Summary

• The best Addams Family quotes capture the eccentricity and humor of the kooky family, making them endearing to audiences.
• Wednesday Addams delivers biting and memorable quotes that showcase her rebellious and sarcastic nature.
• Gomez and Morticia Addams find beauty in darkness and prioritize their family above all else.

The best The Addams Family quotes have helped keep the franchise relevant and endlessly rebooted as they capture why audiences find the kooky, spooky family so endearing. The Addams Family began as a cartoon strip starting in 1938 before becoming a popular television series in 1964. Since that time, there have been three different live-action TV shows, an animated series, two live-action movies, two animated movies, and a spinoff series on Netflix focusing on daughter Wednesday Addams. Through it all, the story kept focused on the creepy life of this very eccentric family and their inability to fit in with mainstream society.

The best Addams Family quotes show the clueless naivety of mother Morticia Addams, the aloof arrogance of father Gomez Addams, and the nihilistic personality of daughter Wednesday Addams. With other popular characters, including Lurch, Uncle Fester, younger child Pugsley, and even Grandmama, there is always something strange delivered in the dialogue that keeps the show's darkly humorous outlook on life. While it is Wednesday Addams who took much of the spotlight in the movies and Netflix series, all the members of this family have delivered quotes that remain repeatable by fans even years later.

25 "They Haven't Built One Strong Enough to Hold Me."

Wednesday Addams, Wednesday, Season 1, Episode 1

Wednesday Addams was a teenager in her Netflix show, and Jenna Ortega's delivery of the many great Addams Family quotes that Wednesday ended up providing shows why Gomez and Morticia's eldest child is one of the best characters in the Addams Family franchise. Wednesday Addams has no problem causing trouble and some of her actions border on criminal.

This is brought up in Wednesday when she enrolls at Nevermore Academy. Wednesday never expected to be in a school with a headmaster who had it in for her family. When Principal Weems mocks the number of schools Wednesday has been in, she mockingly answers with this quote, comparing schools to prisons and viewing her expulsions as successful escape attempts.

24 "I Find Social Media To Be A Soul-Sucking Void Of Meaningless Affirmation."

Wednesday Addams, Wednesday, Season 1, Episode 1

One of the best things about the first season of Wednesday on Netflix was the relationship between the Addams Family's daughter and the bubbly Enid (Emma Myrers). With Wednesday in her black clothing and Enid sporting all pink, the two couldn't be more different. This is also shown in their dialogue, where Enid is happy and wants to be friends, but Wednesday wants to be alone.

When Enid asks her about social media to keep in contact, Wednesday delivers one of the most biting and satirical quotes in any version of The Addams Family. It makes sense that Wednesday would shun social media based on her character. However, the sheer volume of wry sarcasm as she delivers her views to an overenthusiastic classmate makes her expression of her opinion incredibly memorable.

23 "Everything You Said About Me Is True, But I Don't Apologize For It. Not Anymore. It's Just Who I Am."

Enid Sinclair, Wednesday, Season 1, Episode 7

The first season of Wednesday enjoyed one of the best odd couple stories on television as the dark and bleak Wednesday Addams ended up roommates for a short time with Enid Sinclair. Enid was bubbly and happy all the time, and it grated on Wednesday's nerves to no end. Wednesday ended up saying hurtful things to Enid, and they stopped being roommates, but they never stopped looking out for each other.

At the end of the season, the two ended up apologizing to each other and making up. Enid's remark to Wednesday stood out as a memorable Addams Family quote because of how much it juxtaposed the usually morbid tone of the spooky settings, but still fitted in with the themes of self-affirmation and positivity that resonate in every version.

22 "Wednesday Addams Is Not The Girl Of Your Dreams."

Bianca Barclay, Wednesday, Season 1, Episode 4

A lot of people take an instant dislike to Wednesday Addams, especially in Wednesday. Bianca Barclay (Joy Sunday) is from a long line of sirens — one of the many species at Nevermore — who have supernatural powers of persuasion. She is also one of Wednesday's main rivals until they eventually work together against the greater evil.

With that said, before they made up, Bianca knew Wednesday had many secrets, and saw her as a danger to everyone else at Nevermore Academy. This Addams Family quote came when Bianca warned Xavier when he began to pay Wednesday more attention. Even more telling was the second part, where she says, "She’s the stuff of your nightmares." While it's not exactly a compliment, it still sums up Wednesday Addams perfectly.

21 "It's Home!"

Gomez and Morticia Addams, The Addams Family

Gomez and Morticia Addams find happiness in darkness and often see beauty in things that horrify others. Whether in the classic TV show, the movies, the animated movies, or even Wednesday, this couple is like no other. They proved this when they ended up driven out of their home during their wedding ceremony and went to hide in a place no one would ever want to live — New Jersey. They then found an abandoned asylum and they both excitedly remarked it was "hideous." However, after they both said this, they admitted it was "home" and that is where they remained.

20 "No One Torments My Family But Me."

Wednesday Addams, The Addams Family

Wednesday Addams (voiced by Chloë Grace Moretz in the 2019 animated movie) spends her life torturing her brother Pugsley. She also has no problem with making her parents' life a living hell and even making things tough for her Uncle Fester. However, as with the best of families, while Wednesday is willing to torment her loved ones to no end, no one else had better come in and make her family's life tough.

Whether it's her parents or her brother, Wednesday Addams will fiercely protect her family, and she proves that with this poignant Addams Family quote. It is just another example of how protective Wednesday is of her family — before she starts to torment them herself again, that is.

19 “I can’t believe parents let their children go out like this. They’re all so clean…shiny.”

Morticia Addams, Addams Family 2

In 2021's Addams Family 2, the family tries to integrate more into society, although none of them really understand why normal people act like they do. This leads to many hilarious scenes throughout the movie, such as the Addams going to Wednesday's school for her student play, going to the lake, and trying to mix in with people on the beach.

What makes these animated movie moments so memorable among the many laugh-out-loud scenes in The Addams Family is how equally mortified the Addams's are with mainstream living as those around them are with the family's horror-movie ways. When Morticia looks out at the families lounging around them on the beat, she is horrified. It is the perfect juxtaposition. While most people look at the Addams family in horror because of how they look and dress, Morticia does the exact same thing — but for very different reasons.

18 "All Your Life..."

Wednesday Addams, Addams Family Values

The Addams Family films were often laced with veiled critiques of society’s hypocrisy and tendency toward excess. This was more evident in 1993's Addams Family Values, as the title itself was an overt reference to one of the leading socio-political issues of the time. Wednesday’s interactions with Amanda Buckman, the privileged “it-girl” of Camp Chippewa, provide most of the social and political commentary.

Amanda’s emphatic volunteering to help the counselors’ safety in swimming lessons by gleefully proclaiming, “I’ll be the victim,” is met with a droll, “all your life” by Wednesday, hilariously prophesizing Amanda’s future as a repressed suburban housewife.

17 "Does It Matter?"

Wednesday Addams, The Addams Family

The Addams Family often draws a fine line between hilarity and morbidity, and if there’s one character who routinely comes close to crossing it, it’s Wednesday. Her deadpan delivery often leaves it hard for the viewer to discern if she’s joking or serious. At the climax of 1991's live-action The Addams Family, Tully Alford and Dr. Pinder-Schloss are catapulted from the Addams' abode into open graves in the nearby cemetery. Standing atop the graves are Pugsley and Wednesday, shovels at ready. Pugsley’s question, “Are they dead,” is met by Wednesday’s chilling, “Does it matter,” which is simultaneously creepy, funny, and in-character.

16 "There's Nothing Quite Like the Feeling of Being Proven Right."

Wednesday Addams, Wednesday, Season 1, Episode 7

Wednesday Addams comes to Nevermore Academy just wanting to be left alone and hopes to get through her education without anyone bothering her. However, she ends up horrifyingly making friends and then ends up solving a murder mystery. As expected, Wednesday rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, especially those older than her with the teachers, headmaster, and even the local police.

When everyone ignores Wednesday's claims about the mysterious goings on at Nevermore, she has no problem reveling in their ignorance at the end and touting how she was right the entire time. Superiority complexes aren't usually endearing personality traits, yet most versions of Wednesday Addams somehow make "I told you so" moments incredibly charming.

15 "Two Out Of Three?"

Gomez, The Addams Family

What's normal for the Addams Family is terrifying by most people's standards, and in the 1991 live-action version this was clearly demonstrated when even a hardened criminal was afraid to spend a night in their mansion. That was the case when Gordon (later revealed to be Uncle Fester, though he had no memories) spent the first night at the Addams' abode. Waking up to Gomez (Raul Julia), Gordon (Christopher Lloyd) subdues him with a knife to the throat, only for Gomez to flip him over and effortlessly gain control of the situation.

Thinking Gordon to be playing the demented games he and Fester used to play when they were children, Gomez playfully throws the knife at Gordon's head. Landing inches from his face, Gomez's playful, "Two out of three?" challenge freezes Gordon in horror.

14 "I Didn't Hate My Mother, It Was An Accident"

Gomez Addams, The Addams Family

The Addams Family movies are noted for their quick-witted, machine-gun-like one-liners that the audience had to pay close attention to. Often, these Groucho-like jokes and barbs were dark and disturbing, yet hilarious, much like the Addams's themselves. Gomez's protestation that "he didn't hate his mother, it was an accident," in response to Dr. Pinder-Schloss' delving into Freudian psychology was simultaneously side-splitting and unnerving. Aside from eliciting a chuckle, it left audiences wondering just exactly what Gomez could have done to his poor, though probably equally macabre, mother.

13 "Wednesday's At That Very Special Age When A Girl Has Only One Thing On Her Mind"

Wednesday Addams, Addams Family Values

For those who love deadpan humor as well as punchlines that hit like a brick wall, The Addams Family films definitely deliver. One particularly good example of this was during the first meeting between the Addams Family and the Buckmans at Camp Chippewa in 1993's Addams Family Values. Even a routine introductory interchange was derailed by Morticia, as she proudly indicated that "Wednesday's at that very special age when a girl has only one thing on her mind".

Mrs. Buckman's guess of "boys" was corrected by Wednesday as "homicide." This highlights the Addams Family's dark and offbeat nature and is among the best Addams Family quotes from Christina Ricci's version of Wednesday Addams.

12 "Are They Made From Real Girl Scouts?"

Wednesday Addams, The Addams Family

Many of the funniest and best Addams Family quotes stem from gothic or spooky double-entendres, puns, and wordplay. One of the best of these lines came from Christina Ricci's Wednesday in 1991's live-action The Addams Family. When the family found themselves down and out in the first film as a result of Fester taking over their home at the behest of his weird adoptive mother, Wednesday and Pugsley attempted to sell lemonade to raise money for the family.

Girl Scout Amanda Miller suggests they exchange a purchase for a purchase — Girl Scout Cookies for lemonade. After asking if it's made with real lemonade, Wednesday deadpans, "Are they made from real Girl Scouts?"

11 "Wednesday, Play With Your Food"

Morticia Addams, Addams Family Values

Morticia Addams, played by Anjelica Huston in the 1991 and 1993 live-action versions of The Addams Family, is an interesting parent when she's not encouraging knife or guillotine play. She fosters creativity and her children's interests and always has their well-being in mind, even when she hires a dubious nanny who ejects them from the house and fails at caring for their infant before setting her sights on their uncle.

When Morticia tells Wednesday, "Play with your food," it's not just an inversion of the typical advice a parent gives a difficult child at mealtimes, but there's also a typical horror-flavored twist. Morticia doesn't only want Wednesday to stop eating to play with her food but to actively chase it around her plate since the meal is moving already. It's the perfect representation of who the Addams are in a single quote.

10 "We Gladly Feast On Those Who Would Subdue Us"

Morticia Addams, The Addams Family

The Addams Family's motto, "Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc," translates to "We gladly feast on those who would subdue us." Morticia remarks that they're not just pretty words, but they also create a running theme throughout the films about feasting on humans. When Margaret says, "You are too precious for words. I could just eat you alive!" Morticia responds, "Oh no Margaret, too young!" Admiring her sleeping son, Pugsley, Morticia says, "He looks so sweet... just like a little entrée." The running gag doesn't go much further than this, but it makes a gruesome point just the same.

9 "Do Not Trust The Pilgrims, Especially Sarah Miller"

Wednesday Addams, Addams Family Values

"You have taken the land which is rightfully ours. Years from now, my people will be forced to live in mobile homes on reservations. Your people will wear cardigans and drink highballs. We will sell our bracelets by the roadsides. You will play golf and enjoy warm hors d’oeuvres. My people will have pain and degradation. Your people will have stick shifts. The gods of my tribe have spoken. They have said, 'Do not trust the pilgrims, especially Sarah Miller.'"

When Wednesday sabotages the entire play at camp, it's not a perfect dismantling of the tradition of Thanksgiving. However, it's at least a mainstream acknowledgment of many of the uncomfortable truths of the holiday, and her monologue has gone down as one of the most memorable moments in any Addams Family movie or show.

Then she and her camp mates destroy the camp, adopting stereotypically wild and at times questionable personas that match their costumes. While some aspects of the scene are problematic by modern standards, the 1993 Addams Family moment still delivered a powerful scene for discussion, and this quote is among the moments that any version leaned most heavily into the franchise's satirical roots.

8 "I Know I'm Stubborn, Single-Minded, and Obsessive."

Wednesday Addams, Wednesday, Season 1, Episode 2

Wednesday Addams knows she causes problems because when she sees something she wants, she lets nothing stand in her way of getting it. In the cast of Wednesday, she knows there is something bad happening, and when those around her refuse to see it, she makes sure to keep pushing at it, even if it means her own expulsion.

This Addams Family quote is a rare moment of self-awareness from Wednesday, and an even rarer admission of fault. When she actually apologizes, in a way, for her behavior when obsessively driving for something. However, what makes the quote even better is the comparisons she makes to why these traits are good — and bad.

"But those are all traits of great writers. Yes, and serial killers."

7 "Even With A Chainsaw"

Grandmama, The Addams Family

Grandmama isn't featured much in the Addams Family films, but when she is, she has some incredibly memorable lines thanks to the fantastic expressions and delivery of Judith Melina. When Dr. Pinder-Schloss remarks that the human spirit is a very difficult thing to kill, Grandmama nods sagely and agrees, "even with a chainsaw." This is obviously not what the fake doctor meant, but it's one of the most hilarious moments in the movie. It's also funny to watch Grandmama chase down alley cats when the family has been evicted from their home. She peeks in for only a moment to warn, "Dinners gonna be late," before heading back to the hunt.

6 "We've Told Wednesday, College First"

Morticia Addams, The Addams Family

"Wednesday's great-aunt Calpurnia. She was burned as a witch in 1706. They said she danced naked in the town square and enslaved the minister. But don't worry. We've told Wednesday: college first."

When Wednesday's teacher singles her out, disturbed by some artwork that Wednesday made of her great-aunt who died being burned at the stake. Morticia senses the teacher's worry is not about the subject, but Wednesday's future. She smiles and assures the teacher that Wednesday will need to go to college first before following in her aunt's footsteps. It's a classic example of how the Addams mistake things regular people say for their own macabre gothic world.