Victor de la Cruz

“There is no such thing as a coincidence.”

From: Tiktok/YouTube

Genre: Internet/Web Series

Who said it?: William Knight/grandrisingapp

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes the world of TikTok and YouTube and it’s from a meme from 2020.

William Knight created the grandrisingapp account on Tiktok to promote is self-affirmation app called Grand Rising. He became widely known thanks to his very piercing stare (wherein he uses a filter to get the eyes) and very serious tone. He blew up as a meme when, during one of his videos, a jogger brushed past him and she lets out an audible scream after he turns to her.

Geek wisdom: Life does have a lot of twists and turns and, for the most part, all of our decisions and choices we’ve made has led us down the path we are on. Whether consciously or subconsciously, we are where we are right now because of what we’ve done.

“Say the line, Bart!”

From: The Simpsons

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Milhouse Van Houten

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from one of the episodes of The Simpsons. As one of the longest running shows ever (and since I’ve already used a lot of Simpsons quotes in the past), this show needs no introduction anymore.

The quote comes from the 5th season episode entitled “Bart Gets Famous.” In the episode, Bart Simpson accidentally becomes super famous due to a mishap he caused during the Krusty the Klown show, leading him to becoming known for saying “I didn’t do it.” At first, Bart enjoyed his newfound fame but starts to get tired of it as he becomes pigeonholed for only saying the line, despite trying new things. During this time, the entire class stops, with everyone staring at Bart. Bart then just wants to keep the lesson going, leading to Milhouse to goad Bart into saying his catchphrase with the quote.

Geek wisdom: There will be a time when you can feel stuck in a rut and want to expand your horizons but you might be afraid of change. That’s totally normal and the best way to get over that fear is to actually try something new.

“The only thing I do know is that we have to be kind. Please, be kind, especially when we don’t know what’s going on.”

From: Everything Everywhere All at Once

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Waymond Wang

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the award winning film, Everything Everywhere All at Once. The film focuses on Evelyn Wang, a seemingly nobody who is struggling in her business and life. Due to a series of events, it turns out she might be the only one who can save this universe and the entire multiverse from utter destruction.

The quote comes from the climax of the film. Evelyn Wang (played by Michelle Yeoh), feeling hopeless, gives up as she feels life is pointless. She stops, however, to listen to her husband, Waymond Wang (played by Ke Huy Quan) as he pleads for everyone to stop fighting. This is when he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: The world can be a confusing and dark place and that makes it so easy to lash out at everything every time. But when we do, we are just adding to the confusion and darkness. It’s best to avoid adding more problems to the world and giving more good instead.

“You don’t think about saving the world. You think about saving one person. Because sometimes, that’s enough.”

From: Superman: Grounded

Genre: Comics

Who said it?: Superman

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from DC Comics’ Superman, specifically the first issue of the Superman: Grounded storyline. This follows Superman’s journey across the United States in an attempt to reconnect with the people of Earth after being offworld for so long.

The quote comes from the first issue of the storyline. Superman encounters a woman who wants to commit suicide by jumping off a building. She wants to kill herself as she feels hopeless as she lost her mother and her job. She basically feels she feels life is pointless. This is direct contrast with how she felt she was going to change the world after she graduated from high school and she feels life just isn’t fair. Superman says that’s just how life is. Superman then agrees with her that everyone believes they can save the world when the graduate high school. This is when he delivers the quote while reminiscing how his Kryptonian parents saved him by sending him to Earth.

Geek wisdom: We don’t have to do something grand to be a hero. Even the smallest heroic deed is still an act of heroism. And even helping just a singular person has an impact in the world.

“Disco? With myself? Outrageous!”

From: The Fairly Oddparents

Genre: Television, Cartoons

Who said it?: Jorgen Von Strangle

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Nickelodeon animated series, The Fairly Oddparents. The show features Timmy Turner who gets into various adventures because he has two fairy godparents, Wanda and Cosmo, who can grant his every wish. And these wishes usually backfires, leading to Timmy to un-wish whatever it was to return everything to its status quo.

The quote comes from the episode entitled “The Secret Origin of Denzel Cronker!” Denzel Cronker is one of Timmy Turner’s teachers who is obsessed with proving the existence of fairies. Deciding to figure out why Cronker is so mean, Timmy wishes to travel back to the past to find out. They eventually travel back to the 70’s and inadvertently cause a young Cronker to reveal that he had fairy godparents then. As revealing the existence of fairies is against the rules, the head fairy, Jorgen Von Strangle, erases every person’s memory and forbids Timmy, Wanda and Cosmo from trying to fix this. Jorgen then meets up with his 70’s counterpart and delivers the quote before the two versions dance.

Geek wisdom: It’s nice to be alone with yourself sometimes. While it’s good to be with company, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying the quiet solitude of having some fun by yourself as well.

“The hardest choices require the strongest of wills.”

From: Avengers: Infinity War

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Thanos

The story behind the quote: While I have touched upon a lot of quotes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the past, this is the first quote from a villian. Avengers: Infinity War focuses on Thanos (played by Josh Brolin) and his quest to gather the Infinity Stones to fulfill his plan to eliminate half the galaxy’s population to prevent suffering from a lack of resources. The Avengers stumble upon the plot and try to stop him.

The quote comes from the third act of the film. Thanos arrives on Titan to retrieve the Time Stone from Doctor Strange (played by Benedict Cumberbatch). Thanos explains to Doctor Strange how his planet used to be glorious but his plan to half his world’s population to prevent its annihilation was scoffed at. He then explains how, after he achieves his plan to do it on a universal scale, he’ll finally rest. This is when he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Sometimes, it feels so much easier to just quit when the going gets tough. However, only the people with really strong willpower will push though when the going gets tough.

“Good men mean well. We just don’t always end up doing well.”

From: Dead Space 3

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Isaac Clarke

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the third game in the Dead Space survival horror franchise. The games are set in the future where alien artifacts called Markers emit a kind of electromagnetic frequency which can cause hallucinations and cause the dead to come back as monsters.

The quote comes near the end of the game. Isaac Clarke, the survivor of the first game, and soldier John Carver reach the Machine that they believe can be used to stop an event known as the Convergence. Carver then tells Clarke to finish the mission no matter what happens to him. Carver believes that by getting them this far, he’s made up for his sins and is ready to die. This is when Isaac Clarke tries to reassure his comrade he’s still a good man by delivering the quote

Geek wisdom: Even the people who mean well will make mistakes. We are all human after all. We shouldn’t condemn others and ourselves for the things we’ve done in the past. It’s what we do afterwards that should count.

“People keep asking me if I’m back. And I really haven’t had an answer. But now, yeah, I’m thinking I’m back!”

From: John Wick

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: John Wick

The story behind the quote: This quote comes from the first film of the John Wick franchise. The film series follows the titular character, John Wick (played by Keanu Reeves), as a retired hitman who returns to his killing ways after some thugs kill his dog, which was the last thing his late wife gifted him before she passed. The film launched a franchise and, despite the original’s general low-budget, became a huge box-office sensation.

The quote comes from the middle of the film. John Wick is captured by Viggo Tarasov, the father of the person who killed John Wick’s dog. Viggo is upset at all the carnage John had done and he thinks it’s all because of a dog. John Wick then explains why the dog is special to him. This is when John Wick says he’s probably back to being the feared assassin by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Even people who have changed their ways can be pushed over the edge. So it’s always best to try to treat people with basic courtesy and kindness.

“Who the fuck starts a conversation like that? I just sat down!”

From: Family Guy

Genre: Television, Cartoons

Who said it?: Peter Griffin

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the extremely popular cartoon Family Guy. Fun fact: the show was initially cancelled after three seasons due to poor ratings. However, after the show started being aired on Cartoon Network and DVD sales went through the roof, Fox quickly pushed through with a new season… four years after it was initially cancelled.

The quote comes from the episode Tea Peter, the 21th episode of the 10th season. After his business is closed down for not having a business permit, Peter Griffin (voiced by show creator Seth Macfarlane) visits his regular bar to meet his friend, Glenn Quagmire (also voiced by Seth Macfarlane). Quagmire then asks Peter about if he accidentally gets aroused by younger pictures of his mother. This is when Peter delivers the quote in question.

Geek wisdom: While there is something to be said about getting straight to the point, there are always going to be topics you should ease into or just not talk about altogether.

“I did absolutely nothing. And it was everything I thought it could be.”

From: Office Space

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Peter Gibbons

The story behind the quote: Office Space is a cult classic movie from Mike Judge, the creator of Beavis and Butt-head. The story generally focuses of a group of frustrated office workers who work for Initech, a software company. Peter Gibbons, a rather meek person, gets hypnotized to a state of complete relaxation. Even though he openly shows his distaste for working at Initech due to being hypnotized, he’s the one that gets to keep his job while his friends get downsized.

The quote comes near the start of the film when Peter Gibbons (played by Ron Livingston) after he was hypnotized. He was supposed to work over the weekend but, because he was told to relax while under hypnosis, he didn’t. His friend then asks him what he did when he was told to work. This is when Peter gives the quote.

Geek wisdom: There is indeed a certain joy to spend some time for yourself and not think about any of responsibility. Sometimes, it can be the best thing you can do for yourself is to just concentrate on having as much fun as you can to take care of your well-being.