The World According To Jeff Goldblum: Top 10 Quotes

The World According To Jeff Goldblum: Top 10 Quotes

Jeff Goldblum is a quirky iconic actor with a lot to say. On the Disney Plus series, The World According To Jeff Goldblum, Goldblum explores a wide variety of topics and colorful subcultures, and comments on them in a way only he can.

Often he ties the topic back to how he related to it as a child or during his life as an actor, since it did help him become so philosophical and heartfelt. No matter what the topic of the episode, Goldblum always has a way with words (and hopefully, he will be able to continue to do so if the show is ever renewed for a season 3).

Jeff Goldblum Introducing Himself

“Jeff Goldblum here. I’m an actor. I play a little jazz music. I’m a curious cat, that’s true, and I guess I’m always on the look out for the unexpected.”

The World According To Jeff Goldblum: Top 10 Quotes

This quote comes from the beginning of “Sneakers,” the very first episode. These are some of the first words spoken by Goldblum in the series.

Goldblum’s introduction of himself here perfectly encapsulates both himself and the series as a whole. He tells the audience about his background as an actor and musician, which comes into play throughout the rest of the series and influences many of his opinions and his outlook. When Goldblum calls himself “a curious cat,” this emphasizes both that he is very inquisitive on the show and hints at his quirks and eccentricities due to his use of the older slang term “cat.” The emphasis on how Goldblum is “always on the lookout for the unexpected” foreshadows all the unique places and people the viewers will meet in the series.

Jeff Goldblum On Dancing

“I think that’s how you do it. Every move, just like in an acting scene, has to kind of be investigated and mean something.”

An image of Jeff Goldblum talking in an assembly

In “Dancing,” Goldblum goes to Atlanta to visit Collab Crib, a “Tik Tok house” where Black content creators live and he learns about all the new dances they are creating. The members invite Goldblum to join in the fun and dance with them.

This is a fascinating observation Goldblum makes about dance. One of the members of Collab Crib observed how Goldblum made the dance moves he was learning with the group his own; Goldblum brings his experiences as an actor in to explain how dances work. This is a unique perspective – others might not think of looking into the investigative and symbolic nature of dance rather than a surface-level look.

Jeff Goldblum On Games

“Gaming can be a vehicle for our, uh, advancement. To the extent that games can be a realization of the ‘Wonderful World’ aspect of life. But, uh, you know while we’re here, why not have a little fun, I guess.”

An image of Jeff Goldblum smiling by a shoe

One of the topics that fans wanted Goldblum to explore was gaming. It seems that they did get their wish since the episode “Gaming” saw Goldblum explore a wide variety of different aspects of gaming such as e-sports, sound engineering, and LARPing.

Goldblum’s experiences in the episode of how games encourage community and empathy are embodied in how he views them at the episode’s end as a vehicle for advancement. It’s fascinating how he can see how games can create ideal worlds. However, Goldblum does not play down that games are very enjoyable. In a way, Goldblum makes the case for games being both frivolous and important at the same time.

Jeff Goldblum’s Thoughts On Playing

“Play is an essential part of being a human being.”

An image of Jeff Goldblum touching his ear while talking to the camera

In “Backyard,” Goldblum visits Morgan’s Cove, a pirate-themed backyard complete with a pirate ship. Here, Goldblum has the novel experience of playing pirate with the owner and his friends.

Goldblum’s statement about how play is essential to being human ties into the episode and how backyards are meant to show your true self. “Play” as Goldblum has just experienced is not limited to just children, but all ages. This is something he had just experienced while dressing up as a pirate and playing make-believe with a group of adult friends.

Jeff Goldblum’s Reflective Thoughts On Bonding With Animals

“It’s like all those romant… every romantic comedy you’ve ever seen. We don’t like each other at first. But then… and now we love each other.”

An image of a dog licking Jeff Goldblum's face

In “Dogs” Goldblum meets Tuna, a unique dog with a prominent overbite and a large Instagram following. Tuna is upset at first but then warms to Goldblum and even sits on his lap.

This is a comical parallel between romantic comedies and Goldblum and Tuna. It really encapsulates how humans and dogs can sometimes develop such a powerful connection with each other even after an antagonistic start. In a way, this quote brings to mind how relationships between humans and dogs aren’t that different from ones between two humans. The parallel to romantic comedies also goes back to Goldblum’s experience as an actor.

Jeff Goldblum On Magic

“Whether it’s through stage craft or proper performance, magic exists, I think in some ways, because of our willingness to believe in things that we don’t understand.”

An image of Jeff Goldblum sitting in a chair

In “Magic” Goldblum experiences everything from tricks from Penn & Teller, talking to viral magician Zach King, to meeting a witch coven, where he is moved to tears when one of the witches communicates with his ancestors.

This quote from the end of the episode (where Goldblum is doing magic tricks and watching his children build a fairy house) shows that magic comes in many different forms. In a way, Goldblum stating this while playing with his children creates a kind of subtext that people of all ages have a willingness to believe in things that they don’t understand.

Jeff Goldblum On Cosmetics

“I’m a person who wants to honor nature, you know. Don’t mask nature if you want to look good on the outside, there’s got to be something good on the inside.”

An image of Jeff Goldblum smiling at someone off-screen in the World According To Jeff Goldblum

In “Cosmetics,” Goldblum focuses on how cosmetics can be about who you are as a person or about taking on an entirely new identity. He does everything, from learning the ins and outs of cosmetics, the spiritual significance it has for Indigenous Americans, to how drag queens use it.

This quote emphasizes how Goldblum is quite open-minded and not shallow (in that he sees the importance of the inside as well as the outside). It also ties into the way the episode shows that cosmetics can be deeply tied to identity and hold a great significance to someone.

The Time Jeff Goldblum Forgot His Birthday

“My most memorable birthday was when I was thirteen. The day came and all of us forgot. Including me in fact. I pretend to know about it and be stoically disappointed and crushed and it was the first taste of that delicious, bitter fruit of martyrdom.”

Jeff Goldblum and Paul Francis The World According to Jeff Goldblum Disney+

In “Birthdays” Goldblum experiences all sorts of birthday celebrations, including walking across hot coals and a heartwarming party for a young man.

This quote gives Goldblum’s personal insight into how his childhood influenced how he perceives birthdays. The contrast between his negative perception of birthdays (influenced by his childhood) and a more positive perception he has after experiencing all different kinds of birthdays later on in the episode is quite interesting. There is a strange sort of nostalgic melancholy in this quote that is at odds with the bright and colorful aesthetic of this episode.

Jeff Goldblum Gets Nostalgic

“When going through tough times, or if we have challenges, you know, it has the power to give us comfort. And, uh, when you look at this, maybe you see a torch that lights the way into a brighter future.”

An image of Jeff Goldblum eating an ice cream

In “Ice Cream,” Goldblum talks about an ice cream and how it’s both nostalgic and comforting in the present.

Goldblum’s summation about ice cream at the end of the episode emphasizes that ice cream is reminiscent of childhood, and can be a soothing balm. This was illustrated when, earlier in the episode, Goldblum visits a Navy Ice Cream Social. The Navy crew members taste the ice cream Goldblum has brought and it has calming effects on them that recall their childhoods.

Jeff Goldblum On Monsters In The World

“Well, we may have discovered that monsters help us make sense of a scary world. What do you think about that? And maybe they make us stronger and braver. Maybe there’s a monster in all of us.”

An image of Jeff Goldblum smiling in The World According to Jeff

In “Monsters” Goldblum explores why people love being scared by monsters, doing everything from meeting creator of Mad Dream and Monsters, Phil Tippet, to going through a haunted house.

Goldblum’s quote, in a way, is profound, as he is basically saying that monsters are symbolic and reflect the real world. It’s interesting how he finds that some ‘monsters’ can make a person “stronger and braver” – especially since some people decide to stand up to them and take back the power they once stole.