For thousands of years the Jedi were the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy.

The Jedi were the standard of peace, commitment, patience, and selfishness. In tune with the living force they used it for guidance and knowledge. Qui-Gon may have viewed the force and what it ment to the Jedi differently then the others.

Qui-Gon's views on the force kept him from a seat on the Jedi Council. He would often "feel" the force and let it guide him alone, shoving any personal thoughts he might have had aside. From his point of view this allowed him to act as a vessel for the living force. Sometimes these actions could seem reckless to others who did not share his view. He would not consider politics or the like when making decisions, instead feeling that the force compelled him to move in a certain direction.

Qui-Gon's actions had caused ripples well before he appeared on the screen in Episode I. For those the read some of the EU, you may know that Qui-Gon once took on an apprentice by the name of Xanatos. Xanatos was the son of wealthy man on the planet Telos. When a civil war threatened on Telos, Xanatos sided with his father, and Qui-Gon ended up killing Xanatos' father in battle. He latter battled Xanatos, but did not kill him, Xanatos fled. Would another Jedi, perhaps one on the Jedi council handled the situation the same way?

Imagine if you will that Qui-Gon survived the battle with Darth Maul on Naboo. How would he have viewed the threat of the Sith? The uprising in the Galaxy? If Anakin had been his padawan would young Skywalker still have fallen?

If Qui-Gon had not gone to negotiate with the trade federation at Naboo, and another Jedi, possible one from the council, had gone in his place would they have wanted Anakin trained? Would they have even brought the boy before the council?

Or perhaps Qui-Gon's views on the force were his own demise. Perhaps he played his role just as the force had determined his destiny to be.

Was Qui-Gon a true master of the ways of the force? Was the fact that even Yoda understood his deep understanding of the force when he communicated with him after his death the only argument we need?

Something to meditate on.