55 Best Leslie Knope Quotes From The Parks And Rec Queen Of Work And Waffles

Isobel Murphy
Dec 12, 2023 By Isobel Murphy
Originally Published on Feb 11, 2021
Edited by Isobel Murphy
Young friendly woman eating popcorn bucket.
Age: 0-99
Read time: 6.9 Min

If you're at all a fan of Parks and Rec then it's hard to forget the queen of waffles, whipped cream, government bureaucracy and - of course - idea binders, the one and only Leslie Knope! Whether you want to inspire interest in local government, encourage someone to work hard and pursue their dreams, or just love hearing about the link between friendship and dessert foods, these Leslie Knope quotes are bound to get everyone all fired up! Don't neglect the rest of the cast on this hilariously heart-warming show, either - get your swag on with great Tom Haverford quotes, or give your darker side an outing with our pick of the best April Ludgate quotes.

The Best Leslie Knope Quotes About Organization

Everyone knows Leslie loves organizing, so we just had to start with some of her all-time planning greats.

1. “Hobbies? Organizing my agenda. Wait, that doesn't sound fun … jammin' on my planner!”

2. “I have ordered banners for every personal and professional event I've ever organized. My credit card called me about it. Not to question the charges, but it sincerely ask me if I was mentally stable.”

3. "Go find your team. Get to work. Whatever that work is that you find worth doing. Do it, and find some people to love who'll do it with you."

4. "Hey Leslie. It's Leslie. Hang in there. I love you. Bye."

5. “There’s nothing we can’t do if we work hard, never sleep, and shirk all other responsibilities in our lives.” (okay, so that's NOT so organized… but it's a classic Leslie and we wanted to include it!)

6. "If you want to bake a pie. That’s great. If you want to have a career. That’s great too."

7. "Use grazing sheep to mow the grass in parks. Note: tired sheep could become food or sweaters."

8. "I always carry emergency s'more rations in my car."

Hilariously Great Leslie Knope Quotes

Leslie's never funnier (or more profound) than when she's just telling it like it is.

9. “I learned something, Joan… it's not where you're born. It's where you're from.”

10. “I don't want to be overdramatic, but today felt like a hundred years in heck and the absolute worst day of my life.”

11. The only thing I'm guilty of is loving Pawnee. And punching Lindsay in the face and shoving a coffee filter down her pants."

12. “I'm going to be direct and honest with you. I would like a glass of red wine and I'll take the cheapest one you have because I can't tell the difference.”

13. “All the things make me think a lot of feelings about myself.”

14. “I stand behind my decision to avoid salad and other disgusting things.”

15. “I've told you that the Eagletonians are awful, terrible people. They call their boogers 'Pawnee caviar'.”

16." In 1988, we were hit by a tornado. We asked Eagleton for help, and they claimed they weren't home."

17. “I don't know. But I know how I feel and I want to be with you. But I'm done steamrolling people.”

18. “You know what I should do? I should get my mother a one way ticket to London, leaving today. That way Ben never has to meet her and I could visit her in London.”

19. “It's not that I don't trust Ben. It's that I don't have faith in Ben. And also I'm starting to forget who Ben is.”

20. “Well, I tried to call Oprah. Couldn't get her number. I'm putting it out there, like The Secret. And hopefully she'll call me.”

21. “I have two brains in my body. I've never felt so dumb.”

Leslie Knope On Leadership

From her role as Deputy Director to City Councilwoman - and beyond - Leslie always embraces her position as a leader, especially of other women.

22. “I took your idea and I made it better.”

23. “I need you to text me every 30 seconds that everything is going to be OK.”

24. “I have the most valuable commodity in America: the blind, stubborn belief that I am doing what is right.”

25. “I am big enough to admit that I am often inspired by myself.”

26. "Winning is every girl’s dream, but it’s my destiny."

Leslie Knope On Love

From admiring Ben's heiney to inventing Galentine's Day for her girl pals, Leslie has plenty to say on the matter of love!

27. “When you love something, you don't threaten it. You don't punish it. You fight for it. You take care of it. You put it first.”

28. “What I hear when I'm being yelled at is people caring loudly at me.”

29. “The things that you have done for me; to help me, support me, surprise me, to make me happy — go above and beyond what any person deserves. You're all I need. I love you and I like you.”

30. " Everyone should love waffles. If they don't, they're crazy."

31. “I mean, am I living the dream? I don't know. Did I also just walk past a food truck and buy myself a waffle sundae? Yes!”

Variety of ice cream scoops in cones with chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.

Leslie Knope's Quotes About Government

In sharp contrast with her colleague and friend Ron, Leslie definitely believes in the good that government can do… well, except for the diabolical Library Department of course.

32. “Maybe it's time for more women to be in charge.”

33. “Pawnee's library department is the most diabolical, ruthless bunch of bureaucrats I've ever seen.”

34." No matter what I do, literally nothing bad can happen to me. I'm like a white, male US Senator."

35." There are very few things I have asked for in this world. To build a new park from scratch, to eventually become president and to one day solve a murder on a train."

36. “It is my dream to build a park… that I one day visit with my White House staff on my birthday. And they say President Knope, this park is awesome.”

Leslie Knope The Feminist

As well as being a government leader and setting up her own local children's group, the Pawnee Goddesses, Leslie does everything she can to champion feminism - including (literally) taking out the trash.

37. “Guys love it when you can show them you are better than they are at something they love.”

38. “Like I always say, stairs is a young man's game.”

39. “I am a Goddess, a glorious female warrior.”

40. “Why did I change my hairstyle? Oh I don't know. I decided it would look better... or my kids got gum in it.”

41. “I guess some people object to powerful depictions of awesome ladies.”

42. “I am big enough to admit that I am often inspired by myself.”

43. “One person's 'annoying' is another person's 'inspiring and heroic'.”

44. "Sometimes you have to make the hardest climb to see the most beautiful sunrise."

-Leslie Knope.

Leslie Knope On Friendship

Whether her all-time bestie nurse bestie Ann Perkins, her beloved Ben Wyatt or just the rest of her colleagues and companions, Leslie never forgets to make time for her friends.

45. “We need to remember what's important in life: friends, waffles, work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn't matter, but work is third.”

46. “Ann, you're such a good friend. You are a beautiful, talented, brilliant, powerful musk ox.”

47. “What's Galentine's Day? Oh, it's only the best day of the year.”

48. “February 13th, Galentine's Day, is about celebrating lady friends.”

49. “Ann's my doctor. She's the most beautiful nurse in the world.”

50. “Oh Ann, you're too beautiful to be funny. It's not your fault.”

51. “Ann, you're a genius! Your brain is almost as perfect as your face.”

52. “Ann, you beautiful spinster, I will find you love.”

53. “Ann, you're so sweet and innocent and pretty.”

54. "Oh, Ann, I always forget because you're so pretty, you're not used to rejection."

55. “Oh, then I’m sure he’s not cheating on you. And if he is, he’s a monster. And if he’s not you guys are great together. But if he is, I will kill him.”

Get some more of that Leslie vibe going with your family with our free park coloring pages or some of these great facts about women's empowerment for kids.

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Written by Isobel Murphy

Bachelor of Arts specializing in History

Isobel Murphy picture

Isobel MurphyBachelor of Arts specializing in History

With a love for exploring cities and finding outdoor spaces to enjoy, Isobel has spent her life exploring various cities in the UK, from her hometown of Surrey to Birmingham where she studied history for three years. She is passionate about sports and enjoys watching and playing, as well as baking and spending quality time with her loved ones.

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