The Outsiders Quotes
The rivalry between two gangs, the poor Greasers and the rich Socs, only heats up when one gang member kills a member of the other.
Ponyboy: Nature's first green is gold, / Her hardest hue to hold. / Her early leaf's a flower, / But only so an hour. / Then leaf subsides to leaf, / So Eden sank to grief. / So dawn goes down to day, / Nothing gold can stay.
Johnny: Where did you learn that? That's what I meant.
Ponyboy: Robert Frost wrote it. I always remembered it because I never quite knew what he meant.
Johnny: Where did you learn that? That's what I meant.
Ponyboy: Robert Frost wrote it. I always remembered it because I never quite knew what he meant.
Sodapop Curtis: [In the "Complete Novel" version; after Sodapop runs out from Ponyboy and Darry's fight, Ponyboy tackles him] God damn it Ponyboy, you should have gone out for football instead of track.
Ponyboy: [On the ground] Where the hell do you think you're going?
Sodapop Curtis: I don't know, man. It's just like sometimes I have to get out. It's like I'm the middle man in a tug-of-war or something between you guys. I don't know, I can't take sides.
[Sits down. To Ponyboy]
Sodapop Curtis: Ponyboy, Darry could've put you in a boys' home, worked his way through college. I'm telling you the truth, Pony. I'm happy working at a gas station. Working with cars. I'm dumb. It's alright, I don't mind. You're not Pony. You'd never be happy doing something like that.
[to Darry]
Sodapop Curtis: Darry, you gotta stop yelling at him for every little thing he does, man. I mean he, he feels things differently than you. Bad enough to have to
[sniffling]
Sodapop Curtis: to listen to you. But when you start trying to get me to take sides. We're all we got left now. If we don't have each other, then we ain't got nothing. And when you ain't got nothin, you end up like Dally... I don't mean dead either, I mean, I mean how he was before. So please...
[Starts crying]
Sodapop Curtis: don't fight anymore... please...
Darrel Curtis: Sure... sure little buddy, we ain't goin' to fight anymore.
[Hugs Sodapop]
Sodapop Curtis: [Sees Ponyboy looking left out and crying] Ponyboy... Pony.
[Ponyboy goes over to hug Sodapop]
Sodapop Curtis: Now don't you start bawlin' too Pony. One bawl-baby in this family's enough.
Ponyboy: [Crying] I ain't cryin.
Sodapop Curtis: Let's go home. I'm cold.
[They get up and race each other home]
Ponyboy: [On the ground] Where the hell do you think you're going?
Sodapop Curtis: I don't know, man. It's just like sometimes I have to get out. It's like I'm the middle man in a tug-of-war or something between you guys. I don't know, I can't take sides.
[Sits down. To Ponyboy]
Sodapop Curtis: Ponyboy, Darry could've put you in a boys' home, worked his way through college. I'm telling you the truth, Pony. I'm happy working at a gas station. Working with cars. I'm dumb. It's alright, I don't mind. You're not Pony. You'd never be happy doing something like that.
[to Darry]
Sodapop Curtis: Darry, you gotta stop yelling at him for every little thing he does, man. I mean he, he feels things differently than you. Bad enough to have to
[sniffling]
Sodapop Curtis: to listen to you. But when you start trying to get me to take sides. We're all we got left now. If we don't have each other, then we ain't got nothing. And when you ain't got nothin, you end up like Dally... I don't mean dead either, I mean, I mean how he was before. So please...
[Starts crying]
Sodapop Curtis: don't fight anymore... please...
Darrel Curtis: Sure... sure little buddy, we ain't goin' to fight anymore.
[Hugs Sodapop]
Sodapop Curtis: [Sees Ponyboy looking left out and crying] Ponyboy... Pony.
[Ponyboy goes over to hug Sodapop]
Sodapop Curtis: Now don't you start bawlin' too Pony. One bawl-baby in this family's enough.
Ponyboy: [Crying] I ain't cryin.
Sodapop Curtis: Let's go home. I'm cold.
[They get up and race each other home]
Johnny: Ponyboy, I asked the nurse to give you this book so you could finish it.The doctor came in a while ago but I already knew it anyway.I keep getting tireder and tireder.Listen,I don't mind dying now.It was worth it. It was worth saving those kids.Their lives are worth more than mine,they have more to live for.Some of the parents came by to thank me and I know it was worth it.Tell Dally it was worth it.I'm just gonna miss you guys. I've been thinking about it,and that poem , that guy that wrote it , he meant you are gold when you're a kid,like green. When you're a kid everything is new , dawn. It's just. When just when you get used to everything it's day. Like the way you dig sunsets,Pony. That's Gold. Keep it that way,it's a good way to be.I want you to tell Dally to look at one.He'll probably think you're crazy , but ask for me. I don't think he's ever really seen a sunset.And don't be bugged over being a greaser. You still have a lot of time to make yourself be what you want. There's still alot od good in the world.Tell Dally. I don't think he knows. Your Buddy, Johnny
Johnny: I used to talk about killing myself all the time, man. But I don't wanna die now. It ain't long enough. Sixteen years ain't gonna be long enough. Hell, I wouldn't care so much if there hadn't been so many things I haven't done yet. So many damn things I ain't seen or done. That time when we were in Windrixville was the only time I've ever been away from my neighborhood.
Dallas: What do you guys want?
Ponyboy: Johnny killed a Soc.
Dallas: What? Alright. Good for you. Let's go.
Johnny: Well I figured you could get us out if anyone could, Dal. I- I'm sorry I got you away from this party and all but I just don't know what to do, man.
Dallas: Nah. I was just uh... I was just trying to get some sleep. I got in a fight with Shepard tonight. Wait a minute. Let me think about this mess. Get in.
[pulls Ponyboy and Johnny inside]
Dallas: ...Ponyboy are you wet?
Ponyboy: Johnny killed a Soc.
Dallas: What? Alright. Good for you. Let's go.
Johnny: Well I figured you could get us out if anyone could, Dal. I- I'm sorry I got you away from this party and all but I just don't know what to do, man.
Dallas: Nah. I was just uh... I was just trying to get some sleep. I got in a fight with Shepard tonight. Wait a minute. Let me think about this mess. Get in.
[pulls Ponyboy and Johnny inside]
Dallas: ...Ponyboy are you wet?
Dallas: Here, I thought this might cool you off.
[hands Cherry a coke and sits right next to her]
Cherry: [takes the straw out of her coke and throws it in Dally's face] Maybe that'll cool YOU off, Greaser... when you learn to talk and act decent, then maybe I'll cool off too.
Dallas: [wipes some of the coke off his face and goes in for Cherry] Firey, huh? Just the way I like them!
Cherry: [tries to push Dallas off] GET OFF OF ME!
Dallas: Come on...
Johnny: Look, leave her alone, Dal!
Dallas: What'd you say?
Johnny: [a little bit frightened] Come on Dal, you heard me.
Dallas: What'd you say? What'd you say you little shit? What'd you say to me?
Johnny: Come on...
Dallas: Wiseass!
[seconds later he gets up and leaves]
Ponyboy: Now you blew it.
Cherry: [Turns to Johnny] Thank you... he had me scared to death!
Johnny: You sure didn't show it. Ain't nobody ever talk to Dal like that!
Cherry: From what I saw, you do.
[hands Cherry a coke and sits right next to her]
Cherry: [takes the straw out of her coke and throws it in Dally's face] Maybe that'll cool YOU off, Greaser... when you learn to talk and act decent, then maybe I'll cool off too.
Dallas: [wipes some of the coke off his face and goes in for Cherry] Firey, huh? Just the way I like them!
Cherry: [tries to push Dallas off] GET OFF OF ME!
Dallas: Come on...
Johnny: Look, leave her alone, Dal!
Dallas: What'd you say?
Johnny: [a little bit frightened] Come on Dal, you heard me.
Dallas: What'd you say? What'd you say you little shit? What'd you say to me?
Johnny: Come on...
Dallas: Wiseass!
[seconds later he gets up and leaves]
Ponyboy: Now you blew it.
Cherry: [Turns to Johnny] Thank you... he had me scared to death!
Johnny: You sure didn't show it. Ain't nobody ever talk to Dal like that!
Cherry: From what I saw, you do.
Darrel Curtis: Listen, with your brains and grades, you could get a scholarship, and we could put you through college, ain't that right, Soda? But you're livin' in a vaccuum, Pony, and you're gonna have to cut it out. You just don't stop living because you lose somebody. I thought you knew that. And anytime you don't like the way I'm running things around here, you can just get out, ALL RIGHT?
Ponyboy: YOU'D LIKE THAT, WOULDN'T YOU? YOU'D LIKE ME TO JUST GET THE HELL OUT! Well it's not that easy, is it, Soda?
Sodapop Curtis: GOD DAMN, YOU GUYS! LEAVE ME OUT OF IT!
Ponyboy: YOU'D LIKE THAT, WOULDN'T YOU? YOU'D LIKE ME TO JUST GET THE HELL OUT! Well it's not that easy, is it, Soda?
Sodapop Curtis: GOD DAMN, YOU GUYS! LEAVE ME OUT OF IT!
Dallas: I was crazy, you know that, Pony? I was crazy for wanting Johnny to stay out of trouble. If he was smart, like me, he wouldn't be in this mess. If he was smart like me, he wouldn't have ran into that church man. You better wise up Pony. You better wise up man. You get TOUGH like me and you don't get hurt! You watch out for yourself, and nothing can touch you man!
Mrs. Cade: [Two-Bit and Ponyboy are at the hospital visiting Johnny. Mrs. Cade is furious because the nurses won't let her in] I've got a RIGHT to see him! He's my son! He'd rather see these no-good punks than his own mother? You skum...
Two Bit: [near tears] No wonder he hates your guts. You don't even care about him, you damn drunk. You go to hell. Go straight to hell.
Two Bit: [near tears] No wonder he hates your guts. You don't even care about him, you damn drunk. You go to hell. Go straight to hell.
Dallas: [after Ponyboy gets jumped] Hows the kid?
Ponyboy: I'm fine. What are you doin' outta the cooler, Dal?
Steve: Yeah? And what are you doin' walkin' by your lonesome on the street?
Ponyboy: It's none of your business smarty.
Steve: What do you mean, none of my business? It is my business. Look at my nose!
Ponyboy: It's huge.
Steve: Smart-ass. He is a smart-ass kid.
Ponyboy: I'm fine. What are you doin' outta the cooler, Dal?
Steve: Yeah? And what are you doin' walkin' by your lonesome on the street?
Ponyboy: It's none of your business smarty.
Steve: What do you mean, none of my business? It is my business. Look at my nose!
Ponyboy: It's huge.
Steve: Smart-ass. He is a smart-ass kid.
[Ponyboy comes home]
Darrel Curtis: Where the hell have you been; do you know what time it is? It's 2:00 in the morning, kiddo!
Sodapop Curtis: [sleepily] Hey, Pony. Where you been?
Ponyboy: Fell asleep in the lot.
Darrel Curtis: You WHAT?
Ponyboy: I was talking to Johnny and I fell asleep in the lot, didn't mean to.
Darrel Curtis: Yeah, hey!
[tries to close the bedroom door after him but Darry flings it open and follows]
Darrel Curtis: And I can't even call the cops because you two would be put in a boys' home so fast it would make your heads spin.
Sodapop Curtis: Come on, Pony. Let's go to bed now.
Ponyboy: Look, I said I didn't mean to!
Darrel Curtis: "I didn't mean to", "I forgot". That's all I ever hear from you!
Sodapop Curtis: Come on, Darry...
Darrel Curtis: YOU SHUT UP! I'M SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING YOU STICK UP FOR HIM! YOU HEAR ME?
Ponyboy: Don't you yell at him!
Darrel Curtis: [Darrel hits him] Ponyboy, I didn't mean to.
Darrel Curtis: Where the hell have you been; do you know what time it is? It's 2:00 in the morning, kiddo!
Sodapop Curtis: [sleepily] Hey, Pony. Where you been?
Ponyboy: Fell asleep in the lot.
Darrel Curtis: You WHAT?
Ponyboy: I was talking to Johnny and I fell asleep in the lot, didn't mean to.
Darrel Curtis: Yeah, hey!
[tries to close the bedroom door after him but Darry flings it open and follows]
Darrel Curtis: And I can't even call the cops because you two would be put in a boys' home so fast it would make your heads spin.
Sodapop Curtis: Come on, Pony. Let's go to bed now.
Ponyboy: Look, I said I didn't mean to!
Darrel Curtis: "I didn't mean to", "I forgot". That's all I ever hear from you!
Sodapop Curtis: Come on, Darry...
Darrel Curtis: YOU SHUT UP! I'M SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING YOU STICK UP FOR HIM! YOU HEAR ME?
Ponyboy: Don't you yell at him!
Darrel Curtis: [Darrel hits him] Ponyboy, I didn't mean to.
Randy: You can't win. You know that, don't you? It doesn't matter if you whip us, you'll still be where you were before, at the bottom. And we'll still be the lucky ones at the top with all the breaks. It doesn't matter. Greasers will still be Greasers and Socs will still be Socs. It doesn't matter.
Dallas: [at the drive-inn, Dallas, Ponyboy and Johnny sit behind two girls, both Socs] Some cute redhead, huh?
Dallas: [leans forward and into Cherry's ear] Are you a reeaal red?
Dallas: [she giggles slightly, but keeps her eyes on the movie] Are you real? How can I find out if this is your real red hair? If this is the same red hair that you have on your... your...
[motioning to her skirt, then quickly to her face]
Dallas: ... these eyebrows.
Cherry: [Dallas sits back and laughs. Cherry gives him an incredulous glare] Get your feet off my chair and shut your trap.
Dallas: Who's gonna make me, huh?
[rolling his eyes]
Dallas: Who, your boyfriend?
Cherry: You'd better leave us alone, or I'll call the cops.
Dallas: [sarcastically, in mock fright] Oh, my, my! You've got me scared to death. What am I gonna do now, Pony? This girl's making me shake.
Cherry: Can't you just leave us alone? Be nice and leave us alone?
Dallas: [grins] I'm never nice.
Dallas: [sitting up next to her again] Can I interest you in a Coca-Cola, or a...
Cherry: [interrupting] Get lost, hood!
Dallas: Wow, I'm sorry, I didn't know you had this problem with... yelling in my face.
Dallas: [stands up] Alright, I'll go. I know when I'm not wanted.
Dallas: [leans forward and into Cherry's ear] Are you a reeaal red?
Dallas: [she giggles slightly, but keeps her eyes on the movie] Are you real? How can I find out if this is your real red hair? If this is the same red hair that you have on your... your...
[motioning to her skirt, then quickly to her face]
Dallas: ... these eyebrows.
Cherry: [Dallas sits back and laughs. Cherry gives him an incredulous glare] Get your feet off my chair and shut your trap.
Dallas: Who's gonna make me, huh?
[rolling his eyes]
Dallas: Who, your boyfriend?
Cherry: You'd better leave us alone, or I'll call the cops.
Dallas: [sarcastically, in mock fright] Oh, my, my! You've got me scared to death. What am I gonna do now, Pony? This girl's making me shake.
Cherry: Can't you just leave us alone? Be nice and leave us alone?
Dallas: [grins] I'm never nice.
Dallas: [sitting up next to her again] Can I interest you in a Coca-Cola, or a...
Cherry: [interrupting] Get lost, hood!
Dallas: Wow, I'm sorry, I didn't know you had this problem with... yelling in my face.
Dallas: [stands up] Alright, I'll go. I know when I'm not wanted.
[a little girl with a kid comes over to Dally, Ponyboy, and Johnny]
Little Girl: Do you have 15 cents?
Dallas: I don't have any money.
Little Girl: Do you have a dime?
Dallas: Go away. We're busy here.
Little Girl: Do you...
Dallas: [Annoyed by now] Go away! Get out of here!
Dallas: [When she is gone] That was a close call.
Little Girl: Do you have 15 cents?
Dallas: I don't have any money.
Little Girl: Do you have a dime?
Dallas: Go away. We're busy here.
Little Girl: Do you...
Dallas: [Annoyed by now] Go away! Get out of here!
Dallas: [When she is gone] That was a close call.
Sodapop Curtis: Hey, after we beat those Socs tonight, good me and Steve are gonna throw a huge party, and everyone's gonna get ripped!
Steve: OWWWW! WHOOO!
Darrel Curtis: Where you gonna get the dough, li'l man?
Sodapop Curtis: Uhhh... I'll think of something.
[Sits on couch]
Sodapop Curtis: Hey Two-bit, Mickey's on TV!
[Two-bit sits in front of the TV to watch]
Steve: OWWWW! WHOOO!
Darrel Curtis: Where you gonna get the dough, li'l man?
Sodapop Curtis: Uhhh... I'll think of something.
[Sits on couch]
Sodapop Curtis: Hey Two-bit, Mickey's on TV!
[Two-bit sits in front of the TV to watch]
Bob Shelton: [the Soc's pull up in there car to find their girls with the greasers] Hey! Cherry! What're you doin'?
[Cherry glares at him]
Bob Shelton: Just because we got a litte drunk...!
Cherry: A *little*? You call reeling and passing out in the streets a little? Bob, I told you, I'm never going out with you when you're drinking again and I mean it!
Randy: Look, that doesn't mean you can go walkin' the streets with these bums.
Two Bit: Who you callin' bums, pal?
Randy: You! Look, Greaser, we got four more of us in the backseat.
Two Bit: [Two-Bit hands a broken pop bottle to Ponyboy and flips out his switchblade] Then, pity the backseat.
Randy: If... if you're lookin' for a fight...
Two Bit: I am lookin' for a fight!
Randy: C'mon, put the knife down! C'mon!
Two Bit: C'mon! Right now, right now!
Cherry: Stop! Stop it! I hate fights, alright? I hate them!
[to Bob]
Cherry: We'll go home with you, just give me a minute.
[Cherry glares at him]
Bob Shelton: Just because we got a litte drunk...!
Cherry: A *little*? You call reeling and passing out in the streets a little? Bob, I told you, I'm never going out with you when you're drinking again and I mean it!
Randy: Look, that doesn't mean you can go walkin' the streets with these bums.
Two Bit: Who you callin' bums, pal?
Randy: You! Look, Greaser, we got four more of us in the backseat.
Two Bit: [Two-Bit hands a broken pop bottle to Ponyboy and flips out his switchblade] Then, pity the backseat.
Randy: If... if you're lookin' for a fight...
Two Bit: I am lookin' for a fight!
Randy: C'mon, put the knife down! C'mon!
Two Bit: C'mon! Right now, right now!
Cherry: Stop! Stop it! I hate fights, alright? I hate them!
[to Bob]
Cherry: We'll go home with you, just give me a minute.
Darrel Curtis: [the Greasers are on their way to the rumble to fight the Socs] Listen, Soda. You and Ponyboy, if the fuzz show, you beat it out of there. Hey, we'll get jailed, but you two will get the boys home, you know what I'm sayin'?
Steve: Ain't nobody gonna call the fuzz in this neighborhood! Cause they know better!
[laughs]
Darrel Curtis: [trying to get their attention again] All the- Hey, hey! All the- Hey! All the same, you two beat it out of there, ya hear me?
Steve: Ain't nobody gonna call the fuzz in this neighborhood! Cause they know better!
[laughs]
Darrel Curtis: [trying to get their attention again] All the- Hey, hey! All the- Hey! All the same, you two beat it out of there, ya hear me?
