There’s no doubt that The Muppets have been an iconic presence in popular culture for many generations. This has partially been thanks to the vast number of lovable, diverse, and recognizable characters that continue to frequent their movies, television shows, and merchandise.
What helps to make each Muppet so beloved among fans is their loud, distinct yet oddly endearing personality. Even the most level-headed of the Muppets are not easily forgettable. And with lots of memorable Muppet quotes out there, there is guaranteed to be a quote that perfectly sums up these wacky characters.
Statler And Waldorf
“I’m Statler.” “I’m Waldorf. We’re Here To Heckle The Muppet Movie.”
Statler and Waldorf are two crotchety old men who enjoy cracking jokes and openly mocking the Muppets. Their most memorable highlights include jeering poor Fozzie from their theatre booth and appearing as Jacob and Robert Marley in The Muppet Christmas Carol, as some of the best characters there.
The two pensioners take great pleasure in heckling others, which is the main reason why they keep returning to whatever the Muppets are performing. They happily admit this at the start of The Muppet Movie, and this quote could not be more apt in summarizing them.
Sam The Eagle
“At Times Like This, I Am Proud To Be An American.”
There is perhaps no family-rated fictional character more patriotic than Sam the Eagle. A proud American and a no-nonsense Muppet, Sam is frequently turning his beak up at the other Muppets’ “lowbrow” performances, and often tries to push for what he deems as classier acts.
Sam may be disdainful of the Muppets but he is one through and through. He speaks the above line in The Great Muppet Caper when the Muppets bravely decide to stop a robbery. It not only shows how proud he is to be an American but also how proud he is to be a Muppet, even if he probably will not admit it out loud.
Rizzo The Rat
“And I Am Here For The Food.”
Wisecracking rat Rizzo has been a fan favorite for a number of viewers, which is partly thanks to his starring roles in The Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island. He is most renowned for caring about one thing in life, and that is food.
Rizzo’s voracious appetite seems to have no limits, as seen when he demolished an entire chicken about the same size as him in Muppet Treasure Island. If anything, Rizzo would much rather be left alone with an all-you-can-eat-buffet than get involved with the main action of the story, and that is most demonstrated by his introductory line in The Muppet Christmas Carol.
Rowlf
“When You’ve Been Tickling The Ivories As Long As I Have, You’ve Seen A Broken Heart For Every Drop Of Rain, A Shattered Dream For Every Falling Star.”
Many believe that Kermit was the first official Muppet, but actually, the first-ever Muppet to grace the screen was Rowlf the dog. Gentle and philosophical, Rowlf is most fondly remembered for his excellent piano playing skills, offering some sage advice to his fellow Muppets, and making a wise-cracking comment here and there.
Rowlf’s above line is from The Muppet Movie, where the dog consoles a crestfallen Kermit after he believes Miss Piggy stood him up. It’s the perfect quote for summarizing Rowlf as it covers his poetic and thoughtful nature and his status as an experienced pianist.
Animal
“EAT DRUMS!”
As the Muppets’ cool in-house band, the Electric Mayhem are among Jim Henson’s most iconic creations. But there’s no question that the most popular member of the band is the wild, hairy and erratic drummer, Animal.
Animal’s main love in his life is his drums, and that passion is followed very closely by food. In fact, his fellow band members, particularly beatnik bassist Floyd, are often on hand to make sure he doesn’t devour things he shouldn’t. So in the manic Muppet’s case, he combines his two passions and as a result, drums are food.
Pepe The King Prawn
“Si, And I’m So Gosh Darn Sexy It Hurts!”
Making his debut in the lesser-known ’90s show Muppets Tonight, Pepe the King Prawn has become one of the most popular characters in the franchise to date. Although one of the smallest Muppets, Pepe has a large personality and often steals the show whenever he is onscreen, which is most evident in Disney+’s Muppets Now, and his starring role in Muppets Haunted Mansion.
Pepe is most famous (or infamous) for being confident (bordering on egotistical) and a self-proclaimed ladies’ man (or prawn). So it is fair to say that his above quote encompasses these key aspects of the crustacean’s personality perfectly.
Gonzo The Great
“The World Will Forever Wonder Who I Am!”
The Muppets are zany as a cast overall but there is perhaps no individual Muppet zanier than The Great Gonzo. Frequently classified as a “whatever,” Gonzo’s loud dress sense and love for ludicrous and death-defying stunts have made the Muppet one of the most lovable characters ever.
What makes Gonzo so lovable is how much he embraces his uniqueness, weirdness, and his ambiguity, which is why the line above reflects the blue-furred Muppet so well. Ironically, the line was spoken when Gonzo walks in dressed as the Black Knight in The Muppet Show, with the idea that no one will know his identity. What very quickly and hilariously gives him away is the distinct hooked nose shape on his helmet.
Fozzie Bear
“The Bear Can Barely Bear It, Folks.”
With his soft temperament and pitiful eagerness to make others laugh, Fozzie may be one of the sweetest characters of the Muppets. He is never far by Kermit’s side, whether it’s as a loyal friend or a desperate comedian wanting his big break.
Some of Fozzie’s best lines are corny puns and jokes. This line above is one such example but it was spoken by Fozzie when he believes none of the other Muppets like him in one episode of The Muppet Show. As a result, the line perfectly captures Fozzie’s awful jokes, his sensitivity, and his desire to make others laugh.
Miss Piggy
“HI-YA! There’s Only Room For One Miss Piggy, And That’s Moi!”
It may be Kermit that most represents the Muppets as a whole but it’s Miss Piggy that’s the star (well, in her eyes anyway). Most known for her on-off relationship with Kermit and karate-chopping anyone who infuriates her, the glamourous porcine Muppet is a full force to be reckoned with.
Miss Piggy is a diva and a one-of-a-kind star, and she knows it. As far as she’s concerned, she is irreplaceable. This is best demonstrated when she karate-chops Miss Poogy of the Moopets (a D-list knock-off the main gang in the 2011 movie) when the gang desperately needs to fill her space in their show. The “moi” at the end of the quote is the icing on the cake of this already perfect quote.
Kermit The Frog
“I Have A Dream Too. But It’s About Singing And Dancing And Making People Happy. It’s The Kind Of Dream That Gets Better The More People You Share It With.”
The Muppets wouldn’t be the Muppets without their leader, Kermit the Frog. Whilst he is easily the most level-headed of the Muppets, Kermit is not above having fun and mischief, especially on the stage.
Kermit is a passionate entertainer through and through, and he always puts others before himself. As a result, this quote that he tells Doc Hopperman in their final showdown is perfect for encapsulating the iconic green frog. Kermit is not just the heart and the soul of the Muppets but perhaps Jim Henson overall.
