James Stewart: Ransom Stoddard
Photos
Quotes
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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.
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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]
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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.
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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.
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Ransom Stoddard : I don't want to kill him, I just want to put him in jail!
Tom Doniphon : Ohhh...
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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.
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Tom Doniphon : [In Peter Ericson's kitchen visiting Hallie, see 's Ransom Stoddard's shingle, reads] 'Ransom Stoddard, At... torney at Law'
[amused]
Tom Doniphon : You're a persistent cuss, pilgrim. You really aim to hang that up outside somewhere?
Ransom Stoddard : [defiant] That's why I *painted* it.
Tom Doniphon : [gravely] Well, take some advice, pilgrim. You put that thing up, you'll have to defend it with a *gun*... and you ain't exactly the type.
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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.
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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.
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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]
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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.
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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.
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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.
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[first lines]
Ransom Stoddard : [descending from railway carriage and consulting pocket watch] Thanks, Jason. On time.
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Tom Doniphon : Pompey! Bring me those cans.
[Pompey brings three cans of paint]
Tom Doniphon : Give me that thing. I'll show you how easy it is.
[Ransom Stoddard hands his pistol to Doniphon]
Tom Doniphon : Take these cans, put them on those three posts. Go ahead.
[Stoddard takes the cans to the post which is two away from the corner post]
Tom Doniphon : That's it, that first post.
Ransom Stoddard : There?
Tom Doniphon : That's right.
[Stoddard heads for the next-to-last post]
Tom Doniphon : Not there! On the far post!
[Stoddard goes to the corner post]
Tom Doniphon : That's right!
[Stoddard puts the paint can on the corner post]
Tom Doniphon : Now put that last one in the middle!
[Doniphon shoots two of the paint cans]
Tom Doniphon : Pilgrim!
[Doniphon shoots the can just above Stoddard, splashing him with paint; he laughs at Stoddard, who angrily walks over to Doniphon]
Tom Doniphon : I hate tricks, pilgrim, but that's what you're up against with Valance! He's almost as fast as I am.
[Stoddard punches Doniphon on the jaw, knocking him to the ground]
Ransom Stoddard : I don't like tricks myself, so that makes us even!
Tom Doniphon : [gets off the ground as Stoddard gets into his carriage] Hey pilgrim, you forgot your pop gun!
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Amos Carruthers : [Stoddard raps table three times to call meeting to order, Amos Carruthers stands] I'd like to nominate the chairman,
[gestures towards the chair]
Amos Carruthers : Mr. Ransom Stoddard as delegate to the territorial convention!
[uproarious cheers of approval]
Ransom Stoddard : Wait a minute here now!
Tom Doniphon : And I second that nomination, not only because he knows the law but because he throws a good *punch*!
