The Simpsons has a number of the best characters within the historical past of animation, however there’s not a extra quotable individual on the present than Homer. Homer Simpson is every thing that audiences need out of a comedic lead; he’s nearly unbearably silly at instances, but has a genuinely good coronary heart and appears to care about Maggie, Lisa, Bat, and Marge. The Simpsons is usually at its greatest when it celebrates simply how caring and considerate Homer might be.
The Simpsons has endured for over three a long time due to how beloved the characters are in spite of everything this time; regardless that the present hasn’t fairly reached the highlights of its “Golden Age,” audiences are nonetheless invested in what wild new shenanigans Homer will get into, and what foolish catchphrases he comes up with subsequent. Listed here are the ten greatest Homer Simpson quotes from The Simpsons, ranked.
The Simpsons
- Launch Date
- December 17, 1989
- Seasons
- 36
- Major Style
- Comedy
- Studio
- Fox
10 “Why do my actions have penalties?”
“Rednecks and Broomsticks” – Season 21, Episode 7 (2009)
Though the final notion amongst followers of the present is that The Simpsons seemed to peak after its ninth or tenth season, a number of the newer episodes of the sequence within the twenty first century have given Homer the prospect to be somewhat extra considerate about his actions. In “Rednecks and Broomsticks,” Homer ponders why every thing he does appears to go the unsuitable means.
Though it is a humorous quote due to how inherently illogical it’s, Homer can also be a considerably tragic character whose greatest intentions generally go drastically awry, resulting in embarrassing conditions for each himself and his household. The Simpsons writers typically appear to get pleasure from torturing Homer with one horrible state of affairs after one other, so it’s good to see that the character himself not less than has somewhat little bit of self-awareness about his personal misfortune.
9 “He jogs my memory of me, earlier than the load of the world crushed my spirit.”
“Saturdays of Thunder” – Season 3, Episode 9 (1991)
The Simpsons has been remarkably progressive in exhibiting the progression of Homer’s mental health, because the sequence typically examines how his considerably nasty childhood along with his father Abe led him to have severely mismanaged expectations about what to anticipate out of life. Within the basic episode “Saturdays of Thunder,” Homer displays on how he would possibly have the ability to give Bart a greater life by giving him the alternatives that he by no means had.
The connection between Homer and Bart is usually a contentious one, however The Simpsons typically explores that there’s an underlying stage of sincerity between them. Whereas Homer would flip into an even bigger jerk in later seasons, this early installment was at a interval the place he was nonetheless the type of loving, all-American dad that followers of The Simpsons wouldn’t assume twice about rooting for to succeed in opposition to all odds.
8 “Attempting is step one in direction of failure.”
“Realty Bites” – Season 9, Episode 9 (1997)
Laziness is likely one of the most defining traits of Homer, as he typically chooses to easily not put any effort right into a state of affairs that he thinks will doubtless blow up in his life. Within the episode “Actuality Bites,” Homer means that his refusal to indicate any enthusiasm about his hobbies signifies a type of weak spot on his half. It’s a surprisingly darkish, but additionally relatable quote from a personality who is usually a lot wiser than he appears to be.
Whether or not its sports activities, household holidays, or vacation celebrations, Homer is usually the sufferer of unhealthy luck when he has an formidable plan in thoughts to enhance the circumstances of both himself, his mates, or his household. His want to easily not assume too critically about what may occur could also be cynical, but it surely’s not essentially a mistake when contemplating his observe report.
7 “I’ve realized that life is one crushing defeat after one other till you simply want Flanders was useless.”
“Homer and Apu” – Season 5, Episode 13 (1994)
The rivalry between Homer and Flanders is likely one of the most infamous within the historical past of The Simpsons. Flanders’ want for cleanliness, dignity, and compassion all the time appears to rub Homer the unsuitable means, as he can’t assist however really feel that he’s consistently being mocked. Though a few of Homer’s critical catchphrases wouldn’t be defined till afterward within the present, the episode “Homer and Apu” explored simply how a lot he disliked spending time with Flanders.
The connection between Homer and Flanders took some surprisingly darkish instructions afterward within the present, because the dying of Flanders’ spouse is likely one of the few moments during which The Simpsons really obtained critical. Admirably, Homer appears to indicate real sympathy for Flanders’ sons Rodd and Todd, as he goals to indicate them a “enjoyable” facet of life that they don’t get with their father.
6 “You tried your greatest and also you failed miserably. The lesson is: by no means attempt!”
“Burns’ Inheritor” – Season 5, Episode 18 (1994)
Homer’s relationship with Lisa is likely one of the most profound in The Simpsons, as the 2 characters couldn’t be additional aside when it comes to their pursuits and actions. Whereas Homer enjoys skating by and leaving every thing to the final minute, Lisa is a consummate overachiever with excessive requirements, who The Simpsons even predicted would grow to be President of america at one level.
Any second when Homer tries to offer Lisa recommendation about easy methods to stay her life is sure to be hilarious, because it’s clear that she is going to by no means take note of the awful classes that he offers her. That being mentioned, Lisa by no means appears to dismiss her father in his entirety; there are temporary moments sprinkled all through the present when her spectacular intelligence evokes him to be extra inventive, considerate, and thoughtful than he ever would have been in any other case.
5 “Don’t eat me. I’ve a spouse and children. Eat them.”
“Treehouse of Horror VII” – Season 8, Episode 1 (1996)
The “Treehouse of Horror” segments on The Simpsons are one of many present’s greatest operating gags, as annually the sequence airs an episode that takes place outdoors of the core continuity. Every “Treehouse of Horror” episode comprises three quick tales, every of which corresponds to a current hit film or tv sequence. The basic episode “Treehouse of Horror VII” confirmed that when dealing with a supernatural risk, Homer was prepared to sacrifice his circle of relatives with a view to save his pores and skin.
The “Treehouse of Horror” episodes of The Simpsons are humorous as a result of they’re according to the characters’ personalities, even when they introduce seemingly contradictory style components. It says rather a lot about Homer as a personality that when confronted with an existential risk to humanity, he can solely cower out of worry and attempt to keep away from a very nasty destiny by the hands of the episode’s villains.
4 “Lisa, in case you don’t like your job you don’t strike. You simply go in on daily basis and do it actually half-assed. That’s the American means.”
“The PTA Disbands” – Season 6, Episode 21 (1995)
Though it is a sequence that always invokes humor via its sheer absurdity, The Simpsons is usually a very intelligent work of social satire that pokes enjoyable on the notion of capitalism. There is no higher instance of this than the basic episode “The PTA Disbands,” during which Homer evokes Lisa and Bart to guide a strike in opposition to Springfield Elementary after Principal Skinner’s funds cuts result in a very depressing expertise for the entire college students. Nevertheless, Homer can’t anticipate that Bart and Lisa are profitable in inflicting some important reforms to their schooling system.
A few of the funniest moments in The Simpsons occur when Lisa and Bart really observe Homer’s recommendation, regardless of dismissing him to be a idiot. Homer is usually not very perceptive of the affect that he has on his kids, resulting in conditions just like the elementary college strike that rapidly spiral out of his management.
3 “Simpson! Homer Simpson! He’s the best man in his-tor-y … from the city of Springfield! He’s about to hit a chestnut tree!”
“Marge vs. The Monorail” – Season 4, Episode 12 (1993)
“Marge vs. The Monorail” personified the golden age of The Simpsons, and sometimes is ranked among the many greatest episodes that the sequence ever aired. The episode focuses on how Springfield is seduced by a charismatic salesman (Phil Hartman) who convinces them to spend money on a extremely costly monorail system that has critical security issues.
Homer’s expertise driving the monorail rapidly goes uncontrolled when the machine begins performing up, resulting in one of many largest disasters within the historical past of the present. The episode was written by a younger Conan O’Brien, who perfected the combination of sincerity and silliness that had all the time made Homer such a compelling protagonist. Though it has now been over three a long time because it first aired, “Marge vs. The Monorail” continues to be a excessive achievement that The Simpsons has struggled to surpass with any new installments.
2 “Info are meaningless. You need to use info to show something that’s even remotely true.”
“Lisa the Skeptic” – Season 9, Episode 8 (1997)
Homer typically digs himself into logical holes by attempting to show that he’s proper, even when there’s a preponderance of proof that signifies that he’s fully unsuitable. Arguing with somebody as clever as Lisa is rarely a good suggestion, and so Homer tries to dismiss any sensible argument supported by reputable info as deceptive within the basic episode “Lisa the Skeptic.”
The genius of Homer as a personality is that his actions could be extremely irritating if he wasn’t so goofy. Though audiences started to activate characters like Peter Griffin on Household Man or Stan Smith on American Dad! as a result of they obtained to be far too imply, The Simpsons has all the time been the best animated show for adults as a result of it acknowledges that Homer is comparatively innocent, even when he’s not somebody that anybody ought to ever look to for steering.
1 “I’m so sensible! I’m so sensible! S-M-R-T … I imply S-M-A-R-T!”
“Homer Goes to Faculty” – Season 5, Episode 3 (1993)
Though it is empowering to see him surpass expectations and genuinely obtain one thing, Homer is usually the butt of the joke in the best episodes of The Simpsons, and the present is usually funnier because of this. The basic episode “Homer Goes to Faculty” noticed the beloved Simpsons dad going again to obtain the schooling that he by no means accomplished throughout his youth.
Homer’s poor spelling skills and mismanaged notion of his personal intelligence rapidly make him a laughingstock, main him to return to his common life as an informal family dad. Whereas The Simpsons is often criticized for returning to the established order as an alternative of taking the sequence in a radically new path, episodes like “Homer Goes To Faculty” present that Homer is fortunate to have the life that he does, as he would have been ill-suited for any occupation that required even the tiniest little bit of duty or self-awareness.
