You Know What They Say

""Haw-haha, here's the problem, too many toasters! You know what they say: All toasters toast toast!""

- Mario

A Stock Phrase: "You know what they say: [insert witty, important, or nonsensical proverb here]"

When referring to a specific group, refer to You Know What They Say About X...

When the character refers to himself saying something, regardless of whether or not he actually does in the series, the trope is It's Like I Always Say....

Comic Books
"Emma: Well, you know what they say-- (Kitty abruptly pulls her through the floor) Aah! Kitty: "Aah"? They say "aah"? You are pathetic."
 * In the "Torn" arc of Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men run:

Film
"Doc: You know what they say: People in glass houses sink sh-sh-ships."
 * The Boondock Saints

"Jack Payne: You know what they say is the first thing that a man feels when he shoots a civilian?"
 * Shooter

"Nigel: You know what they say. Tiny man. Huge ego."
 * The Devil Wears Prada

"Johnny: You know what they say: love is blind."
 * In Cannibal! The Musical, there was a scene where the town's drunken sheriff informs Packer that he's going to be hung at sunrise, then adds "You know what they say about sunrise?", awkwardly pauses for a moment, and just wanders off. According to the commentary, the actor (who actually was drunk) had just forgotten his line and walked off camera - Trey Parker opted to leave it in because he decided that it was funnier than the actual punchline.
 * In The Room :


 * Anyway, how is your sex life ?

Music
""I was walkin' with my mama one day, when she warned me what people say: Live your life until love is found, or love's gonna get you down.""
 * Lady Gaga's video for "Telephone": "You know what they say: Once you kill a cow, you gotta make a burger."
 * Mika's "Lollipop"


 * Rebecca Lynn Howard's "Forgive": "You know what they say / Forgive and forget, re-live and regret."

Literature

 * Deconstructed a couple of times in Discworld novels, with both Sam Vimes in Feet of Clay and William de Worde in The Truth wondering who "they" actually are, and why anyone should listen to them.

Live-Action TV
"Michael Scott: You know what they say. Fool me once? Strike one. Fool me twice? Strike three."
 * The Office
 * "Traveling Salesmen"

"Courtney: You know what they say: when you assume... you're just a bitch."
 * Two and A Half Men episode "Shoes, Hats, Pickle Jar Lids"

"Leroy Jethro Gibbs: Well you know what they say, Jen. Can't make an omelette unless you break a few eggs. --"Under Covers" Officer Ziva David: Well, you know what they say. You cannot make an omelette without breaking a few legs."
 * NCIS has two variations on the You Can't Make an Omelette saying:

- "Knockout"

"Jonathan Kent: You know what they say: Lightning never strikes twice in the same place."
 * Smallville episode "Leech":

"Chandler: You know what they say, ask your slippers a question...you're going crazy."
 * Friends:

"Willow Rosenberg: Well, you know what they say: The bigger they are... Anya: The faster they stomp you into nothing."
 * Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Blood Ties"

"Lorelai: You know what they say. Luke: No, what do they say? Lorelai: Never ever date a guy who owns a single bed...it means he's not open to a commitment."
 * Gilmore Girls episode "Lost and Found":

"Leo: You know what they say, Rome was built in a day."
 * The Golden Girls: "You know what they say: you can lead a herring to water, but you have to walk really fast or he'll die."
 * That '70s Show episode "Bye Bye Basement"

"Det. James 'Jimmy' McNulty: Well, you know what they say: "Stupid criminals make stupid cops.""
 * The Wire episode "Game Day"

"Dr. Evan Zao: You know what they say: It's a dirty job but... Det. Lindsay Monroe: The rookie's gotta do it."
 * CSI New York really likes this one.
 * "Zoo York"

"Reggie Dunham: You know what they say, right? Mind's a terrible thing to waste."
 * "The Box"

"Detective Mac Taylor: You know what they say: keep your friends close and your enemies closer - and if that doesn't work, kill 'em."
 * "The Party's Over"

"Horatio Caine: You know what they say. You lie down with the Devil, you wake up in Hell."
 * CSI: Miami

"Caine: You know what they say, Frank (puts on sunglasses)...speed kills. YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAA--"
 * On another episode:

"Robbie Stewart: You know what they say, every now and then even a blind pig snorts up a truffle."
 * Hannah Montana episode "Miley, Get Your Gum"

"Anthony 'Tony' Soprano Sr.: You know what they say: Revenge is like serving cold cuts."
 * The Sopranos episode "Cold Cuts"

"Darla: Well, you know what they say... life's full of surprises."
 * Angel
 * "Heartthrob"


 * Burn Notice: "Yeah well, you know what they say about holding a snake by the tail, Mike."
 * Prison Break: "You know what they say about weather in the midwest: if you don't like it, wait an hour."

Video Games

 * Hotel Mario does this in the second hotel when Mario stumbles upon a room full of toasters that have been causing blackouts in the entire hotel, to which he comments, "You know what they say... All toasters toast toast!" before unplugging them.
 * Shadow the Hedgehog has an Eggman boss fight where he is prone to summoning additional enemies. "You know what they say! The more, the merrier!" Over and over again.

Web Comics

 * Played with in Girl Genius.

Western Animation
"Homer: You know what they say — sometimes you have to break the rules to free your heart."
 * Parodied in an episode of Ed, Edd 'n' Eddy: Edd and Eddy are discussing some problem, and Ed, who was not involved in the conversation, chimes in with "You know what they say," and then immediately goes back to poking around in his locker, ignoring the other two. An awkward pause ensues for a few seconds while they wait for him to finish.
 * The Simpsons

"Roger Doofensmirtz: You know what they say, "You can't be T'd off once you've T'd off'." Heheh...that was very funny... Heinz Doofensmirtz: What?? Who says that? Roger Doofensmirtz: You know, They. Those guys over there. *points to a pair of Creepy Twins saying "You can't be T'd off once you've T'd off".*"
 * Phineas and Ferb


 * Bonus? Their names are actually They.