Yoda
(896 BBY-4 ABY)
BBY = Before the Battle of Yavin, A = After;
therefore Yoda lived to the age of 900.

Jedi Master Yoda is one of the most iconic characters in George Lucas' Star Wars universe.

Like many names in Star Wars, the name "Yoda" is supposed to have been etymologically derived from some ancient language -- in this case possibly from the Sanskrit yoddha ("warrior"), or possibly from the Hebrew yodea ("one who knows").

To his students, Yoda can appear as either very strict or like a grandfather, testing them to mental and physical extremes one moment and showing warmth the next.

(In the beginning of their training, students may not see eye-to-eye with him, but eventually come to see the significance of his teachings.)

Among his colleagues on the Jedi Council, he is known to have a penchant for mischief and practical jokes. To all of them, the humble Yoda, who offers enlightened leadership, epitomizes the ideals of the Jedi Order; he is widely known as a sage instructor.

According to the saga, the venerable Yoda has taught the secrets of The Force to generations of Jedi knights. His gnome-like wrinkles and "Object-Subject-Verb" speech pattern (i.e., "Evil You Are!" -- see quotes below) helped make him a hit with audiences.

Yoda is the only character seen to die peacefully from natural causes in Star Wars. Every other on-screen death before and after occurs violently and unnaturally.

Quotes

"You think Yoda stops teaching just because his student does not want to hear? Yoda a teacher is. Yoda teaches like drunkards drink, like killers kill."

"Wars not make one great!"

"When the day comes that even old Yoda does not learn something from his students -- then truly, he shall be a teacher no more."

"Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering."

"Meditate on this, I will."

"Yes, a Jedi's strength flows from the force. But beware the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression. The dark side of the force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight."

"In a dark place we find ourselves . . . a little more knowledge might light our way."

"Ready are you? What know you of ready? For eight hundred years have I trained Jedi. A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. This one a long time have I watched. All his life has he looked away . . . to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing. Hmph. Adventure. Heh. Excitement. Heh. A Jedi craves not these things. You are reckless."

"[Luke:] I can't believe it. [Yoda:] That is why you fail."

"Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try."

"Sick have I become. Old and weak. When 900 years old you reach, look as good you will not!"

"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."

"Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes."

"Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them do not. Miss them do not. Attachment leads to jealously. The shadow of greed, that is."

"Named must your fear be before banish it you can."

Links

The Star Wars databank here lives: http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/yoda/

About Yoda much information to learn there is: http://www.yodajeff.com/

Internet Wookiepedia quickly you visit: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Yoda

Travel to the Wikipedia galaxy the mouse-clicker will: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoda