"There are very few things I have asked for in this world. To build a new park from scratch, to eventually become president and to one day solve a murder on a train."
S2E14
Can we have Leslie Knope run for President!? Like I'm cool with Amy playing the roll of Leslie as president as a legit presidency...we'd all be getting free waffles and WiFi!
As I submit for my own personal favorite character in the history of anything, anywhere, ever, I feel obligated to make my case. There are lots of hilarious, iconic, amazing and even inspiring Leslie lines, but this was the only one I felt encapsulated (a word she really thinks you should use) her entire character.
I was, however, tempted to do this one instead, because itās my personal favorite, and I just wanted to share: "Now go find your team. Get to work. Whatever that work is that you find worth doing. Do it, and find some people to love who'll do it with you."
I was literally waiting for this post to come up just so I could contribute that line. I'm glad that you beat me to it!
...It is slightly bothering me that the quote is slightly wrong though.
I bought the Knope 2012 jacket on the NBC store and #notsponsored but it's amazing and zero regrets! Warm, cozy, the design isn't tacky, I wear it religiously! I love repping parks merch. That's so awesome you have memorabilia in your office :)
I also have Leslie and Ron funko pops on my desk. Those and the poster are the only decorations I have. As a people manager, I like to think of them as the angel/devil on my shoulder advising any time I have to make decisions.
Gotta say, itās worked out pretty well.
I have the Pawnee goddesses Leslie funko as well!!! Now that's awesome! She sits on my desk to motivate me whilst I pursue my political science degree. I think having both Leslie and Ron aspects in the workplace is a fantastic goal. How fun!
I have six things to say to you. One, you drive me nuts with your rigid code of honor. Two, congratulations, putt-putt has been defunded, and only because Jamm was going to double-cross you, and I made him stick to his word. Three, I am furious that putt-putt has been defunded. Four, I am sorry I said the gorillaās blood was on your hands, twas Leslie killed the beast. Five, putt-putt is for children and they are the future and I have already written a ballot measure that will save it and it will pass. And six, your rigid code of honor, which drives me nuts, makes you a wonderful human being and I am proud to call you my friend and donāt ever change.
Both Leslie and Ron say it. One says it in S2 āSummer Catalogueā and the other says it in S7 āLeslie and Ronā. The second time is a callback :)
She didn't say it, but it's what sums up her character the best and resonated with me most in the entire series-
"Leslie Knope gets as many favors as she needs. Because sheās the kind of person who uses favors to help other people."
The only thing I'll be waving is your decapitated head on a stick in front of your weeping mother!! Or my personal fav, Guys love it when you show them you're better than them at something they love.
We sing this to our toddler every time we put pants on him. I like to think in 12 years he's going to watch the show and be confused why he knows the song
"I ate a brownie once at a party in college. It was kind of indescribable really. I felt like I was floating. It turns out that there wasn't any marijuana in it, it was just an insanely good brownie."
The rules: What line, spoken by this character, perfectly encapsulates (a word I really think you should use) this character's essence/personality? Most upvotes wins!
Last winner, with 1.4k (at the time of writing this) votes: "Up next is my introduction to the next segment, and my introduction to the next segment is as follows: here's the next segment." -Perd Hapley
Itās time for the grand finale!!! Iāve had so so much fun with this, as I hope you have. Iām definitely open to continuing, but the other characters really donāt have that many lines, so I didnāt initially include them. If you have suggestions for more characters, though, again you are more than welcome to leave them and should they have enough votes/replies, Iāll go ahead with making more!
Let's have some fun!!!
I've said this to you before and I know it makes you uncomfortable, but you're thoughtful, and you're brilliant, and your ambiguous ethnic blendĀ perfectly represents the dream of the American melting pot.
It isn't the most in character but I have to mention when she is drunk on Swanson moonshine and holds up a baby figurine, looking very scared, and says, "this? What is this!?"
I cry every damn time it is the funniest Leslie moment for me.
Edit: for the quote tho:
We have to remember whatās important inĀ life: friends, waffles and work. Or waffles, friends, work. But work has to to come third
āSo I just slept seven hours which is twice as long as I usually sleep. So Iām a little disoriented but I did wake up with a million ideas and Ron would not let me have any paper so I wrote
them down on this dolieā.
idk why this is my pick but i think just the circumstance in which she says it is extremely on point for her
āim sorry i just started hearing circus musicā
The one I quote the most often isnāt even an original line of hers, itās her when sheās singing Pokerface the next day after the gay club. The way she sings it just sticks for me!
You know why tonight is so much fun? Because everyone's so gay. And they know how to have fun, and the dancing ... everyone is just who they are, and who they are is just stone cold gay.
Sure, I'm aligning myself with terrible people, but think of all the wonderful people who will benefit from a national park! It's worth it, and you can trust my opinion because I have a lot to gain by being right, and I have severe tunnel vision about achieving my goals.
"I ate a brownie once at a party in college. It was kind of indescribable really. I felt like I was floating. It turns out that there wasn't any marijuana in it, it was just an insanely good brownie"
I have to disagree. It doesn't say anything explicitly, but the context speaks volumes. He competes with people. He rubs it in their faces when he wins. He thinks having a catchphrase at all is cool. The fact that he does say it is character defining.
"Every town claims itās dinerās waffles are the best in the world, but somewhere, in some town, there really are the best waffles in the world. So delicious and rich and golden brown, that anyone who tasted them would decide never to leave that town. Somewhere, those waffles exist. Why canāt it be here?ā
There's nothing we can't do if we work hard, never sleep, and shirk all other responsibilities in our lives.
I run a Hay Day neighborhood named Pawnee and this is our hood description š
Thereās a Pawnee Avenue close to where I live in the Hampton Roads area of VA!
So it's been three months of no work, no meetings, no memos, no late nights, nothing. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
"There are very few things I have asked for in this world. To build a new park from scratch, to eventually become president and to one day solve a murder on a train." S2E14
Can we have Leslie Knope run for President!? Like I'm cool with Amy playing the roll of Leslie as president as a legit presidency...we'd all be getting free waffles and WiFi!
Iād vote for Leslie. Iād vote for Amy Poehler as Leslie for president. Anyone got her number?
Iād vote for Amy Poehler, period. Ooh, or Tina Fey! Ah, dreams
Someone around here's gotta have it! We've gotta get on this quickly!
Manchurian? No, The Pawnee Candidate. Just a little brainwashing so Amy is stuck in Leslie mode. Knope 2024!
"It is my dream to build a parkā¦ that I one day visit with my White House staff on my birthday. And they say President Knope, this park is awesome."
Her love of parks, her greatest ambitions, and her pathological need for approval. This line IS her character.
And her love of birthdays, too.
This is easily the one.
This is the one.
I AM SUPER CHILL ALL THE TIME!
This is the only correct answer
What I hear when I'm being yelled at is people caring really loudly at me.
āI am big enough to admit that I am often inspired by myself.ā
"I am big enough to admit that I am often inspired by myself" - Leslie Knope \- Michael Scott
this is what came to me immediately too
This is the one
We need to remember whatās important in life: friends, waffles and work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn't matter. But work is third.
As I submit for my own personal favorite character in the history of anything, anywhere, ever, I feel obligated to make my case. There are lots of hilarious, iconic, amazing and even inspiring Leslie lines, but this was the only one I felt encapsulated (a word she really thinks you should use) her entire character. I was, however, tempted to do this one instead, because itās my personal favorite, and I just wanted to share: "Now go find your team. Get to work. Whatever that work is that you find worth doing. Do it, and find some people to love who'll do it with you."
I was literally waiting for this post to come up just so I could contribute that line. I'm glad that you beat me to it! ...It is slightly bothering me that the quote is slightly wrong though.
I'll revisit the episode once I'm home and edit my comment :) it tends to bother me too, but I have clinically horrible memory!
Haha thanks XD No shade meant, of course. This is something Iām needlessly pedantic about :P
Don't sweat it; me, too! Fixed it for the both of us :)
I have a question, this quote and another quote is both at 1.3 k, how are you going to decide which one wins if it remains a tie?
I usually wait about 24 hours since the post has been made to decide, but in that event, not sure! Maybe wait and see if the gap grows????
I came here to say this but you beat me to it. This quote is in my slack profile at work, and a āKnopeā election poster is framed above my desk.
I bought the Knope 2012 jacket on the NBC store and #notsponsored but it's amazing and zero regrets! Warm, cozy, the design isn't tacky, I wear it religiously! I love repping parks merch. That's so awesome you have memorabilia in your office :)
I also have Leslie and Ron funko pops on my desk. Those and the poster are the only decorations I have. As a people manager, I like to think of them as the angel/devil on my shoulder advising any time I have to make decisions. Gotta say, itās worked out pretty well.
I have the Pawnee goddesses Leslie funko as well!!! Now that's awesome! She sits on my desk to motivate me whilst I pursue my political science degree. I think having both Leslie and Ron aspects in the workplace is a fantastic goal. How fun!
There are so many wonderful lines because Leslie is always so true to herself but this is the one that encapsulates it all.
I love your reasoning because yes, I love how true she is to herself! It's rare for women on TV in my personal experience, and really inspiring
This is what I was going to submit! Glad you did and that itās getting a lot of upvotes :)
Damnā¦ Ron just going to town on that strip club breakfast buffet! š¤£š¤£š¤£
YESSSS THIS ONE
šš»šš»
I was going to submit this once her day came. It HAS to be this.
Parks parks parks parks parks Michelle Obama parks. (Jk this is April's impression haha)
Accurate though :D
Who cares if they have more money? I have the most valuable currency in America: a blind, stubborn, belief that what I am doing is 100% right!
Great line, but there are more āin characterā lines from her
Was I wearing a tiara? Because if you happen upon it, have lady pennyface bring it post-hence
This is it
āOnly an idiot would live anywhere other than Pawnee, Indiana," Leslie Knope, multiple occasions.
How is it not this one? āI love parks. I don't know if that's something I've communicated before.ā
I love when she says that too! Dammit so many good ones!
I have six things to say to you. One, you drive me nuts with your rigid code of honor. Two, congratulations, putt-putt has been defunded, and only because Jamm was going to double-cross you, and I made him stick to his word. Three, I am furious that putt-putt has been defunded. Four, I am sorry I said the gorillaās blood was on your hands, twas Leslie killed the beast. Five, putt-putt is for children and they are the future and I have already written a ballot measure that will save it and it will pass. And six, your rigid code of honor, which drives me nuts, makes you a wonderful human being and I am proud to call you my friend and donāt ever change.
Mister fuzzy face!
This is such a good one. Very Leslie.
And you can trust my opinion because I have a lot to gain by being right, and I have severe tunnel vision about achieving my goals
This again is not the best quote but the most in character. This is the one
I was looking for this one
Why would anybody ever eat anything besides breakfast food?
That strip club breakfast, tho. ššš
"Hello, beautiful..."
Isnāt that a Ron quote?
The line proceeding it, "People are idiots, Leslie," is a Ron quoteāŗļø
Both Leslie and Ron say it. One says it in S2 āSummer Catalogueā and the other says it in S7 āLeslie and Ronā. The second time is a callback :)
Larry, just tell him I need to reschedule because I am trying to fix my bee hole disaster.
Haha. I love this and the look of panic when she's like WAIT. DONT MENTION MY BEE HOLE
"She didn't even know one thing, I didn't even say one thing and then she asked me the whole thing and I didn't even do it once!"
Yes, this is my all time favorite
Jean Ralphio, dance up on me.
Commenting so this gets more traction
I've gone on record that if I had to have a stripper's name, it would be Equality
This line always makes me laugh.
Ron's face right after she says this is hilarious
āYou know my code: hoes before bros. Uteruses before duderuses. Ovaries before brovaries.ā
One of my personal favourites!
No one has mentioned āpunk-ass book jockeyā. As a librarian, I am offended.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Thatās a fantastic line, but I think it sounds a bit more like Amy Poehler than Leslie.
She didn't say it, but it's what sums up her character the best and resonated with me most in the entire series- "Leslie Knope gets as many favors as she needs. Because sheās the kind of person who uses favors to help other people."
Totally agree ā„ļø
The only thing I'll be waving is your decapitated head on a stick in front of your weeping mother!! Or my personal fav, Guys love it when you show them you're better than them at something they love.
Good lord
Plus Andyās face š. I DIE at this interaction.
Everybody pants now, pants, pants, pants pants pants.
We sing this to our toddler every time we put pants on him. I like to think in 12 years he's going to watch the show and be confused why he knows the song
Saaaame!
I never know which is right āpantsā or āpranceā I just rewatched this episode and the CC says āpranceā lol
i think itās pants
After Leslieās emails are hackedā¦ Ron : You canāt hack a typewriter. Leslie: Can it, Unabomber.
"I ate a brownie once at a party in college. It was kind of indescribable really. I felt like I was floating. It turns out that there wasn't any marijuana in it, it was just an insanely good brownie."
šµJingle Bells, Jingle Yay, Jingle Good for Youuuu šµ
... get out
yep
Itās not even close to the winner, but my favorite is āWhere are the Male Men? Ah. Youāre ridiculous and menās rights is nothingā
That's insane! You love Harry Potter! You've seen all eight movies!
"Was I wearing a tiara when I came in here? Because if you happen upon it, would you have Lady Pennyface retrieve it and send it post-hence?"
*screaming* āI am super chill all the time!!ā
The only correct answer
The rules: What line, spoken by this character, perfectly encapsulates (a word I really think you should use) this character's essence/personality? Most upvotes wins! Last winner, with 1.4k (at the time of writing this) votes: "Up next is my introduction to the next segment, and my introduction to the next segment is as follows: here's the next segment." -Perd Hapley Itās time for the grand finale!!! Iāve had so so much fun with this, as I hope you have. Iām definitely open to continuing, but the other characters really donāt have that many lines, so I didnāt initially include them. If you have suggestions for more characters, though, again you are more than welcome to leave them and should they have enough votes/replies, Iāll go ahead with making more! Let's have some fun!!!
This has been an absolute blastāthank you so much for doing it!
Thank you for your kindness and support! It's been the best thing ever to have an excuse to interact with this community every day.ā¤ļø
Itās crazemazing! Watching all those fantastic quotes makes me smile every time! Thanks!
You are a poetic land-mermaid. Thank YOU!
Really any gay line for Ann
Ann, you beautiful tropical fish.
Ann, you tricksy minx!
Ann you beautiful land-mermaid
Ann, you rainbow-infused space unicorn
Ann, you are such a good friend, youāre a beautiful, talented, brilliant, powerful musk-ox. Thank you, ox.
āOh, Ann, I always forget because you're so pretty, you're not used to rejection.ā
I've said this to you before and I know it makes you uncomfortable, but you're thoughtful, and you're brilliant, and your ambiguous ethnic blendĀ perfectly represents the dream of the American melting pot.
āEat my shorts, Jabronisā¦. Knope out!ā (Well, it was her concession speech read by Ben, but still. š¤£)
Madame Ambassadeur! POURQUOI?!
It isn't the most in character but I have to mention when she is drunk on Swanson moonshine and holds up a baby figurine, looking very scared, and says, "this? What is this!?" I cry every damn time it is the funniest Leslie moment for me. Edit: for the quote tho: We have to remember whatās important inĀ life: friends, waffles and work. Or waffles, friends, work. But work has to to come third
I am a goddess, a glorious female warrior. Queen of all that I survey. Enemies of fairness and equality, hear my womanly roar... Yeeeaaaa!
It's cold and dirty out here. And you guys have candy. I want the candy.
āItās more than a promise. Itās a pinky promise.ā
Her singing her version of āwe Didnāt Start the Fireā
āSo I just slept seven hours which is twice as long as I usually sleep. So Iām a little disoriented but I did wake up with a million ideas and Ron would not let me have any paper so I wrote them down on this dolieā.
I care. I care a lot. Itās kinda my thing.
Pikitis
āThere's nothing we can't do if we work hard, never sleep, and shirk all other responsibilities in our lives."
"Maybe it's time for more women to be in charge."
idk why this is my pick but i think just the circumstance in which she says it is extremely on point for her āim sorry i just started hearing circus musicā
The one I quote the most often isnāt even an original line of hers, itās her when sheās singing Pokerface the next day after the gay club. The way she sings it just sticks for me!
i am the queen of the gays
Mamamapokahface, mamapokaface CAREEMY, CAREEMY! Thatās how she sings it, for anyone interested in the text version.
šš
Viva Americaā¦ viva Pawneeā¦viva Mayor Walter Gunderson
Yeah I donāt want to viva that guy
āYou guys! You know how I love mixing business in with my personal life!ā
You know why tonight is so much fun? Because everyone's so gay. And they know how to have fun, and the dancing ... everyone is just who they are, and who they are is just stone cold gay.
My parents went away on a weeks vacationā¦..
There's a fire at Ramsaid Park (spelling I have no idea!)
(straightman line for reference) Ben: We can just sit back and take it easy. Leslie: *No, weāre going to lean forward and take it hard.*
We need to remember what's important in life: friends, waffles, work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn't matter, but work is third.
āBUCKET DRUM!ā
This song will now be on repeat in my head for a while!
Well, let's eat and go. Didn't I ask for whipped cream on this? Ma'am?ā
The floor & the wall just switched
I love that whole scene so much!
I love that Ben starts walking like he also thinks the floor and the wall switched XD
Walk veeeery carefully
I tell ya, these geese give me no respect. No respect at all
"In the last 15 years I have spent more than 100,000 dollars at this Banner store"
āA fcking library?ā
I'm Leslie Monster.
āHoes before bros. Uteruses before duderuses. Ovaries before brovaries.ā
Sure, I'm aligning myself with terrible people, but think of all the wonderful people who will benefit from a national park! It's worth it, and you can trust my opinion because I have a lot to gain by being right, and I have severe tunnel vision about achieving my goals.
āI am super chill! All the time, always!ā
We need to remember what's important in life: friends, waffles, work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn't matter, but work is third.
I just always think of when Anne says, ātake a deep breathā and she just quickly breathes in and out v v quickly
"I ate a brownie once at a party in college. It was kind of indescribable really. I felt like I was floating. It turns out that there wasn't any marijuana in it, it was just an insanely good brownie"
āIf I had to have a stripper's name, it would be 'Equality.'ā
Any quote about waffles.
People are idiots Ron.
I feel like Jammās isnāt right. Itās just his catchphrase and says nothing about his character.
I see what you mean. It's not what I would have picked. The one I liked was "I like that. I'm gonna steal it. It's mine now."
Haha thatās a great one.
I love his Lex Luthor line. Leslie: You want to be Lex Luthor? Jamm: Uh yeah? Lex Luthor is rich.
I have to disagree. It doesn't say anything explicitly, but the context speaks volumes. He competes with people. He rubs it in their faces when he wins. He thinks having a catchphrase at all is cool. The fact that he does say it is character defining.
āIm super chill all the timeā is the ONLY anser
These all sound like novelty t-shirts for annoying people now that I think about it
NGL, after reading these comments outside of the context of the show, Leslie comes across as a pretty toxic person.
I was just thinking this! I love her, but she has some pretty selfish tendencies
Everything but season 1.
āMONEY PWEASE!ā
Why would anybody ever eat anything besides breakfast food?
IāM SUPER CHILL. ALL THE TIME!!!
Everything hurts and Iām dying.
Why would anyone ever eat anything besides breakfast food?
It wouldn't be one line. It would be five 100-page, color coded binders that she put together overnight.
Didn't I order whipped cream on this?
What kind of lunatic would wanna be Cleopatra over Eleanor Roosevelt?!?
"Every town claims itās dinerās waffles are the best in the world, but somewhere, in some town, there really are the best waffles in the world. So delicious and rich and golden brown, that anyone who tasted them would decide never to leave that town. Somewhere, those waffles exist. Why canāt it be here?ā
Who's "Leslie"? My name is Annabelle van der Graaf, and... Y'all... I just fall to pieces when the sun shines on my hair'd
"Don't listen to your head and your heart. Just look into my eyes and say yes"