Summary

• The iconic quotes from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly make it one of the best Westerns ever made.
• Clint Eastwood and Eli Wallach shine with their deliveries, creating memorable dialogues.
• The chemistry between the central characters and the witty exchanges make it a standout Spaghetti Western.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly quotes help cement the iconic Spaghetti Western in cinema history. It is not only one of the best Westerns ever made, but it also ranks highly in many "Greatest Movies Of All Time" lists — and for good reason. Director Sergio Leone created an everlasting masterpiece in this final installment of the Dollars Trilogy. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly's script is terse, but it also includes quite a few great lines of dialogue, ranging from the humorous to the profound.

Credit has to be given to the screenplay team of Luciano Vincenzoni, Sergio Donati, and Furio Scapelli. The starring duo of Clint Eastwood (Blondie aka The Good) and Eli Wallach (Tuco aka The Ugly) also outdid themselves with their deliveries as the juiciest quotes are from conversations between these two. The dialogue and chemistry between the central characters are part of what made the film one of the best Spaghetti Westerns ever, and is evident in the many great The Good, The Bad and the Ugly quotes.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is available to stream on Max.

20 "Hey, Blond! You Know What You Are? Just A Dirty Son-Of-A-B-!"

Tuco (Eli Wallach)

Tuco may not be an honorable character, but Eli Wallach's hilarious performance makes him strangely likable. Unlike the genuinely evil Angel Eyes, the audience doesn't really want to see Tuco die in the end, but that doesn't mean they want to see him win either. That is part of what makes The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly's ending so satisfying, as Blondie shoots down Angel Eyes, but leaves Tuco alive.

As he heads out with the entire fortune they found, Tuco yells after him with this memorable curse, showing that he is still the despicable character in the end and will continue living as a scoundrel looking for his own good fortune. The performance of the cast adds a great deal to make the dialogue so impactful, like many The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly quotes. This line is sold by the performance of Eli Wallach as Tuco, and it's no surprise that playing Tuco led to Wallach starring in more spaghetti westerns like Ace High.

19 "Two Hundred Thousand Dollars Is A Lot of Money. We’re Gonna Have To Earn It."

Blondie (Clint Eastwood)

It's no surprise that, of all the Good, The Bad, and The Ugly cast members, many of the best quotes can be attributed to genre legend Clint Eastwood as Blondie. Eastwood is in his element in any Spaghetti Western, although this particular quote isn't memorable because it pertains to staples of the genre. Along with being a masterpiece of the Western genre, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is a thrilling treasure hunt movie. The premise of three characters going after the same hidden fortune is a brilliantly simple setup for the adventure.

It helps to cement that Blondie was the right man out of the three to get the treasure, as he is the only one who doesn't think he is owed any of the riches by simply knowing about them.

This quote from Blondie also shows the audience that it is not going to be an easy journey. It helps to cement that Blondie was the right man out of the three to get the treasure, as he is the only one who doesn't think he is owed any of the riches by simply knowing about them. He will risk his life yet not be dishonorable in order to come away a rich man.

18 "I Never Hurt Anybody."

Tuco (Eli Wallach)

Apart from spoof movies like Blazing Saddles, the Western genre is not typically known for providing big laughs. With stoic heroes, dastardly villains, and dangerous scenarios, there are few moments of levity. While The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is certainly not a comedy, there are some very funny moments, most involving Tuco.

One of the biggest laughs in the movie comes as Tuco stands on the gallows with a noose around his neck. He proclaims that he is not a bad person and never hurt anyone, only for the officer to proceed in giving a hilariously long list of Tuco's crimes. These moments help cast member Eli Wallach stand out even when sharing scenes with legends of the silver screen like Clint Eastwood, and also helped ensure that Tuco would be one of the movie's most memorable characters.

17 "I’ll Keep The Money And You Can Have The Rope."

Blondie (Clint Eastwood)

While Blondie is "the Good" out of the three main characters — and is far less ruthless than some of Clint Eastwood's other characters, like Dirty Harry — in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, he is more of an anti-hero than a real hero. When the audience meets him, he is pulling off a scheme with Tuco in which he turns Tuco over to authorities, collects the bounty, then frees Tuco at the last minute to do it again in a new town.

A merciless moment for the hero of the story, but makes him more likable.

While that alone is pretty dishonest, Blondie also decides to unceremoniously end his partnership with Tuco — and, as is to be expected with a Clint Eastwood in a Spaghetti Western, he does so with inimitable verbal flare. Blondie tells him he's keeping the money while Tuco can keep the ropes that his hands are tied with. It is a merciless moment for the hero of the story, but makes him more likable.

16 "I’ve Never Seen So Many Men Wasted So Badly."

Blondie (Clint Eastwood)

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is also a Civil War movie as the adventure takes place during the conflict between the Union in the north and the Confederacy in the south. While this context has little bearing on the plot beyond the fact that the treasure the trio are searching for is Confederate gold and there being both Confederate and Union soldiers at various points, in one scene Blondie and Tuco come across a bloody battle.

For the most part, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly is mostly content simply being an entertaining genre movie, but at this point the Spaghetti Western decides to throw in some social and historical commentary. Even the man of few words, Blondie, comments on the senselessness of the war. This is a man who has killed and lived a life surrounded by violence but is appalled at the death he sees in battle.

15 "One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six. Six. Perfect Number."

Blondie (Clint Eastwood)

Like many Clint Eastwood characters, Blondie wasn't afraid to intimidate his opponents with a little arrogant, chest-puffing bravado, but he also did it with style — a key hallmark of the actor that contributed greatly to his success. When facing down Angel Eyes and his men, Blondie begins counting them out in this cool-headed way. When Angel Eyes asks him why he doesn't think three is the perfect number, Blondie replies "Mmmm, yeah, but I've got six more bullets in my gun."

One of several The Good, The Bad and The Ugly quotes that are a testament to the script-writing abilities of Agenore Incrocci, Furio Scarpelli, Luciano Vincenzoni, and, of course, director Sergio Leone.

Clint Eastwood's ice-cold delivery helps to paint the picture of a truly memorable Western movie hero. It's also a notably slick line of dialogue, one of several The Good, The Bad and The Ugly quotes that are a testament to the script-writing abilities of Agenore Incrocci, Furio Scarpelli, Luciano Vincenzoni, and, of course, director Sergio Leone.

14 "You Never Had A Rope Around Your Neck. Well, I'm Going To Tell You Something. When That Rope Starts To Pull Tight, You Can Feel The Devil Bite Your Ass!"

Tuco (Eli Wallach)

Though Eli Wallach's The Good, The Bad and The Ugly character is clearly not a deep thinker, there's some truth to this observation from Tuco, which has a similar meaning to the common phrase "There are no atheists in foxholes." Tuco mutters this quote to describe what it feels like right before a hanging.

In many respects, the psychological impact of knowing one is moments away from dying such an unpleasant death would be enough to make anybody sit up and take notice. It's one of several introspective moments throughout the movie, and one that adds a bit of depth to the characters — arguably a reason that The Good, The Bad and The Ugly managed so stand out in the Western genre despite being released in the 1960's when theaters were awash with them.

13 "Whoever Has The Most Liquor To Get The Soldiers Drunk And Send Them To Be Slaughtered - He's The Winner."

Union General (Aldo Giuffré)

While the majority of the best The Good, The Bad and The Ugly quotes come from the cast leads, especially Clint Eastwood and Eli Wallach, there are multiple memorable lines in the movie that can be attributed to minor characters. When coming across the Civil War battle, Blondie and Tuco meet a Union General who seems to be as disillusioned with the war as they are.

With a feeling of hopelessness, he offers this brutally honest take on the soldiers and their "liquid courage."

With a feeling of hopelessness, he offers this brutally honest take on the soldiers and their "liquid courage." The conversation goes on to say that both sides are partaking of the spirits in order to muster up a bit of combat bravado. This quote sums up The Good, the Bad and the Ugly's cynical portrayal of the Civil War and the generally dark nature of Sergio Leone's "Dollars" trilogy.

12 "I'll Tell You One Thing, Blondie. If I Knew That My Last Hour Had Come, I Swear, In My Place... In Your Place I Would Do The Same Thing. I Would Tell About The Gold. Yes, Yes, I Would."

Tuco (Eli Wallach)

While he wasn't the mastermind behind his and Blondie's many schemes and plans, Tuco was far from stupid, and he could prove himself to be quite wily when he wanted to be. Tuco wasn't above using any tactic to get what he wanted, including faking sympathy and compassion. In an attempt to get a dehydrated Blondie to reveal the location of the grave containing a cache of Confederate gold, Tuco tried using a mixture of mercy and logic in order to sway him.

This duplicitousness is reflected in several The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly quotes from Tuco, and — as is often the case with his character — there's a hint of unintentional humor to them. Hilariously, despite leading Blondie to his death, Tuco insists to his former colleague that he would tell him where the treasure was if their circumstances were reversed. It is a hilarious look and the depths Tuco will sink to as well as his lack of self-awareness with how he is perceived.

11 "Every Gun Makes Its Own Tune."

Blondie (Clint Eastwood)

Clint Eastwood helped to establish himself as a true Western icon over his incredibly lengthy career, and it is memorable lines like this The Good, The Bad and The Ugly quote from Blondie that helped build that legacy. Blondie utters these words, making it well known that this is a man who knows his gun intimately. This is one line that's so memorable simply because it's incredibly cool, almost echoing how swordsmen in fantasy movies speak of their weapons and transplanting it onto cowboys in a Spaghetti Western.

As well as being yet another line of incredibly slick and stylish genre dialogue, it's also a moment of historical accuracy.

As well as being yet another line of incredibly slick and stylish genre dialogue, it's also a moment of historical accuracy. This quote is in direct reference to the fact that no two guns are identical, or alike, despite their model. Each has its own history and story to tell. There is a sense that Blondie has heard many guns fire in his life and, despite the violence they bring, he can see the music in them.

10 "Hey, Amigo! You Know You Have A Face Beautiful Enough To Be Worth Two Thousand Dollars?"

Bounty Hunter (Román Ariznavarreta)

When a pair of bounty hunters locate Tuco at the beginning of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, one of them (played by Román Ariznavarreta) taunts him by mocking his appearance and goading him about the incredibly high bounty on his head. Blondie then appears and casually lets Tuco's would-be captors know that he won't let them collect the bounty.

The next minute, he guns them down, causing Tuco to make reference to Blondie's own bounty with a hint of jealousy. It's also a moment early in the movie that establishes Blondie being far more competent and suided to the world of the Old West than Tuco. Though they find themselves at odds for most of the movie, there is an undeniable connection between Blondie and Tuco, making them an odd-ball pair who would have been fun to follow on adventures outside of this one.

9 "When You Have To Shoot, Shoot. Don't Talk."

Tuco (Eli Wallach)

Tuco is not as slick as Blondie or Angel Eyes as his temper can often cause him to act impulsively, but this moment shows that there is a reason he has managed to stay alive this long in the Wild West. A man looking for revenge tracks Tuco and finds him relaxing in a bathtub. He mistakenly thinks Tuco is helpless, and expounds at length about his plan for revenge.

While Clint Eastwood's Blondie is shown to be a competent killer and marksman, Tuco is far from being simple comic relief, and it's moments like that show he's incredibly dangerous in his own right.

However, he isn't aware that Tuco is holding a gun under the water. While Clint Eastwood's Blondie is shown to be a competent killer and marksman, Tuco is far from being simple comic relief, and it's moments like that show he's incredibly dangerous in his own right. After killing the man, Tuco offers him some posthumous advice about seizing the moment and not talking too much.

8 "I Almost Forgot... He Gave Me 1000 Dollars. I Think His Idea Was That I Kill You."

Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef)

While Lee Van Cleef as Angel Eyes doesn't have as many memorable quotes in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly as Clint Eastwood's Blondie or Eli Wallach's Tuco, the sadistic mercernary isn't without his moments. In one of the most interesting scenes in The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, Angel Eyes reports to Baker, an old man who paid him $500 to murder another man.

Unfortunately for Baker, Angel Eyes was given $1000 by the man he killed. He goes on to state that when he is paid, he always gets the job done, killing Baker as well. Though Blondie and Tuco get most of the screen time, this is a brilliant introduction for Angel Eyes that makes him a true Western villain to be feared while also carrying a twisted code he abides by.

7 "God's Not On Our Side Because He Hates Idiots, Also."

Blondie (Clint Eastwood)

While searching for the hidden Confederate gold in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Tuco tells Blondie that they will be successful in their endeavor because God is on their side. However, Blondie shuts him down by stating that God doesn't like idiots. It is another example of what makes Tuco such a fun character, and also a moment that perfectly showcases the complex dynamic between him and Blondie.

Not only does Tuco think that he is the type of person who deserves God's help in finding buried treasure, but he is also confident enough to suggest he is not an idiot.

Not only does Tuco think that he is the type of person who deserves God's help in finding buried treasure, but he is also confident enough to suggest he is not an idiot. Of course, Blondie likes to take any opportunity he can to prove him wrong on that account. Blondie may work with Tuco and have some kind of respect for him, but he clearly doesn't think much of Tuco's intelligence.

6 "People With Ropes Around Their Necks Don’t Always Hang."

Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef)

Lee Van Cleef wasn't known for playing villainous roles in Westerns before The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, and had previously worked alongside Sergie Leone when playing Colonel Douglas Mortimer in For a Few Dollars More. However, his turn as the fearsome Angel Eyes proved Van Cleef had what it took to play the heel, and it's quotes like this one that proved it.

Angel Eyes utters this chilling line in reference to the fact that bandits that have been sentenced to hang don't usually end up hanging. They are always saved by bounty hunters so that the reward money can be increased. Angel Eyes is aware of this very merry-go-round money-making scheme that Blondie and Tuco are engaged in. Angel Eyes has been on his own for most of the movie at this point, but the suggestive quote shows that he is a man who is well-informed, knowing all about Blondie and Tuco's scheme.

5 "If You Work For A Living, Why Do You Kill Yourself Working?"

Tuco (Eli Wallach)

It is clear throughout The Good, The Bad and The Ugly that Tuco is a man who enjoys the life of an outlaw, even if it is not always an easy road for him, and it is filled with danger. However, quite cleverly, he suggests the alternative is just a more hard-working path to the grave. Tuco is talking to himself as he is plucking off a dead chicken's feathers at the moment of this particular quote, and it's a telling scene when it comes to his character.

Instead of working hard to scrape a living by, Tuco engages in dangerous crime in an attempt to get rich quickly.

He wonders why anyone would work so hard and put their own lives in danger. Instead of working hard to scrape a living by, Tuco engages in dangerous crime in an attempt to get rich quickly. It's a short, simple line that still manages to reveal a lot about his character, showing that the life of an outlaw is a choice for him rather than one he was forced into.

4 "You See In This World There's Two Kinds Of People, My Friend - Those With Loaded Guns, And Those Who Dig. You Dig."

Blondie (Clint Eastwood)

Clint Eastwood's Blondie offers this nugget of Old West wisdom to Tuco after the two finally locate the Confederate gold at the cemetery towards the end of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. The workshy Tuco thought that there would be a division of labor between them when it came to unearthing the treasure, but with one line, Blondie lets him know he was mistaken.

Even though Tuco doesn't like being ordered around by anyone, he reluctantly agrees. Throughout the entirety of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, there are various philosophical musings from the characters about the harsh environment and society they inhabit, speaking to the simple world of the Old West. However, this final reference to the idea is the most succinct and important of them all, as there are those in power and those without.

3 "The Next Town Is 70 Miles... If You Save Your Breath, I Feel a Man Like You Could Manage It."

Blondie (Clint Eastwood)

It is hard to determine just what Blondie thinks of Tuco, especially considering how stoic Clint Eastwood's The Good, The Bad and The Ugly character is throughout the movie (as is the case with many of the actor's antiheroes in Spaghetti Westerns). After having enough of Tuco's complaints, Blondie cuts ties with him and takes the bounty that they are supposed to share before riding away on his horse.

He clearly finds no guilt in leaving Tuco stranded, but he also likes to give him a chance to survive.

However, Blondie is a man of action rather than words (despite him having an incredibly sharp tongue), and shows Tuco his true opinion of his partner when parting ways with him for the final time. He tells Tuco to save his breath and try walking 70 miles. It seems like a bitter betrayal and that Blondie is simply leaving Tuco to die. However, in the end, even after Tuco tries to kill him, Blondie lets him go once again. He clearly finds no guilt in leaving Tuco stranded, but he also likes to give him a chance to survive.

2 "You May Run The Risks, My Friend, But I Do The Cutting. If We Cut Down My Percentage... Who knows? It Might Just Interfere With My Aim."

Blondie (Clint Eastwood)

In a movie in which all of the characters are seeking their fortune, Tuco is the most greedy in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly — an almost impressive feat, and a fact that makes it difficult to feel any sympathy for him. Continuing the scheme with Blondie, he demands a bigger cut of the bounty because he is the one who normally gets captured and placed on the hangman's noose.

However, Blondie uses his calm yet somewhat sinister rationale to suggest it is best for everyone if his cut stays healthy. Up until this point, Blondie has seemed like a laidback and cool-headed gunslinger, but this subtle threat shows he's a real danger as well. It's also one of several moments in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly that shows, despite the fact they've been running scams together, Blondie definitely sees his partnership with Tuco as having an eventual expiry date, and that he doesn't fully trust him.

1 "If You Miss You Better Miss Very Well. Whoever Double-Crosses Me And Leaves Me Alive Understands Nothing About Tuco. Nothing!"

Tuco (Eli Wallach)

The brilliant thing about Tuco is that he always had very witty responses to everything he was told, which make up some of the best The Good, the Bad and the Ugly quotes. After Blondie suggests that he might intentionally miss his shot at the noose, Tuco issues a threat of his own. He tells Blondie to make sure he's dead or else he'll exert revenge.

Interestingly, Blondie still manages to double-cross Tuco at the end of the movie by leaving him with a noose around his neck and no way to access his cut of the Confederate gold. Tuco's egotistical words set up the punch of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly's iconic ending. It's also a moment that shows just how much self awareness Tuco lacks, as he would have died at multiple points throughout the movie if it hadn't been for Blondie being there to save him.