The Most Unforgettable Quotes Ever Uttered By Icons Of The Wild West
Who said two pistols were better than a double six in a dice game? Which individual preferred Hell to Texas? And who claimed there were two Bibles in Tombstone? They’re actually all words spoken by some of the most iconic figures of the Old West. So, from Jesse James’ philosophy on life to Calamity Jane’s views on the booze, we’ve dug out 40 startling quotes from that era.
40. General Sherman rates Texas
“If I owned Hell and Texas I’d rent out Texas and live in Hell.”
After helping the Unionists to victory in the American Civil War, General William Tecumseh Sherman was sent on a mission to Texas. His orders were to observe what the French were up to in Mexico. Apparently, Texans gave him a less than fulsome welcome to their territory, and that prompted his withering words about the state.
39. Charles Goodnight on cowardice
“Cowards never lasted long enough to become real cowboys.”
According to the National Cowboy Museum, Texas rancher Charles Goodnight was the man who invented the chuck wagon – an essential element of cross country cattle drives. But he also found time to consider the weaknesses that were fatal to the cowboy. Cowardice, Goodnight declared, was a fatal flaw for anyone who dreamed of a life on the range.
38. Judge Wells Spicer on Tombstone, Arizona
“Tombstone has two dance halls, a dozen gambling places and more than 20 saloons. Still, there is hope, for I know of two Bibles in town.”
It was in 1881 that Judge Wells Spicer gave this trenchant view of the infamous town of Tombstone, Arizona. That very year also saw the much-storied Shootout at the O.K. Corral. In fact, the judge conducted the hearing that exonerated Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday for their part in the deadly incident. Considering the levels of violence in Tombstone, you’d have to wonder if a pair of bibles was enough!
37. Judge Roy Bean on watermelons and men
“You can’t tell how good a man or a watermelon is ‘til they get thumped.”
Although he became a justice of the peace later in life, Roy Bean wasn’t always on the right side of the law. For example, he killed “at least two men in duels,” according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. His judgments could be eccentric to say the least. Bean is said to have fined a man $40 for harboring a concealed firearm. The miscreant in question was actually dead.
