What is the single greatest line in television history? {Please include context & Episode of the Series}

From Mad Men, I liked, “Not great, Bob!”

Although like most of these, context is key.

You didn’t quote what I think is the funniest line in the episode:

Ricky: I am not the father of that cheese!

“THIS IS NOT WAR. THIS IS PEST CONTROL.”

  • Dalek to a Cyberman, Doctor Who episode Doomsday

One the best moments of GOT:
“A dragon is not a slave”
“Unsullied! Slay the masters, slay the soldiers, slay every man who wears a tokar or holds a whip…”

Brian

“May I point out that I had an opportunity to observe your counterparts here quite closely. They were brutal, savage, unprincipled, uncivilized, treacherous - in every way splendid examples of homo sapiens, the very flower of humanity. I found them quite refreshing.”

  • Spock, Mirror, Mirror

“I do not want to command the Enterprise, but if it should befall me, I suggest you remember that my operatives would avenge my death - and some of them… are Vulcans.”

  • Mirror Spock, Mirror, Mirror

Stupid sexy Flanders! :angry:

From In Living Color:

“Homey don’t play that!”

“I’m seein’ double here! Four Krustys!”

The Simpsons, ep. “Homie the Clown”: gangster Louie reacts to Krusty the Clown bursting in on the local Mafia chapter as they’re about to execute Homer in a Krusty costume. One of the all-time best “bait and switch” lines.

Several fun lines in The Wire. I’ll go with this one from Season 1:

[spoken by friendly judge agreeing to an unusual search warrant while ADA Pearlman entices him by uncrossing and crossing her legs]
"“We’ll let the Court of Appeals figure it out.”

“But what is grief, if not love persevering?” -Vision, on WandaVision Season 8 Episode 8. Vision is trying to comfort Wanda in her grief over her brother’s death. Full quote: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13776714/quotes/?item=qt5598708&ref_=ext_shr_lnk

The Prisoner, circa 1968, was a must see for us college kids. Patrick McGoohan as a retired secret agent kidnapped to find out why he retired. He was identified in the Village as number six. Part of his resistance was, “I am not a number, I am a free man.”

This line along with,“Who is number two?” came in handy at the bakery, deli, or meat counter - those with the number tags you would pull.

A plot development made possible by the fact that Homer and Krusty (and others, maybe) were drawn with the same basic template.

Anyway, I nominate the 1986 classic, season 4 ep 17, from Norm Peterson, who’s entering the bar Cheers and is asked how he is:

That is truly a classic line.

Yeah. I agree that “as God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly” and “No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!” are top contenders, though. Tough to choose between those three.

I think the Milk-Bone line has the advantage of needing little in the way of context.

Norm was full of them. My favorite is:

Woody: What’s shakin’, Mr Peterson?

Norm: All four cheeks and a couple of chins.

Norm: “Women. Can’t live with 'em… Pass the Beer-Nuts.”

Self-deprecation is a fertile field for humor, and Norm was master of it.

He may have recognized the tune, but I guess he couldn’t name it either:

Who wants to cut the cheese?