The Sith is a villainous organization of preternaturally gifted warriors in the fictional Star Wars universe. It is an ancient interstellar quasi-religious kraterocratic institution with an agenda of galactic domination. Sith are characterized by their desire to seize power through physical or metaphysical force, social maneuvering and political cunning. The Sith are the primary wielders of the dark side of the Force, and are thus usually considered antithetical to the Jedi.
Within the space opera setting of Star Wars, the Sith are an affiliation of warriors who cultivate a legacy of forbidden martial arts in pursuit of individual power, immortality, and galactic domination. Their schemes are key to the overarching plot of the Star Wars films and much other fictional material in the franchise. Frequently opposed by their ancient forebears, the Jedi, the Sith have also been stymied at crucial junctures by internal frictions. The notion that the Sith’s cruel and selfish philosophy is ultimately self defeating on both a personal and institutional level is a running theme within Star Wars media.
Individual Sith are characterized by their lust for power and their desire to destroy the Jedi Order, a philosophically and politically opposed organization of altruistic warriors who seek to use their own special abilities to advance the common welfare. The Sith philosophy lionizes greed, lust, selfishness and the attainment of power regardless of the cost to others. Both Sith and Jedi alike may draw on the Force to achieve a variety of superhuman feats. However, in keeping with their egoistical doctrine, the Sith use these powers for their benefit alone, often to manipulate and destroy others. The Sith are key villains within the Star Wars universe, and are enslaved to their own self-serving desires; amoral, sadistic, vindictive, violent and ultimately self destructive.