Context

Hmmm.

This is gonna sound weird, but there's almost no context at all for this one. Why? Because it's the first line of the first book of the Bible. So if you believe the Bible, literally nothing happened before this.

It's the beginning of the beginning, and that's why it's called Genesis.

Where you've heard it

If you were around at the beginning of the world according to Judeo-Christian tradition, you might have seen it in action. Otherwise, you'll remember TV episodes that crib the line as a title—we're talking everything from Supernatural to True Blood.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Eh. Every story has to start somewhere, right?