These lines aren't funny, they're not even clever—why are they there? They're there to soften the impact of the hero committing a horrible act. In shoot-em ups the hero will spend a great deal of their time casually killing countless foes. In many cases he dispatches his enemies with less than humane tactics. To keep us on his side the writer will employ a one-liner as a way to wink to the audience to let them know its cool. If you pay attention to when a one-liner is dropped it is very likely your hero just did something that probably was pretty evil.
— Scott Nehring, Good News Film Reviews, Movie Watching Tip: One-liners
We come in peace, and expect to leave in one... piece.
—Colonel Jack O'Neill, Stargate SG-1
There are no men like me. There's only me.
— Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer, A Song of Ice and Fire
Emily: That's okay, the key will do. It'll be a self-guided tour.
Martina: You really enjoy this stuff, don't you?
Emily: Oh come on, there are so few times in your life you get to use a line like that. Live it up.
Martina: You really enjoy this stuff, don't you?
Emily: Oh come on, there are so few times in your life you get to use a line like that. Live it up.
If you or your group bothers my people again, I'll have you arrested so fast you'll red-shift on your way to the prison transport!
—Asari bar owner, Mass Effect 2
"ONE-LINER!"
—Salvador, Borderlands 2
Did you not hear me the first time? He [Denizen] had said that. He'd actually said that. Good grief. It was only a week into his career as a magician Knight and already he was starting the one-liners. At this rate, he'd be buying bandannas before the fortnight was out.
"Enough is enough! I have had it with these motherfuckin' snakes on this motherfuckin' plane!"
