- Buford: There's only two rules, and thats all... But don't ever forget them. Number one we enforce the law equally. Number two, any man caught taking a bribe gets his head knocked off by me.
- Judge R.W. Clarke: [Buford has moved the Judge's Chambers into the men's room] What the hell is going on here?
- Buford: I've read the book, Your Honor, and it clearly states on page 53 paragraph 6 that the sheriff has the right to assign all courtrooms and judges chambers... In view of your past judgements, I thought you might feel more at home here... You have your own choice of seats...
- [shows commodes]
- Buford: There's no telephone yet, but you won't need one today...
- [Hands over search warrents]
- Buford: Here's a list of search and seizure warrents... I want them by 3 O'clock today... Oh, and by the way, if word of any warrents, pardon the expression, "leaks out", well your distinguished career is over... Page 92, section 4.
- [Hands book to the judge]
- Judge R.W. Clarke: I'll be damned!... I'LL BE DANMNED!
- Buford: [talking to the jury after showing his scars] If you let them do this to me and get away with it, THEN YOU'RE GIVING THEM THE ETERNAL RIGHT TO DO THE SAME DAMN THING TO ANY ONE OF YOU!
- John Witter: [to Buford] Ya know, ideals and realties are very far apart. One day you're gonna see that son. And if ya don't, someone's gonna point it out to you... CLEARLY!
- Grandpa Carl Pusser: [to Sherrif Thurman] You better be rememberin' one thing before election time: the people of this county *give* you that badge, and they can damn well take it *away* from ya!
- Thurman: Not like you to threaten a man, Carl.
- Dr. Lamar Stivers: He doesn't speak only for *himself*, Al.
- Judge R.W. Clarke: Why you self appointed dictator!... All you know is force and violence!... You don't understand the simplest things about the law!
- Buford: I understand the difference between a poor honest judge and a rich dishonest one!
- Buford: Thurman, I known you since I was a kid!... I used to think you walked tall!... IT LOOKS LIKE YOU DONE LEARNED HOW TO CRAWL!
- Buford: That fight yesterday was for real... Obra could have been killed, and all you do is levy a 10 dollar fine!
- Judge R.W. Clarke: My prerogative... You run the streets, I run the courts!
- Buford: I bring em in and you let em go. it all becomes a big joke, and I don't care to trade lives for laughs... From now on I want maximum penalties!
- Buford: [to John Witter] I'm not against a little drink, a little fun... But the law of the land shouldn't be for sale.
- Buford: [Buford walks into the Pine Ridge Club] Luan, I see you changed trailers.
- Luan Paxton: ...And I see you're still lookin.
- Dr. Lamar Stivers: [Patching up Buford after an assassination attempt] Why don't you get yourself another job... You're not too good at this one.
- Buford: I'm learnin', Doc... I'm learnin'.
- Callie: [about Pusser] Those Nashville papers are playing up that big stick of his like he's Sir Lancelot or somebody
- Buford: I'm gonna take, and take, and take, till they ain't got nothin left to give but BLOOD!... And I'm gonna take that, one drop at a time!
- Buford: [to John Witter] If you let those people that own those joints have an inch, they'll steal the whole state... It looks like they already got a leg up on it.
- Buford: [to cashier at the Lucky Spot who eyes a shotgun] Mister, you're hand is shaking. If you miss, you'll never shoot again.
- Grady: [to Pauline] You're just gonna have to decide if your gonna spend your old age with your fears, or with your husband.
- Lutie McVey: [Arriving at the Lucky Spot] Sodom and Gomorrah, here comes Buford The Wild Bull!... NO HOLDS BARRED!...
- Buford: [after arguing with Sheriff Thurman] There it is again.
- Pauline Pusser: What?
- Buford: The system... You gotta live my way or you don't live.
- Pauline Pusser: [to Michael after he picks up his Christmas gift] Michael, put it down.
- Mike Pusser: I wonder what it is.
- Pauline Pusser: Yes, I wonder.
- Buford: Tomorrow morning I'm gonna learn what's in this criminal code book word for word... You know what you have to worry about Your Honor is what part of this I can use against you!
- [slams door]
- Buford: [Seeking Obra's advice] Any Suggestions?
- Obra: Yup... Do not beat your head against the wall, cause it will probably fall on ya. Two, Lone wolves are easy prey... Organized, there's strength and unity... And three, you are a damn fool Buford, for tryin' to do what I know you goin' to.
- [laughs]
- Buford: [Giving instructions to his deputies] The rest of us wait until the illegal liquer is flowing, the girls are making their trailer runs, and the suckers are crowding the tables... Then we hit fast and hard.
- Buford: [At the Pine Ridge Club] Ya know Callie, you got one of the sexiest track teams I've ever seen... What's their record between here and the trailer?
- Buford: [Giving instructions] Virgil, I want you to make the west half run.
- Virgil Button: Big responsibility.
- Buford: Well, you're a big man.
- Pauline Pusser: [Pauline is angry at Buford's decision to run for sheriff] No more fighting you said!... You gave your word!... Wild Bull Buford's word, on that you can bank!
- Buford: I didn't know this was gonna happen!
- Pauline Pusser: Oh well, you're turning this into some kind of life and death grudge fight!
- Buford: [to his dad on why he gave up wrestling] It was a one-way street leading no where, Dad... It was organized dishonesty... It was the system. You win when they let you win, you climb the ladder when they let you, you breathe when they feel like giving you air... I got fed up with other people living my life their way.
- Buel Jaggers: [to Callie on what to do about Buford] I got a couple of boys in Alabama that'll teach him something he'll never forget.
- Callie: [Having a meeting about Pusser] He's gotta have someone down here working on the inside.
- Buel Jaggers: But not from my group... My people are solid.
- Callie: Oh yeah... You're people are real solid... Like that bunch you sent here from Alabama? They couldn't put him away when they were two feet from him... That really started something.
- Buford: [Buford is trying to get Virgil admit he is the snitch] YOU TELL 'EM HOW YOU KNEW I TOOK THE BACK WAY HOME AT NIGHT!... YOU TELL 'EM!
- Thurman: [after patching up Buford] It must have been obvious... He was drunk, all liquered up.
- Dr. Lamar Stivers: Not obvious at all... The only thing you should be concerned with is... Who did it to him.
- Judge R.W. Clarke: [after Buford is forced to release prisoners for not reading them their rights] There's more to upholdin' the law than swingin' a big stick and kickin' down doors!