Nestled within the heart of American literature, Larry McMurtry's epic western novel "Lonesome Dove" stands as a timeless masterpiece, captivating readers with its rich narrative tapestry and unforgettable characters. As we embark on a literary journey, we find ourselves drawn to the remarkable collection of quotes from "Lonesome Dove." These quotes offer us a glimpse into the rugged yet poignant world of the Old West, where courage, friendship, and the pursuit of dreams unfold against a backdrop of sweeping landscapes and unforgiving challenges. As we delve into these memorable quotes, we find ourselves transported to a world where the Old West's harsh beauty and indomitable spirit are vividly brought to life.
Quotes From Lonesome Dove (2024)
"Lonesome Dove," Larry McMurtry's magnum opus of the American West, remains a literary treasure trove filled with poignant and unforgettable quotes. These quotes capture the essence of a rugged and sprawling frontier, where the spirit of adventure and the complexity of human relationships intertwine. Here, we present unique and resonant quotes from "Lonesome Dove," offering readers a glimpse into the soul-stirring journey of Woodrow F. Call, Augustus "Gus" McCrae, and a cast of characters whose lives are forever changed by the unforgiving landscape and the bonds of friendship:
"It ain't dyin' I'm talkin' about, it's livin'."
"A man who wouldn't cheat for a poke don't want it bad enough."
"The older the violin, the sweeter the music."
"If you want one thing too much, it's likely to be a disappointment. The healthy way is to learn to like the everyday things, like soft beds and buttermilk—and feisty gentlemen."
"I figured if God wanted us to be cowboys, he would have made us better at it."
"If you want to see a pretty woman, look at your wife with no makeup on early in the morning."
"The best way to do things is to do things."
"It's not dyin' I'm talkin' about, it's livin'."
"A fine horse is like a good wife: make sure you have the right one."
"Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it."
"You can't have no idea how little I care."
"I can't explain it, but I can understand it."
"Some of the best people I ever knowed was mean as rattlesnakes."
"A true cowboy knows love, pain, and shame, but never cares about any of that crap."
"It ain't dyin' I'm talking about, it's livin'."
"I figured it might as well be me as anyone else."
"If you want one thing too much, it's likely to be a disappointment. The healthy way is to learn to like the everyday things, like soft beds and buttermilk."
"I can't figure out whether you're a smart man with a weak mind, or a smart man with a strong mind."
"I thought you was tougher than a piece of chicken fried in brandy."
"A man who wouldn't cheat for a poke don't want one bad enough."
"Yesterday's gone on down the river, and you can't get it back."
"When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite."
"A man who wouldn't love his own children is worse than an animal."
"A man's worst-kept secrets are the ones he keeps from himself."
"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's living."
"You know how it is with women. You slap them once, they turn on you. You treat them gentle, they turn on you. Hell, you shoot them dead, they don't turn on you."
"A man gets what he settles for."
"I can't help but worry about you; that's part of me and it's in me. It's not something I can be talked out of."
"It ain't easy being the mother of a famous child."
"If you want one thing too much, it's likely to be a disappointment. The healthy way is to learn to like the everyday things, like soft beds and buttermilk, and feisty gentlemen."
"It ain't dyin' I'm talkin' about, it's livin'. I doubt it matters where you die, but it matters where you live."
"You get to be a real cowboy when you learn to take a bath every day."
"I think you're more devil than the other one ever thought about being."
"It's been my experience if you ride ahead with the cattle, the others will keep their distance. You don't have to be mean, just sure."
"If you want something in this life, you gotta work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers."
"You know how it is with women. It's all a game till one of them wins."
"Yesterday's gone on down the river and you can't get it back."
"You want one thing too much, and it's likely to turn out a disappointment."
"I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it."
"A man's worst enemy can't wish on him what he can think up himself."
"A man who wouldn't cheat for a poke doesn't want one bad enough."
"I guess I hate to see you go. I know it's crazy, but I'll miss the old man."
"I can't help that I'm lucky. I'm just glad about it, that's all."
"You get a lotta truck drivers in here, you know? There ain't much else out there in the desert to do but fuck."
"It's like those fellows in the mountains say. When you're dead, you're dead. That's it. You ain't gonna be no deader."
"You don't like to hear stuff like that, but you gotta learn to accept it."
"The best way to handle death is to ride on away from it."
"I ain't interested in what's fair. I'm interested in winning."
"A man who's dead ain't nothing but a corpse. How can you be scared of a corpse?"
"A man who wouldn't love a horse is dumber than a mule."
"You give me an old dog and a young dog, and I'll take the old dog every time."
"Ain't nothing like a wounded animal for making a man quiet."
"There's some things a man just can't run away from."
"A man who's afraid to die is probably gonna have a hard time living."
"Some people ain't fit to be let loose in the world."
"A man ought to try and get along with his brother, even if he's a no-account son of a bitch."
"A friend's just a stranger you ain't met yet."
"Some men live by the gun and some die by it."
"A man who's too careful with his life can't ever be happy."
"Life in San Francisco is still just life."
"A man who's good with a gun is no better than the next fella if he doesn't have any principles."
"A woman's heart is a deep ocean of secrets."
"A man who can't handle a drink ain't worth a damn."
"A cowboy's word is his bond."
"Ain't nothin' more dangerous than a fool with a cause."
"You can't turn back the clock, but you can wind it up again."
"Sometimes a man has to be a myth to survive."
"Ain't nothin' wrong with dyin' now and then. It's the dyin' inside that's the trouble."
"A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do."
"Ain't nothin' like a good woman to make a man change his mind."
"Life's too short to ride a horse you don't love."
"You can't help what you are, but you can damn sure try to be the best at it."
"A man ain't complete until he's married. Then he's finished."
"You can't trust a man who won't drink with you."
"Ain't nothin' like a campfire and a good story to warm a man's soul."
"Ain't nothin' like a storm to make a man feel alive."
"A man's gotta have a code to live by."
"Sometimes you have to do the wrong thing for the right reason."
"Ain't nothin' more dangerous than a woman who's been wronged."
"A good horse and a loyal friend are worth their weight in gold."
"Sometimes the best way to win a fight is to avoid it."
"Ain't nothin' like a hard day's work to make a man appreciate his whiskey."
"A man's gotta have a dream to keep him goin'."
"I figured if a girl wants to be a record breaker, she ought to be prepared to get her heart broke."
"A man who wouldn't love a horse like that, he got no heart."
"I can't help it, Woodrow. It just comes over me every now and then. I've got to see the ocean."
"It's not dying I'm talking about, it's living."
"There's only two things in this world a man can do alone. He can't pecker himself, but he can die."
"I ain't much for the truth myself, but I was hoping for some from you."
"You start a journey for a different reason than it ends up."
"You know how it is with me, Louisa. No matter where I am, I want to be somewhere else."
"The best way to guarantee a loss is to quit."
"Ain't much good in bein' a man if you ain't a horse thief or a cattle rustler."
"A man's heart aches seeing his young'uns face the world."
"If you want one thing too much it's likely to be a disappointment. The healthy way is to learn to like the everyday things, like soft beds and buttermilk."
"I don't like rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it."
"A man ain't complete until he's married. Then he's finished."
"You can't trust a man who won't drink with you."
"Ain't nothin' like a campfire and a good story to warm a man's soul."
As we journey through the pages of "Quotes From Lonesome Dove," we are transported to a bygone era where courage and resilience were the currencies of survival. The wisdom contained within these quotes transcends the boundaries of time and genre, offering a glimpse into the human condition that remains as relevant today as it was in the days of Woodrow F. Call and Augustus "Gus" McCrae. Larry McMurtry's masterpiece has left an indelible mark on literature, and "Quotes From Lonesome Dove" serves as a cherished testament to its enduring legacy.
