Art|Quotations

The 25 Best 'No Country For Old Men' Quotes

Movie and TV Quotes
Updated December 4, 2023 26.8K views 25 items
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Delve into the gripping and unforgettable world of No Country for Old Men with our expertly curated selection of memorable lines. Immerse yourself in the dramatic tension and intellectual depth which makes this Coen Brothers masterpiece, an adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy novel, an enduring triumph of modern cinema. 

The compelling narrative, masterfully crafted by the renowned Coen Brothers, brings together an array of complex characters, each contributing to the rich tapestry that defines the film. With our intricate compilation, we invite you to uncover the profound layers of this cinematic gem and to relive the intellectual stimulation it so powerfully delivers. 

Our compilation serves as a testament to the intricate dialogue that unfolds throughout the story, an undercurrent of the timeless themes of fate, moral dilemma, and human fallibility. Yet, beyond their dramatic impact, these lines have claimed their place in popular culture, intertwining into our everyday discourse and resonating with audiences across the globe.

In presenting readers with this compilation, we provide more than just a list. It's an invitation to delve into the heart of the characters and insights that have made No Country for Old Men a cinema classic. As you explore their dialogues, you'll find yourself drawn into the gritty world inhabited by Sheriff Ed Tom Bell and the enigmatic Anton Chigurh. 

As you traverse this gallery of quotes, not only will you relive the film's most poignant moments but also gain a deeper appreciation for its timeless wisdom. Whether you're a fan revisiting your favorite film or a novice ready to explore this riveting narrative, let this collection serve as your guide through the noir universe of No Country for Old Men. Embrace the journey. These quotes are here to make the experience more intense, evocative, and undeniably unforgettable.

  • Rule
    1

    Rule

    Anton Chigurh: If the rule you followed brought you to this, of what use was the rule?

    185 votes
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  • The Back Door
    2

    The Back Door

    Ellis: All the time you spend trying to get back what's been took from you, more is going out the back door.

    178 votes
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  • That's Vanity
    3

    That's Vanity

    Ellis: You can't stop what's comin', it ain't all waitin' on you... That's vanity.

    142 votes
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  • Nature Of Conversation
    4

    Nature Of Conversation

    Anton Chigurh: And you know what's going to happen now. You should admit your situation. There would be more dignity in it.

    Carson Wells: You go to hell.

    Anton Chigurh: Alright. Let me ask you something. If the rule you followed brought you to this, of what use was the rule?

    Carson Wells: Do you have any idea how crazy you are?

    Anton Chigurh: You mean the nature of this conversation?

    Carson Wells: I mean the nature of you.

    167 votes
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  • I'll Tell Her Myself
    5

    I'll Tell Her Myself

    Carla Jean Moss: What're you goin to do?

    Llewelyn Moss: I'm fixin' to do somethin' dumbern' hell but I'm goin' anyways. If I don't come back, tell Mother I love her.

    Carla Jean Moss: Your mother's dead, Llewelyn.

    Llewelyn Moss: Well, then, I'll tell her myself.

    137 votes
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  • Hell Of A Mess
    6

    Hell Of A Mess

    Wendell: This is turnin' into a hell of a mess, ain't it, Sheriff?

    Sheriff Ed Tom Bell: If it isn't, it'll do until the mess gets here.

    125 votes
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  • Don't Blame Him
    7

    Don't Blame Him

    Sheriff Ed Tom Bell: I always figured when I got older, God would sorta come inta my life somehow. And he didn't. I don't blame him. If I was him I would have the same opinion of me that he does.

    150 votes
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  • Save Yourself
    8

    Save Yourself

    Anton Chigurh: This is the best deal you're going to get. I won't tell you that you can save yourself, because you can't.

    106 votes
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  • That Depends
    9

    That Depends

    Accountant: Are you going to shoot me?

    Anton Chigurh: That depends. Do you see me?

    84 votes
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  • His Soul At Hazard
    10

    His Soul At Hazard

    Sheriff Ed Tom Bell: The crime you see now, it's hard to even take its measure. It's not that I'm afraid of it. I always knew you had to be willin' to die to even do this job. But, I don't want to push my chips forward and go out and meet somethin' I don't understand. A man would have to put his soul at hazard. He'd have to say: 'O.K., I'll be part of this world.'

    53 votes
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  • He Ought To
    11

    He Ought To

    Wendell: You think this boy Moss has got any notion of the sorts of sons of b*tches that're huntin' him?

    Sheriff Ed Tom Bell: I don't know, he ought to. He's seen the same things I've seen, and it's certainly made an impression on me.

    52 votes
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  • Surely Don't
    12

    Surely Don't

    Sheriff Ed Tom Bell: I was Sheriff of this county when I was 25 years old. Hard to believe. My grandfather was a lawman, father too. Me and him was sheriffs at the same time, him up in Plano and me out here. I think he's pretty proud of that. I know I was. Some of the old time Sheriffs never even wore a gun. A lotta folks find that hard to believe. Jim Scarborough'd never carry one - that's the younger Jim. Gaston Borkins wouldn't wear one up in Comanche County. I always liked to hear about the old-timers. Never missed a chance to do so. You can't help but compare yourself against the old-timers. Can't help but wonder how they'd have operated in these times. There was this boy I sent to the 'lectric chair at Huntsville here awhile back. My arrest and my testimony. He killed a 14-year-old girl. Papers said it was a 'crime of passion' but he told me there wasn't any passion to it. Told me that he'd been plannin' to kill somebody for about as long as he could remember. Said that if they turned him out, he'd do it again. Said he knew he was going to hell: 'Be there in about fifteen minutes.' I don't know what to make of that. I surely don't.

    67 votes
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  • If You Say So
    13

    If You Say So

    Loretta Bell: Be careful.

    Sheriff Ed Tom Bell: I always am.

    Loretta Bell: Don't get hurt.

    Sheriff Ed Tom Bell: I never do.

    Loretta Bell: Don't hurt no one.

    Sheriff Ed Tom Bell: Well. If you say so.

    69 votes
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  • Sir and Ma'am
    14

    Sir and Ma'am

    Sheriff Ed Tom Bell: But I think once you quit hearing "sir" and "ma'am," the rest is soon to follow.

    63 votes
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  • No Point In It
    15

    No Point In It

    Sheriff Ed Tom Bell: That man that shot you died in prison.

    Ellis: Angola. Yeah...

    Sheriff Ed Tom Bell: What you'd done he had been released?

    Ellis: Oh, I dunno. Nothing. Wouldn't be no point in it.

    Sheriff Ed Tom Bell: I'm kindly surprised to hear you say that.

    Ellis: Well all the time ya spend trying to get back what's been took from ya, more is going out the door. After a while you just have to try to get a tourniquet on it. Your granddad never asked me to sign on as a deputy.

    45 votes
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  • Sense Of Humor
    16

    Sense Of Humor

    Carson Wells: Buenos Dias. I'm guessing this isn't the future you had planned for yourself when you first clapped eyes on that money. Don't worry. I'm not the man who's after you.

    Llewelyn Moss: I know that. I've seen him.

    Carson Wells: You've seen him, and you're not dead?

    Llewelyn Moss: What's this guy supposed to be, the ultimate bada**?

    Carson Wells: No, I wouldn't describe him as that.

    Llewelyn Moss: How would you describe him?

    Carson Wells: I guess I would say he doesn't have a sense of humor.

    86 votes
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  • Should Even Out
    17

    Should Even Out

    Carla Jean Moss: I got a bad feeling, Llewelyn.

    Llewelyn Moss: Well I got a good feeling, so that should even out.

    54 votes
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  • True Story
    18

    True Story

    Carla Jean Moss: Sheriff, was that a true story about Charlie Walser?

    Sheriff Ed Tom Bell: Who's Charlie Walser? Oh! Well... uh... a true story? I couldn't swear to every detail but it's certainly true that it is a story.

    47 votes
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  • Without Any Clothes
    19

    Without Any Clothes

    Boot Salesman: How those Larry's holdin' up?

    Llewelyn Moss: Uh, oh, good. Good! I need everything else.

    Boot Salesman: OK.

    Llewelyn Moss: Lotta people come in here without any clothes on?

    Boot Salesman: No sir, it's unusual.

    45 votes
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  • Need To Sit Down
    20

    Need To Sit Down

    Carla Jean Moss: I ain't got the money. What little I had is long gone, and there's bills aplenty to pay yet. I buried my mother today. Can't pay for that neither.

    Anton Chigurh: I wouldn't worry about it.

    Carla Jean Moss: I need to sit down.

    48 votes
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  • Flatten A Man
    21

    Flatten A Man

    Wendell: That's very linear Sheriff.

    Sheriff Ed Tom Bell: Well, age will flatten a man.

    36 votes
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  • Friendo
    22

    Friendo

    Anton Chigurh: What business is it of yours where I'm from... friendo?

    69 votes
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  • Full Of Money
    23

    Full Of Money

    Carla Jean Moss: What's in the satchel?

    Llewelyn Moss: It's full of money.

    Carla Jean Moss: (speaks with a sarcastic tone) Yeah, that'll be the day.

    29 votes
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  • Hold Still
    24

    Hold Still

    Anton Chigurh: Would you hold still, please, sir?

    29 votes
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  • Things Happen
    25

    Things Happen

    Llewelyn Moss: Oh, baby, things happen...

    26 votes
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