Rooster Cogburn: They don't call him "Lucky" Ned Pepper for nothing. Mattie Ross: That man gave his life for him and he didn't even look back. Rooster Cogburn: Looking back is a bad habit.
Rooster Cogburn: Boots, I got Hayes and some youngster outside with Moon and Quincy. I want you to bury 'em for me. I'm in a hurry. Capt. Boots Finch: They're dead? Rooster Cogburn: Well, I wouldn't want you to bury 'em if they wasn't.
[last lines] Mattie Ross: Trust you to buy another tall horse. Rooster Cogburn: Yeah. He's not as game as Beau, but Stonehill says he can jump a four rail fence. Mattie Ross: You are too old and fat to be jumping horses. Rooster Cogburn: Well, come s...
Rooster Cogburn: When's the last time you saw Ned Pepper? Emmett Quincy: I don't remember any Ned Pepper. Rooster Cogburn: Short feisty fella, nervous and quick, got a messed-up lower lip. Emmett Quincy: That don't bring nobody to mind. A funny lip? ...
Mattie Ross: You never told me you had a wife. Rooster Cogburn: Oh, well, I didn't have her long. My friends was a pack of river rats and she didn't crave their society so she up and left me and went back to her first husband who was clerkin' in a ha...
Rooster Cogburn: Give me your cup. Mattie Ross: I don't drink coffee, thank you. Rooster Cogburn: Well, now, what do you drink? Mattie Ross: I'm partial to cold buttermilk. Rooster Cogburn: Well, we ain't got none of that. We ain't got no lemonade ne...
Mattie Ross: I hope you don't think I'm going to keep you in whiskey? Rooster Cogburn: I don't buy that, I confiscate it. And a touch of it wouldn't do you any harm against the night air! Mattie Ross: I would not put a thief in my mouth to steal my b...
Rooster Cogburn: [watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. LaBoeuf: Well, then we might just not get along.
Mattie Ross: Who's the best marshal they have? Sheriff: Bill Waters is the best tracker. The meanest one is Rooster Cogburn, a pitiless man, double tough, fear don't enter into his thinking. I'd have to say L.T. Quinn is the straightest, he brings hi...
[LeBoeuf is spanking Mattie] Mattie Ross: Are you gonna let him do this? Rooster Cogburn: I don't believe I will. Drop that switch, LaBoeuf. Put it down, I said. You're enjoying it too much. LaBoeuf: You'll find I go ahead with what I start. Rooster ...
LaBoeuf: What are you doing? Rooster Cogburn: Lookin' for sign. LaBoeuf: You couldn't see it if you saw it.
Rooster Cogburn: You can't serve papers on a rat, baby sister. You gotta kill him or let him be.
Goudy: I believe you testified that you backed away from old man Wharton? Rooster Cogburn: Yes, sir. Goudy: Which direction were you going? Rooster Cogburn: Backward. I always go backward when I'm backin' away.
LaBoeuf: A little earlier I gave some thought to stealin' a kiss from you, although you are very young... and you're unattractive to boot. But now I'm of a mind to give you five or six good licks with my belt. Mattie Ross: Well, one would be as unple...
Rooster Cogburn: Damn you, Bo. First time you ever give me reason to... cuss you.
Mattie Ross: I won't rest until Tom Chaney's barking in hell.
Mattie Ross: There's an old song that says: One white foot buy 'em, two white feet try 'em, three white feet be on the sly, four white feet pass 'em by.
Mattie Ross: [Rooster and LaBoeuf gallop away from the ferry, leaving Mattie behind] Those horses can't get away from Little Blackie - they're loaded down with fat men and iron.
