J.R. Ewing

“Once you’ve been a winner, you can’t stand losing.” — J.R. Ewing

“Don't forgive and don't forget... And do unto others before they do unto you, and most important... Keep your eyes on your friends, cause your enemies will take care of themselves.” (To Casey Denault)
“You wouldn't be trying to blackmail old J.R., would you?” (Repeated line)
“Oh Barnes, you just get dumber and dumber every day.” (Repeated line, to Cliff Barnes)
“Your Daddy lacked the killer instinct... He forgave those who transgressed against him... People just weren't afraid of him.” (To Casey Denault)
“Never tell the truth when a good lie will do.”
“Frisk him when he leaves... I don't wanna lose any more ash trays.” (To his secretary about Cliff Barnes)
“Barnes just broke the cardinal rule in politics: never get caught in bed with a dead woman or a live man.”
“Ray never was comfortable eating with the family; we do use knives and forks.”
“Lots of men have tried to run roughshod over me. You can visit them in the cemetery.”
“I should've killed you out in that field when I had the chance, Barnes.” (To Cliff)
“You're a cheap little man, Barnes.” (To Cliff)
“I'm gonna keep my eye on you.” (To Casey Denault)
“Never discuss business over a drink. It ruins the taste.”
“He's more trouble than a bag of snakes!”
“Now is the time to be scared.” (To Kristin Shepard)
“I'd forget my own name before I forgot that, Mama!” (Response to Miss Ellie)
“Damn, I hate that woman.” (After being slapped by Pam)
“Of all the psychiatrists in Dallas, you pick the one who'll get you in the most trouble.” (To Sue Ellen)
“By the way honey, you're a little too old to be running around without your clothes on.” (To Marilee Stone)
“The proper recipient of the Digger Barnes scholarship isn't a University, it is a neighborhood bar.”
“I know what I like about that boy, he's the best liar I ever met, except for myself of course.” (About Casey Denault)
“Bullets don't seem to have much of an effect on me, darling.” (Revival, to Ann)
“I spent most of your childhood chasing after women I didn't love, makin' deals that didn't really matter. I will get Southfork back.” (Revival, to John Ross)
“Son, never pass up a good chance to shut up.” (Revival, to John Ross)
“Son, the courts are for amateurs and the faint of heart.” (Revival)
“Sue Ellen, you're a drunk, a tramp, and an unfit mother.” (Repeated, most famously Season 3)
“In case you haven't heard, you're a drunk, an unfit mother, and a slut.” (Repeated line to Sue Ellen)
“Cliff Barnes is finished in this state, Pamela, and if you keep pushing me, I'm gonna finish him for good. I'll destroy him – politically, financially, and any other way I have to.” (To Pam, Season 1 Episode 3 – "Spy in the House")
“I'm gonna destroy that boy, Pam. I'm gonna destroy Cliff Barnes once and for all.” (To Pam, repeated threat early seasons)

Bobby Ewing

“When Pam finds out what you did to her brother, that'll be the end of our marriage.”
“Look, Pamela, what's the sense? As long as you think that Cliff is Sir Gallahad and the Ewings are the forces of evil, I think there's no sense of talking.”

Sue Ellen Ewing

“You have a disgusting mouth.”
“You live with vipers, you become a viper!”
“Nothing brings out the best in you like other people's unhappiness.” (To J.R.)
“You must be up to something real nasty, J.R.”
“The Joan of Arc would be a drunk too if she was married to you.” (To J.R.)
“Nobody beats old J.R., you know that!” (To J.R., at his bedside)
“It was YOU Kristin, who shot J.R.” (To Kristin)

Jock Ewing

“I am Takapa! My daddy drilled that well!” (Season 3, Episode 23 – "Jock's Trial, Part 2", in the courtroom)
“Takapa was drilled on Southfork land by my daddy, Digger Barnes, and me in 1930! I am Takapa!” (Full context from same episode)
“Real power is something you take.” (To Bobby, echoed later by J.R.)

Miss Ellie Ewing

“Ray, get me the shotgun out of the hall closet.” (Or variations like "Ray, go fetch me the shotgun...")
“Anybody on my land, without invitation, is a trespasser. So unless I see your tail heading out of here right now – and fast – I’m going to blow it off.”
“Do you know what we do to vultures out here?”

Pamela Ewing

“Power, money, and control mean nothing to me. I want a nice, ordinary life with my husband.” — Pamela Ewing

“Your family’s gonna throw me right off the ranch.” (Early seasons, expressing outsider fears to Bobby)
“Power, money, and control mean nothing to me. I want a nice, ordinary life with my husband.” (Iconic line reflecting her values)
“You did it so you could take over Ewing Oil!” (To J.R., in "Barbecue Three", calling out his motives)
“Filthy snake!” (To J.R., in "Legacy of Hate", storming into his office)
“Shut up! Just sit there and listen!” (To J.R., in a fiery confrontation—fans love this rare moment where she silences him)
“You know how much he means to me. What kind of sick pleasure did you get out of sending me island-hopping around the Caribbean with Gerald...?” (To J.R., furious over manipulation in "Legacy of Hate")
“I'll tell you something. I don't know how to play by your rules. But someday I will. And you're going to pay for what you've done.” (To J.R., in "Election")
“Bobby, please don't make this any harder for me than it already is. I just don't know what I'm gonna do.” (Emotional moment in "Sue Ellen's Sister")
“God, Bobby, I need you! But if you can't stay away from her, stay away from me!” (Close to tears, in a heated argument)
“I just can't live here. I want to leave.” (To Bobby, in "Requiem", expressing desire to escape Southfork drama)
“You filthy snake!” (Variation of her direct insult to J.R. in confrontations)
“Oh, I understand exactly what it means to your family. It's a way to get back at my brother!” (To Bobby, in "Election", highlighting the feud)

Cliff Barnes

“What do you get when you cross a Barnes with a Ewing? A boy or a girl?”
“No, that's just a recent development.”

Ray Krebbs

“He was a man, just like anybody else. He had friends. He had lots of friends. But he had enemies, too. He was human, ambitious... And he did what he thought was right.” — Ray Krebbs (eulogizing Jock in "Acceptance")

“Look, eh, I'm not real good standing around out here in the middle of all this making small talk. If I don't at least touch you pretty soon, I'm gonna bust.” (To Donna, in "Love and Marriage")
“Hey, I am a friend. What do you want me to do about Kristin?” (To Lucy, in "The Silent Killer")
“I was gonna leave, but I think I just changed my mind about that. I'm staying now. You want me off that ranch, you're gonna have to get Jock to fire me.” (To J.R., in "Triangle")
“I don't believe it, J.R. After everything that's happened to you, you're laughing about the price of oil.” (To J.R., in "Blocked")
“Hey, I think it's just what I need, is a good fight. Help me get rid of some of these pressures.” (To Donna while dancing, in "The Oil Baron's Ball")
“What did you think of that movie?” (To Donna, casual date talk in an early episode)
“I'll tell ya, I was so busy reading the subtitles I hardly had a chance to look.” (To Donna, humorous response about a foreign film)

Donna Krebbs

“Drinks are on Bonnie.” — Donna Krebbs (iconic bar smack-down, Season 8)

“Drinks are on Bonnie.” (Famous line from a bar confrontation, asserting control and loyalty—often cited as one of her boldest moments)
“Hey, I'm selfish. I just don't wanna lose that cowboy I fell in love with.” (To Ray, in "The Big Shut Down", expressing her fears about his changes)
“I know why you're trying to steal my husband. He's a very special man. And I'm here to tell you that you've got a fight on your hands.” (In "Adoption", confronting a rival—classic protective Donna)

Dallas Quotes