Quote us on this: Western movies have some of the best lines worth repeating. Whether it’s an aggressive challenge at high noon or a simply well-placed, “Howdy, pilgrim,” saying a line from a cowboy flick is sure to cause a reaction. An old-time southern accent and a bowlegged walk can turn any line into a classic.

For fans of Old West Cinema, there are an abundance of great phrases to repeat and a number of unforgettable films in which they are said. This list chronicles five of the most quotable films ever released in that genre and 16 of the best lines that are worth repeating. Well, at least most of them…

The Searchers (1956)

The Searchers
Warner Bros.

In a film that truly defines “different time, different place,” this 1950s tale of John Wayne’s Ethan Edwards returning home to Texas following the Civil War lands on the wrong side of political correctness. A true “Cowboys and Indians” picture, The Searchers is revered as a classic, but difficult for Hollywood to explain to the newer generations. It was a true case of shrugging shoulders and saying, “Oh well, The Duke’ll be the Duke.”

16 “That’ll be the day.” – Ethan Edwards

You wouldn’t expect a line from John Wayne to inspire a Buddy Holly song, but here we are. Holly’s iconic tune “That’ll Be The Day,” recorded with The Crickets, is a tale of a broken heart. For The Duke, “That’ll be the day” was a line repeated by his Ethan Edwards character. The phrase was one that he would say upon hearing something he didn’t believe.

Related: What Is a Revisionist Western?

15 “Come on, blanket-head!” — Ethan Edwards

This quote might sound like it has a racist slant to it until you realize that Wayne was referring to…oh, a Native American. Yikes. Yeah, maybe it was racist. 1950s were a long time ago, partner.

14 “Figure a man's only good for one oath at a time; I took mine to the Confederate States of America.” — Ethan Edwards

And the hits just keep on coming. As the lines keep piling up, so do the reminders that times have changed. While this one might be a quotable movie, it might be best to not quote them yourself.

Lonesome Dove (1989)

Lonesome Dove Church Behind-the-Scenes Featurette | EXCLUSIVE

The 1989 drama Lonesome Dove tells the tale of two rangers on a cattle drive. It is a classic piece of 1980s Western cinema and one with a stacked cast. Danny Glover, Robert Duvall, and Tommy Lee Jones are all cast perfectly. It’s Tommy Lee’s Woodrow Call character that utters this line. This take on weapons, luxuries, and pretty much anything is a beloved line among fans for its versatile meaning.

13 “It's been quite a party, ain't it?” – Gus McCrae

As Gus McCrae lay dying, he spoke these touching words. Speaking volumes about his knowledge that the end is near, while glorifying the life he had lived, this versatile quote is one that evokes a number of emotions all at once. It says "this has been a good life" in a way that anyone can understand.

12 “It is better to have that and not need it than to need it and not have it.” – Woodrow Call

The best quotes can be applied to anything, and not just the specific instance they are uttered for on film. Tommy Lee Jones’s philosophical outlook on necessities and their place in life is one that can be carried with movie fans anywhere. You might not use this quote all the time, but it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Do you see what we did there? Like that?

11 “They don’t know it, but the wrath of the Lord is about to descend on ‘em.” – Gus McCrae

In Pulp Fiction, Samuel L. Jackson admits that the bible passage he had been telling soon-to-be victims of his furious anger was simply to say some cold-blooded stuff. Yet, after thinking about the words, he realized their weight. This is an example of that. McCrae’s line is perfect for quoting and hits with the same impact as Jules’s did before gunning down the big brain on Bret.

True Grit

John Wayne with an eyepatch and coat in True Grit
Paramount Pictures

Considered a tough guy movie during a tough guy era, the name True Grit evokes a sense of toughness the moment it is heard. This 1969 Oscar-winning original sees Mattie Ross hire U.S. Marshal "Rooster" Cogburn, played by John Wayne, to track down the man who killed her pa. If that line doesn’t scream “Old West," nothing does.

10 “A gun that's unloaded and cocked ain't good for nothing.” — Rooster Cogburn

Like the boy scout motto, John Wayne was always prepared. This famous line asks what good a weapon could be if you aren’t ready to use it. It says more about the personal grit of the man holding it than his ability to handle or load it. The line is powerful and, all these years later, still speaks volumes.

9 “Baby sister, I was born game and I intend to go out that way.” — Rooster Cogburn

The Duke once again offers movie fans a line that they can repeat to the women in their life. This famous quip says that Cogburn was not afraid to do battle, but not because he would definitely win. It was because, even if he loses, he’s made his peace with the outcome.

8 “So I won't shoot my foot off.” — Rooster Cogburn

Even the best fall down sometimes and Rooster Cogburn, in the True Grit universe, was considered the best. That’s why an admission like this creates a visceral reaction. It’s an acknowledgment that this man, loaded with grit, knows he is not infallible. Its valuable advice dressed up as a quick comment.

Rooster Cogburn

John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn in True Grit
Paramount Pictures

Following up his rowdy ride in True Grit, Wayne returns in Rooster Cogburn as Rooster attempts to win back his badge by tracking down outlaws. In a classic Western movie trope, there’s a wrench thrown into his plans as a dame, Katherine Hepburn’s Eula Goodnight, takes the ride with him. In another chapter of John Wayne’s slightly off-color approach to adventure, a great amount of this film deals with his female frustrations. It created some memorable (and useful) lines that any gender can use.

7 “I'll be damned if she didn't get the last word in again.” — Rooster Cogburn

Sometimes a quote is more about the ability to repeat it than the actual meaning. This line from John Wayne has a ring to it, especially when imitating the Duke’s voice. Countless Western fans, when debating a female, have uttered this line as she walked away. It is great to say — just make sure she is out of earshot.

Related: Funniest Western Comedies, Ranked

6 "I know enough about men to steer clear of them." – Eula Goodnight

Katharine Hepburn, as Eula Goodnight, might be the smartest participant in any Western film. Hepburn’s take on men and their dangers is one that most characters don’t adhere to in the Wild West. Goodnight exemplified the strong women of the Old West, who were often overshadowed in earlier films by male counterparts. She elevated Rooster Cogburn to being a major player in the quotable Western category.

5 “Too late to stop 'em, but not too late to hang 'em.” — Rooster Cogbun

Said in response to being told he was tardy to his first mission, Cogburn bared his soul with this line. In the old West, it wasn’t always about preventing crime, but more about serving justice. This one line summed up how Rooster handled his business.

Tombstone

The Earp Brothers and Doc Holliday in Tombstone
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Tombstone is one of the best movies ever made and, at the very least, the most quotable. Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday is a huge part of that. So many of Kilmer’s quotes have made their way to the mouths and merchandise of fans around the world. This look at some of the Old West’s most famous names has become a beloved piece of cinema history and transcends the genre in its appeal.

4 “You’re a daisy if you do.” – Doc Holliday

Doc’s propensity for calling others “Daisy” created a number of memorable moments from Tombstone. Said as in the same vein as "peach," "sport," or "gem," "daisy" was unique to Holliday and instantly captivated fans. It is the type of word that works when you hear it in context with lines like, “You’re not a daisy. You’re no daisy at all.” It has given Tombstone fanatics years of quotable comments to share with friends.

3 “I’ve not yet begun to defile myself.” — Doc Holliday

Another classic from the Doc, this line fits anyone who’s going through a period of debauchery. After days of chaos, Wyatt Earp suggests Holliday go back home. After all, he’s in rough shape. To this, Val Kilmer replies with a line that speaks volumes about his plans and capacity for self-destruction.

2 “It appears my hypocrisy knows no bounds.” — Doc Holliday

If some of the lines that Doc Holliday spouts in this classic appear to be self-contradictory, this quote explains why. There’s nothing more amusing than a quotable outlaw acknowledging his own paradoxical way of thinking. Here, Kilmer admits to his fluctuation of opinion with a quote that most can relate to.

1 “I'm your huckleberry.” — Doc Holliday

Perhaps the most famous line from any Western film made, this one has appeared everywhere. Famously said by the real-life Doc Holliday, it had some deadly consequences. It usually comes out when Doc has his hand drawn on his weapon and, in the case of Johnny Ringo, it was the last words he says before shooting it. The most alluring part of this line is the ambiguous way in which it is said. While there has been debate over the meaning behind it, there’s no doubt about the aggression behind it. To paraphrase Samuel L. Jackson, it’s some cold-blooded words to say before a Big Kahuna Burger massacre.