11 Best Bill Murray Quotes That Still Hit

In my opinion, if the “I ain’t tryin’, but I’m still funny” energy had a patron saint, it would be Our Lord of Perpetual Deadpan, Mr. Bill Murray.

Murray’s career spans decades, and over all those years, he has been spreading magic through his chaotic charm and poker-faced deliveries. He may be a ghost-busting parapsychologist, a boorish and cynical weatherman stuck in a time loop, or a funny zombie version of himself; he always does the trick.

For actors, to be able to own the scene just by their presence, without any gimmicks or efforts, is the ultimate cinematic flex. For Murray, that’s muscle memory. You will never see him chewing up the scene and trying to make an impact; he simply exists nearby whatever is happening in the scene, and that’s it. Obviously, that quality wasn’t achieved from day one; it got better over the years.

What keeps him relevant is his ability to portray his characters and deliver their lines in ways that make them linger in the cultural zeitgeist. There is just delivering a comedy line with perfect timing, and then there is inhabiting that special frequency of absurdity. Murray does the latter, and by doing that, he resonates with every generation.

This list captures the essence of the man who turned sarcasm into an art form.

11 Classic Bill Murray Quotes

1. “It just doesn’t matter! It just doesn’t matter!” (Meatballs, 1979)

Written by: Len Blum, Dan Goldberg, Harold Ramis | Directed by: Ivan Reitman

This is technically a motivational speech, except that it motivates not to win (the outcome) but to enjoy (the process). By (almost nonsensically) repeating “It doesn’t matter,” Murray’s Tripper opens the lid and lets out the pressure of perfection. He says that winning or losing doesn’t define your worth; what matters is who you end up being in the end. And that’s where it connects with his audience—the underdogs.

2. “Cinderella story. Outta nowhere.” (Caddyshack, 1980)

Written by: Brian Doyle-Murray, Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney | Directed by: Harold Ramis

Carl Spackler (Murray), a mentally unstable greenskeeper, is tasked with getting rid of a problematic gopher on the course. But his mind is elsewhere, i.e., in a dream where he is winning the Masters Tournament. So, naturally, he uses his grass whip to “exterminate” flowers instead of the gopher. What’s special about this quote? Completely improvised. Director Ramis asked Murray to simply act like a child and “say whatever.” So, Murray created the moment, “Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now about to become the Masters Champion.” Simplicity at its best.

3. “Chicks dig me because I rarely wear underwear.” (Stripes, 1981)

Written by: Len Blum, Dan Goldberg, Harold Ramis | Directed by: Ivan Reitman

John Winger (Murray) is a former taxi driver who has recently enlisted in the army. The scene appears early in the movie, when the sergeant asks the new recruits to introduce themselves. Winger’s introduction goes like this: “Chicks dig me, because I rarely wear underwear. And when I do, it’s usually something unusual.” The unearned confidence is so on point that it’s hard not to laugh. That’s typical Murray for you—comfortable in his own skin; it doesn’t matter how ridiculous you think he looks.

4. “Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together… mass hysteria!” (Ghostbusters, 1984)

Written by: Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis | Directed by: Ivan Reitman

Bill Murray’s screen identity is led by Peter Venkman, arguably his most recognizable character. This line, in particular, perfectly encapsulates Venkman’s worldview. At this moment, Venkman and his ghost-chasing buddies are facing a literal doomsday. And yet, Venkman keeps his dry wit alive and grounds the “ghostocalypse” in hilarity. Back then, his snappy, fast-paced delivery proved that he could handle a high-concept sci-fi comedy and still keep his signature dry wit intact.

5. “Back off, man. I’m a scientist.” (Ghostbusters, 1984)

Written by: Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis | Directed by: Ivan Reitman

A “paranormal” psychologist is hardly a credential worth taking seriously, but that doesn’t stop Peter Venkman (Murray) from exerting his “influence” with swagger. Use this as a response if someone questions you or doubts you while you are sincerely doing something ridiculous. This is peak 80s Murray energy.

6. “It’s Christmas Eve. It’s the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer.” (Scrooged, 1988)

Written by: Mitch Glazer, Michael O’Donoghue | Directed by: Richard Donner

Scrooged is closely similar to Groundhog Day (1993). Here, Murray plays Frank Cross, a TV executive who’s just as cynical, narcissistic, and abrasive as the more famous Phil Connors. You know what Dickens' A Christmas Carol and Ebenezer Scrooge are about; this movie is a modern, a bit darker take on it. This quote comes in the climax, where Murray perfectly balances the mean-spirited humor with a genuine, frantic plea for humanity.

7. “I am sailing! I am sailing!” (What About Bob?, 1991)

Written by: Tom Schulman, Alvin Sargent | Directed by: Frank Oz

This quote is representative of Murray’s “annoyingly adorable” phase. Here, he plays an overwrought Bob “Bobby” Wiley who suffers from several phobias. He finds his bliss by driving his therapist crazy. In this scene, he is literally tied to the mast of a sailboat and is forced to face his fears. When he actually does conquer it, comes this cathartic (and crazy-funny) moment. The scene is an example of his command over physical comedy, as well as his proclivity to be “annoying,” but in a way that makes you happy.

8. “Roses are red, violets are blue, I’m a schizophrenic... and so am I!” (What About Bob?, 1991)

Written by: Tom Schulman, Alvin Sargent | Directed by: Frank Oz

This clever and almost-rhyming joke exemplifies the wordplay you can find throughout this movie. The rhyme-breaking punchline “and so am I” plays on the literal definition of schizophrenia, which is often mistaken for Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). In this scene, Bob (Murray) displays his rapid, chaotic humor that charms us but agonizes his therapist. Also, it’s a dark comedy moment; a severe mental health term is used for a pun, which reflects Bob’s innocent but annoying personality.

9. “Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn’t one today.” (Groundhog Day, 1993)

Written by: Danny Rubin, Harold Ramis | Directed by: Harold Ramis

In this timeless classic, and in this moment in particular, you can feel Phil Connors’ (Murray) existential boredom. He is stuck in a time loop and keeps re-living the same (particularly boring) day over and over again. To anyone who’s stuck in a rut, this line should resonate deeply. Also, this film marks a shift in Murray’s career, where he pivoted toward more philosophical (call it sad-funny) roles.

10. “I wonder if it remembers me.” (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, 2004)

Written by: Wes Anderson, Noah Baumbach | Directed by: Wes Anderson

If you are aware of the colorful, symmetrical world of Wes Anderson, you can imagine this; just imagine it underwater and with Murray’s Steve Zissou, a melancholic adventurer. He says this line while looking at the “Jaguar Shark" and creates a quiet, moving sentiment that lasts for a long time. This is one of (now, many) moments where you see Murray conveying deep emotion with very few words. It’s a break from his usual cynicism and eccentricity, and he instead trades it for a poignant reflection on life.

11. “Garfield, maybe.” (Zombieland, 2009)

Written by: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick | Directed by: Ruben Fleischer

In Zombiland, he plays a fictionalized version of himself. He is Bill Murray, the film star, living in his palatial house, pretending to be a zombie to throw real zombies off his scent. He plays himself, a.k.a. plays a prank on unsuspecting humans and gets shot, for real. As he lies dying, a teenybopper asks him, “Any regrets?” Bill Murray responds with a meta-reference to his voice role as Garfield, famously a role he regretted/hated. With context, the line is funny, self-aware, and Gen-Z-friendly. Most of all, it shows that he doesn’t take himself too seriously. A beautiful, zombified example of a cool, self-deprecating legend.