“You can’t break a man the way you break a dog or a horse. The harder you beat a man, the taller he stands.” – Far Cry 2

In Far Cry 2, the Jackal gives us this little pearl of wisdom. And it looks like the game devs wanted us to think about stuff like the nobility of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

In reality, though, telling strangers that getting beaten just makes you bigger will eventually help you bring somebody home. Just make sure to learn the safeword before you two get down to business!

"Nothing is true, everything is permitted." Ezio Auditore, Assassin’s Creed 2

This quote originally came from the 1938 novel Alamut by Vladimir Bartol. But Assassin’s Creed 2 made the quote famous, with the game underscoring the power of stealthy assassins to do whatever they want to do.

However, if you’re feeling pretty direct and approaching someone pretty open-minded, telling them “everything is permitted” is pretty hot. Just beware: after this, nobody knows how weird your night is going to get!

“Are you a bad enough dude to rescue the president?” – Bad Dudes

What goes into a good pickup line? The truth is that the pickup line only gets the other person’s attention. What matters after that is how you keep their attention.

This is why this iconic line from Bad Dudes is weirdly perfect. Sure, the other person may not recognize the dumb game quote. But planning how to fight off the ninjas and save Joe Biden with a stranger is a great way to make that stranger into a friend (and maybe something a little more).

“I’ve got Balls of Steel!” - Duke Nukem

Borrowing generously from many pop culture sources, Duke Nukem 3D had tons of funny quotes and weird lines of dialogue. But nothing is quite as blunt as Duke just telling you about his strong, metallic balls.

In the right time and place (and, of course, with the right person), this could even work as a pickup line. In a culture that values both bluntness and alpha behavior, what not just walk over and tell them what you’re packing?

"Get over here!" Mortal Kombat

In love and life, there is something to be said for the direct approach. For example, Scorpion tells us exactly what he wants when he uses that freaky spear to bring his opponents closer.

However, Scorpion’s signature phrase can also serve as a fun pickup line for those who are confident, adventurous or both. And telling a prospective romantic partner exactly what you want from them makes for a surprisingly honest way to kick off a relationship!

“The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world.” – Half-Life 2

The Half-Life games are pretty much a master class in combining fun gameplay and heady philosophy. And this particular quote comes courtesy of G-Man at the beginning of Half-Life 2.

Sure, the quote tells us a bit about this mysterious figure’s intentions and hopes regarding Gordon Freeman. But if you’re a dude, this quote is also a fun way to tell someone at a crappy bar (otherwise known as “the wrong place”) that they have still found “the right man.”

“What is bravery, without a dash of recklessness?” – Dark Souls

Most pickup lines are blunt, direct, and more than a little cheesy. Every now and then, though, you can find success with a very “meta” kind of line.

A great example is this famous quote from Dark Souls. It’s a fun quote on its own, but it also gives you a chance to talk with the other person about how you feel a bit reckless approaching them like this. With the right person, this will come off as honest, and your humorous approach may be enough to win the other person over.

“Hey! Look! Listen!" – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Some of you may be scoffing at the very idea of using cheesy pickup lines in a bar or other social gathering. After all, if the place is crowded enough, you’re going to have to shout at top volume to get somebody’s attention (whether that somebody is the bartender or just a pretty face).

But this gives you the perfect chance to bust out this much-maligned quote from Ocarina of Time. Sure, it’s annoying when Navi keeps interrupting you, but her signature phrase is a great way to get a stranger’s attention in a crowded room.

"If our lives are already written, it would take a courageous man to change the script." Alan Wake

You may have noticed that love songs often focus on concepts like fate and destiny. This is because plenty of listeners love the idea of soulmates and meeting The One (whatever that means).

However, for every one person that likes that destiny crap, there is someone else who likes the idea of creating their own fate. And this awesome quote from Alan Wake is a way to tell them you are taking fate into your own hands and writing the two of you a “happily ever after” (or at least a happy ending).

“I Used to Be an Adventurer Like You…Until I Took an Arrow in the Knee.” - Skyrim

Look, we get it: this quote was funny once upon a time. But after enough jokes, memes, and remixes, the phrase got really old, really fast.

However, the sheer popularity of this quote can make it an interesting pickup line. It’s a way of quickly assessing whether the person is a gamer and giving you a disarming way of telling the other person about your hobbies.

Worst case, you get to be a walking meme for a minute or so. And be honest--what else were you going to do with your day?