Jerry Seinfeld's titular role in the hit sitcom Seinfeld has proven itself to be one the most memorable characters in television history. The format of the show, which is described as being "about nothing," allows for a litany of random observations and judgments about anything and everything in day-to-day life.
Being surrounded by a cast of wacky but slightly undesirable characters while being a stand-up comedian himself gives Jerry plenty of ammunition for comedic moments. Plus, his fickle personality is just antagonistic enough to put him into plenty of bad situations. Throughout the show's nine-season run Jerry proved himself to be a cultural touchstone that always manages to say what fans wish they could.
"Why Do I Always Have The Feeling That Everybody's Doing Something Better Than Me?"
While wandering around a mall parking lot with the gang trying to find Kramer's car, it's understandable how this thought could pass through Jerry's head. With Elaine worried about her new goldfish dying before they get home, and Jerry needing to go to the bathroom, there's a good chance most people were doing something better than him that Saturday.
Eventually, Jerry decides to relieve himself only for a security guard to see him and bring him down to his office. Once out, and the car is finally found, they realize that Kramer's car won't start.
"She's One Of Those Low Talkers."
In the lexicon of Seinfeld-isms, the "low talker," is one of the most memorable. In a situation that all fans have found themselves in at one point or another, Jerry and Elaine find themselves at dinner with Kramer's new clothing designer girlfriend, who can't manage to say anything at an appropriate volume.
Trying to be polite, Jerry nods in agreement to everything she says, only to find himself being forced to wear one of her ridiculous puffy shirts on a late-night talk show. While most viewers won't find themselves on television in an ugly shirt as a result of someone's low speaking volume, it's the perfect example of Jerry's ability to describe minutia in memorable ways.
"People On Dates Shouldn't Be Allowed Out In Public."
While complaining about single life with Elaine, Jerry comes to this conclusion as he finds dating to be "too embarrassing," to do in public, with Elaine wondering whether it'd be easier to just get married. Their ideas don't go anywhere, however, as the two continue dating random people throughout the rest of the show's run.
There's no doubt many single fans of the show have quoted this at least a couple of times, with the perils of dating being one of the most relatable problems Jerry addresses throughout the show.
"What Is This Obsession People Have With Books?"
Here, Jerry muses on people's obsession with hoarding books. After George finds himself in the predicament as to whether or not he should retrieve his books from an ex-girlfriend's apartment, Jerry rants about the absurdity of going to get those books in the first place.
He explains that there is no point in keeping books that have already been read, especially when there is no intent on reading them again. George ignores this point. Later on, once the books are back in George's possession, Jerry grills him as to whether or not he has read them since getting them back, to which he answers "no."
"I Can't Go To A Bad Movie By Myself. What Am I Gonna Do, Make Remarks To Strangers?"
In the famous episode where Jerry and the gang get stuck waiting at a Chinese restaurant for an hour, Jerry's main concern is getting to their movie in time. While George and Elaine eventually grow weary and want to give up on the movie plan, Jerry insists as he doesn't want to go see Plan 9 From Outer Space alone.
This is the type of situation most fans would find themselves in, and it's a completely understandable impulse to only want to see a bad movie to make sarcastic remarks with friends. Again, Jerry proves himself apt at describing something everyone can relate to.
"I'm Miserable, So I Might As Well Be Comfortable."
A product of his time, Jerry makes it very clear that he holds quite negative opinions of sweatpants. With George's life spiraling from anxiety as he prepares to film he and Jerry's television pilot, he begins wearing sweatpants. Always honest, Jerry makes it clear that he's telling the world "I give up. I can't compete in normal society."
While probably not quite what goes through the minds of people who wear sweatpants, at least not consciously, it's this bleak sense of the world that makes Jerry's sense of humor so memorable.
"Did You Know The Original Title Of War And Peace Was War, What Is It Good For?"
During a conversation, Jerry decides to tell Elaine a fake fact about the original name of War and Peace, illustrating another way in which this group of friends might not be the best people. While clearly a joke, Elaine decides to tell this anecdote to her boss and a famous Russian author they are working with, prompting an angry rampage that leads to her organizer getting thrown from the car window.
This leads to Elaine getting blackmailed by the woman the organizer, which she desperately needs back, hit until she pays for the damages. While not entirely his fault, it's hard to ignore that none of this would have happened if Jerry hadn't lied to Elaine.
"Are You The Master Of Your Domain?"
In this controversial episode, the gang decides to hold a contest to see who can go the longest without masturbating, with Jerry, George, and Kramer putting up $100 and Elaine putting up $150 at their insistence it would be too easy for her.
Because of television sensors of the time, the writers had to come up with clever innuendos for when the characters talk about the contest. The most famous one comes when Jerry asks George if he's the "master of his domain," to which George replies that he is. In the end, it's never revealed who won, with the final two being down to George and Jerry.
"Sex Is Meaningless. I Can Understand That. But Dinner, That's Heavy. That's Like An Hour."
An example of a quote that might have become more relatable with time, this Jerry philosophy seems more at home now than it did in the '90s. A busy comedian, Jerry values his time above all else, and while sex may seem like a bigger deal than dinner to some, to him it's no big deal as long as it doesn't last an hour.
This quote finds Jerry explaining to Elaine how to tell when she's back together with her ex, the stakes on which they're betting, explaining that when they go to dinner, then they're officially back on.
"I Had A Dream Last Night That A Hamburger Was Eating Me."
In one of Jerry's more surreal moments, after George finishes explaining his dream in which his new intern fulfills the goals in life he never could, Jerry explains his own dream in which food is eating him.
This dream is more of a one-off and doesn't get explained more throughout the remainder of the episode, but it's certainly notable. Not one of the show's most quoted moments, the idea of having a strange, unexplainable dream is one that most viewers can relate to.