Tom Doniphon Quotes in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

+1
Share
Pin
Like
Send
Share

Tom Doniphon Quotes:

  • Tom Doniphon: Whoa, take 'er easy there, Pilgrim.

  • Liberty Valance: You lookin' for trouble, Doniphon?

    Tom Doniphon: You aim to help me find some?

  • [Doniphon has just faced down Valance in the diner]

    Tom Doniphon: Well, now; I wonder what scared 'em off?

    Dutton Peabody: [poking fun at Stoddard for his idealism] You know what scared 'em - the spectacle of law and order here, risin' up out of the gravy and the mashed potatoes.

  • Tom Doniphon: [Doniphon has just told Stoddard what really happened the night Liberty Valance was shot] Hallie's your girl now. Go back in there and take that nomination. You taught her how to read and write; now give her something to read and write about!

  • 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]

  • Dutton Peabody: [during voting for the territorial convention] I'll have the usual, Jack.

    Jack, Barman: The bar is closed, Mister Editor, during voting.

    Dutton Peabody: Bar's closed?

    Tom Doniphon: You can blame your lawyer friend. He says that's one of the "Fundamental laws of democracy." No exception.

    Dutton Peabody: No exceptions for the working press? Why, that's carrying democracy much too far!

  • [Reese and Floyd are trying to get a lynch mob together after Stoddard kills Valance]

    Tom Doniphon: Can't a man have a drink around this town in peace?

    [grabs Floyd and throws him through the door]

    Reese: No one's bothering you, Doniphon.

    Tom Doniphon: *You* are.

    [Reese goes for his gun, and Doniphon decks him]

    Tom Doniphon: Marshal! What are you gettin' paid for? Drag this scum out of here.

    Link Appleyard: You heard him! Now, Kaintuck and High Pockets, I deputize you to give a hand and drag this scum out of here!

    Kaintuck: Give me that b-b-b-bung st-st-starter!

    [grabs Reese and hauls him out]

    Link Appleyard: You tell those ranchers north of the Picketwire that hired you that me, Link Appleyard, run you out of town, and I'll do it again if you ever come back!

  • Dutton Peabody: [protesting his nomination to the statehood convention] No! No! No you don't! No! I... I'm a newspaperman, not a politician! No, politicians are my meat - I build 'em up and I tear 'em down but I wouldn't be one I couldn't be one - it'd destroy me - gimme a...

    Tom Doniphon: Bar's closed.

    Dutton Peabody: Good people of Shinbone, I... I... I'm your conscience - I'm the still, small voice that thunders in the night. I'm your watchdog that howls against the wolves! I'm - I'm your father confessor! I... I... I'm... what else am I?

    Tom Doniphon: Town drunk?

  • Tom Doniphon: I know those law books mean alot to you, but not out here. Out here a man settles his own problems.

  • Tom Doniphon: You talk too much, think too much. Besides, YOU didn't kill Liberty Valance.

  • Tom Doniphon: Liberty Valance's the toughest man south of the Picketwire - next to me.

  • Tom Doniphon: [to Ransom Stoddard] Hey, pilgrim! You forgot your pop-gun!

  • Dutton Peabody: Give me a drink.

    Tom Doniphon: Bar's closed.

    Dutton Peabody: Just a beer!

    Tom Doniphon: The bar's closed.

    Dutton Peabody: A beer's not drinking!

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

    Tom Doniphon: Ohhh...

  • [Pompey has gone into the saloon after Tom]

    Barman: [indicating that he can't serve Pompey due to his being black] Now look, Pompey. You know I...

    Tom Doniphon: [drunk] Who says he can't? Pour yourself a drink, Pompey.

    Pompey: You know I don't drink no drams, Mr. Tom.

    Tom Doniphon: I said take a drink.

    Pompey: No, sir. We got a mare in foal, and horses to feed and water. You come on home.

  • Tom Doniphon: Pompey, go find Doc Willoughby. If he's sober, bring him back.

  • Dutton Peabody: [Peabody has just been nominated as a delegate to statehood] No! No! No you don't! No! I... I'm a newspaperman, not a politician! No, politicians are my meat - I build 'em up and I tear 'em down but I wouldn't be one I couldn't be one - it'd destroy me... gimme a

    Tom Doniphon: Bar's closed.

    Dutton Peabody: Huh? Good people of Shinbone, I... I... I'm you conscience - I'm the still, small voice that thunders in the night. I'm your watchdog that howls against the wolves! I'm - I'm your father confessor! I... I... I'm... I'm... what else am I?

    Tom Doniphon: Town drunk?

    [uproarious laughter]

  • Tom Doniphon: Since our legal authority closed the bar on us, I propose that Ransom Stoddard, Attorney at Law, come up here and run this meeting for us.

Browse more character quotes from The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

+1
Share
Pin
Like
Send
Share