- Will Parmalee: Y'know, Matt, I always figured I'd die a cow hand. Struck by lightning or under the hooves. But sittin' on leather. Not dangling at the end of a rope like some side of beef.
- Tait Cavanaugh: A man won't go along with the railroads he's finished. In a few short years there won't be no such thing as a trail drive. We gotta face that.
- Tait Cavanaugh: I don't know what's wrong with the world. Everything's changin'! There was a time when neighbor helped neighbor, a man's word meant something. There were cows and men and not much else. Now it seems that everybody is out to get as much as he can and who cares. Glory Days are gone. And Will, I'm afraid they ain't never comin' back.
- Will Parmalee: I guess we sure rousted them gandy dancers.
- Matt Dillon: Yeah. How is it you started out with the railroad men?
- Will Parmalee: Them railroads have come to stick in my craw, Matt. They're taking jobs that cowhands oughta be doin'. Herdin' cows into box cars instead of across green grass just don't make sense.
- Matt Dillon: Country changes, Will.
- Will Parmalee: Yeah.