"When all else fails, read the instructions."
— Anonymous
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Comic Strips
Hobbes: Shouldn't we read the instructions?
Calvin: Do I look like a sissy?
Calvin: Do I look like a sissy?
Film — Live-Action
"You know, you really should have stolen the whole book because the warnings come after the spells."
— Dr. Stephen Strange, Doctor Strange
Literature
Humans should really do more research. There were operating manuals that would have warned her not to fuck with us.
Live-Action TV
Amy: Shall I run and get the manual?
The Doctor: I threw it into a supernova.
Amy: You threw the manual in a supernova? Why?
The Doctor: Because I disagreed with it! Stop talking to me when I'm cross!
The Doctor: I threw it into a supernova.
Amy: You threw the manual in a supernova? Why?
The Doctor: Because I disagreed with it! Stop talking to me when I'm cross!
— Doctor Who, "Amy's Choice"
Worf: Captain, incoming message from the New Berlin Colony. They have cancelled their distress call. Evidently a Ferengi trading ship entered their system and someone panicked.
Picard: … Mister Worf, acknowledge the signal from New Berlin, and transmit another copy of Starfleet's ship-recognition protocols—and tell them to read it this time.
Picard: … Mister Worf, acknowledge the signal from New Berlin, and transmit another copy of Starfleet's ship-recognition protocols—and tell them to read it this time.
T'Pol: The procedures for restarting the reactor are in the database.
Phlox: You're suggesting I read the manual?!
Phlox: You're suggesting I read the manual?!
Video Games
Hisoka: My invincible pillow...it's ruined. Hollow. Rough.
Izumi: Oh, you're right. Homare, did you read the label properly before you washed it?
Homare: I just followed my heart and tumbled it all about in the washing machine.
Izumi: ...So you just shoved it in the washing machine without reading anything.
Izumi: Oh, you're right. Homare, did you read the label properly before you washed it?
Homare: I just followed my heart and tumbled it all about in the washing machine.
Izumi: ...So you just shoved it in the washing machine without reading anything.
— A3
"If you need instructions on how to get through the hotels, check out the enclosed instruction book."
— Mario, Hotel Mario
Liara: We would be wise to avoid touching any controls without reading the instructions.
Ashley: It's always a good idea to RTFM, Doctor.
Liara: To what?
Ashley: It's always a good idea to RTFM, Doctor.
Liara: To what?
"I know... you're so good at engineering, systems, and life in general you hane't needed a manual in ages. Right?
Well, trust me on this one: You really, really, really, really really want to read the manual here.
Even better if you keep it handy as you work.
Don't be like the non-manual-using person who quit just before you started and whose name shall never be uttered again..."
Well, trust me on this one: You really, really, really, really really want to read the manual here.
Even better if you keep it handy as you work.
Don't be like the non-manual-using person who quit just before you started and whose name shall never be uttered again..."
—Carl Tesky, Shenzhen I/O
"Help! I'm too lazy to read the manual! Wah! Wah!"
— Comic Book Guy, The Simpsons Game
Pearl: I cook Salmonids all day, but Mr. Grizz keeps crying about eggs or whatever.
Marina: Pearl, did you even read the Grizzco training manual?
Marina: Pearl, did you even read the Grizzco training manual?
—Salmon Run announcement, Splatoon 2
"Not a single Golden Egg? Maybe I should have made you read the training manual."
— Mr. Grizz, Splatoon 2
"You couldn't even grab ONE Golden Egg? GRRR... Guess I should have made you read the handbook."
— Mr. Grizz, Splatoon 3
Webcomics
"We're talking about transferring my consciousness into a magic construct with a very finite existence. I'm reading the instructions first."
— Susan, El Goonish Shive [1]
Web Video
"E.T. on Atari 2600. To begin with, its not a game you just pick up and play. Most games this generation were very simple. Shoot a bunch of aliens, climb to the top of the screen, stop missiles or chomp down all the pellets, but E.T. is an enigma. With all these random symbols appearing at the top of the screen and falling in holes all the time, it's no wonder why gamers did not understand how to play this game. You have to read the instruction manual. So, once you understand how to play the game...IT STILL FUCKING SUCKS!"
"...every time I post a half A press video, I get the same comments over and over asking what it means, even though I always have a whole paragraph in the description explaining it, which even starts with 'If you're wondering a half A press is, read this before commenting to ask'."
Western Animation
"Nobody reads the manuals!"
— Doug Dimmidome, The Fairly OddParents!
PJ: [reads manual] This is more complicated than I thought, Max...
Max: Oh, give me a break, Peej! [takes and tosses manual]
PJ: [stammers and sighs] Hey, don't we need the instructions?
Max: Instructions are for adults! Get with the program, dude!
Max: Oh, give me a break, Peej! [takes and tosses manual]
PJ: [stammers and sighs] Hey, don't we need the instructions?
Max: Instructions are for adults! Get with the program, dude!
— Goof Troop, right before flying sparks cause them both to hide under the table.
Miscellaneous
"Allow me to introduce to you to Mr. Manual. Read him. Love him. Fix it. You got that? Chop Chop!
—Hoops after you select “Can you fix the copier?” Hoops and Yoyo Hallmark Administrative Professionals Day eCard
"...and if somebody gives me an, 'RTFM' post, then I'll tell you 'RTFP', because saying 'RTFM' means you clearly did not read the post, as I stated right here that I don't HAVE the manual and that's why I am asking you in the first place."
— Taken out of a post detailing this issue.
"Telling people to RTFM is a piss-poor excuse for being a shitty software/UX designer. This isn't 1995 anymore. #LinuxUsers"
— A Tweet on this subject.
