"I saw a woman wearing a sweatshirt with Guess on it. I said, Thyroid problem?"
About this Quote
The specific intent is dominance-through-humor: a quick, crowd-pleasing burn that shows he’s in control of the room and unbothered by social niceties. Coming from a man whose public identity was built on the cult of the body - bodybuilding discipline, cinematic invincibility, the idea that you can sculpt yourself into greatness - the punchline carries extra subtext. It frames weight or appearance as a failure requiring explanation, and it offers a fake "medical" out (thyroid) that still keeps the insult intact. Even compassion is weaponized: I’m not calling you fat, I’m asking if you’re ill. Same verdict, cleaner conscience.
Culturally, it’s a snapshot of an era when celebrity banter treated women’s bodies as open season and when branding was already a social signal you could mock in public. The line also reveals Schwarzenegger’s comedic persona: immigrant-deadpan plus hypermasculine swagger. It’s funny in construction, uglier in implication - a reminder that the easiest laugh in the room is often the one paid for by someone else’s dignity.
Quote Details
| Topic | Witty One-Liners |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Schwarzenegger, Arnold. (2026, January 18). I saw a woman wearing a sweatshirt with Guess on it. I said, Thyroid problem? FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-saw-a-woman-wearing-a-sweatshirt-with-guess-on-18514/
Chicago Style
Schwarzenegger, Arnold. "I saw a woman wearing a sweatshirt with Guess on it. I said, Thyroid problem?" FixQuotes. January 18, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-saw-a-woman-wearing-a-sweatshirt-with-guess-on-18514/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I saw a woman wearing a sweatshirt with Guess on it. I said, Thyroid problem?" FixQuotes, 18 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-saw-a-woman-wearing-a-sweatshirt-with-guess-on-18514/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.







