The Muppets were created by Jim Henson in 1955 for a short-format television show called Sam and Friends. From the kindhearted Kermit to the affable Fozzie Bear, the wacky, smart, and flamboyant characters were a hit. In 1969, the Muppets appeared on the wildly successful children’s program Sesame Street, and by 1976, the popularity of the colorful cast led to a half-hour of prime time called The Muppet Show. In its five-year run, the show won four Emmy Awards and was nominated for another 21.
Even as the showrunners took home their awards, the Muppets were just getting started. In 1979, they starred in the first of several movies, The Muppet Movie. The 1980s and '90s brought a number of spinoffs, including Muppet Babies, Muppets Tonight, and The Jim Henson Hour. The characters have also appeared on late-night TV talk shows, and made cameo appearances on everything from The Simpsons to The West Wing.
After six decades in the spotlight, the Muppets continue to shine. Their message of friendship, love, and laughter is as relevant today as it has ever been. Here, we’ve collected 10 of our favorite quotes from the Muppets, but before we open up the floor, we’ll leave you with a quote from their uniquely talented creator, who passed away in 1990: “If you care about what you do and work hard at it, there isn't anything you can't do if you want to.”
Just because you haven’t found your talent yet, doesn’t mean you don’t have one.Kermit the Frog
There's not a word yet for old friends who've just met.Gonzo
Opportunity just knocked / Let’s reach out and grab it / Together we’ll nab it.Fozzie Bear and Kermit the Frog
It's nice to be important, but it's important to be nice.Kermit the Frog
I don’t care what you think of me, unless you think I’m awesome. In which case you are right.Miss Piggy
It's nice to be important, but it's important to be nice.Kermit the Frog
Be thankful for the bad things in life. For they opened our eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before.Kermit the Frog
Sooner or later, you gotta believe in yourself, too, because that's what growing up is. It's becoming who you want to be.Gary
Never worry about failure. It’s gonna happen. But that’s OK: Go ahead, take chances ... and you might just find that what feels like failure isn’t failure at all, it’s what inspires you to dream even bigger.Kermit the Frog
Beauty is all about loving who you are. And if you have a problem with that, may I suggest you try loving who I am?Miss Piggy
Life’s like a movie, write your own ending.Kermit the Frog
Featured image credit: tumbao1949/ Unsplash
