Why Qui-Gon Was Wiser Than Yoda (And the Council Knew It)

So, I’ve always been the kind of Star Wars fan who roots for the underdog, and for me, that’s Qui-Gon Jinn.

I remember the first time I watched The Phantom Menace. I was just a kid, but even then, I couldn’t figure out why the Jedi Council treated him like the weird uncle nobody invites to dinner. The more I thought about it, the more I realized: Qui-Gon wasn’t just a rebel—he might’ve been the wisest Jedi of them all.

Let me explain why.

Qui-Gon Was Living in the Moment

While the Council obsessed over rules and the “Cosmic Force” (big-picture prophecies, future stuff), Qui-Gon was all about the now. He let the Living Force guide him, trusting it to unfold as it should.

Case in point: finding Anakin in The Phantom Menace. The Council was skeptical (of course), but Qui-Gon? He straight-up said, “Finding him was the will of the Force.” He wasn’t chasing rank or recognition; he just followed where the Force led.

Even Obi-Wan called him out on this, saying, “You could be on the Council if you’d just follow the code.” But Qui-Gon didn’t care about climbing the Jedi ladder. He was too busy being the only Jedi who actually listened to the Force instead of tradition.

Qui-Gon’s Immortality

Here’s the kicker: Qui-Gon figured out how to cheat death. He was the first Jedi to discover the path to becoming a Force ghost. Not Yoda. Not Mace. Qui-Gon.

Yoda had to learn this ability from him. That’s a huge deal—it proves Qui-Gon wasn’t just a maverick. He understood the Force on a level that others didn’t. While the Council stuck to dogma, Qui-Gon unlocked the galaxy’s biggest mystery.

Why He Wasn’t on the Council

Let’s be real: the Jedi Council never wanted someone like Qui-Gon sitting with them. He wasn’t a “yes man.” He challenged their rigid views and called out their detachment from the will of the Force.

If he had joined, he probably would’ve been at odds with them constantly, stirring debates about their outdated rules and lack of connection to what really mattered.

In the end, Qui-Gon wasn’t about titles, power, or politics. He was about trusting the Force, even when it meant going against the grain. And that’s what made him truly wise.