The Three Stooges' 10 Best Quotes, Ranked

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The Three Stooges have always, and forever will be, the kings of slapstick comedy. Originally comprised of Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Shemp Howard, the trio started as a vaudeville comedy act in the 1920s. In 1932, Shemp Howard departed from the group to pursue a solo career. Sequentially, he was replaced by Curly Howard, the younger brother of both Moe and Shemp. Thankfully, this change did not affect The Stooges' success and allowed them to comfortably transition into the film industry.

The Three Stooges short films were shot between 1934 and 1957 in association with Columbia Pictures. Despite the alternating cast members, the original black-and-white pieces are continuously revered by any comedy connoisseurs, mainly for their overly theatrical violence and clever one-liners. A handful of these one-liners turned into repeated quotes used throughout the entirety of the series, creating memorable catchphrases for fans to rejoice over at their appearance.

Curly Howard

Although not part of the original trio, Curly Howard is easily the most recognizable and universally adored of the imbeciles. His fast-paced physical humor and unique voice inflections made him a distinct and important part of the trio. In turn, it is no surprise that Curly is the source for many of the most beloved quotes from the series. One of which being his famed, "I Resemble That Remark."

The quote is a prime example of Curly Howard's clever wordplay throughout the series. Appearing in "Idle Roomers," the phrase occurs after Curly believes a woman is calling him a wolf. Unbeknownst to The Stooges, there is a legitimate wolf-man behind them. However, this goes completely unnoticed by Curly. In turn, Howard manipulates the common figure of speech, changing, "resent," to, "resemble," creating a hilariously ironic statement.

9 "What'd He Say?"

Moe Howard

the three stooges 'what did he say' quote

The Three Stooges thrived off of situational comedy. Putting their unique, bumbling characters into obscure scenarios allowed filmmakers to create more frequent opportunities for humorous moments. An obvious brainchild of this formula is the iconic mumbling trope from the series, followed by Moe's question, "What'd he say?"

The joke works every time, mainly because of the witty storytelling and precise blocking. At some point, right before a character makes an important statement, something muffles their words. Accordingly, Moe turns to the others in confusion, hoping they heard something he did not. Unfortunately, the response to, "What'd he say?" was always more of the same, mumbling. The nonsensical murmurs and slurring of words are such a ridiculous response that viewers can't help but laugh at the absurd behavior displayed by the men.

8 "Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick"

Shemp Howard, Larry Fine

tick tick tick quote from three stooges photo

When reviewing all the one-liners and famous quotes from The Three Stooges, it is easy to allow some to slip through the cracks. Nonetheless, many of these forgotten quotes deserve a second evaluation. "Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick," is a perfect example of a repeated catchphrase from the series that does not get the love it deserves.

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In a time-sensitive scenario, it is common for someone to ask, "What does your watch say?" However, when dealing with stooges, it is common for things to get lost in translation. This is exactly what happens in the series anytime Moe asks "What does your watch say?" Unfortunately for him, this always results in his associate leaning their ear against their wristwatch and reciting the iconic phrase. Undoubtedly foolish, this running sitcom gag seems to hit just right every time the words are spoken.

7 "My Mother Knows My Name"

Curly Howard, Shemp Howard

three stooges 'my mother knows my name' quote

Harshly clever and severely underrated, "My mother knows my name," is an unforgettable quote from the original series. The expression is heard for the first time in the 1936 short, "Movie Maniacs." Curly is suddenly kissed by a woman, causing him to pass out. In turn, Moe rushes to the floor to check on his dear pal. In a state of comic hysteria, Moe demands to know the man's name so he can inform his mother of his death, queuing the iconic line from Curly.

This line is yet another example of the intellectual and impressive writing displayed in The Three Stooges series.

Although frequently said by Curly, the quote is also used by Shemp in "Cuckoo on a Choo Choo." Regardless of the speaker, the quote always elicits a verbal chuckle due to its abrupt nature and sly delivery. This line is yet another example of the intellectual and impressive writing displayed in The Three Stooges series.

6 "Success!"

Collective

The collective cheer of "Success!" was not always warranted by the trio but always hit the mark for audience members. The catchphrase was usually accompanied by an unorthodox group handshake. As the men turned back and forth between one another exchanging palms, the continual chant of "Success!" would be recited.

No episode would be complete without an unwitting claim of achievement by the group members. At times, the catchphrase was uttered a bit too soon, creating a hilariously ironic undertone to the chant. However, when used properly, the cheer evoked a genuine sense of pride within viewers and Stooges alike. Regardless of the scenario, the quote has forever been treasured by fans of the series. So much so that the gag was even included in the 2012 reboot film, The Three Stooges, distributed by 20th Century Fox.

5 "A Terrific Headache"

Collective

The running gag of, "A Terrific Headache," first appeared in the 1941 short film, "In the Sweet Pie and Pie." The eye-rolling line would always occur after a single stooge would exclaim, "I got it! I got it!" When attempting to develop a new idea or scheme. Therefore, when the line, "A Terrific Headache," preceded it, an understandable level of infuriation would develop between the remaining two men.

In actuality, the context of each scene is what made the humor of this quote land properly. This is no different from the rest of the series as much of the humor is reliant on the combination of funny lines and physical comedy. Nevertheless, this particular quote was always accompanied by the speaker repeatedly banging his head against something nearby. In the eyes of The Stooges, this would clear up their foggy minds and allow them to think better. Unfortunately, this would instead result in a lack of ideas along with some discomfort in the cranium.

4 "I'm A Victim Of Circumstance"

Curly Howard

The 1936 short, "Disorder in the Court," is regarded as one of the best episodes in Three Stooges' history. Full of slapstick violence and hilarious side gags, the episode will go down in history as an essential piece of The Three Stooges' legacy. On top of this, it introduces one of the most memorable quotes in the entirety of the series, that being Curly Howard's, "I'm A Victim Of circumstance!"

This line has made a cozy, humorous home in the minds of The Three Stooges fans. In this episode, the three men find themselves sitting in on an intense murder trial. After some customary high jinks, Curly is ushered up to the stand to recount events on the night of the murder. Almost instantaneously, he makes a fool of himself, causing Moe to intervene and physically reprimand the man. Curly's exasperated rebuttal of, "I'm a Victim of Circumstance!" is both hilarious and accurate to their scenario.

3 "Why I Oughta..."

Moe Howard

the three stooges 'Why I Oughta...' quote scene

Usually muttered after a moronic instance, "Why I oughta..." is easily the most recognizable catchphrase from Moe Howard. Known as the short-fused leader of the group, it was common for Moe, one of the Three Stooges members, to get flustered by the idiotic behavior of the other two stooges. Whether it resulted in comical violence or a patronizing response, 'Why I oughta..." is forever an indicator of impending consequences.

In the short film, "Brideless Groom," the quote is ingeniously altered when it is used against Moe by Shemp Howard, just after he is hit by an opening door. Moe's confrontational response of "You oughta what?" nearly demands Shemp to back down, queuing the equally hysterical line, "I oughta be a little more careful." The dialogue capitalizes on the preexisting love for the phrase and creates an entirely new and equally hilarious joke for audience members to recite. Nevertheless, the original phrase, "Why I oughta," will go down in history as one of the best Three Stooges quotes.

2 "Certainly!"

Curly Howard

The everlasting catchphrase, "Certainly!" is unquestionably the most commonly used quote from the series. However, the tagline would be nothing without the distinct voice and enunciation of Curly Howard. Pronounced, "soy-tan-lee", this phrase unintentionally seeped into the everyday vocabulary of people everywhere. Even in modern times, people inadvertently quote Howard by saying it in his tone, regardless of their viewing status. The phrase is funny, versatile, and undoubtedly a classic comedic quote.

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Although it is somewhat unclear how this exact phrase was initially concocted, the lasting effects of the quote are immeasurable. Mainly due to the fact that the word became second nature in the series, weaving its way into ordinary conversations in nearly every episode. With a high-pitched and overly enthusiastic tone, Curly's response of, "Certainly !" is forever ingrained in the minds of stooge fans everywhere.

1 "Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk!"

Curly Howard

Whether it is considered a catchphrase, a soundbite, or something in between, "Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk!" is easily the most recognizable quote from The Three Stooges. Once again coming from the lips of Curly Howard, "Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk!" is a verbal rendering of his unique laugh. The quote is so popular that, even to this day, various pieces of merchandise flaunt the famous words alongside images of the famous trio.

The quote is so popular that, even to this day, various pieces of merchandise flaunt the famous words alongside images of the famous trio.

Used in nearly every episode, the onomatopoeia is a staple of the Three Stooges' verbal humor. In moments of premature celebration, the laugh would trigger more mishaps or theatrical violence. In other instances, it was a verbal signal of a successful endeavor. Regardless, The Three Stooges will forever be synonymous with the distinct laugh. Therefore, "Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk! " will always be the most memorable quote from The Three Stooges.

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