True Grit (2010) quotes

Directors
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen.

Cast
Jeff Bridges.
Matt Damon.
Hailee Steinfeld.

A stubborn teenager enlists the help of a tough U.S. Marshal to track down her father’s murderer.

As I understand it, Chaney… or Chelmsford, as he called himshelf in Texas… shot the senator’s dog. When the senator remonstrated, Chelmsford shot him as well. You could argue that the shooting of the dog was merely an instance of malum prohibitum, but the shooting of a senator is indubitably an instance of malum in se.
– LaBoeuf
Malla-men what?
– Rooster Cogburn
Malum in se. The distinction is between an act that is wrong in itself, and an act that is wrong only according to our laws and mores. It is Latin.
– Mattie Ross
I am struck that LaBoeuf is shot, trampled, and nearly severs his tongue, and not only does not cease to talk, but spills the banks of English!
– Rooster Cogburn

The chinaman is running them cheap shells on me again.
– Rooster Cogburn
I thought you were going to say the sun was in your eyes. That is to say, your EYE.
– LaBoeuf

What is your intention Rooster? You think one on four is a dogfall?
– Lucky Ned Peppe
I mean to kill you in one minute, Ned. Or see you hanged in Fort Smith at Judge Parker’s convenience. Which will you have?
– Rooster Cogburn
I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man!
– Lucky Ned Pepper
Fill your hand, you son of a bitch!
– Rooster Cogburn

You must pay for everything in this world, one way and another. There is nothing free except the grace of God.
– Mattie Ross

I had the body removed to our plot and I have visited it over the years. No doubt people talk about that. They say, “Well, she hardly knew the man. Isn’t she a cranky old maid?” It is true, I have not married. I never had time to fool with it. I heard nothing more of the Texas officer LaBoeuf. If he is yet alive, I would be pleased to hear from him. I judge he would be in his 70s now, and nearer 80 than 70. I expect some of the starch has gone out of that cowlick. Time just gets away from us.
– 40-Year-Old Mattie

You give out very little sugar with your pronouncements. While I sat there watchin’ I gave some thought to stealin’ a kiss… though you are very young, and sick… and unattractive to boot. But now I have a mind to give you five or six good licks with my belt.
– LaBoeuf
One would be just as unpleasant as the other.
– Mattie Ross

I didn’t think you’d do it! One of my short ribs is broke!
– Tom Chaney

I do not entertain hypotheticals. The world itself is vexing enough.
– Col. Stonehill

You go for a man hard enough and fast enough, he don’t have time to think about how many’s with him; he thinks about himself, and how he might get clear of that wrath that’s about to set down on him.
– Rooster Cogburn

Mister Cogburn, in your four years as US Marshal, how many men have you shot?
– Cross-examining Lawyer
Shot? Or killed?
– Rooster Cogburn
Let us restrict it to killed so we may have a manageable figure!
– Cross-examining Lawyer

I am not accustomed to so large a fire. In Texas, we’ll make do with a fire of little more than twigs… buffalo chips. Heat the night’s ration of beans. And it is Ranger policy never to make your camp in the same place as your cook fire. Very imprudent to make your presence known in unsettled country.
– LaBoeuf

I’ve just come from Yell County.
– LaBoeuf
We have no rodeo clowns in Yell County.
– Mattie Ross
A saucy line will not get you far with me.
– LaBoeuf

I’d give $3 now for a pickled buffalo tongue.
– Rooster Cogburn

I guess I have a $10 horse. Tell Col. Stonehill I said ‘Thank you’.
– Mattie Ross
No ma’am. He said he don’t never want to hear your name again!
– Stableboy