they have in storage to fit Gkar. Hence, the blue eye.

[@RANDOMNATION907]

The coffee ring stain on the page is awesome. (1:19)

[@jekubfimbulwing5370]

Faithfully reproduced in every copy!

[@xxlCortez]

Wasn't it Garibaldi?

[@burstcity3832]

@@xxlCortez In the original yes, each copy must have every mark the original has including the coffee mug mark. Its a great piece of imagery highlighting G'kar's point. If the book is perfect and written under the influence of the universe then the universe has a sense of humour and doesn't take itself too seriously, otherwise, why the stain?

[@jchorn7180]

This lesson can make Kosh 'smile'.

[@robertcampbell8070]

I love the dude behind G'Kar. He's just like "This idiot. Here we go again."

[@RaspberrySuprise]

Ta'Lon frequently has wisdom.

[@freezetasticvoyage19]

Marshall Teague (Ta'Lon) was golden in this. 😂🤣😂🤣

[@waveman0]

Ta'Lon is my favourite character out of the series, though we saw very little of him he left a lasting impression on me.

[@collins.4380]

In some random parallel universe, it's G'kar's facepalm from this scene, that becomes the big internet meme.

[@Fayanora]

"I am NOT your messiah!" "OUR MESSIAH!!!" "He's not a messiah, he is a very naughty boy!"

[@shyone968]

I have not been able to find it here so I will have to rewatch the series but I love Delen's speech about us being the universe made manifest. We are the same molecules as a sun. We are stare stuff. Always picks me up when I am feeling low.

[@DrJReefer]

She was paraphrasing a Joni Mitchell song.

[@catsi563]

also a quote from Carl Sagan we are star stuff

[@TheErilaz]

*slam!* *Whimpering* Some lessons can be learnt from pain.

[@Darkphoenix007A]

As G'Kar so wisely noted, the future is, inevitably, born out of pain.

[@scionofdorn9101]

The most poignant and lasting lessons are learned from pain. Pain instructs.

[@pantarei8382]

Can you imagine having to argue with your own words with your own people.. my favorite alien ever!!

[@davidpickens8800]

I love that in the book, you can see the coffee ring Garibaldi left,

[@CrispyDruid]

I have to say - if G'Kar had asked /me/ to put my face in the book? Wouldn't have hesitated. ^^;; RIP, Mr. Katsulas. =,)

[@darthXreven]

i would have said, "thank you sir may I have another?" when he closes the book on me....that'd make him laugh I bet LMAO G'Kar was the best

[@dene39]

Andreas/G'kar and Londo/Peter carried B5 on their oh so talented backs.

[@Asher_Tye]

In the Book of G'Kar? I AM G'Kar, how can it override me?

[@burstcity3832]

Welcome to religion.

[@Iejir_Isk]

Love the show, and Love G'Kar... G'kar taught and teaches many things, long after the show.

[@ziggymcdougal]

they even reproduced garibaldi's coffee stains, i love it

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

The most holy of circles!

[@JaimeWulf]

The character arc of G'Kar was central to the entire show IMHO... I feel the lessons he learned throughout the show were the lessons we were supposed to be learning all along while watching...

[@DrJReefer]

Like not getting caught up in simplistic paradigms of 'good and evil' when the reality is far more complicated. The whole plot is kicked off by a misunderstanding. Earth is saved from total genocide... by a misunderstanding of who Sinclair was. What you think you *know* is probably wrong and actively making you part of the problem.

[@SardonicALLY]

Lesson number two is a swift kick in the nads... for the slow learners.

[@grendelum]

...and feck, it looks like it’s time to rewatch the series so I can better appreciate just how good moments like these are.

[@burstcity3832]

Get ready for the remake! It will be tough to do, I hope G'kar is retired and we get a new character instead.

[@exposingproxystalkingorgan4164]

I was told that participation education by real examples helps the students learn faster and internalize the lesson concepts. G'kar's assistant did say that was lesson one.

[@peskylisa]

I absolutely LOVE this show! They don't make them like that anymore!

[@KeenanV]

To be fair, they didn't make them like that before either. Babylon 5 is a one-of-a-kind, a true masterpiece.

[@Aku9466]

I love G’Kar so very much for moments like this and so many more

[@simonwillis1529]

I still learn from g kar we was wise sadly those who followed him they didn’t hear him This was so great

[@hagamapama]

Show me any religious figure from our own history and there'll be no shortage of people who read or hear his words and then only see what they want to see.

[@KneelB4Bacon]

_"There's Lesson #1."_ lol.

[@iamtenzin4409]

+Catzilla Maybe the effects for this show are a bit outdated, but damn if those words aren't as if not more meaningful today than ever before.

[@iamtenzin4409]

+Catzilla And it figures that it would be on the page with the coffee stain too....

[@Griezz]

+IamTenzin That wasn't a coffee stain; that was an official Garibaldi Stamp of Approval.

[@iamtenzin4409]

David Scott Pressed into place with a resounding "whack" as the book closed! LOL

[@Revkor]

+IamTenzin the effects have aged well a tribute to the Amiga.

[@deniss1]

The creator of this show was a Genius,this explains shortly what happened to all religions,followers wanted to even surpass their founders and here we are now.

[@m_hub3957]

RIP G'Kar

[@drakar2835]

IMO the best science fiction series, in spite of a grave the lack of budget!

[@dreadcthulhu5]

As a fan of them all I don't like to compare them. They all have good points.

[@Asher_Tye]

Cynical Cthulhu Comparison is fine, ignoring flaws of one to pretend its flawless to the others is where you run into problems.

[@sbritton1313]

The original star trek series also was lack of a budget... But this show was written and planned to be a full story, not just episodes that may or may not have some meaning behind it...

[@InsaneBlade]

ah the book of G'Kar great read even better as a weapon!

[@davidking6750]

"how then can yOu go against it?!" .........."uhhhh I wrote it!" HAHA ... also one must become one with the Book of G'Kar" to really appreciate it. This pupil has become one with it like no other :D haha!

[@jonathanlewis4077]

GKar is my favorite guy on the show strong 💪 smart fearless and awesome

[@alexdavies7988]

G'kar you fucking legend!!!!!

[@JnEricsonx]

Man, I really wanted to see a follow up, a honest "Next Generation" based on the group shot at the end of the show. Ta'Lon would have made a interesting sucessor to G'Kar.

[@tonydelfrano7858]

He realized what G"Kar was gonna do but did it anyway!

[@robertcohen1888]

This was one of my favorite scenes of the series.

[@danielwilliamson6180]

RIP Andreas Katsulas 1946 - 2006.

[@Lanceb131]

LMAO 🤣1 of my favorites! That whimper at the end! LMAO

[@nicholasdickens2801]

That dear viewer... is what the facebook means. You do not trust it.

[@NPC-nn4qe]

This needs more likes.

[@davesalmon2492]

Most sci-fi tends towards stereotypes to me Babylon did not as much. I enjoyed watching the characters battle with their differences more than anything else in the series. Mollari and Gkar and Vir stapled the whole script for me. Great acting from everyone all seemed possible and politically real.

[@ilposten]

Really shows G'Kars humor.

[@que4069atl]

This should apply to major religion today!

[@saquist]

Not just religion but to politics and any ideology.

[@James-lh7rj]

If all religions took this lesson to heart this world would be a lot better place

[@saquist]

If all PEOPLE took this lesson to heart. religions don't learn people do. Listen to what he's saying. By the end of the book his G'KAR learned to trust not the the religion.

[@thenuclearsandwich]

There are so many outstanding memorable scenes in B5. This is one of them.

[@charleskroman5006]

Funny how this aired before Facebook started. G’kar should have been given royalties

[@Theri4444]

and then G'kar realized his mistake on writing the book of G'kar when they start to worship G'kar like he's a god and I mean hundreds of thousands of narns do

[@Asher_Tye]

Theri4444 he explained that the book wasn't meant to be published until after he was dead. They jumped the gun when he went to Centauri and thought he wouldn't come back.

[@kevinnazario1015]

waaay too awesome

[@maxmustermann9587]

❤ so beautiful done ❤

[@danielmuratore]

Grow up watching this one of the best and favourite sifi

[@teax25]

lol, G'Kar. Who would thought that he would part a importation role in the Earth Civil War and later a key figure in the IA. That is one person who no forget way he fight even when there was no Hope.

[@mkumku7997]

As Nice and funny as this scene is, sadly its lesson has not yet reached humanity.

[@pasqualguigano6315]

What a great actor!!!!

[@override367]

When a college student is arguing with the professor who wrote the textbook

[@getreal2977]

This is one of my most favorite scenes from the whole series. It reminds one talking with religious nutcases or a rpg rule nut which let one easily feel like playing vs. a lawyer with their attitude for rules.

[@rizon72]

I'd go beyond what you said, it can be applied to any fanatic about really, anything.

[@jimsweet3608]

Why does this scene remind me of Charlie Brown trying to kick the football being held by Lucy? LOL

[@robertwlester]

great clip :D

[@johnbanks4761]

GREAT scene..even the one behind the questioner could see this coming..hilarious

[@DrJReefer]

Thanks Rob.

[@lovepalawan]

Holly bookz Fantaztic.!!!!

[@thcollegestudent]

I can't help but imagine a figure like Jesus trying to argue something he wrote to his own followers.

[@DrJReefer]

I think that's the point.

[@hackman669]

Now that would be awesome. Jesus telling his followers they got things right or wrong to their face!!!

[@alexandriamaguire8224]

@@hackman669 there's a bunch of people who could use that actually.

[@actionsub]

@@hackman669 If you read through the gospels, though, Jesus was perpetually having these facepalm moments with the 12 disciples, not to mention the Scribes and Pharisees who were perpetually trying to use the written word to play "gotcha" with Jesus to discredit him.

[@slitor]

A good lesson...take it from me... If I had trusted everything every atheist said...I'd be mad as a hatter. Identity and ego are dangerous precedence.

[@Infernal460]

More tea ?

[@slitor]

Nah, Irish my coffe.

[@gregjhill]

This scene is one reason why Babylon 5 was so good!

[@Thescott16]

Q: What is the meaning of life? A: If you understood the question then you wouldn't have asked it, and I cannot give you a satisfactory answer when you do not understand your question.

[@privatename5788]

I kind of wish that Jesus would come and do this to his fan club today.

[@Daehawk]

I think Neroon and Marcus would have something to say about lessons not hurting so much.

[@NickJohnCoop]

The guy *knew* what was going to happen .

[@dirdib69]

I liked that they showed us the "next generation" of B5 - Lochley, Ta'Lon, Vir, Zack, Lillian Hobbs (Franklin's replacement) near the end of Season 5. It would have been nice to see something with them settling into their roles, maybe a "Lost Tales" story, but I understand why it didn't happen. I liked, though, that there were 19 or so years between the time the principals left and the final story of B5.

[@daHipsta]

Babylon 5 The Lost Tales (2007)

[@rfletch62]

So true. The last shot of the salute was good, with the "Sleeping in Light" theme in the background.

[@DrJReefer]

Yes. I can see that.

[@darkmift]

The thesis for enlightment assumes most if not all can be enlightened. Truth is there those unable or unwilling.

[@ServantOfOdin]

Put your face in the book Put your faith in the book.....

[@randyranderson690]

This is a perfect example of People who wrote the bible and the christians who do not question it's validity and blindly follow it.

[@CMOT101]

There are some people in these comments who really need lesson 1

[@jaffarebellion292]

He may be a xeno, but I think he and the Emperor of Mankind would have a very interesting conversation.

[@BarrakDraconis]

Yosemite Sam's accountant: "Not the nose-in-the-book penalty!"

[@mountainstartemple6041]

*CLAMP* hehehhe there's lesson #1 .... revelation!

[@owlsayssouth]

I love the coffee stain in it, from mr Garibaldi, faithfully reproduced in all the copies.

[@0israphel0]

The most holy!! :D

[@mikecimerian6913]

G'Kar reminds me of a Latin teacher.

[@chuckkroman3207]

Lesson one never trust everything you see on Facebook

[@Anlushac11]

"What did we learn?"

[@ThaRealElTigra]

Correction: It's THE science fiction show

[@saquist]

It's the same concept as the Matrix. Control vs Freedom. Chaos vs Order

[@PressA2Die]

[Leather Creaking Intensifies]

[@sysghost]

That's the problem with books, holy texts and language: Everyone interprets it in their own way. Then the loudest one will take the lead no matter how wrong it is.

[@martintheiss4038]

In the Christian world a commandment was made of the leadership to develop a collective journal which should have been about 128 books at the time and not all were followed everywhere. Now people say its sacred and no one can challenge it.

[@DrJReefer]

Actually you're right. There is a lesson in this story. It's about the stupidity of religious dogma and the wilful ignorance of people who don't listen. Mingeracist has wildly missed the point.

[@robertalexander5892]

"There's lesson number one". ROFLMAO!

[@christianresel8051]

G'Kar showing in one little moment what i think of religion in total XD

[@johnlansing2902]

Classic .

[@Maca475]

I really loved these characters. But I feel that in the last seasons the make up was kind of "humanized", thefacial features were made softer and rounder and Narns had less and smaller spots. For me best makeup season was season 2 and 3. Where Narns looked more alien and threatening without being etremely over the top. Whereas on season 5, in the episode "objects at rest" Ta Lon looks out of C&C while Lochley salutes. His face is so plain for a narn, compared to the makeup in the episode when he was Na' Fars bodyguard, for example, which was awesome.

[@a-sheepof-christ9027]

Either the book is trustworthy and authoritative, or corrupted and must be read with context in mind: even in regards to absolute truths. If it says others can't be trust, but fellow kin can be trusted: then that is obviously a emphatic statement and not to be taken literal as in meaning "no exception". Gkar closing the book on his fellow companion disproves nothing, but makes him look like a literalist and his companion simply a purist, the former being much worse than the latter.

[@RandallHallKaizenReiki]

Only one small problem with the scene. They Narn turned to the middle of the book, not early in it.

[@95DarkFire]

The follower has a point though: The purpose of written teachings is that they remain fixed, to provide a common ground for ideas. If G'Kar changed his mind about the content, he should have rewritten it, or make the mutability of the writing clear from the beginning.

[@azai247]

What that Narn doesnt understand is that the book of G'kar is a description of his life and his journey. The entire reason for the book is so people can see the change in his attitude and to then see why the change happened.

[@elricengquist9989]

Except something can be true at two different points when you add in perspective. From the perspective of G'kar at the beginning of the book the centauri an other races can not be trusted, but as he lived an his p[perspective changed thru the experiences he had that fact changes an yet both facts are true at their specific time. The way he an other Narns were acting made it that they could not trust outsiders, as the outsiders could not trust them, but as they began to accept an trust they found that some of those in other races could be trusted even some centauri. I mean G'kar could never forgive the centari for what they did to his people, but over the course of the series G'kar found he did not have to forgive the centauri to be able to forgive Londo for his actions, and that is actually a very important fact as it shows them making that first step towards healing an mending in the long term. As he is not making Londo carry a burden he had nothing to do with, but instead only making him bare his own personal burden he committed.

[@timmooney6910]

There are certain people of various religions who say their holy books tell them to hate and kill that I would like to do this to.

[@DrJReefer]

They mostly only sort of say who to kill. They leave it up to the interpretation of the readers. It's useful if your spiritual enemies are fluid

[@TomUK737]

I'm an atheist and certainly no religious apologist, but it seems to me that more people were tortured and killed by anti-religious regimes than theocracies. Maybe the problem isn't religion per se, but rather any ideology pursued zealously?

[@Darkwizzrobe]

Nice facepalm there G'kar