Seinfeld Quotes
Shmoop will make you a better lover...of quotes
ALL QUOTES POPULAR BROWSE BY AUTHOR BROWSE BY SOURCE BROWSE BY TOPIC BROWSE BY SUBJECT
Source: Seinfeld
Speaker: George Costanza
Hi, my name is George. I'm unemployed, and I live with my parents.
Context
This line is spoken by George, played by Jason Alexander, in the show Seinfeld (1989-1998).
The king of '90s sitcoms, Seinfeld is a show about nothing, in which four neurotic New Yorkers spend most of their time over-analyzing things that don't matter. Somehow... it's brilliant. This quote comes from an episode called "The Opposite," in which big-time loser George Costanza decides to do the opposite of his every instinct, since his instincts have lead him nowhere in life. So, he walks up to a hot lady in the coffee shop and announces his loser-dom.
Here's the cringe-worthy clip.
Where you've heard it
If you have any sense, you've heard this quote in its original context. If not, stream the episode now. Being a pop culture touchstone and all that, the show has been spoofed on tons of other shows over the years. For example, there's that episode of Family Guy where Lois and Brian watch a parody. You also might've noticed in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World when a very Seinfeld-esque conversation is had. On top of that, there's an entire season of Curb Your Enthusiasm in which Seinfeld co-creator Larry David tries to get the cast together for a reunion show.
Pretentious Factor
If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.
Admitting you're a loser is, by definition, letting go of all pretension.