16 quotes
Beauty in Nature's Subtlety
Johnny
Golly, that was sure pretty, huh?
Ponyboy
Yeah.
Johnny
It's like the mist is what's pretty, ya know? All gold and silver.
Ponyboy
Hmm.
Johnny
Too bad it can't stay like that all the time.
Ponyboy
Nothing gold can stay.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Moment of Reflection in the Sunlight
Ponyboy
When I stepped out into the bright sunlight, from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman, and a ride home.
[voicecover]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Embrace Innocence and Beauty
Johnny Cade
Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.
[his last words, to Ponyboy]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Reflections on Life and Loss
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...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 a lot of good in the world. Tell Dally. I don't think he knows. Your Buddy, Johnny.
[voiceover, and seen as a vision, in a letter]
Ponyboy
When I stepped out into the bright sunlight, from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman, and a ride home.
[voiceover]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Call to Fight for Johnny
Dallas Winston
We gotta win that fight tonight. We gotta get even with those Socs! Let's do it for Johnny, man. We'll do it for Johnny!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Inevitability of Social Division
Randy Adderson
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.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Seeking Belonging Beyond Societal Norms
Taglines
They grew up on the outside of society. They weren't looking for a fight. They were looking to belong.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Desire for Life Amidst Regret
Johnny Cade
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, so many damn things I ain't seen or done. That time when we were up in Windrixville was the only time I've ever been away from my neighborhood.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Youth Struggles in S.E. Hinton's Classic
Taglines
S.E. Hinton's classic novel about youth.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Sibling Tensions and Life Choices Explored
Darrel
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 vacuum, 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
Goddamn, you guys! Leave me out of it! Goddamn it, Ponyboy, you should have gone out for football instead of track.
[having enough; runs off. Both Darrel and Ponyboy, realizing this, run after him. They reach across the football field, and Ponyboy tackles him on the ground]
Ponyboy
Where the hell do you think you're going?
[on the ground]
Sodapop
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. 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. 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... ...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... Don't fight anymore...please...
[sits down; to Darry; sniffling; starts crying]
Darrel
Sure...sure little buddy, we ain't goin to fight anymore.
[finally understands; calming down; hugs him]
Sodapop
Ponyboy...Pony. Now, don't you start bawlin too, Pony. One bawl-baby in this family's enough.
[sees Ponyboy looking left out and crying; Ponyboy goes over to hug him]
Ponyboy
I ain't cryin'.
[Crying]
Sodapop
Let's go home. I'm cold.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Tension Between Characters Escalates in Dialogue
Dallas
Some cute redhead, huh? Are you a reeaal red? 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... ...these eyebrows.
[leans forward and into Cherry's ear; she giggles slightly, but keeps her eyes on the movie; motioning to her skirt, then quickly to her face; sits back and laughs]
Cherry
Get your feet off my chair and shut your trap.
[gives him an incredulous glare]
Dallas
Who's gonna make me, huh? Who, your boyfriend?
[rolls his eyes]
Cherry
You'd better leave us alone, or I'll call the cops.
Dallas
Oh, my, my! You've got me scared to death. What am I gonna do now, Pony? This girl's making me shake.
[sarcastically, in mock fright]
Cherry
Can't you just leave us alone? Be nice and leave us alone?
Dallas
I'm never nice. Can I interest you in a Coca-Cola, or a...
[grins; sitting up next to her again]
Cherry
Get lost, hood!
[interrupts]
Dallas
Wow, I'm sorry, I didn't know you had this problem with...yelling in my face. Alright, I'll go. I know when I'm not wanted. Here, I thought this might cool you off.
[stands up; hands Cherry a coke and sits right next to her]
Cherry
Maybe that'll cool YOU off, Greaser...when you learn to talk and act decent, then maybe I'll cool off too.
[takes the straw out of her coke and throws it in Dally's face]
Dallas
Firey, huh? Just the way I like them!
[wipes some of the coke off his face and goes in for Cherry]
Cherry
GET OFF OF ME!
[tries to push Dallas off]
Dallas
Come on...
Johnny
Look, leave her alone, Dal!
[stands up]
Dallas
What'd you say?
[looks up]
Johnny
Come on Dal, you heard me.
[a little bit frightened]
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.
[to Johnny]
Cherry
Thank you...he had me scared to death!
[to Johnny]
Johnny
You sure didn't show it. Ain't nobody ever talk to Dal like that!
Cherry
From what I saw, you do.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confronting Guilt and Consequences
Johnny
I-I...I killed him...I killed that boy... I killed him...
[trembles in fear; turns to Ponyboy]
Ponyboy
Johnny, I think I'm gonna be sick.
[turns to see Bob's corpse]
Johnny
Go ahead, man. I ain't - I ain't gonna look at you. I ain't gonna look at you. Pony, you alright?
[Ponyboy pukes off the side of the merry-go-round and sits on it to recover; walks by Bob's body and over to Ponyboy to aid him]
Ponyboy
You really did kill him, huh, Johnny?
Johnny
Yeah. I had to. They-They were drowning you. They-They might've killed you. They were gonna beat me up.
[buries his switchblade into the ground]
Ponyboy
What happened to the other guys?
Johnny
Huh? They-They all ran. They all ran off when I stabbed him. They all ran.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Class Distinctions Among Youth Subcultures
Bob
You guys know what Greasers are? White trash with long, greasy hair.
Ponyboy
You know what a Soc is?
Bob
What?
Ponyboy
White trash with mustangs and madras.
[spits at Bob]
Bob
Get him!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Emergency Situation with a Motorcycle Accident
Dallas
Act like you got hurt.
[to Ponyboy]
Motorcycle Cop
Where's the fire?
[walks up]
Dallas
This kid fell off his motorcycle, I'm taking him to the hospital.
[lying]
Motorcycle Cop
Is he hurt bad?
Dallas
How should I know? I ain't no doc. Sucker. I was crazy, you know that, kid? I was crazy for wanting Johnny to stay out of trouble, man. 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, man. You just better wise up. You get tough like me and you don't get hurt! You watch out for yourself, and nothing - nothing can touch you, man!
[the cop walks away; the cop rides on his motorcycle while leading them to the hospital; to Ponyboy]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Meaning of Robert Frost's Poetry
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.
[impressed]
Ponyboy
Robert Frost wrote it. I always remembered it because I never quite knew what he meant by it.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Late Night Concerns Among Brothers
Darrel
Where the hell have you been?! Do you know what time it is?! It's 2:00 in the morning, kiddo.
Sodapop
Hey, Pony, where've ya been?
Ponyboy
I fell asleep in the lot.
Darrel
You what?!
Ponyboy
I was talkin to Johnny and I fell asleep in the lot. I didn't mean to.
Darrel
Yeah? Hey. And I can't even call the cops, because you two would be thrown in a boys home so fast, it would make your head spin.
Sodapop
C'mon, Pony, let's go to bed now.
Ponyboy
Look, I said I didn't mean to!
Darrel
I didn't mean to. I forgot." That's all I ever HEAR from you!
Sodapop
Come on, Darry-
Darrel
You shut up! I'm sick and tired of you sticking up for him! You hear me?!
Ponyboy
Don't you yell at him!
Darrel
Ponyboy, I-I didn't mean to!
[realizing]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.