homer simpson – My Geek Wisdom

“You tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.”

From: The Simpsons

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Homer Simpsons

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the longest running animated series in the United States, The Simpsons. The show has been on for 29 straight seasons and counting and is a general smorgasbord for quotes.

The quote comes from the 18th episode of the 5th season, Burns’ Heir. In the episode, Mr. Burns has a near death experience and decides to hold an audition for all the kids in Springfield to become his heir. The Simpsons has their kids, Lisa and Bart Simpson try out but they fail to pass the audition. The kids are heartbroken and Marge asks Homer Simpson to cheer his kids up. Unfortunately, he doesn’t do a good job…

Geek wisdom: Homer Simpsons’ reaction is probably one we’re all familiar with. We try something once and, when we initially fail at whatever it is, we give up. This isn’t the way to get better at anything. If anything, this is a call for us to pick ourselves up and try again to get better at whatever it is.

Oh, and because of this “pep talk,” Bart Simpson pulls a prank at Mr. Burns house, which does get him signed as the heir apparent.

“Won’t somebody please think of the children?”

From: The Simpsons

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Helen Lovejoy

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote was actually popularized by The Simpsons. However, it is important to note that this wasn’t the first time it was used. In fact, the quote was already a rather cliche argumentative point way before it was popularized by the popular cartoon.

In the episode entitled “Much Apu About Nothing,” a bear wanders into the town by accident. Although the animal is immediately taken care of by the town’s authorities, Homer Simpson gets the other townsfolk rally to get Mayor Quimby to create a “bear patrol.” This does cause taxes to increase, which, once again, Homer Simpson and some people to go to city hall to lower taxes. Mayor Quimby, in the hopes of shifting blame to something else, says that the problem of higher taxes is due to illegal immigrants.

Throughout all this, Helen Lovejoy yells out the quote, exclaiming that the children need protection from the bears… and illegal immigrants.

Geek wisdom: Parents love their children and only want the best for them and to protect them from any harm. However, sometimes, they can get a little too overprotective which can be just as harmful to their kids as they will not be able to grow up and experience the world as it is. Sometimes, you have to let go and let them commit their own mistakes so they can learn from them.

“I have to go now. My planet needs me…”

From: The Simpsons

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: “Poochie” (voiced by Roger Meyers, Jr.)

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the ever popular show, The Simpsons. However, the actual quote itself has now become misquoted as most people remember the line to be “I must go” because of the very meme that made the line so popular in the first place.

The quote comes from the 14th episode of the 8th season of the show entitled “The Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie Show.” In an attempt to boost ratings for the flailing Itchy and Scratchy Show, the show’s producer, Roger Meyers, Jr. decides to add a new character into the mix, a hip dog named Poochie. Homer Simpson is hired to do the voice of the character. However, the character is universally disliked (except by Homer, of course). Homer’s plea to prevent the character from being killed off seems to have touched the show’s writers as he thinks the character can be bigger than every other character before. However, when the episode finally airs, the show airs as such…

Geek wisdom: There are people who think so highly of themselves that they can overstay their welcome. This was certainly true for Poochie in the show, even though he was only in a couple of episodes. Try to avoid those people as they will just bring everyone down.

“Stop, stop! He’s already dead!”

From: The Simpsons

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: A kid at the opening of a Krusty Burger

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the long running animated sitcom, The Simpsons. Specifically, the fifteenth episode of the show’s sixth season entitled “Homie the Clown.” The episode has Homer Simpson who, because of his uncanny likeness to Krusty the Clown, becomes a stand in for the clown. Homer gets sent to events that Krusty thinks are too demeaning to him.

The quote comes from the middle of the episode where Homer is sent in Krusty stead at one of the Krusty Burger openings. There is supposed to be a skit where the Krusty Burglar (a pastiche of the McDonalds Hamburglar) is stealing burgers. However, Homer thinks that the Krusty Burlar is real and proceeds to pummel the diminutive costumed individual in front of of a crowd of children, one of which delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: We can overdo things sometimes. It could be reacting to something bad that happens to us and then say it’s the worst thing to ever happen. We could overdo basic things like eating, leading to stomach aches. Or we could overdo even things that can be considered healthy, such as exercising to the point of exhaustion. The point is that we shouldn’t overdo or overreact to things. We should try to take things at what they’re supposed to be and nothing else.

“We said ‘meh’!” “M-E-H. Meh!”

From: The Simpsons

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Bart Simpson

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from The Simpsons’ episode entitled “Hungry Hungry Homer” which is the 15th episode of the 12th season of the long running cartoon. The episode is actually all about Homer Simpson staging a hunger strike when no one believes him when he tries to tell everyone that Springfield’s baseball team, the Isotopes, is movie to Albuquerque.

However, like all Simpsons episodes, things start of rather tamely. The Simpsons family is watching television when a commercial for Blockoland, a theme park much like Legoland, is shown. Thinking that the kids would love going there, Homer asks his children, Bart and Lisa if they would want to go there. He unfortunately gets a rather unenthusiastic response…

Geek wisdom: At times, we can get excited over the things that interest us and we try to share our love for those things to others. However, we do have to realize that some people may not feel the same way you do. They may feel totally disinterested in it or even hate whatever it is.

We can’t really get mad at them because all of us have different likes and dislikes. People are all different and will feel differently regarding different things. We have to respect their opinions and not force them to like or dislike something to conform with our own ideas.

“Stupid sexy Flanders”

From: The Simpsons

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Homer Simpson

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from The Simpsons’ episode entitled Little Big Mom, which was first aired way back in January 9, 2000.

In a memorable scene, Homer sees Ned Flanders in a very skintight skiing outfit and Flanders innocently mentions that it feels like he’s wearing “nothing at all.” When Homer loses control while skiing downhill, he desperately tries to remember what his instructor told him to do when he does get into trouble… but he just can’t get the image of Flanders shaking his tuckus.

Geek wisdom: Our mind will tend to wander to different things throughout the day. This habit can easily distract us from what were supposed to be doing, making it difficult to focus. It’s very difficult to overcome this interference as it can even take over when we’re trying to remember something important.

During times like this, it may be better to try not to think about the thing we want to remember. Rather, just relax and let your mind wander back to what it’s supposed to be thinking off in the first place.

“And I for one welcome our new insect overlords…”

From: The Simpsons

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Kent Brockman

The story behind the quote: It’s actually hard to write Geek Wisdom using the Simpsons. Not because there aren’t a lot of quotable lines from the show. Rather, it’s because 20th Century Fox will usually take down a lot of video clips from the show! This is a quote that has been in the making since I started writing this blog but I’ve never really been able to find a good clip or even a picture of the quote… until now!

The quote became popularized in the Simpsons episode “Deep Space Homer” wherein Homer Simpson becomes an astronaut because of NASA’s attempt to bring an “ordinary” man into space for publicity. Unfortunately, Homer accidentally breaks the ant terrarium, causing the ants to float all around the shuttle.

During an interview with news anchorman Kent Brockman, one of the ants float very close to the camera. Kent then concludes that the ants have taken of the shuttle and will be conquering the planet Earth next… so he delivers the quote.

Since I’m pretty sure the clip will be taken out soon (even with the edit), I’ve decided to post a picture of the quote below.

Geek wisdom: A person’s character can only be tested during hard times. And it may actually be surprising how fast your friends and even your family members can turn on you when things start to go south. Your mettle will also be tested during those trying times and you yourself may be shocked how quickly you can betray your family and friends.

A true test of a person’s character is what he’ll do when the odds aren’t in his favor. Like Kent Brockman, he caved when he thought the human race was about to be enslaved. How will you react against those odds?

“Don’t blame me. I voted for Kodos.”

From: The Simpsons

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Homer Simpson

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from The Simpsons’ 7th Treehouse of Horror special. The Treehouse of Horror is the show’s annual Halloween television special where the show spoofs various films and television shows. As such, they don’t fall into the regular “continuity” of the show’s illustrious 25 years of being on the air. One of the mainstays of the Treehouse of Horror specials is the appearance of the aliens Kang and Kodos. While they do appear in the episodes, they mostly are relegated to the background.

However, the segment Citizen Kang, they’re actually the ones that push the story forward. The aliens replace Bill Clinton and Bob Dole and run for the presidency in their place. Even after Homer exposes the aliens’ plot, Kang gets elected as “it’s a two-party system.” While the human race is building a weapon for the aliens, Homer reveals who he voted for.

Geek wisdom: It’s easy to focus blame on someone else. It’s almost instinctive for a lot of people and it’s understandable. No one wants to be the cause or the one at fault for anything bad. But someone has “to take the blame” and most of us are fine as long as it’s not them!

However, this is the wrong way of thinking. We have to own up to our mistakes when we commit them. That’s the only way we’ll learn from them. If we steer blame away from ourselves, the only thing we learn is how to avoid taking responsibility.