Marge Simpson is one of the greatest characters in television history, and often one of the most unsung heroes of The Simpsons. While fans of the beloved show often latch on to Lisa’s well-meaning perspective, Bart’s snarky attitude, Homer’s complete foolishness, and the various catchphrases brought in by the series’ various side characters, Marge is the force of compassion that often keeps the family together. It’s unlikely that the Simpsons would still be standing as a loving, empathetic family if it weren’t for the maternal figure who ensures that they are in line.
Marge is often not given enough credit for how funny she actually is. While she rarely engages in the type of wild physical antics that generally make Homer’s subplots so entertaining on The Simpsons, she often has great one-liners that identify her core traits as a mother, citizen, and wife. Marge’s snarkiness is evident in some of the most memorable lines she has delivered over the course of the show’s history. Here are the ten best Marge quotes from The Simpsons, ranked.
10
“Better go upstairs and make sure the beds are still made.”
“You Only Move Twice” – Season 8, Episode 2 (1996)
Marge can often bring a lot of humor into episodes that aren’t necessarily focused on her, as is the case with “You Only Move Twice.” Although the episode itself is an extended parody of the James Bond franchise (with the title referring to the classic Sean Connery film You Only Live Twice), Marge is saddled with the responsibility of having machines that automatically clean up her house for her.
Marge’s constant desire to be working to clean the house leads to some clever jokes, as it is suggested that she struggles to find other interests when she is no longer saddled with the obligations of keeping the house tidy. Although the episode actually gets into some darker themes as Marge struggles to find what her self-worth is, it’s amusing to hear that she is still concerned about the beds being made amidst a time of crisis.
9
“They just made a terrible life choice.”
“Home Away From Homer” – Season 16, Episode 20 (2005)
Marge can often be one of the more reactive and judgmental characters on The Simpsons, which leads to some great, snarky moments of humor. In “Home Away From Homer,” Marge is forced to judge her new neighbors when it becomes clear that they are involved in the production of adult videos; her reaction grows stronger when Ned agrees to host them in their home.
Marge’s assessment of how others live their lives is always funny, as her intention is never to bully or demean anyone. In fact, it’s the fact that Marge has such extreme empathy for other people that she feels dismayed when they make choices that she doesn’t agree with. This is an amusing incident in particular, as she is generally more receptive to Ned’s lifestyle and strange career decisions than anyone else in her family, especially Homer.
8
“Oh, I’ve always wanted to use rosemary in something!”
“It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge” – Season 11, Episode 21 (2000)
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“It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge” is one of the best Marge-centric episodes of the entire show, which is all the more surprising considering that the eleventh season is broadly considered to be one of the worst in the entire history of The Simpsons. The episode centers on the anxieties that Marge feels when the family is introduced to the younger, more attractive woman, Becky; after Becky breaks up with Otto, Marge begins to fear that she could be seducing Homer.
Marge’s quote about rosemary is ironic, as it suggests that adding a new spice is the most exciting thing that happens in her life on a regular basis. While this causes Marge to grow concerned that she is not “exciting” enough, it is this consistency and compassion that made Homer fall in love with her in the first place.
7
“I’m not wild about these high-risk ventures. They sound a little risky.”
“The Twisted World of Marge Simpson” – Season 8, Episode 11 (1997)
“The Twisted World of Marge Simpson” was one of the first major episodes to focus entirely on Marge, and aired during the era of the show that is generally regarded as being its highlight. Although The Simpsons was already doing experimental and artistic storylines by the time that it reached its fifth season, “The Twisted World of Marge Simpson” examined the pressures and anxieties that came with Marge’s everyday existence.
Marge has an ironic quote about the riskiness of high-risk scenarios, adding the type of double emphasis that is essential to so many great jokes in The Simpsons. However, it’s amusing to hear this coming from Marge, as even when she makes obvious assessments, she still generally has more intelligent things to say than Homer. There’s also an element of Marge’s timid nature that shows how genuinely empathic she is as a character.
6
“I should say something reassuring and noncommittal.”
“Marge on the Lam” – Season 5, Episode 6 (1993)
“Marge on the Lam” is a great example of the burden that Marge puts upon herself, as she is far more concerned about the well-being of other people, particularly her children, than anyone else in Springfield. While Homer does show signs that he can be a good father, even if he does often seem completely oblivious, Marge is constantly making sure that Lisa, Bart, and Maggie are being respected and taken care of.
Marge’s thoughts about saying something “reassuring” examine her motivations as a character; while she is often put in situations that are unusual, uncomfortable, or even frightening, she feels an obligation to say something that will put other people’s anxieties to rest. Although this drive can often make her seem optimistic to a somewhat absurd degree, it’s also one of the major reasons why she is still able to bring so much heart to the show as it enters its fourth decade in existence.
5
“Take all your bad feelings and push them down, all the way down past your knees, until you’re almost walking on them. And then you’ll fit in, and you’ll be invited to parties, and boys will like you. And happiness will follow.”
“Moaning Lisa” – Season 1, Episode 6 (1990)
Although the show faced the type of hurdles that most do in their first seasons, it didn’t take long for The Simpsons to show the nuanced relationship between Marge and Lisa. Lisa often feels that the world is on her shoulders, and that she will be forced to deal with the same conflicts and anxieties that seem so present within her life as she attends Springfield Elementary School. It’s Marge who is able to offer her the simple, yet honest words of optimism needed to raise her spirits.
“Moaning Lisa” showed that Marge was often the best person to talk to Lisa, and that the two characters were far more similar than anyone had realized. Given how early on “Moaning Lisa” was within the history of the show, it offered a great model that the rest of the series would adhere to as the storylines got weirder and more unpredictable.
4
“In every marriage, you get one chance to say ‘I need you to do this with me.'”
‘The Simpsons Movie’ (2007)
The Simpsons Movie offered the type of reset that the series really needed, and ended up being a surprise hit that made the following seasons of the show even stronger. Although the film has various subplots dedicated to various members of the larger ensemble, it is mostly centered on the tormented marriage between Marge and Homer, which is put under even more pressure when they are forced to leave Springfield due to an environmental disaster.
The Simpsons Movie was able to answer longstanding questions about the state of Marge and Homer’s marriage, as the two are often seen bickering with one another. As this quote reveals, Marge and Homer still have a lot of faith and trust in one another, which has allowed them to offer forgiveness to one another as their adventures get even wilder and more unpredictable with each subsequent season.
3
“Get that corpse off the road. The streets are for the living.”
“Marge Simpson in: ‘Screaming Yellow Honkers'” – Season 10, Episode 15 (1999)
“Screaming Yellow Honkers” is one of the funniest episodes centered on Marge because it casts her character in an entirely different light that shows how complex she really is. Although she is reluctant to try a new vehicle that Homer purchases for the family, she ends up becoming an obsessive driver and develops a sense of road rage that frightens the rest of her family.
Seeing one of The Simpsons’ most heartwarming, earnest characters develop road rage is hilarious, as it is often Marge who is forced to settle Homer down when he gets too angry. The episode offered a rare instance in which it was Marge’s behavior that set off an issue, and gave her the opportunity to be at the center of the action, rather than sitting on the sidelines and simply offering her reactions to what was going on.
2
“My name is Marge Simpson, and I have an idea. It may sound a little boring at first.”
“Marge vs. The Monorail” – Season 4, Episode 12 (1993)
“Marge vs. The Monorail” may be the single greatest episode in the history of The Simpsons, which is no small statement when considering the sheer amount of classics within the show’s extended history. A new source of funding allows the citizens of Springfield to vote to direct the resources to a new public works project; while Marge makes the logical assessment that the town should focus on repairing the depleted resources that have been worn down over time, they instead decide to fund an expensive monorail system that is pitched by the charismatic salesman, Lyle Langley (voiced by Phil Hartman).
Marge offers full recognition that her logical idea will be dull to the ignorant citizens of Springfield, but the beauty of “Marge vs. The Monorail” is that the episode continuously proves that she was right all along when the monorail becomes a disaster.
1
“There, there, Homer. You’ve caused plenty of industrial accidents, and you’ve always bounced back.”
“Homer’s Odyssey” – Season 1, Episode 3 (1990)
The Simpsons identified the hilarious differences between Homer and Marge very early on in its run, as “Homer’s Odyssey” was only the third episode to ever air. Although Homer often makes massive blunders that cause significant damage and inspire vitriolic blowback, Marge is still there to offer him support and forgiveness, even if he doesn’t necessarily always deserve it.
Marge is able to comfort Homer about his behavior and suggest that the mistakes he made won’t prevent him from finding a way to bounce back. It’s one of the reasons that the relationship between Homer and Marge might actually be one of the greatest romances in the history of television; it says a lot that, despite all of the chaos that has occurred throughout the entire extent of the show, they still have such mutual affection and compassion for one another.
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