Ransom Stoddard Quotes in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

Ransom Stoddard: You're not going to use the story, Mr. Scott?

Maxwell Scott: No, sir. This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.

Tom Doniphon: [Valance has tripped Rance in the diner, causing him to spill a tray of food] That's *my* steak, Valance.

Liberty Valance: [laughing] You heard him, Dude. Pick it up.

Ransom Stoddard: No!

Tom Doniphon: Pilgrim, hold it. I said you, Valance; *you* pick it up.

Liberty Valance: Three against one, Doniphon.

Tom Doniphon: My boy, Pompey; kitchen door.

[Valance looks and sees Pompey at the door holding a rifle]

Floyd: I'll get it, Liberty!

[Doniphon kicks Floyd in the face as he bends down to retrieve the tray]

Ransom Stoddard: [looking into Doniphon's coffin, angrily] Where are his boots?

Undertaker: Well, I thought... well, they was an awful nice pair of boots, almost brand new, and I thought...

Ransom Stoddard: Put his boots on, Clute. And his gun belt, and his spurs.

Ransom Stoddard: Marshal, I was wrong the other day. But I was reading up on territorial law, and there it is, right there. Now, I'll draw up the complaint, take care of all the legal details - but you *do* have jurisdiction. Says so right there. So next time he sets foot in this town, you'll arrest him.

Link Appleyard: Anything you say, Mr. Stoddard. I'll be tickled to... death... *what* was that? Arrest *who*?

Ransom Stoddard: Liberty Valance.

Link Appleyard: Arrest Liberty Val... you mean Liberty Valance? Just as I was startin' to get my appetite back.

Hallie: Rance, do you think I could... I mean, grown up and all... do you think I could learn to read?

Ransom Stoddard: Why, sure you can, Hallie. Why, there's nothing to it. It'd be... it'd be easy. Can you learn how to read? Why, I can... I can teach you. A smart girl like you? Of course you can learn how to read. Now, do you want to try?

Hallie: It's awful worrisome not knowing how. I know the Good Book from preacher talk; but it'd be a soul comfort if I could read the words myself.

Ransom Stoddard: [in Stoddard's classroom] How you feeling this morning?

Link Appleyard: Just fine, fine, fine.

Ransom Stoddard: Your head cold?

Link Appleyard: Uh, no, no. I uh.

[sheepishly removes hat]

Amos Carruthers: [bringing his truant son Herbert to school] Ain't you goin' to give him a whoppin'?

Ransom Stoddard: No, he's too big.

Ransom Stoddard: I don't want to kill him, I just want to put him in jail!

Tom Doniphon: Ohhh...

Link Appleyard: As long as he behaves himself in this town, I ain't got no, ah...

Ransom Stoddard: Jurisdiction.

Link Appleyard: What he said is right. I ain't got none of it.

Liberty Valance: [shouting] Hashslinger; you out here?

High Pockets: I'd say that was Liberty Valance there now; wouldn't you?

Ransom Stoddard: Yes, I would.

Kaintuck: W-w-we'll be seein' you, Mr. Stoddard.

High Pockets: Well, Mr. Professor. I thought you left town. What are you doin' out here?

Ransom Stoddard: I'm waiting for Liberty Valance. Why doesn't he come out?

Kaintuck: Well, th-th-that's n-n-none of our b-b-b-business.

[first lines]

Ransom Stoddard: [descending from railway carriage and consulting pocket watch] Thanks, Jason. On time.

Pompey: It was writ by Mr. Thomas Jefferson of Virginia.

Ransom Stoddard: Was written, Pompey.

Pompey: Written by Mr. Thomas Jefferson. And he called the Constitution.

Ransom Stoddard: Declaration of Independence.

Pompey: It begun with the words... "We hold these truths to be..." uhh...

Charlie - A Classmate: Self-evident.

Ransom Stoddard: Let him alone, Charlie.

Pompey: "Self-evident, that..." uhh... that...

Ransom Stoddard: "That all men are created equal." That's fine, Pompey.

Pompey: I knew that, Mr. Rance, but I just plumb forgot it.

Ransom Stoddard: Oh, it's all right, Pompey. A lot of people forget that part of it. You did just fine, Pompey.