Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventure (1995) - Quotes

Living by the Code vs. Knowing It

John Henry: Knowing the code ain't the same as living by it.

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The Luster of the Twenty-Pound Hammer

John Henry: Twenty-pound hammer, shines like silver.

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Confidence in Skill and Accuracy

John Henry: I never miss. Least-wise, I haven't yet.

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The Power of Trying New Things

John Henry: You don't know what you can do until you try.

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John Henry Challenges Pecos in Bet

John Henry: [Pecos Bill: I don't know, John Henry, that thingamajigger looks like it means business!] Even money, Pecos! You can do better than that! We'll see!

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John Henry Introduces Himself and Challenges

John Henry: My name's John Henry, and mister, you got yourself a bet!

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The Nature of Tall Tales

Paul Bunyan: That's a tall tale. That's a tall tale for sure.

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Paul Bunyan's Boastful Declaration of Strength

Paul Bunyan: [deflects a bullet with his axe] I'm Paul Bunyan! I'm 300 pounds of raging fury! You're in trouble now! Don't point your little gun at me, you sissy! I can out-eat, out-swing any one of you! I'm Paul Bunyan!

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Warning About Trouble Ahead

Paul Bunyan: [about Daniel] He's bad news, Bill. In britches.

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Protecting Babe's Feelings in Tall Tale

Paul Bunyan: You watch your mouth, Pecos! Babe's very sensitive.

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Paul Bunyan Reflects on Logging's Impact

Paul Bunyan: [[wikipedia:Log_flume|log flume; [wikipedia:Grindstone|grindstone] I told Sam, "They're not loggers, they're butchers! Them and their fancy machines, cuttin down everything in sight, the weak with the strong. A sapling won't get to full growth". Said, "Nothing will ever sprout again". You know what Sam said? He said I was behind the times. Me. Paul Bunyan. The man who invented logging. Who thought up the double-bladed axe, huh? Me. Who dreamed up the ]? Me again. Don't think it's easy! My head hurt for days, coming up with that one! What about the ]? Flapjack contest! Wedge cutting! Three point stance! Me, me, me, me!

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A Humorous Take on Pecos' Appearance

Paul Bunyan: Pecos? Let me take a gander at ya... You steamin pile of buffalo puckey. You're still ugly.

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Defiance Against Greed and Injustice

Paul Bunyan: Never enough for you termites, is it? Not enough you swindled me out of my camp, robbed me of my trade. Now you want my woods, too. You want it all! I'm makin my stand! At least, if I go down swinging, I go down like a man!

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Pecos Bill's Bold Claim of Bravery

Pecos Bill: I am a ring-tailed roarer. I can draw faster, shoot straighter, ride harder, and drink longer than any man alive. I ride cyclones and I wrestle. I'm the rip-snortinest cowboy that ever rode North, South, East or West of the Rio Grande. I'm Pecos Bill.

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The Effects of Heat on a Man

Pecos Bill: It is amazing, the things heat'll do to a man.

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Memorable Heat of the Summer of '88

Pecos Bill: This ain't nothin compared to the summer of 88. It was so hot, that chickens was layin fried eggs, and babies was cryin out sawdust. So I hightailed it up to Kansas...

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Frustration with Unreliable Companions

Pecos Bill: [John Henry: Cold Molasses is a mule!] First that blasted ox, now a gall-darn jackass. Might as well be ridin turtles. I wasn't referrin to her.

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Defending Texas with Pride and Passion

Pecos Bill: Mister, you can insult me, and you can insult my friends. As a matter of fact, you can insult my mother and my horse. But mister, don't you ever insult the great state of Texas.

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No Regrets in Doing Your Best

Pecos Bill: You gave it your best shot? Well, if you gave it your best shot, you ain't got nothing to be sorry for.

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The Significance of a Head Start

Pecos Bill: Used to be when a man got a head start, it meant something.

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The Loss of Privacy in Community Life

Pecos Bill: [after Daniel describes telephones] Everybody'll know everybody else's business? Well, in no time at all, there won't be a single place left where a man can find any privacy.

Warning Against a Dangerous Horse

Pecos Bill: You sure do know a lot for a half-growed piglet, so how’s this for plain English: stay away from the horse or he'll kill you.

Consequences of Disrespecting Widowmaker

Pecos Bill: Widowmaker's kind of particular of folks taking liberties with him. Matter of fact, last man who tried that… Widowmaker kicked him so hard he ended up halfway to the Moon. Name of Lanky Hank. He bounced up and down for a month of Sundays until finally I just had to shoot him down so he could have a proper burial.

Finding Value in Experience

Pecos Bill: Kind of makes it all worthwhile, don't it?

Desire for Homecoming

Daniel Hackett: I just want to get home.

Fishing Brings Father and Son Together

Daniel Hackett: Seems like fishing's the only time me and pa actually get along.

Questioning the Color of the Ox

Daniel Hackett: [referring to [[wikipedia:Paul_Bunyan|Babe] Is that ox really blue?

On the Run from Pursuers

Daniel Hackett: Everybody and their dog's probably after us by now.

The Concept of Distant Communication Explained

Daniel Hackett: [[wikipedia:Alexander_Graham_Bell|Bell] There's this man named ]. He's claiming that people can be hundreds of miles away and hold a conversation like they're as close as I am to you.