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"You might know everything I'm going to do, but that's not going to help you since I know everything you're going to do! Strange, isn't it?!"
— Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie
Comic Books
Natasha: What "cloak-and-dagger" stuff? This is just hat.
Clint (narrating): She's lying, of course, but she knows I know she's lying so that's okay.
Clint (narrating): She's lying, of course, but she knows I know she's lying so that's okay.
— Hawkeye
Fan Works
"Fifth Child? So soon after we found the Fourth? Kihl has to know I will regard anyone they send as a spy. And he knows I know that."
— Gendo, Advice and Trust, chapter 8
It was a stupid little pipe dream and you knew it, and Sollux knew you knew it, and he knew he was right and he was smug about it, so you did the mature thing and kicked him hard in the shin.
— But Hope Is Not Lost, a Homestuck fic
, a Homestuck fic"We must cooperate to destroy Sunshine, and only then fight it out between us. But if one of us betrays the other earlier on, that one could gain an advantage in the later fight. And the Sunshine General, who knows all this, will try to trick each of us into thinking the other has betrayed them. And you and I, who know that, will be tempted to betray the other and pretend that it is Granger's trickery. And Granger knows that, as well."
Draco nodded. That much was obvious.
Draco nodded. That much was obvious.
Deathstroke: If she’s so good at reading people, wouldn’t she realize that you know she’s going to betray you?
Luthor: Quite possibly, but does she know that I know she knows I know she’s going to betray me?
Deathstroke: ...Do you find amusement in this?
Luthor: In a morbid sort of way, yes.
Luthor: Quite possibly, but does she know that I know she knows I know she’s going to betray me?
Deathstroke: ...Do you find amusement in this?
Luthor: In a morbid sort of way, yes.
"A pattern... Something he could sink his teeth into. These tactics, these plans they were all patterns of overlapping tricks and counter-tricks. A plan was made, the opponent would plan a counter, then he'd have to counter that counter, and the opponent was usually sitting at step three waiting to deal with the counter's counter. If he wanted to win this, he needed to be four moves ahead of the current game pieces."
Kara: (confused) So did she know or not?
Lara: I don't know what's going on but I don't think she knew that she knew until you asked if she knew.
Kara: (bewildered) What?
Lara: I don't know what's going on but I don't think she knew that she knew until you asked if she knew.
Kara: (bewildered) What?
Their investigations had uncovered that there was some kind of friction between SEELE and their point man at Central. As far as Kaji had understood and explained it, the goals of SEELE and Gendo meshed well until some undetermined point in the future, at which point… things would probably happen.
Both sides pretended it wasn't the case, but both sides knew the truth and were constantly maneuvering for position even as they worked together closely on what they needed to cooperate on.
Both sides pretended it wasn't the case, but both sides knew the truth and were constantly maneuvering for position even as they worked together closely on what they needed to cooperate on.
"But fortunately I anticipated your anticipation of my anticipation of your anticipation of my anticipation of your anticipation of my treachery!"
— Dr. Zarkendorf, Plan 7 of 9 from Outer Space
"Harry notices a tear in Snake's pants and blood all over her leg and Snake notices that Harry's noticed, and he notices that she notices that. I mean, there's a trade of noticing going on and it's just bewildering"
— Wizard People, Dear Reader, "Chapter 18: TROLLED!!!!!"
Films — Live-Action
"Now, a clever man would put the poison into his own goblet, because he would know that only a great fool would reach for what he was given. I am not a great fool, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But you must have known I was not a great fool; you would have counted on it; so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me!"
— Vizzini, The Princess Bride
Literature
“We know that they are lying, they know that they are lying, they even know that we know they are lying, we also know that they know we know they are lying too, they of course know that we certainly know they know we know they are lying too as well, but they are still lying. In our country, the lie has become not just moral category, but the pillar industry of this country.”
"Were those dark circles under her eyes? Was there the slightest hint of wariness in her attitude toward him? She certainly wasn't at ease. Locke made a mental note to avoid pushing her too far, too fast. It was a delicate dance, playing straight lines and smiles with someone who knew he was a mummer but didn't know that he knew that she knew."
"Auspiciously met, Protector of the Poor!" he fawned, backing at every word. "A delectable voice was heard, and we came in the hopes of sweet conversation. My tailless presumption, while waiting here, led me, indeed, to speak of thee. It is my hope that nothing was overheard."
Now the Jackal had spoken just to be listened to, for he knew flattery was the best way of getting things to eat, and the Mugger knew that the Jackal had spoken for this end, and the Jackal knew that the Mugger knew, and the Mugger knew that the Jackal knew that the Mugger knew, and so they were all very contented together.
Now the Jackal had spoken just to be listened to, for he knew flattery was the best way of getting things to eat, and the Mugger knew that the Jackal had spoken for this end, and the Jackal knew that the Mugger knew, and the Mugger knew that the Jackal knew that the Mugger knew, and so they were all very contented together.
— The Undertakers by Rudyard Kipling
Live-Action TV
Varys: I'm not entirely sure what you're suggesting.
Tyrion: I'm entirely sure you're entirely sure what I'm suggesting.
Tyrion: I'm entirely sure you're entirely sure what I'm suggesting.
— Game of Thrones, "Blackwater"
"Half the fun of being a trickster is knowing everyone knows you're a trickster, and then, many of your tricks can come from exploiting the fact that you know that they know and you know..."
— Loki, Loki, "The Variant"
"I know you know that I'm not telling the truth
I know you know that they just don't have any proof
Embrace the deception, learn how to bend
Your worst inhibitions tend to psych you out in the end."
I know you know that they just don't have any proof
Embrace the deception, learn how to bend
Your worst inhibitions tend to psych you out in the end."
— Psych theme tune
"I know you know I know you know, 'cause I just told you!"
— Van Montgomery, in a rare moment of sanity, Reba
"Is it an escape route or is it a trap? Do they know that you know that they know? It is the best kind of puzzle."
— Kurros, Star Trek: Voyager, "Think Tank"
Music
"Little does she know
That I know that she knows
That I know she's two-timing me."
That I know that she knows
That I know she's two-timing me."
— "Little Does She Know", The Kursaal Flyers
Theatre
"I know. You know I know. I know you know I know. We know Henry knows, and Henry knows we know it. We're a knowledgeable family."
— Prince Geoffrey, The Lion in Winter
Video Games
Subject 1: I know what you're thinking.
Subject 2: I know that you know what I'm thinking.
Subject 1: I know that you know that I know what you're thinking.
Subject 2: I know that you know that I know that you know what I'm thinking.
Subject 2: I know that you know what I'm thinking.
Subject 1: I know that you know that I know what you're thinking.
Subject 2: I know that you know that I know that you know what I'm thinking.
— Civilization: Call to Power, ESP Center Wonder
Web Original
>Arthur had never met Lance before, nor did he know he was a KotA until this chapter.
>Lance had never met Arthur as well, but he knew he was the enemy.
>Arthur knows he’s got to find a bride, but he doesn’t know it’s going to be Guin.
>Lance doesn’t know anything about Guin, except that she’s a 12yo girl that shoved her tongue down his throat.
>Guin obviously knows a lot about Lance and, most certainly, about Arthur as well.
>Lance had never met Arthur as well, but he knew he was the enemy.
>Arthur knows he’s got to find a bride, but he doesn’t know it’s going to be Guin.
>Lance doesn’t know anything about Guin, except that she’s a 12yo girl that shoved her tongue down his throat.
>Guin obviously knows a lot about Lance and, most certainly, about Arthur as well.
— A 4Chan user (grammaticized) summing up the state of affairs in Four Knights of the Apocalypse
(grammaticized) summing up the state of affairs in Four Knights of the Apocalypse Web Videos
Herr Doktor: But, Major, now that they know of our plans...
The Major: Ah, Herr Doktor, but that IS the plan! Now that they know our plan, they will plan around our plan. And so WE shall in turn plan around the plan that they are planning around our plan!
Herr Doktor: ...Your brilliance knows no bounds!
The Major: Ah, Herr Doktor, but that IS the plan! Now that they know our plan, they will plan around our plan. And so WE shall in turn plan around the plan that they are planning around our plan!
Herr Doktor: ...Your brilliance knows no bounds!
— Hellsing Ultimate Abridged, Episode 3
Western Animation
Jackie: But I am not Agent Tag. I am Jackie Chan, a researcher.
Dr. Necrosis: Of course if you were Agent Tag, you would deny it emphatically.
Jackie: No, I would claim to be Agent Tag, assuming you would not believe me.
Dr. Necrosis: But I would anticipate your assumption that I would not believe you.
Jackie: I would foresee you're anticipating my assumption of your not-believing.
Dr. Necrosis: But how could you predict I wouldn't expect you're foreseeing my anticipation of your assuming my not-believing? Ha! Answer me that.
Jackie: [gasps] I do not even know what you just said!
Dr. Necrosis: Precisely what I expected you to say, Agent Tag.
Dr. Necrosis: Of course if you were Agent Tag, you would deny it emphatically.
Jackie: No, I would claim to be Agent Tag, assuming you would not believe me.
Dr. Necrosis: But I would anticipate your assumption that I would not believe you.
Jackie: I would foresee you're anticipating my assumption of your not-believing.
Dr. Necrosis: But how could you predict I wouldn't expect you're foreseeing my anticipation of your assuming my not-believing? Ha! Answer me that.
Jackie: [gasps] I do not even know what you just said!
Dr. Necrosis: Precisely what I expected you to say, Agent Tag.
"I hear you've been investigating my ships. And I think you know that I know that you know, you know?"
— Varrick, The Legend of Korra
Aku: [having just stolen Jack's sword via minion] You're so lucky, Samurai; most of us have to live with our mistakes, but you get to DIE by yours! Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Say goodbye to your little toy, Jack, once and for-[the sword explodes into dust] Huh?! A FAKE?!
Jack: That's right, Aku. You see, I am smart, and you are pure evil, and I knew you would cheat. So I had a fake sword made and hid it under that rock over there. Then I hid the real sword right down- [goes for the sword, only to find that another minion has stolen it]... here. [the minion tosses Aku the sword]
Aku: You see, Jack? I knew that you knew I would cheat, so I came prepared. And now you will learn what it means to be a fool!
Jack: I am afraid that you are the fool, Aku.
Aku: Why?!
Jack: Because I knew that you knew that I knew that you knew that I knew you would cheat. [cut to Aku looking baffled] So I hid fake swords all over this place. [Aku turns to find an army of minions holding identical swords] Now all you have to do, Aku, is figure out which one of these swords is the real one.
Jack: That's right, Aku. You see, I am smart, and you are pure evil, and I knew you would cheat. So I had a fake sword made and hid it under that rock over there. Then I hid the real sword right down- [goes for the sword, only to find that another minion has stolen it]... here. [the minion tosses Aku the sword]
Aku: You see, Jack? I knew that you knew I would cheat, so I came prepared. And now you will learn what it means to be a fool!
Jack: I am afraid that you are the fool, Aku.
Aku: Why?!
Jack: Because I knew that you knew that I knew that you knew that I knew you would cheat. [cut to Aku looking baffled] So I hid fake swords all over this place. [Aku turns to find an army of minions holding identical swords] Now all you have to do, Aku, is figure out which one of these swords is the real one.
— Samurai Jack Season 4 Episode 9, "Jack vs Aku"
