70+ Michael Scott Quotes That Are Cringey, Hilarious, and Unforgettable

Dive into the unforgettable, cringey, and hilarious world of Dunder Mifflin's best boss with our collection of over 70 classic Michael Scott quotes. From 'That's what she said' to his unique brand of wisdom, find the perfect quote for any occasion and maybe get inspired to create your own Office-themed content.

*No credit card required
a man in a yellow sweatshirt with his arms crossed
CapCut
CapCut
Oct 20, 2025
9 min(s)

Years after we said goodbye to Dunder Mifflin, one character remains a fixture in our hearts and memes: Michael Scott. Whether you're a die-hard fan of *The Office* or just familiar with the memes, Michael Scott's unique brand of humor is unforgettable. This collection of his best quotes is a tribute to the man who taught us that sometimes, the best way to lead is with a little bit of absurdity.

Table of content
  1. The Funniest Michael Scott Quotes for a Good Laugh
  2. Michael Scott Quotes on Love and Relationships
  3. 'Inspirational' and 'Wise' Michael Scott Quotes
  4. The Cringiest Michael Scott Quotes We Love to Hate
  5. Create Your Own Michael Scott Memes and Videos
  6. Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of the World's Best Boss
  7. FAQs 
A wide shot of the Dunder Mifflin office set, instantly recognizable to fans of The Office.

The Funniest Michael Scott Quotes for a Good Laugh

Michael's humor is a special blend of accidental genius and painful obliviousness. These are the quotes that make us burst out laughing, no matter how many times we hear them.

  • “That's what she said.” - The classic.
  • “I'm not superstitious, but I am a little stitious.”
  • “I declare BANKRUPTCY!”
  • “Where are the turtles?!”
  • “I am Beyoncé, always.”
  • “The worst thing about prison was the Dementors.”
  • “I have cause. It is be-cause I hate him.”
  • “It's Britney, bitch.”
  • “I'm an early bird and a night owl. So I'm wise and I have worms.”
  • “Dwight, you ignorant slut.”
  • “I enjoy having breakfast in bed. I like waking up to the smell of bacon, sue me.”
  • “Well, well, well, how the turntables...”
  • “I tried to live the dream. I tried to have a job, a girlfriend, another job. I tried to have it all.”
  • “I would not miss it for the world. But if something else came up, I would definitely not go.”
  • “I'm not a millionaire. I thought I would be by the time I was 30, but I wasn't even close. Then I thought maybe by 40, but by 40, I had less money than I did when I was 30.”
  • “Wikipedia is the best thing ever. Anyone in the world can write anything they want about any subject. So you know you are getting the best possible information.”
Michael Scott laughing hysterically at his desk.

Michael Scott Quotes on Love and Relationships

When it came to love, Michael was a hopeless romantic with some... unconventional views. His quotes on relationships are a mix of surprisingly sweet and hilariously misguided.

  • “Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.”
  • “Holly and I are soup snakes. We just are.”
  • “I live by one rule: No office romances, no exceptions. Unless she's hot.”
  • “I'm in love! I was in love with this girl, I was in love with her, and... I just had to tell her.”
  • “You know what they say. Fool me once, strike one. But fool me twice... strike three.”
  • “My heart soars with the eagle's nest.”
  • “No, I'm not going to tell them about the downsizing. If a patient has cancer, you don't tell them.”
  • “Hate to see you leave, but love to watch you go. 'Cause of your butt.”
  • “It takes a big man to admit his mistakes. And I am that big man.”
  • “You are the mistress of the night.”
  • “There is no such thing as a perfect relationship. But I have one.”
  • “I love inside jokes. I'd love to be a part of one someday.”
  • “Make friends first, make sales second, make love third. In no particular order.”
  • “I consider you my best friend. And I can't wait to be your best man.”
  • “The only time I have a problem is when I have a problem.”
  • “There's such a thing as good grief. Just ask Charlie Brown.”

'Inspirational' and 'Wise' Michael Scott Quotes

Michael often tried to be a source of wisdom and inspiration for his employees. The results were, as you can imagine, pure gold. Here are some of his most profound (and profoundly funny) words of wisdom.

  • “You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. - Wayne Gretzky - Michael Scott”
  • “Sometimes I'll start a sentence, and I don't even know where it's going. I just hope I find it along the way.”
  • “Don't ever, for any reason, do anything, to anyone, for any reason, ever, no matter what, no matter where, or who, or who you are with, or where you are going, or where you've been, ever, for any reason whatsoever.”
  • “I guess I've been working so hard, I forgot what it's like to be hardly working.”
  • “I'm a great believer in secrets.”
  • “And I knew exactly what to do. But in a much more real sense, I had no idea what to do.”
  • “The only way to win is to not play.”
  • “I understand nothing.”
  • “It's a pimple, Phyllis. Not a car bomb.”
  • “Do I have a special someone? Well, yeah, of course. A bunch of ’em. My employees.”
  • “There are four kinds of business: tourism, food service, railroads, and sales. And hospitals/manufacturing. And air travel.”
  • “I am running away from my responsibilities. And it feels good.”
  • “The people that you work with are, when you get down to it, your very best friends.”
  • “A boss is like a diaper. Always on your ass, and usually full of crap.”
  • “I am not a hero. I am a mere defender of the office.”
  • “If I had a gun with two bullets and I was in a room with Hitler, Bin Laden, and Toby, I would shoot Toby twice.”

The Cringiest Michael Scott Quotes We Love to Hate

Let's be honest, a big part of Michael Scott's charm is his ability to make us cringe so hard we have to look away. These are the moments that are painful to watch but impossible to forget.

  • “It's not a surprise party if you tell everyone.”
  • “I have to go, I'm having a crisis. A crisis of the heart.”
  • “I don't hate it. I just don't like it at all and it's terrible.”
  • “This is our receptionist, Pam. If you think she's cute now, you should have seen her a couple of years ago.”
  • “Phyllis, I think you're a beautiful woman. You don't have to be a size two to be a supermodel.”
  • “I have a laundry machine. What do you have, a hamper?”
  • “I will have the gabagool.”
  • “Mo' money, mo' problems.”
  • “I am a victim of a hate crime. Stanley knows what I'm talking about.”
  • “I'm not offended by homosexuality. In the 60s, I made love to many, many women, often outdoors, in the mud and the rain, and it's possible a man slipped in. There would be no way of knowing.”
  • “I am going to be a father.”
  • “It's not the people, it's the place. It's a nasty, nasty place.”
  • “I feel like all my kids grew up and then they married each other. It's every parent's dream.”
  • “I saved a life. My own. Am I a hero? I really can't say, but yes.”
  • “You know what? I'm gonna start dating her even harder.”
  • “Presents are the best way to show someone how much you care. It's like this tangible thing that you can point to and say, ‘Hey, man, I love you this many dollars worth.’”
  • “I am going to donate my body to science. And I'm going to be a celebrity cadaver.”

Create Your Own Michael Scott Memes and Videos

Feeling inspired by all this Dunder Mifflin gold? You can easily turn these classic Michael Scott quotes into hilarious memes, social media clips, or even short video tributes. Imagine creating a compilation of your favorite “That's what she said” moments or a supercut of Michael's most cringe-worthy interactions.

With a user-friendly video editor like CapCut, you don't need to be a professional to bring your ideas to life. You can easily add text to video clips, overlaying your chosen quote onto a classic scene from *The Office*. Want to make it even more dynamic? Use the Text to Speech feature to have an AI voice narrate the quote over your video, or try the Auto Captions feature to generate subtitles instantly. It’s a fun and simple way to share your love for Michael Scott with the world.

CapCut's text editor interface being used to add a Michael Scott quote to a video clip.

Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of the World's Best Boss

Michael Scott is more than just a character; he's a cultural phenomenon. His quotes have become a part of our daily language, a shorthand for awkward situations, and a source of endless laughter. He embodies the idea that you don't have to be perfect to be a good person, and that a little bit of humor can get you through even the most mundane of workdays. His legacy is a reminder that at the end of the day, it's the people we surround ourselves with that truly matter.

FAQs 

What is the most famous Michael Scott quote?

Without a doubt, the most famous Michael Scott quote is “That's what she said.” It became his signature catchphrase throughout the series, used in countless inappropriate and hilarious situations. It's so iconic that it has transcended the show and become a popular culture staple.

Are there any truly inspirational Michael Scott quotes?

While most of his attempts at inspiration are comically flawed, some of his quotes have a surprisingly heartfelt and inspirational core. One of the best examples is, “You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. - Wayne Gretzky - Michael Scott.” It's funny because he attributes it to himself, but the underlying message is genuinely motivational. He also showed moments of true leadership and friendship, reminding us that inspiration can come from unexpected places.

What are some funny michael scott quotes about work?

Michael's perspective on the workplace provided some of the show's funniest moments. Some classic work-related quotes include: “I'm an early bird and a night owl. So I'm wise and I have worms,” and “Make friends first, make sales second, make love third. In no particular order.” These lines perfectly capture his unorthodox and hilarious approach to being a boss.

How can I use the best Michael Scott quotes in my own content?

You can easily incorporate these quotes into your social media posts, videos, or memes. A great way to do this is by using a video editor to add text to relevant clips from *The Office* or even your own videos. With a tool like CapCut, you can use features like **Text Templates** and **AI Generated Text** to make your content pop and share a laugh with fellow fans of *the office quotes*.

Hot and trending