David Farnor | On 26, Jul 2021

This past weekend saw Ted Lasso return to our screens for a second season – and not a moment too soon. The Apple TV+ comedy stars Jason Sudeikis as Ted, an American football coach who is hired to manage a British soccer team despite having no experience, no knowledge of the offside rule and no clue what he’s doing. Except, underneath his Midwestern drawl lies a relentless optimism and earnestness that makes him impossible to dislike.

Throughout the first season – and through the second season too – he drops tiny pearls of wisdom wrapped up in nuggets of humour and dipped in morsels of kindness and compassion. They’re the kind of philosophical asides that you might expect from showrunner Bill Lawrence (Scrubs, Cougar Town), but given an added sheen of sincerity by Sudeikis’ endearing performance, which sets the tone of an ensemble piece that treats each of its characters with respect and takes time to understand them. (If you’re still not convinced, read our review of Season 1 here – and our review of Season 2 here.)

In other words, it’s the kind of positivity you need in your life, and so we’ve rounded up some of our favourite Ted Lasso quotes to help bring that pervasive hope to your everyday existence – or just relive some of the funniest and sweetest moments of the series to date.

Here are the 12 Ted Lassoisms to live by:

“Do you believe in ghosts, Ted?”
“I do, but more importantly, I believe they need to believe in themselves.”

Season 1, Episode 1

Said by Ted to club manager Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), this early slice of gold is par for the course in a show that’s generous to a fault – a reminder to nurture confidence not just in yourself but in others too.

“High five, tree!”

Season 1, Episode 2

After entering Rebecca’s office with a box of freshly made biscuits, what better way to make an exit? Even interior decor deserves your affection.

 

“Coach, I’m me. Why would I want to be anything else?”
“I’m not sure you realise how psychologically healthy that actually is.”

Season 1, Episode 1

Ted says that to bad boy striker Jamie Tartt (Phil Dunster) at the very beginning of the show, highlighting just how egotistical Jamie is but also that we sometimes all need to be a little bit more like Jamie.

“You know what the happiest animal on Earth is? It’s a goldfish. You know why? Got a ten-second memory. Be a goldfish, Sam.”

Season 1, Episode 1

Said by Ted to Sam Obisanya (Toheeb Jimoh), this becomes one of the callbacks that defines the team’s mentality – and sets Sam on a path to leadership and self-belief that is still paying off in Season 2..

“Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse. If you’re comfortable while you’re doing it, you’re probably doing it wrong.”

Season 1, Episode 1

Another one to tell yourself at the start of each day.

 

“Congrats, you both just met a cool person!”

Season 1, Episode 3

Introducing Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) and reporter Trent Crimm (James Lance) – from the Independent – to each other, Ted nails the way to overcome any social awkwardness.

“For me, success is not about the wins and losses. It is about helping these young fellas be the best versions of themselves on and off the field and it ain’t always easy, but neither is growing up without someone believing in you.”

Season 1, Episode 3

Ted opens up to Trent while they share dinner, giving us a glimpse of his upbringing but also showing how that can be the foundation for a more positive outlook later in life.

“I like the idea of someone becoming rich because of what they gave to the world, not just because of who their family is.”

Season 1, Episode 6

This beautiful observation comes from Sam when talking to Rebecca – proof that Ted’s upbeat philosophy and open-hearted moral compass are contagious.

 

“Be curious. Not judgmental.”

Season 1, Episode 8

If you ever wondered where Ted Lasso gets his own Lassoism inspiration from, it turns out it’s Walt Whitman.

 

“I want you to know, I value each of your opinions, even when you’re wrong.”

 

The healthy way to end an argument.

 

“I promise you, there is something worse out there than being sad. And that is being alone and being sad. Ain’t no one in this room alone.”

Season 1, Episode 10

Just what you need to hear when things don’t go your way, Ted delivers this speech to a changing room full of disappointed players – an antidote to toxic masculinity and aggression.

 

“I believe in hope. I believe in believe.”

 

Sometimes, the simpler you keep it the better.

 

And finally…

“”I always figured that tea was just gonna taste like hot brown water. And you know what? I was right. It’s horrible.”

Season 1, Episode 1

Well, you can’t be 100% correct all the time.

 

Ted Lasso: Season 1 and 2 is available on Apple TV+, as part of a £4.99 monthly subscription, with a seven-day free trial. For more information on Apple TV+ and how to get it, click here.

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