- Jay Pierce: That's a thing to remember. You never find any happiness by running away from the things you're supposed to do.
- Hilda Pierce: [on New York City] Well, all I see is squalor and dirt. And unpleasantly swarthy people.
- Judge Holmes: Buck, eh? That's a swell name. They used to call me "Stinky." You know why?
- Robert 'Buck' Murphy: I guess so.
- Judge Holmes: Well, I certainly led with my chin that time.
- Judge Holmes: You fellas play football, don't you?
- Robert 'Buck' Murphy: Yeah.
- 'Gig' Stevens: Sure.
- Judge Holmes: When you don't like a quarterback's signals, do you walk out on him? The point is, fellas, that there's times when parents don't seem to understand - just can't understand at all. Now that's the time when I want you fellas to show me how tough you are.
- Robert 'Buck' Murphy: How?
- Judge Holmes: By pulling the switch on 'em and doing exactly as they say, that's all. Now that's what makes a fella tough. To be able to take it. Well, you wouldn't want anyone calling you a "little devil," would you?" That's what they say about bad little sissies who act naughty when they can't have their own way. By the way, the devil is a weak sissy. You know that, don't you?
- Robert 'Buck' Murphy: The devil?
- Judge Holmes: Sure, because he was an angel once.
- 'Gig' Stevens: An angel?
- Judge Holmes: Yeah, and an angel has to be tough in order to do his job and the devil couldn't be tough enough so they threw him out and he's been hiding down below ever since. You know, I think the devil's a sissy.
- Robert 'Buck' Murphy: [Headed to the principal's office] Hey, Limey. You didn't see me throw that football; you understand?
- Claude: I didn't?
- Robert 'Buck' Murphy: No. You know what we do with squealers around here?
- Claude: Uh-uh.
- Robert 'Buck' Murphy: We stuff 'em in a sack and drop 'em in the river.
- Claude: You do? That seems awfully drastic.
- Hilda Pierce: We had everything two people could want. We had money, position, friends all over the world.
- Jay Pierce: Yes, your money, your position, and your friends. There was no time to do my work.
- Hilda Pierce: That was because you were an impractical dreamer.
- Mrs. Jennie Stevens: Yeah, and he's my husband. He did the kind of stealing that lands a person in jail. Not the kind that lands him on Park Avenue. Tonight they're ... they're going to kill him for being a murderer and a thief. But I'd take him over you Rose. Yes, I would.
- Rose: Jenny, please. I am your sister. I just want to help you.
- Rose: Yeah, and I don't ... I don't want any help.
- Mrs. Jennie Stevens: Well, what about Gig? I think of him too.
- Mrs. Jennie Stevens: Gig? We'll get along somehow. And as long as I have anything to say, he won't touch a penny of your money.
- Rose: Well, Jenny, if you change your mind.
- Mrs. Jennie Stevens: I'll never change my mind.
- Claude: Dad, do I have to go back with mother?
- Jay Pierce: Why, of course, at the end of six months.
- Claude: Why can't I stay here with you?
- Jay Pierce: Well, because your mother loves you and wants you with her, the same as I do, hm? You love your mother too, don't you?
- Claude: Well, of course. But she's always on boats or in Europe and I don't get a chance to get to know boys like Buck and Gig and Six Toes..
- Jay Pierce: Well, you'll be back yet again at the end of six months.
- Claude: Well, I know, but, Dad, couldn't I hide when the time came and you could say you didn't know where I was?
- Jay Pierce: Well, that would fix things.
- Judge Holmes: [Shaking their hands] Well, you guys, I don't want to hear from either of you again until Gig, you're pitching for the Giants, and Buck, you're running for Congress.
- Principal: Murphy, did you throw that football?
- Robert 'Buck' Murphy: I don't know who threw it.
- Principal: Stevens?
- 'Gig' Stevens: I don't know.
- Principal: Pierce, this is this your football, isn't it?
- Claude: Yes, sir.
- Principal: Did you throw it?
- Claude: No, sir.
- Principal: Do you know who threw it?
- Claude: I really can't say, sir. I'm sorry.
- Principal: I cannot overlook deliberate lying.
- Robert 'Buck' Murphy: 80? What do you want with 80 bucks?
- 'Gig' Stevens: I want to buy a tombstone for my father.
- Jay Pierce: [Noticing Claude's shiner] Tell me about the fight.
- Claude: Well, it wasn't much of a fight. But I was kind of glad when the bobby came along.
- Claude: Why are they going to electrify his father tonight?
- Robert 'Buck' Murphy: He killed Joe Sullivan and the Connors brothers in a gang fight. Red Stevens is one of the toughest guys around here.
- 'Six-Toes': But he didn't have an alibi.
- Robert 'Buck' Murphy: Oh, he had an alibi, alright. But the guy wouldn't shut his face off.
- Claude: Face off?
- Robert 'Buck' Murphy: Squeal, you dope.
- 'Gig' Stevens: You didn't read about what my old man said, huh?
- Robert 'Buck' Murphy: No, I didn't.
- 'Gig' Stevens: The squealer got it first. My old man said, 'Wipe off that chair, a rat just got through sittin' in it.'
- Robert 'Buck' Murphy: Boy, he was plenty tough, you know.
- 'Gig' Stevens: I'll say he was tough. You know how long he was in the chair?
- Robert 'Buck' Murphy: How long?
- 'Gig' Stevens: Nine minutes. Ya know how many volts it took to finish him?
- Robert 'Buck' Murphy: No.
- 'Gig' Stevens: Four jolts of more than 2,000 volts. And, you know, that's more electricity than it takes to run this streetcar.