Pee-Wee's Big Adventure Quotes
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Source: Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
Speaker: Pee-Wee Herman
I know you are, but what am I?
Context
This line is spoken by Pee-Wee Herman, played by Paul Reubens, in the film Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, directed by Tim Burton (1985).
Pee-Wee's favorite catchphrase first pops up toward the beginning of his big adventure. Pee-Wee is just minding his own business when the local bully, Francis, comes by and tells Pee-Wee that he wants to buy his bike. Ha-ha-ha-ha! Pee-Wee is not having it. This awesome bike's not for sale, Fran-cis!
When Francis tells Pee-Wee he must be crazy, the scene turns into juvenile comedy gold as Pee-Wee deflects each and every insult with "I know you are, but what am I?" And after throwing out a whole bunch of those along with some other classic comebacks, Pee-Wee rides off on his merry way.
Hmmm…why do we have the odd feeling that nasty Francis is gonna get his hands on hat bike somehow?
Where you've heard it
This one's a pretty classic schoolyard taunt, so if you graduated from fourth grade, you probably heard it thrown around quite a bit. It's right up there with, "I'm rubber; you're glue; whatever you say bounces off me and sticks on you" when it comes to kick-butt elementary school comebacks.
If you've ever watched the TV series, Pee-Wee's Playhouse (which premiered after the movie was a hit), then you've also probably heard Pee-Wee throw out this catchphrase. And if you've never watched Pee-Wee's Playhouse… seriously? It's on Netflix. Start bingeing now.
Additional Notable References
- In The Simpsons episode "Lemon of Troy," a bully tells Bart he's a garbage man and Bart coolly replies, "I know you are, but what am I?" over and over again.
- The Scottish band Mogwai recorded a 2003 instrumental song entitled, "I Know You Are, But What Am I?"
- The title of Samantha Bee's book—I Know I Am, But What Are You?—flips Pee-Wee's catchphrase on its head.
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.
If kids in grade school can say it with a straight face, then you'll never look pretentious fending off insults with this little gem.