10 Best Yellowstone Quotes of All Time, Ranked

Some Yellowstone lines sound cool, and people are immediately drawn to them. However, they are also essential to the character study that Yellowstone so cleverly builds throughout its five seasons. Even with the farfetch setting of a high-stakes cowboy life in the middle of a corporate agenda, these quotes remain familiar, inspiring, and iconic.

10. “Well, If You’re Marrying Beth, You’ve Already Proved You’re Not Scared of Anything.”

John Dutton in Season 3, Episode 8 of Yellowstone, “I Killed a Man Today”

Yellowstone Season 5's promotional poster with Rip Wheeler and John Dutton.

As John encourages Rip to talk about his relationship with Beth, Rip tells him that people are scared of talking to him because they are afraid of disappointing him. John complains about the family not sharing with him, but Rips makes him see that he also sets high expectations for others. However, as Rip confesses he’s scared of letting John down, the Yellowstone patriarch makes a joke that relieves the tension and shows how much John respects Rip.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Yellowstone is that, despite the intense drama and petty conflicts, there is a lot of humor. Beth Dutton is a scary woman, full of surprises. This is her biggest strength, and a problematic flaw. However, both John and Rip admire and respect her. The conversation reveals a more casual side to this relationship as John makes it clear that he approves of Rip and Beth, providing the fandom with a hilarious moment.

9. “When the Misery Is Bad Enough, Tomorrow Is Rarely Factored into Decisions.”

Monica Dutton in Season 2, Episode 4 of Yellowstone, “Only Devils Left”

Monica Long Dutton (Kelsey Asbille) stands in front of a barn while looking serious in Yellowstone.

The second season of Yellowstone sees Monica working as a History professor at Montana State University. She uses her role to bring awareness to her overly privileged students. She explains that many people on the reservations drink a beverage called “ocean water,” a mixture of Lysol and water that poses as alcohol. Since alcohol is illegal in the reservations, many people use this to escape their unfortunate reality, even if it has long-term health consequences. When a student asks Monica why they do that, she explains with this outstanding quote.

Monica’s comment addresses the root of the systemic issues in a capitalistic society. It’s easy for middle-class students to question a person on a reservation about using a drink that will eventually kill them. However, living in precarious conditions leads people to take immediate decisions with permanent consequences. People who live in survival mode can’t afford to think about the future, which eventually becomes an endless cycle. The death of a person drinking ocean water is not their fault, but the consequence of an unfair reality and an indifferent society.

8. “I’d Rather Kill a Thousand Men Than Shoot Another Horse.”

Rip Wheeler in Season 3, Episode 10 of Yellowstone, “The World Is Purple”

Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser) rides a horse in Yellowstone.