The 7 Most Memorable ‘Seinfeld’ Quotes People Still Use Today
Seinfeld revolutionized television in countless ways. Before the iconic NBC sitcom premiered in 1989, comedies stuck to a predictable formula that sometimes felt stale. After Seinfeld turned the status quo on its head, more studios began emulating the format, the jokes, and irreverent comedy the series promoted.
And the script had a lot to do with that. Seinfeld was known for non-stop laughs thanks to zingers, witty retorts, and one-liners that fans still use to this day. Some people quote the show without even realizing they’re doing it — that’s how ingrained the lingo has become.
There are hundreds of funny lines on Seinfeld. Here are the most important, significant quotes we’re still laughing at today.
“Serenity now!”
There’s nothing funnier than hearing someone shout about serenity. And the fact that it came from Frank Constanza (Jerry Stiller) makes it even more memorable and amazing. On Seinfeld, characters are constantly saying one thing and doing the opposite. The “serenity now” phrase exemplifies this phenomenon perfectly.
It all comes from the episode “The Serenity Now” from season 9. The plot of the episode was based on a real-life situation one of the writers experienced which involved his father shouting “serenity now” at the suggestion of his doctor to help control rage.
And now? “Serenity now” is an enduring phrase we can’t forget.
“I was in the pool!”
Seinfeld writers weren’t afraid to explore taboo topics including intimate ideas. With Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine, the differences between men and women were a common theme. One of the most famous examples of this was George exclaiming about, ahem, shrinkage in his private area while being cold.
“I was in the pool!” George shouts in his defense when Jerry’s girlfriend sees him naked and can’t believe the size of his male appendage in “The Hamptons.” And that’s how “shrinkage” became a recurring theme on Seinfeld.
“No soup for you!”
Even people who never watch Seinfeld are likely familiar with the phrase “No soup for you!”
It comes from the episode “The Soup Nazi,” the sixth episode of season 7. The character was based on a real New York City soup vendor who was notoriously nasty yet popular because he made such delicious soup. Patrons were forced to order in a specific way or they risked not getting any soup.
Just like that, “No soup for you,” became a timeless phrase that Seinfeld fans can’t ever forget.
“A Festivus for the rest of us”
Anyone who knows Seinfeld probably never expected them to celebrate traditional holidays. Instead of Christmas or Hannukah, the crew came up with Festivus (all thanks to the cantankerous Frank Costanza). It included typical traditions, but with a twist.
During the “Festivus for the rest of us,” the castmates conducted an “Airing of Grievances” rather than a gift exchange. They had “Feats of Strength” in place of singing carols. The celebration was irreverent, silly, and slightly offensive — just like the rest of the show.
“Master of my domain”
Seinfeld had an entire episode on masturbation without ever mentioning the word, which is how they sneaked it past television censors. That move was beneficial. Speaking exclusively in euphemisms made “The Contest” so much funnier than if the writers had used the actual word for what they were talking about.
One of the funniest and most used phrases to come out of the episode was “Master of my domain,” referring to the self-control it took to refrain from self-pleasure. It’s a descriptor that’s still used today.
“These pretzels are making me thirsty”
Kramer gets cast in a Woody Allen film and is given one line to say: “These pretzels are making me thirsty.” The sentence becomes a catchphrase throughout the episode “The Alternate Side” and quickly became one of the most memorable, oft-repeated phrases to come from the show.
It’s now used in common speech as an expression of irritation.
“Yada, yada, yada”
No list of Seinfeld-isms is complete with the classic “yada, yada, yada.” Seinfeld popularized the exclamation, which is used in place of actual words when the rest of the story is too long to explain.
The “yada” perfectly exemplifies the nihilistic attitudes on Seinfeld where nothing matters and everything is futile. Plus, it’s hilarious.
