Signature Line: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
{{quote|''"And now, here it comes, the line you've all been waiting for..." (Also sprach Zarathustra plays in the background)''|'''[[That Guy With The Glasses|Phelous]]''' in his ''[[Troll 2]]'' review}}
{{quote|''"And now, here it comes, the line you've all been waiting for..." (Also sprach Zarathustra plays in the background)''
|'''[[That Guy With The Glasses|Phelous]]''' in his ''[[Troll 2]]'' review}}


Related to [[Signature Scene]], a Signature Line is a quote of dialogue that everyone remembers from a work of fiction, and has become synonymous with it. When the general public thinks of the work, this is the one quote that immediately springs to mind, and may be the only reason to remember the work at all.
Related to [[Signature Scene]], a Signature Line is a quote of dialogue that everyone remembers from a work of fiction, and has become synonymous with it. When the general public thinks of the work, this is the one quote that immediately springs to mind, and may be the only reason to remember the work at all.
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{{examples}}
{{examples}}
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==

== [[Anime]] & [[Manga]] ==
* "Yours is the drill that will pierce the heavens!" (''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]'')
* "Yours is the drill that will pierce the heavens!" (''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]'')
** "JUST WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM?!"
** "JUST WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM?!"
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* "Yippee ki yay, mother fucker." (''[[Die Hard]]'')
* "Yippee ki yay, mother fucker." (''[[Die Hard]]'')
* "Don't mess with me, man. I'M A LAWYER!!!" (''[[Hook]]'')
* "Don't mess with me, man. I'M A LAWYER!!!" (''[[Hook]]'')
* "[[This Is Sparta|This is Sparta!]]" (''[[300]]'')
* "[[Punctuated! For! Emphasis!|This is Sparta!]]" (''[[300]]'')
* "[[Hello]]. [[My Name Is Inigo Montoya]]. [[You Killed My Father]]. [[Prepare to Die]]." (''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]'')
* "[[Hello]]. [[My Name Is Inigo Montoya]]. [[You Killed My Father]]. [[Prepare to Die]]." (''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]'')
** "[[As You Wish]]..."
** "[[As You Wish]]..."
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* "The calla lilies are in bloom again..." (''Stage Door'')
* "The calla lilies are in bloom again..." (''Stage Door'')
* "Mother of Mercy! Is this the end of Rico?" (''[[Little Caesar]]'')
* "Mother of Mercy! Is this the end of Rico?" (''[[Little Caesar]]'')
* "Sawyer, you're going out a youngster, but you've got to come back a star!" (''[[Forty Second Street|42nd Street]]'')
* "Sawyer, you're going out a youngster, but you've got to come back a star!" (''[[42nd Street (film)||42nd Street]]'')
* "Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten us into!" (''Sons of the Desert'')
* "Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten us into!" (''Sons of the Desert'')
* "...win just one for the Gipper." (''Knute Rockne, All-American'')
* "...win just one for the Gipper." (''[[Knute Rockne, All American]]'')
* "The stuff that dreams are made of." (''[[The Maltese Falcon]]'')
* "The stuff that dreams are made of." (''[[The Maltese Falcon]]'')
* "Rommel, you [[Magnificent Bastard]], I read your BOOOOOOK!" (''[[Patton]]'')
* "Rommel, you [[Magnificent Bastard]], I read your BOOOOOOK!" (''[[Patton]]'')
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== [[Literature]] ==
== [[Literature]] ==
* "Call me Ishmael." (''[[Moby Dick]]'')
* "Call me Ishmael." (''[[Moby Dick]]'')
* "The first rule of Fight Club is 'You do not talk about Fight Club.' The second rule of Fight Club is 'YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUB.' (''[[Fight Club]]'')
* "The first rule of Fight Club is 'You do not talk about Fight Club.' The second rule of Fight Club is 'YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUB.' (''[[Fight Club (film)|Fight Club]]'')
* "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." (''[[A Tale of Two Cities]]'')
* "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." (''[[A Tale of Two Cities]]'')
** "It is a far, far better thing I do, than I have ever done..."
** "It is a far, far better thing I do, than I have ever done..."
* "You're a wizard, [[Harry Potter|Harry]]." (''[[Harry Potter/Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'')
* "You're a wizard, [[Harry Potter|Harry]]." (''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (novel)|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'')
** "Snape killed...Dumbledore." (''[[Harry Potter/Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince|Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince]]'')
** "Snape killed...Dumbledore." (''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (novel)|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'')
** "Not my daughter, you bitch!" (''[[Harry Potter/Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'')
** "Not my daughter, you bitch!" (''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (novel)|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'')
* "The things I do for love." (''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'')
* "The things I do for love." (''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'')
* "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." (''[[Pride and Prejudice]]'')
* "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." (''[[Pride and Prejudice]]'')
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== [[Tabletop Games]] ==
== [[Tabletop Games]] ==
* "In the [[Crapsack World|grim, dark future of mankind]], there is only [[Forever War|war]]." (''[[Warhammer 40000]]'')
* "In the [[Crapsack World|grim, dark future of mankind]], there is only [[Forever War|war]]." (''[[Warhammer 40,000]]'')
** "BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!"
** "BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!"


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* [[Chew Bubblegum|"It's time to kick ass and chew bubblegum...and I'm all outta gum."]] (''[[Duke Nukem 3D]]'')
* [[Chew Bubblegum|"It's time to kick ass and chew bubblegum...and I'm all outta gum."]] (''[[Duke Nukem 3D]]'')
* "Heaven or Hell? Let's Rock!" (''[[Guilty Gear]]'')
* "Heaven or Hell? Let's Rock!" (''[[Guilty Gear]]'')
* "The Wheel Of Fate Is Turning..." (''[[Blaz Blue]]'')
* "The Wheel Of Fate Is Turning..." (''[[BlazBlue]]'')
* "He is dead, and soon you will be too." (''[[Grange Hill]]'')
* "He is dead, and soon you will be too." (''[[Grange Hill]]'')
* "Are you okay? BUSTAAAAAH WOLF!" (''[[The King of Fighters]]'')
* "Are you okay? BUSTAAAAAH WOLF!" (''[[The King of Fighters]]'')
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* "[[Screw the Rules, I Have Money]]!" (''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Abridged Series]]'')
* "[[Screw the Rules, I Have Money]]!" (''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Abridged Series]]'')
** "[[Brooklyn Rage]]!"
** "[[Brooklyn Rage]]!"
* "[[This Is Sparta|CONSEQUENCES! WILL NEVER BE! THE SAME!]]" (Jessi Slaughter's dad)
* "[[Punctuated! For! Emphasis!|CONSEQUENCES! WILL NEVER BE! THE SAME!]]" (Jessi Slaughter's dad)
** "...'cuz you dun goofed!"
** "...'cuz you dun goofed!"
** "I'll pop a glock in your mouth, and make a brain slushee!"
** "I'll pop a glock in your mouth, and make a brain slushee!"
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* "Oh, my God, they killed Kenny!" "YOU BASTARDS!" (''[[South Park]]'')
* "Oh, my God, they killed Kenny!" "YOU BASTARDS!" (''[[South Park]]'')
** "[[Screw This, I'm Outta Here|Screw you guys, I'm going home]]!"
** "[[Screw This, I'm Outta Here|Screw you guys, I'm going home]]!"
* "To infinity and beyond!" (''[[Toy Story]]'')
* "To infinity and beyond!" (''[[Toy Story (franchise)|Toy Story]]'')
* "[[Off with His Head|Off with her head]]!" (''[[Alice in Wonderland]]'')
* "[[Off with His Head|Off with her head]]!" (''[[Alice in Wonderland]]'')
* "I tawt I taw a puddy tat!" (Tweety Bird)
* "I tawt I taw a puddy tat!" (Tweety Bird)
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[[Category:Signature Tropes]]
[[Category:Signature Tropes]]
[[Category:Signature Line]]
[[Category:Signature Line]]
[[Category:YMMV Trope]]

Latest revision as of 01:42, 20 August 2023

"And now, here it comes, the line you've all been waiting for..." (Also sprach Zarathustra plays in the background)

Phelous in his Troll 2 review

Related to Signature Scene, a Signature Line is a quote of dialogue that everyone remembers from a work of fiction, and has become synonymous with it. When the general public thinks of the work, this is the one quote that immediately springs to mind, and may be the only reason to remember the work at all.

There are many reasons that the line may stand out. It may be...

No matter the reason, the Signature Line is cemented in the minds of the general public. Your Mileage May Vary, as if you have actually seen the work yourself and are familiar with it, there may be lines that stick out more for you.

A Signature Line is a line of dialogue that actually appears in the work. If the line is never actually spoken in the work, it's an example of Beam Me Up, Scotty.

Signature Lines are likely to succumb to Memetic Mutation, and thereby result in viewers Watching It For The Meme.

Don't confuse this with a character's Catch Phrase; a signature line is something viewers might watch the entire show simply to hear, not just something that gets said a lot. If many different people in the show say it, it's the show's Arc Words. Sometimes, of course, a catchphrase or arc words can catch on and come to define the show in popular imagination, but it's rarer than you'd think—the vast majority of signature lines are only spoken once in the work where they appear.

Examples of Signature Line include:

Anime and Manga

Comic Books

Film

Literature

Live Action TV

Newspaper Comics

Tabletop Games

Theater

  • "Oh Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name." (Romeo and Juliet)
    • "But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun."
    • "Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow."
    • "What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet."
  • "To be or not to be: that is the question." (Hamlet)
    • "Alas, poor Yorick."
    • "What a piece of work is a man!"
  • "Et tu, Brute?" (Julius Caesar)
    • "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears."
  • "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!" (Richard III)
    • "Off with his head. So much for Buckingham." (A line added to Shakespeare's play by Colley Cibber)
  • "All the world's a stage." (As You Like It)
  • "[Exit Pursued By a Bear] He exits, pursued by a bear." (The Winters Tale)
  • "Oh beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on!" (Othello)
  • "I am the very model of a modern major-general." (The Pirates of Penzance)
  • "Dead! And never called me 'Mother'!" (East Lynne)
  • "Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble" (Macbeth)
    • "Something wicked this way comes"
    • "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow"
    • "Out, Damned Spot!!"
  • "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em." (Twelfth Night)
    • "If music be the food of love, play on!"
  • "STELLA!" (A Streetcar Named Desire)
  • "Lord, what fools these mortals be!" (A Midsummer Night's Dream)

Video Games

Web Original

Western Animation

Real Life

  • "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed, by so many, to so few." - Winston Churchill
    • "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat."
    • "If the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say this was their finest hour."
  • "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." - Franklin Delano Roosevelt
  • "Veni; vidi; vici." (I came, I saw, I conquered.) - Julius Caesar
    • "Alea jacta est." (The die is cast.)
  • "I have a dream." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" - Ronald Reagan
  • "That's one small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind." - Neil Armstrong
  • "Let my people go." - Moses
  • "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." - John F. Kennedy
  • "Speak softly, but carry a big stick." - Theodore Roosevelt
  • "I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year's fashions." - Lillian Hellman
  • "I have nothing to declare but my genius." - Oscar Wilde
  • "Cogito ergo sum" (I think therefore I am) - Descartes
  • "Sapere aude" (Dare to know) - Immanuel Kant
  • "Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains" - Rousseau
  • "écrasez l'infâme" (crush the infamous thing) - Voltaire
  • "You cannot conceive the many without the one" - Plato
  • "The unexamined life is not worth living" - Socrates
  • "God is dead!" - Friedrich Nietzsche
    • "What does not destroy me makes me stronger."
  • "I use emotion for the many and reserve reason for the few." - Adolf Hitler
    • "If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed."
  • "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and inalienable Rights; that among these, are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" - Thomas Jefferson
  • "Time is money." - Benjamin Franklin
    • "Love your Enemies, for they tell you your Faults."
    • "God helps those that help themselves."
    • "Early to bed and early to rise, Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."
  • "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." - Abraham Lincoln
  • "I did not get on the bus to get arrested; I got on the bus to go home." - Rosa Parks
  • "To err is human, to forgive divine." - Alexander Pope
  • "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi
  • "To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known." - Carl Sagan