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Anime & Manga
"Plan A is "Take it as it comes," Plan B is "First come, first served," and Plan C is "Wing it."
— Spike Spiegel explains his philosophy of bounty-hunting, Cowboy Bebop
Kars: Was this part of your plan too, JoJo!?
Joseph: Damn straight! I plan everything... from the very beginning! (Of course it wasn't. But if it pisses him off...)
Joseph: Damn straight! I plan everything... from the very beginning! (Of course it wasn't. But if it pisses him off...)
Kouji: There's no choice but for me to go and take it back!
Sayaka: But you don't even know what the enemy is...!
Kouji: I'll find out along the way!
Sayaka: But you don't even know what the enemy is...!
Kouji: I'll find out along the way!
— Mazinger Z: Relic of Terror
Comic Books
"I'm just makin' it up as I go!"
— Deadpool
Toph: Step one complete! What's step two?
Sokka: [shrugs] Not sure. I was sorta hoping step two would come to me while we were working on step one.
Sokka: [shrugs] Not sure. I was sorta hoping step two would come to me while we were working on step one.
Fanfiction
Monty felt the cold press of a gun muzzle between her shoulder blades. Stepping up beside her handler as they were frog marched toward the hanger she muttered quietly, "I thought you had some sort of plan."
"Have we been shot yet?"
"No."
"Then the plan's working."
"Have we been shot yet?"
"No."
"Then the plan's working."
— And the Adventure Continues, a Gunslinger Girl fanfic.
"Harry couldn't claim it had all gone just as planned. It had all gone just as completely made up on the spot."
No intel.
No support.
No idea who's shooting at you.
Fuck it. You've dealt with worse.
Time to move, soldier.
No support.
No idea who's shooting at you.
Fuck it. You've dealt with worse.
Time to move, soldier.
— Metal Gear Solid: Heaven's Orphans
"I think we should stop planning things out. Our 'thought up at the last possible second' stuff seems to work better."
—Ichigo, Not Quite As Planned
"You do realize I had like 15 minutes and a bus ride to plan the entire successful infiltration of the number 1 hero school.”
—Izuku, Hysterical
"So, Naminé and Repliku devise a plan. A most devious plan. Something so smart, no one will ever see through it. Four-dimensional chess at its finest. Meaning, they wing it."
"Never mind that. I want to know more about your thought process when you face enemy Objects. How do you plan to take them down?"
The young men shared a look.
"Uh... We don't really have a process." Havia uttered, resigned.
Qwenthur scratched his head in thought. "Most of the time there isn't any plan. We're just using our knowledge of Objects and other things on the spot. Sometimes all we can do is survive a minute at a time."
The young men shared a look.
"Uh... We don't really have a process." Havia uttered, resigned.
Qwenthur scratched his head in thought. "Most of the time there isn't any plan. We're just using our knowledge of Objects and other things on the spot. Sometimes all we can do is survive a minute at a time."
Film - Animated
Genie: Al, I can't help ya. I work for Senor Psychopath now. What are you gonna do?
Aladdin: Hey, I'm a street rat, remember? I'll improvise.
Aladdin: Hey, I'm a street rat, remember? I'll improvise.
— Aladdin
"Alright, Milo. This is it. Any Last Words? (Beat) Yeah, I really wish I had a better idea than this!"
—Milo Thatch, Atlantis: The Lost Empire
Tigress: What's your plan?
Po: Step 1, free the Five.
Viper: What's Step 2?
Po: To be honest, I didn't think I'd get this far.
Po: Step 1, free the Five.
Viper: What's Step 2?
Po: To be honest, I didn't think I'd get this far.
Roxanne: So what's the plan?
Megamind: It mostly involves not dying.
Roxanne: That's a good plan. I like that plan.
Megamind: It mostly involves not dying.
Roxanne: That's a good plan. I like that plan.
— Megamind
Mushu: So, what's the plan?
Mulan: Um...
Mushu: You don't have a plan?!
Mulan: Hey, I've just been making this up as I... (sees fireworks) ...go.
Mulan: Um...
Mushu: You don't have a plan?!
Mulan: Hey, I've just been making this up as I... (sees fireworks) ...go.
— Mulan
Power Girl: So how do we get in?
Superman: Don't worry. We've got it worked out. (later) We do have something worked out, don't we?
Batman: No. But I'm sure it'll come to me.
Superman: Don't worry. We've got it worked out. (later) We do have something worked out, don't we?
Batman: No. But I'm sure it'll come to me.
"'Or eeeveryooone's gonna dieee.' That's what they always say. But there's always a little bit of time before everybody dies and that's when I do my best work!"
— Peter B. Parker, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Film - Live-Action
"You call this Plan B? What does Plan B stand for? Bullshit!"
— Marcus Burnett, Bad Boys II
"Make good in every situation."
— Longshanks, Braveheart
Quill: I have a plan!
Rocket: You've got a plan?!
Quill: I have part of a plan!
Drax: What percentage of a plan do you have?
Gamora: You don't get to ask questions after the nonsense you pulled on Knowhere!
Drax: I just saved Quill!
Quill: We've already established that you destroying the ship that I'm on is not saving me!
Drax: When did we establish that?
Quill: Like three seconds ago!
Drax: I wasn't listening. I was thinking of something else...
Rocket: She's right, you don't get an opinion. (to Peter) What percentage?
Quill: I dunno... Twelve percent?
Rocket: Twelve percent? [laughs]
Quill: That's a fake laugh!
Rocket: It's real!
Quill: Totally fake!
Rocket: That is the most real, authentic, hysterical laugh of my entire life because that is not a plan!
Gamora: It's barely a concept.
Quill: You're taking their side?!
Groot: [in a "to be fair"-tone] I am Groot.
Rocket: So what, "It's better than eleven percent!" What the hell does that have to do with anything?
Quill: Thank you, Groot! Thank you! See? Groot's the only one of you who has a clue.
Groot: [eats a leaf off his own shoulder]
Rocket: You've got a plan?!
Quill: I have part of a plan!
Drax: What percentage of a plan do you have?
Gamora: You don't get to ask questions after the nonsense you pulled on Knowhere!
Drax: I just saved Quill!
Quill: We've already established that you destroying the ship that I'm on is not saving me!
Drax: When did we establish that?
Quill: Like three seconds ago!
Drax: I wasn't listening. I was thinking of something else...
Rocket: She's right, you don't get an opinion. (to Peter) What percentage?
Quill: I dunno... Twelve percent?
Rocket: Twelve percent? [laughs]
Quill: That's a fake laugh!
Rocket: It's real!
Quill: Totally fake!
Rocket: That is the most real, authentic, hysterical laugh of my entire life because that is not a plan!
Gamora: It's barely a concept.
Quill: You're taking their side?!
Groot: [in a "to be fair"-tone] I am Groot.
Rocket: So what, "It's better than eleven percent!" What the hell does that have to do with anything?
Quill: Thank you, Groot! Thank you! See? Groot's the only one of you who has a clue.
Groot: [eats a leaf off his own shoulder]
See, "not winging it" isn't exactly what they do.
— Peter Quill to Tony Stark, Avengers: Infinity War
[a tank appears on the road]
Roman: Who's got a plan B?
Tej Parker: Plan B? We need a plan C, D, E. We need more alphabet!
Brian O'Conner: Hey! We do what we do best. We improvise, all right?
Roman: Who's got a plan B?
Tej Parker: Plan B? We need a plan C, D, E. We need more alphabet!
Brian O'Conner: Hey! We do what we do best. We improvise, all right?
"Hermione, since when have any of our plans actually worked? We plan, we get there, all hell breaks loose."
Herman: What are you gonna do?
Young Indy: I don't know. But I'll think of something.
[after the prologue...]
Elsa: What are you going to do?
Indy: Don't know. Think of something.
Young Indy: I don't know. But I'll think of something.
[after the prologue...]
Elsa: What are you going to do?
Indy: Don't know. Think of something.
Mutt Williams: What's he gonna do now?
Marion Ravenwood: I don't think he plans that far ahead.
Indy: (Pops up carrying an RPG-7) Scooch over, will you, Son?
Marion Ravenwood: I don't think he plans that far ahead.
Indy: (Pops up carrying an RPG-7) Scooch over, will you, Son?
"We're so much better when we wing it."
— Daniel Lugo, Pain & Gain
Beckett: You're mad!
Captain Jack Sparrow: Thank goodness for that, because if I wasn't, this would probably never work.
[Jack's latest stunt goes off without a hitch]
Bosun: Do you think he plans it all out, or just makes it up as he goes along?
Captain Jack Sparrow: Thank goodness for that, because if I wasn't, this would probably never work.
[Jack's latest stunt goes off without a hitch]
Bosun: Do you think he plans it all out, or just makes it up as he goes along?
Indy: Meet me at Omar's. Be ready for me. I'm going after that truck
Sallah: How ?
Indy: I don't know. I'm making this up as I go.
Sallah: How ?
Indy: I don't know. I'm making this up as I go.
Princess Leia: This is some rescue! When you came in here, didn't you have a plan for getting out?
Han Solo: He's the brains, sweetheart!
Han Solo: He's the brains, sweetheart!
Leia: I hope you know what you're doing.
Han: Yeah, me too...
Han: Yeah, me too...
Rey: Is that possible?
Han: I never ask that question until after I've done it.
Han: People are counting on us! The galaxy is counting on us!
Finn: Solo, we'll figure it out. [brightly] We'll use the Force!
Han: That's not how the Force works!
Finn: Solo, we'll figure it out. [brightly] We'll use the Force!
Han: That's not how the Force works!
"I'm a User. I'll improvise."
— Sam Flynn, TRON: Legacynote
Ilsa: What the hell is he doing?
Benji: I find it best not to look!
Benji: I find it best not to look!
Edward: Never fear. We will come up with something very smart at the last minute that solves all our problems.
Nancy: Edward.
Edward: What? That's how it works here.
Nancy: Edward.
Edward: What? That's how it works here.
Edgin: If the existing plan fails, I make a new plan.
Doric: So you make plans that fail?
Edgin: No.
Doric: So you make plans that fail?
Edgin: No.
Literature
"He... Kollberg, he's not smarter than you, Hari. Very few people are... He just... He goes for what he wants, y'know? He's always shaving the odds, always taking another baby step toward where he wants to go, even when he doesn't know how it'll all pull together in the end... When you do that long enough, hard enough, eventually things fall into place and... and you look like a genius, when you never really planned anything..."
— Duncan Michaelson, Heroes Die
"The beginning of genius is being scared shitless."
— Louis-Ferdinand Céline, The Church: A Comedy in Five Acts
George: So, what's the plan, Harry?
Harry: There isn't one.
Fred: Just going to make it up as we go along, are we? My favorite kind.
Harry: There isn't one.
Fred: Just going to make it up as we go along, are we? My favorite kind.
Oar: Tell me your plan and let me judge for myself.
Pollisand: Tell you my plan? I can't tell you my plan. My plan is so complex, your brain doesn't have the capacity to comprehend it. This entire universe doesn't have the capacity to comprehend my plan - there aren't enough quarks to encode the simplest overview. I've got fifty-five million backup universes grinding away at figuring out what I have to do next, and that's just the underlying logic, not the user interface. No way I can tell you my plan.
Oar: In other words, you do not have a plan.
Pollisand: Well, I've got a few rough ideas. My greatest strength is improvising.
Pollisand: Tell you my plan? I can't tell you my plan. My plan is so complex, your brain doesn't have the capacity to comprehend it. This entire universe doesn't have the capacity to comprehend my plan - there aren't enough quarks to encode the simplest overview. I've got fifty-five million backup universes grinding away at figuring out what I have to do next, and that's just the underlying logic, not the user interface. No way I can tell you my plan.
Oar: In other words, you do not have a plan.
Pollisand: Well, I've got a few rough ideas. My greatest strength is improvising.
"Only a fool expects everything to go the way they plan, Raphael, another lesson for you. Success doesn't depend on having the perfect plan. It depends on changing plans to match circumstances fast enough for the changes to be effective."
— Michael, The Salvation War
At the last possible moment, Martin whispered, "Okay. I've got something. Follow my lead, and be ready to run."
Roy doubted that any of the great plans in military history had included the phrase 'Be ready to run,' but he didn't have any better ideas, which was all the more reason to be ready to run.
Roy doubted that any of the great plans in military history had included the phrase 'Be ready to run,' but he didn't have any better ideas, which was all the more reason to be ready to run.
D'Artagnan, whose mind was never more fertile in resources than in critical emergencies, swore again that he would try all conceivable means to prevent the denouement of the bloody tragedy. But by what means? As yet he could form no definite plan; all must depend on circumstances.
"I can't believe we are actually going to practice a morph. We never practice. We just do it, and when it's a huge disaster we try and deal with it then."
— Marco, Animorphs
Live-Action TV
"Here's the plan: I walk in, hit people in the face hard, we see how it goes from there."
— Angel ("She")
"Collecting facts while I'm out there in the action, just winging iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!
You're making a plan, while I'm being a man, just winging iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!"
You're making a plan, while I'm being a man, just winging iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!"
— MC Bat Commander, The Aquabats! Super Show! ("Cowboy Android")
Felicity: Please tell me you have a brilliant plan.
Oliver: I don't even have a regular plan.
Oliver: I don't even have a regular plan.
— Arrow
Iroh: Do you have a plan?
Zuko: A plan? The plan is to prove my father wasn't wrong trusting me with this mission. The plan is to go in and capture the Avatar once and for all! The plan is to reclaim what's rightfully mine!
Iroh: So no plan?
[Beat]
Zuko: I'm working on it, Uncle.
Zuko: A plan? The plan is to prove my father wasn't wrong trusting me with this mission. The plan is to go in and capture the Avatar once and for all! The plan is to reclaim what's rightfully mine!
Iroh: So no plan?
[Beat]
Zuko: I'm working on it, Uncle.
Winston: W-what do we do now!?
Michael: Plan B!
Winston: What's plan B?
Michael: I'm working on it...
Michael: Plan B!
Winston: What's plan B?
Michael: I'm working on it...
— Burn Notice ("Friends and Enemies")
Max: Uh, what's going on here? Do we have a plan?
Michael: Plan? No. I got some tactical goals and a rough approach.
Michael: Plan? No. I got some tactical goals and a rough approach.
— Burn Notice ("Company Man")
Parts of the plan were unplanned. That's the plan. I mean, you don't want to over-plan a plan.
— Count Olaf, A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017)
"Smellin' a lot of "if" comin' off this plan."
— Jayne, Firefly
"The plan is... to make up the plan in the car."
— Nate, Leverage ("The Ho Ho Ho Job")
Casey: Technically, I have a plan.
Dan: What's the plan?
Casey: It's Napoleon's plan... He had a two-part plan.
Dan: What was it?
Casey: First we show up, then we see what happens.
Dan: That was his plan?
Casey: Yeah.
Dan: Against the Russian army?
Casey: Yeah.
Dan: First we show up, then we see what happens.
Casey: Yeah.
Dan: Almost hard to believe he lost.
Dan: What's the plan?
Casey: It's Napoleon's plan... He had a two-part plan.
Dan: What was it?
Casey: First we show up, then we see what happens.
Dan: That was his plan?
Casey: Yeah.
Dan: Against the Russian army?
Casey: Yeah.
Dan: First we show up, then we see what happens.
Casey: Yeah.
Dan: Almost hard to believe he lost.
I didn't really have any kind of plan. I just figured that if you deal enough cards, sooner or later you'll have a poker game. The odds can change fast in poker.
— Rich Thurber, Fallen Angels, "Tomorrow I Die".
Piama: What are you going to do?
Francis: We don't know. We never know.
—Malcolm in the Middle, as the kids are about to get dangerous.
Jack Breslin: (as Ta'Ra flicks switches on her spacecraft) Well is there anything I can do?
Ta'Ra: You can check the proton core for signs of carbon wear.
Jack Breslin: Gotcha...
Ta'Ra: Or you can tell me what your plan is.
Jack Breslin: Uh...plan?
Ta'Ra: I think we will need one.
Jack Breslin: I'm..I'm working on it. Trying to plug up some of the holes.
Ta'Ra: Are we some of the holes?
Jack Breslin: (beat) We might be...
Doctor Who (yes, it needs its own folder)
Ben: Do you know what you're doing?
Second Doctor: Oh, what a question. Of course I don't!
— "The Underwater Menace"
Fourth Doctor: I think my idea is better.
Lester: What is your idea?
Fourth Doctor: I don't know yet. That's the trouble with ideas, they only come a bit at a time.
Lester: What is your idea?
Fourth Doctor: I don't know yet. That's the trouble with ideas, they only come a bit at a time.
— "Revenge of the Cybermen"
Ninth Doctor: 'Cause this is what I'm going to do: I'm gonna rescue her! I'm gonna save Rose Tyler from the middle of the Dalek fleet, and then I'm gonna save the Earth, and then, just to finish off, I'm gonna wipe every last stinking Dalek out of the sky!
Daleks: But you have no weapons, no defences, no plan!
Ninth Doctor: Yeah, and doesn't that scare you to death?
Daleks: But you have no weapons, no defences, no plan!
Ninth Doctor: Yeah, and doesn't that scare you to death?
— "Bad Wolf"
Mickey: You're just making this up as you go along!
Tenth Doctor: Yup! But I do it brilliantly.
Tenth Doctor: Yup! But I do it brilliantly.
— "The Age of Steel"
Donna: But what do we do?
Doctor: I dunno, I make it up as I go along. But trust me, I've got a history.
Doctor: I dunno, I make it up as I go along. But trust me, I've got a history.
— "The Runaway Bride"
Martha: (as they hide from a monster) You mean you don't have a plan?
Doctor: Yes, the plan was to get inside here.
Martha: Then what?
Doctor: Well, then I'd come up with another plan.
Martha: ...In your own time, then!
Doctor: Yes, the plan was to get inside here.
Martha: Then what?
Doctor: Well, then I'd come up with another plan.
Martha: ...In your own time, then!
— "The Lazarus Experiment"
Eleventh Doctor:...and anyway, that's not the plan.
River: There's a plan?
Doctor: I don't know yet, I haven't finished talking.
(later)
Doctor: I'll do a thing.
River: What thing?
Doctor: I dunno, it's a thing in progress. Respect the thing.
River: There's a plan?
Doctor: I don't know yet, I haven't finished talking.
(later)
Doctor: I'll do a thing.
River: What thing?
Doctor: I dunno, it's a thing in progress. Respect the thing.
— "Flesh and Stone"
"Now, the question of the hour is, "Who's got the Pandorica?" Answer, "I do." Second question, "Who's going to take it from me?" — Hello! Look at me, no plan, no back-up, no weapons worth a damn, oh, and one more thing I don't have; Anything! To! Lose!"
— "The Pandorica Opens"
The Doctor: Well, that seemed to go according to plan. In the end.
Amy Pond: Do you even know what a plan is?
Amy Pond: Do you even know what a plan is?
— Doctor Who: The Adventure Game
Rory: He'll be fine! He's a Time Lord!
Amy: It's just what they're called. It doesn't actually mean he knows what he's doing.
Amy: It's just what they're called. It doesn't actually mean he knows what he's doing.
— "The Doctor's Wife"
Doctor: I'm dying. But I've got a plan.
Amy: What plan?
Doctor: Not dying. See? Fine.
Amy: What plan?
Doctor: Not dying. See? Fine.
— "Let's Kill Hitler"
"Do what I do. Hold tight and pretend it's a plan."
— "The Doctor The Widow And The Wardrobe"
Clara: I trust the Doctor.
Soldier: You think he knows what he's doing?
Clara: I'm not sure I'd go that far.
Soldier: You think he knows what he's doing?
Clara: I'm not sure I'd go that far.
— "Nightmare in Silver"
Clara: What are you going to do, Doctor?
Doctor: Ahh, I dunno. Talk very fast. Hope something good happens. Take credit.
Doctor: Ahh, I dunno. Talk very fast. Hope something good happens. Take credit.
— "Time of the Doctor"
Doctor: Ok, Plan B!
Nardole: And what's Plan B?!
Doctor: I have no idea, but it's going to be a very big relief when I think of it.
Nardole: And what's Plan B?!
Doctor: I have no idea, but it's going to be a very big relief when I think of it.
— "The Return of Doctor Mysterio"
Yaz: What do we do when we get up there?
Thirteenth Doctor: Don't worry, I've got a plan.
Yaz: Really?
Doctor: Well, I will have by the time we get to the top.
Thirteenth Doctor: Don't worry, I've got a plan.
Yaz: Really?
Doctor: Well, I will have by the time we get to the top.
— "The Woman Who Fell to Earth"
Tabletop Games
"I don't need a plan, just a goal. The rest will follow on its own."
— Gerrard, Magic: The Gathering, "Temper"
" Video Games
Hawke: Seems like I could save time and just assume a plan will fall apart from the start.
Tallis: It hasn't "fallen apart", it's just, uh, not entirely cooperating with reality.
Tallis: It hasn't "fallen apart", it's just, uh, not entirely cooperating with reality.
Regime Superman: You have a plan?
Batman: It's a work in progress.
Batman: It's a work in progress.
Makoto: Now then, could you explain to me the strategy for this mission?
Ryuji: Uh...strategy?
Makoto: You don't have one? Wait, The Phantom Thieves were acting without any plans!?
Morgana: Uhh...we pretty much look around the area, I provide navigation when needed, and then...
Ryuji: If we run into Shadows, we beat the shit outta 'em!
"We are going to march right back upstairs and MAKE him put me back in my body! And he'll probably kill us, because he's incredibly powerful and I have no plan.
(Beat)
Wow. I'm not going to lie to you, the odds are a million to one, and that's with some generous rounding. Still, let's get mad! If we're going to explode, let's at least explode with some dignity."
(Beat)
Wow. I'm not going to lie to you, the odds are a million to one, and that's with some generous rounding. Still, let's get mad! If we're going to explode, let's at least explode with some dignity."
— GLaDOS, Portal 2
Jake: Screw all this running! I'm taking that chopper down!
Sherry: How? With what?!
Jake: Not sure. Kinda making this up as I go.
Sherry: How? With what?!
Jake: Not sure. Kinda making this up as I go.
Benjamin King: You got a plan?
The President: We're getting the band back together, then we're gonna kill Zinyak.
Benjamin King: That's not a plan, that's a goal!
The President: We're getting the band back together, then we're gonna kill Zinyak.
Benjamin King: That's not a plan, that's a goal!
"The restrictive drudge of military tactics is so easily turned upon the tactician, a fact you have ably proven. Formulas can be reverse-engineered, hierarchies subjugated, loyalties undermined. When all probable causes can be calculated, the possible endings become clear. Our most dangerous enemies are those that exist according to no plan. "
— The Dragon in the after-mission report to "Crossroads," The Secret World
The Heavy: Doctor, are you sure this will work?!
The Medic: Ha ha! I HAVE NO IDEA!
The Medic: Ha ha! I HAVE NO IDEA!
— Team Fortress 2: "Meet The Medic"
Harry: So what do we do if they switch the patrols?
Nate: We figure it out as we go.
Harry: We will not fumble our way through this.
Nate: I don't "fumble," I improvise.
Chloe: Oh, is that what you call it?
Nate: We figure it out as we go.
Harry: We will not fumble our way through this.
Nate: I don't "fumble," I improvise.
Chloe: Oh, is that what you call it?
Elena: I hope you know what you're doing.
Nate: I don't have the faintest idea!
Nate: I don't have the faintest idea!
Elena: And then what?
Nate: I haven't thought that far ahead!
Nate: I haven't thought that far ahead!
"We need a plan... and not the usual "we'll-come-up-with-a-plan-when-we-have-to-OH-WAIT-NOW-WE-HAVE-TO" kind."
— Lukas, Minecraft: Story Mode
Heavy: Heh. Baboon triplets. Steroids. Pregnancy pen. Only you could come up with bluff that insane, doctor.
Medic: Oh, it was nothing. Any field medic worth his bone saw is skilled at the art of improvisation.
—Team Fortress 2, The Naked and the Dead comic
Callie: I like to get things done! Life's too short for plans.
Miles: I'm inside.
Ganke: What's your plan?
Miles: [shrug emoji]
Ganke: Dude.
"I'll have to make this up as I go."
— Mulan at the beginning of a race, Disney Speedstorm
Visual Novels
Kotomine: Such a shame. Have you really run out of plans so soon?
Shirou: Shut up! I never actually had a plan in the first place!
Shirou: Shut up! I never actually had a plan in the first place!
"You know my strategy... speak first, think later!"
— Phoenix Wright, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Justice For All
Webcomics
Axel: I've been in loads of final battles, each one more final than the last. All of them involved complicated plans that failed miserably. So this time, I'm just going to wing it!
Marluxia: Coming from you, that fills me with absolute terror.
Marluxia: Coming from you, that fills me with absolute terror.
— Ansem Retort Strip #80
"Always be prepared to improvise, Freckle. That's rule number one for jazz players and vigilantes alike."
— Rocky Rickaby, Lackadaisy
Calvin: Last night. The game. You were surrounded. What'd you do?
Student: ...I ran. I took the ball and ... ran straight through.
Calvin: Exactly. When the odds are against you, your only hope is quick, decisive action. Robert E. Lee knew this. More than anything, it's why he fought so well, so long. Be fast, be sure, be bold ... and you might just win before the enemy realizes you "can't."
Student: ...I ran. I took the ball and ... ran straight through.
Calvin: Exactly. When the odds are against you, your only hope is quick, decisive action. Robert E. Lee knew this. More than anything, it's why he fought so well, so long. Be fast, be sure, be bold ... and you might just win before the enemy realizes you "can't."
— Rip And Teri (p. 66)
)Quentyn: You think I'm just going to jump in, willy nilly, without a plan...?
Sam: Aww, naaah. Where would I get that impression? ...she said to the fuzzball who threw a pie in a Fae lord's face.
Quentyn: That was just one time! And there were extenuating circumstances ... okay, there was that other time with the gragum ... and, um, the wight-rats... okay so maybe I do jump into things headfirst a lot....
Sam: Aww, naaah. Where would I get that impression? ...she said to the fuzzball who threw a pie in a Fae lord's face.
Quentyn: That was just one time! And there were extenuating circumstances ... okay, there was that other time with the gragum ... and, um, the wight-rats... okay so maybe I do jump into things headfirst a lot....
"The good news is that I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing."
"Improvise is one of the few battle plans that survives contact with the enemy."
"New plan, guys! I'll tell you what it is after I think of it."
Vexxarr: Relax, it's all according to plan.
Carl: And naturally the final phase of your plan was improvise as chaos seizes control.
Vexxarr: Why fight it?
— Vexxarr
Quantum Crook: Your plan lacks a certain... existence.
Web Original
"You know, last time I stepped into one of those things gargoyles tried to kill me. It would be a very prudent idea to go back to my house, pick up some of the weapons I left there at the end of Ultima V, grab my Orb of the Moons, lock my door, and come back here. (beat) Which is why I won't do it. Wheeeeee!"
Dupre: Well, we've got 24 hours to either fight our way out of this or come up with a defense for Iolo when every card in the deck is clearly stacked against us.
Steve: We could also leave, pick up Shamino, and go clubbing tonight and come up with something at the last second.
Dupre: I like that better.
[later]
Iolo: I seriously hope you guys did something yesterday.
Steve: I'm sure something will come to me.
Iolo: Oh God.
Steve: We could also leave, pick up Shamino, and go clubbing tonight and come up with something at the last second.
Dupre: I like that better.
[later]
Iolo: I seriously hope you guys did something yesterday.
Steve: I'm sure something will come to me.
Iolo: Oh God.
Church: Okay. Well, I'm gonna go do whatever it is that fixes all this. Wish me luck, guys.
Previous!Church: What're gonna do?
Church: You know what? I'm just gonna go free Tex and wing it. Cause every time I've made a plan, it's fallen apart. I figure, why not just improvise?
Previous!Church: What're gonna do?
Church: You know what? I'm just gonna go free Tex and wing it. Cause every time I've made a plan, it's fallen apart. I figure, why not just improvise?
— Red vs. Blue Spoiler
Tucker: The four of us can totally pull this off! We're not gonna get another chance like this. We just gotta go in, and get our guys back. After that, Wash will know what to do.
Simmons: But even Felix couldn't break into this place.
Tucker: We're not Felix. Felix is smart. The Feds won't be expecting dumb.
Caboose: Hey! Who are you calling dumb?
Simmons: Shut up.
Caboose: No, seriously, I was asking for some clarification. I'm a little lost.
Tucker: Look, we keep trying to strategize, and use code names, and act like real soldiers, but we're not! We haven't been from the beginning! So why are we trying now? I say we get in there, and do what we do best.
Grif: Uh, which is?
Tucker: I have no idea! ...But, well, whatever it is, it's worked for us before.
Simmons: That's your plan? We just show up and wing it? That's the worst plan I've ever-
Grif: Alright, let's do it.
Simmons: But even Felix couldn't break into this place.
Tucker: We're not Felix. Felix is smart. The Feds won't be expecting dumb.
Caboose: Hey! Who are you calling dumb?
Simmons: Shut up.
Caboose: No, seriously, I was asking for some clarification. I'm a little lost.
Tucker: Look, we keep trying to strategize, and use code names, and act like real soldiers, but we're not! We haven't been from the beginning! So why are we trying now? I say we get in there, and do what we do best.
Grif: Uh, which is?
Tucker: I have no idea! ...But, well, whatever it is, it's worked for us before.
Simmons: That's your plan? We just show up and wing it? That's the worst plan I've ever-
Grif: Alright, let's do it.
Dr Clef: I can't really see that Dr Kondraki made any mistakes in his termination procedure up to this point, no.
Interviewer: Seriously?
Dr Clef: None at all. He had a primary kill mechanism, a backup plan and a tertiary plan as well. The fact that his plan didn't survive first contact with the enemy wasn't his fault. The deaths of MTF-Rho-2 were a sad and unforeseeable consequence of the Euclid-class SCPs being moved.
Interviewer: I see. So tell me, Dr. Clef, what if all of this wasn't part of some plan, and he'd been making it up as he went along?
Dr Clef: [laughs] In that case, sir, I'd say that Dr. Kondraki was a suicidal fool. But he certainly wouldn't have...
Interviewer: ...
Dr Clef: ...he did?
Interviewer: I have here a copy of Dr. Kondraki's termination procedure proposal. Step one is his plan to use cat urine and a pistol loaded with silver bullets. Backup plans two, three, four, and five are listed as, and I quote, "Wing It," "Make Something Up," "Cross That Bridge When I Come To It," and "Put My Head Between My Knees And Kiss My Ass Goodbye."
Dr Clef: [EXPLETIVE REDACTED]
Interviewer: Seriously?
Dr Clef: None at all. He had a primary kill mechanism, a backup plan and a tertiary plan as well. The fact that his plan didn't survive first contact with the enemy wasn't his fault. The deaths of MTF-Rho-2 were a sad and unforeseeable consequence of the Euclid-class SCPs being moved.
Interviewer: I see. So tell me, Dr. Clef, what if all of this wasn't part of some plan, and he'd been making it up as he went along?
Dr Clef: [laughs] In that case, sir, I'd say that Dr. Kondraki was a suicidal fool. But he certainly wouldn't have...
Interviewer: ...
Dr Clef: ...he did?
Interviewer: I have here a copy of Dr. Kondraki's termination procedure proposal. Step one is his plan to use cat urine and a pistol loaded with silver bullets. Backup plans two, three, four, and five are listed as, and I quote, "Wing It," "Make Something Up," "Cross That Bridge When I Come To It," and "Put My Head Between My Knees And Kiss My Ass Goodbye."
Dr Clef: [EXPLETIVE REDACTED]
— The SCP Foundation, "Duke 'till Dawn"
" Western Animation
Finn: I have a sick plan!
[Finn slides up the wall and evades the charging ice bull]
NEPTR: That was a great plan!
Finn: Nah, that wasn't a part of my plan. We got lucky.
[Finn slides up the wall and evades the charging ice bull]
NEPTR: That was a great plan!
Finn: Nah, that wasn't a part of my plan. We got lucky.
Tuftan: Did you say you had a plan to deal with this monster?
Kamandi: More of an idea than a plan.
Kamandi: More of an idea than a plan.
Mace Windu: What is Skywalker doing?
Obi-Wan Kenobi: It appears to be one of Anakin's improvised plans.
Mace Windu: How can it be a plan if it's improvised?
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Not to worry, just catch them when they fall.
Captain Rex: A lot of the General's plans involve falling.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: It appears to be one of Anakin's improvised plans.
Mace Windu: How can it be a plan if it's improvised?
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Not to worry, just catch them when they fall.
Captain Rex: A lot of the General's plans involve falling.
— Star Wars: The Clone Wars, "The Zillo Beast Strikes Back"
Raph: OK, fearless leader. How do we find Don?
Leo: Uh, give me a second. If you couldn't tell, I'm making this up as I go.
Leo: Uh, give me a second. If you couldn't tell, I'm making this up as I go.
— Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003), "Space Invaders"
Marion: Hold tight, Cassie! It's time for part two of my plan!
Cassie: Which is?
Marion: 'Think up a part two.'
Cassie: Which is?
Marion: 'Think up a part two.'
— Bounty Hamster, "Night of the Hunters"
Real Life
"The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry."
— English saying derived from Robert Burns, To a Mouse
"No battle plan ever survives first contact with the enemy."
"Military tactics are like unto water; for water in its natural course runs away from high places and hastens downwards. So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak. Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing. Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain. "
— Sun Tzu, The Art of War
"We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down."
