Victor de la Cruz

“Your choices, Clark. Your actions. That’s what makes you who you are.”

From: Superman (2025)

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Superman

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the DC 2025 superhero movie, Superman (2025). Written and directed by James Gunn, the film features the titular hero in turmoil after a message from his Kryptonian parents are translated and it turns out they may not have had the best intentions when sending him to Earth. This turns the public’s opinion against him and also leads to Superman questioning his purpose.

The quote comes near the end of the movie. Superman/Clark Kent (played by David Corenswet) is still in shock after it’s revealed his biological parents wanted him to rule the planet and not protect the people. His adoptive father, Pa Kent (played by Pruitt Taylor Vince) tells him it’s never a parent’s job to tell their kids what to do with their lives and he says Clark wanted the message to mean is more important. This is when Pa Kent delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Who you are when you are born is just a matter of circumstance. You can be from whatever race or class. But, ultimately, those circumstances are not what should define you. What should define you is how you choose to live and behave.

“There’s a platypus controlling me!”

From: Phineas and Ferb

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the Disney animated series Phineas and Ferb. The show revolves around Phineas and Ferb, two brothers who, thanks to their inventive minds as well as engineering skills, manage to create and build various fantastical object in order to enjoy themselves during their summer vacation. Their sister, Candace, always wants to “bust [her] brothers” by telling on them to their mom. However, Phineas and Ferb’s creations usually vanish before their mom arrives. This is usually due to some mishap, usually caused by their pet platypus, Perry, who also a secret agent, and his nemesis Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz.

The quote comes from the episode Brain Drain. In the episode, Dr. Doofenshmirtz puts a mind control helmet on his nemesis, Perry the Platypus, and he is able to control everything he does. Later, as they goes to pick up his daughter at a junk yard where a party is being held, a mishap happens and Phineas, Ferb and their friends are able to control Perry the Platypus with their gaming controllers. Thinking Dr. Doofenshmirtz is the final boss of the game they’re playing, they attack him while controlling Perry. While escaping, Dr. Doofenshmirtz falls down a hill, gets his hands covered with glue and gets records attached to his fingers. Perry then puts the mind control helmet on him and controls him to do rap called “There’s a Platypus Controlling Me” in front of his daughter and his friends. He delivers the quote (in song) which the crowd believes is a metaphor instead of being literal.

Geek wisdom: Although Dr. Doofenshmirtz was using the quote literally, the metaphorical way of thinking of it is also true. We all have something that is telling us what to do, both literally and figuratively. It can be hard to find that balance between these outside forces and what we want to do but that’s just the way life is.

“Don’t you put that evil on me, Ricky Bobby!”

From: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Lucius Washington

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2006 sports comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Rick Bobby. The movie follows the titular character Ricky Bobby, a professional race car driver throughout a significant portion of his life and career.

The quote comes in the middle of the film. Ricky Bobby (played by Will Ferrell) gets in an accident and has to go to the hospital. He has a psychological break as, due to his fear of getting into another accident, believes he’s now paralyzed. His friends learn the truth from the doctor and try to convince Ricky Bobby it’s all in his mind and he can go back to racing again.

Ricky Bobby becomes agitated and then wishes for his friends to eventually have kids and they become paralyzed so they would know his pain. Angered that his friend would wish this on him, the head of his pit crew Lucius Washington (played by the late Michael Clark Duncan), yells out the quote at Ricky Bobby.

Geek Wisdom: No matter the circumstance, it’s just wrong to wish evil on others, especially when they only want the best for you.

“It’s clobberin’ time!”

From: Fantastic Four

Genre: Comics

Who said it?: The Thing/Ben Grimm

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from Marvel‘s First Family, the Fantastic Four. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the Fantastic Four are a group of people who were bombarded with cosmic rays that granted them superpowers. They then decided to use these new abilities to help mankind.

The quote is actually the catchphrase of one of the members of the Fantastic Four, Ben Grimm AKA The Thing. The first time the catchphrase/quote was used was way back in Fantastic Four #22, The Return of the Mole Man. In the issue, Mole Man managed to trick the Fantastic Four into an isolated island and plans to trap them there while he sinks New York and Moscow in order to get the two nations to ignite a world war.

Sue Storm/Invisible Woman uses her new found ability to create force fields to enable them to pass through their radioactive prison. As the Fantastic Four escape and prepare to go after the Mole Man, Ben Grimm/The Thing utters the catchphrase and the quote for the very first time in Marvel continuity.

Geek wisdom: While it’s always nice to try to resolve things peacefully, there are times when force will be necessary. Sometimes, you do have to go “clobberin'” in order for peace to work.

“I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.”

From: Airplane!

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Dr. Rumack

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes the 1980 spoof comedy, Airplane! A pastiche of disaster movies of the 70’s such as Airport, The Poseidon Adventure, The Towering Inferno and, most especially, Zero Hour!, Airplane! focuses on a former fighter pilot traumatized from the war, who is forced to take command of a commercial airliner when the assigned pilots are incapacitated. The film has an all-star cast, including the likes of Peter Graves, Leslie Nielsen and Robert Stack. These actors were actually known for more serious roles, so having them perform comedy just adds to the humor of the situation.

The quote comes in the middle of the film. Former fighter pilot Ted Striker (played by Robert Hays) is called into the cockpit by Dr. Rumack (played by the aforementioned Leslie Nielsen). As he has determined the pilots are incapable to land the plane, Dr. Rumack asks Ted Striker if he can do just that. Ted replies with the phrase “Surely you can’t be serious” and Dr. Rumack does reply that he is serious before perhaps misunderstanding the first word and delivering the quote.

As kind of a continuance of the gag, as Dr. Rumack’s first name is never given, fans have comically concluded that his first name is indeed Shirley.

Geek wisdom: Names are important as they are going to be linked to who you are. However, sometimes, some people just don’t want to be called a certain way so it’s important to also respect their wishes.

“We’re all stories in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?”

From: Doctor Who

Genre: Television

Who said it?: Doctor Who

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the British sci-fi program, Doctor Who. The long running program started way back in 1963 on the BBC. The program follows The Doctor and his various “companions” throughout various adventures in his time machine, the TARDIS.

The quote comes near the end of the episode entitled “The Big Bang.” The Eleventh Doctor (played by Matt Smith) visits his companion, Amy Pond (usually played by Karen Gillan but, in the scene, she was played by Caitlin Blackwood) on the night when they first met when she was seven years old. In order to save the universe (as well as restore Amy Pond’s parents back into the timeline), The Eleventh Doctor states he has to leave this current timeline.

The Doctor mentions Amy will probably not remember him at all but that’s not exactly true. She won’t remember him or the adventures they had together. Rather, she’ll be thinking of them as kind of a story she imagined. This is when The Doctor delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: No one can live forever… physically. However, when we do pass on, there will be people who will remember us, leaving a legacy of our limited time on this world. Now, people will remember us as they will remember what we’ve done and what we did not do. So, it’s up to us regarding if we are leaving a good or a bad legacy behind us.

“Maybe that’s the real punk rock.”

From: Superman (2025)

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Superman

The quote comes in the middle of the film. Superman (played by David Corenswet) is talking to Lois Lane (played by Rachel Brosnahan) and how Superman is going to turn himself in to save Krypto. Lois says how they are diametrically different and how she was a punk rocker teen who would question authority every chance she gets. Superman tells Lois he also liked punk rock and she can’t seem to believe that someone as straight and narrow as he is would like that kind of music. Lois then says that she doesn’t really trust people and that people are, deep inside, bad while he always seems to see the good in people. This is when Superman delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: In a world where cynicism is the norm, maybe it’s time to rebel against that. When the entire world is closed off and filled with hate, maybe it’s a good idea to show the world that it doesn’t have to be that way.

“That boy ain’t right.”

From: King of the Hill

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Hank Hill

The story behind the quote:

The quote comes from the animated sitcom King of the Hill, which recently got a revival which you can watch on Hulu in the United States. Created my Mike Judge, the show generally follows the Hill family, particularly the Hill patriarch, Hank Hill, as well as his friends and next door neighbors, as they deal with the someone exaggerated eccentricities of mundane, everyday life of midwestern America.

The quote is actually kind of a catchphrase spouted by Hank Hill (who is also voiced by Mike Judge) but not all the time as Hank’s wife, Peggy (voiced by Kathy Najimy), has also delivered a version of the quote. Either way, the quote will always be given whenever Bobby Hill (voiced by Pamela Adlon) does something seemingly strange that the adults don’t seem to understand.

Note: This is actually kind of a duplicate post from here. I made a mistake when I made that old post but it was not searchable for some reason. So, I thought I didn’t use this quote yet and I made a new post, which is this one!

Geek wisdom: Different generations will always have trouble understanding each other and, at times, the things the younger generation will do will feel strange and dumb. But they just might be just trying to do something different the older generation never thought of doing. What was “not right” in the past might become pretty normal in the future.

“Now boys and girls, what do you think that feels like?”

From: The Addams Family (1991)

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Morticia Addams

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 1991 black comedy The Addams Family. The Addams Family originated as a single panel comic strip created by Charles Addams and spawned a 1964 live-action television series as well as an animated cartoon in 1973. Like the previous iterations, the film focuses on the titular family who are creepy and kooky, mysterious and ooky.

The quote comes during the third act of the movie. After the entire Addams Family are booted out of their house and don’t have access to their fortune, the entire family try to find ways to earn money. Morticia Addams (played by Anjelica Houston) finds employment as a nursery school teacher. However, while telling the story of Hansel and Gretel, Morticia embellishes the story a little bit, telling how the kids pushed the “poor defenseless witch” into the oven and burning her alive. The children under her care start crying after she delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: A person can be shown to be good or bad depending on one’s perspective. As such, there are going to be times when events truly cannot be seen as black or white until all points of view are taken into consideration.

“In the end, my girlfriend became my archenemy, my archenemy became my best friend, and my best friend became my girlfriend. But hey, that’s high school!”

From: Sky High

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Will Stronghold

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2005 teen superhero movie, Sky High. One of Disney‘s lesser known superhero movies (way before they acquired Marvel), Sky High revolves around a teenager named Will Stronghold (played by Michael Angararo). Will isn’t your ordinary teen, however, as he is the son of the greatest superheroes of the world, The Commander/Steve Stronghold and Jetstream/Josie Stronghold. Unfortunately for Will, despite him coming of age, he still hasn’t developed any powers yet. As such, he is sent to the “sidekick” section of Sky High. While at Sky High, Will must navigate through regular high school life such as falling in love, making new friends, making the right friends, facing off against bullies as well as fighting off supervillains. Okay, maybe not that last one but you get the idea.

The quote comes from the very end of the film. After Will Stronghold and the “sidekicks” managed to save the day, he goes on to reminisce how the rest of his first year of high school was like. He then summarizes his current relationships with the people he ran into by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Your relationships with people will change over time. You may change. They may change. Whatever the reason, the people from your past you didn’t like before may turn out more appealing to you now. So, maybe it’s a good idea to give these people a second chance.