Red Dead Redemption: Best John Marston Quotes

Throughout Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2, John Marston finds himself in situations that make him question his morality and change him as a character. He’s made a name for himself as one of the most popular faces in gaming, and this is largely thanks to his strong dialogue in both games. John sometimes recounts things his mentors have told him but also offers bits of wisdom that differ from what he learned during his time in the Van der Linde gang.

With relationships between characters being a strong theme in Red Dead Redemption, John develops his character through conversations with both friends and foes in the Red Dead Redemption universe. Here are some of the most unforgettable John Marston quotes from both games.

Updated October 31, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Red Dead Redemption’s PC release allows players to check out John Marston’s story after he leaves Dutch’s gang, only to be forced by the Pinkertons to hunt down its members. Fans of Red Dead Redemption 2 who haven’t checked out the first game because of its console exclusivity were glad to see Rockstar give this title the treatment it deserved. The game was released on the Switch before eventually making its way to PC, allowing old and new fans to control John Marston in this amazing open-world adventure. The game has aged like fine wine, aided by some of the best John Marston quotes in the series.

18 “I Treated Jack Bad, Abigail Too. I Didn’t Want To Believe He Was Mine.”

Addressing: Arthur Morgan

• Arthur reflects on his failings as a family man, which he strives to change after parting ways with Dutch.

One thing that fans will notice in Red Dead Redemption 2 is how absent of a father John is. This makes it harder to relate with this character, only for him to reveal his vulnerabilities to Arthur in a thoughtful exchange that delivers one of John Marston’s best quotes. Given Abigail’s previous profession before entering an exclusive relationship with John, it’s easy to see why John harbors doubts about who Jack’s true father is.

By the time he abandons the gang, John swears to play an active role in his family. Unfortunately, the Pinkertons arrive and threaten his peace, forcing him to partake in their manhunt before eventually cutting off any loose ends and preventing John from living out his days in peace with his family.

17 “Now Go. Git.”

Addressing: Abigail & Jack Marston

• Famous last words before sacrificing himself to save his family.

The great thing about Rockstar Games is that the writing keeps things fairly grounded. So, instead of giving Marston some poignant last words and employing a trope that has been done to death, this character keeps things simple and to the point. He tells his family to head to safety and let him handle the Pinkertons with one of his best quotes.

In many ways, these last words are a great display of what Marston’s character is all about. He boasts a no-nonsense personality and prefers to let his actions do the talking for him. Watching him be peppered with bullets before falling silently is an iconic video game moment that cements John Marston as one of the greatest video game protagonists of all time.

16 “We Should Have Killed Him Months Ago!”

Addressing: Arthur Morgan

• Thinking about what could have been if Micah’s treachery had been uncovered sooner.

Micah Bell is one of the most despicable video game characters of all time. Even if Dutch suffered a ton of personal tragedies that changed him for the worse, one can argue that his moral descent could’ve been avoided if Micah hadn’t whispered the words of the devil in his ears. By the time Arthur and John figure out his treachery, it’s too late — his claws are sunk too deep in Dutch’s mind for the leader to hear the voice of reason.

When John speaks about how they should have killed Micah ages ago, fans can’t help but wonder how things would’ve panned out for the gang members they’d grown to love. It’s a brutal statement, but serves as one of John Marston’s best quotes because of the desperation that oozes from it.

15 “Sometimes I Wonder If Things Are Ever The Way We Remember ‘Em, If We Were Ever Who We Thought We Was.”

Addressing: Arthur Morgan

• Arthur recalls this line if he has high Honor during the mission “A Fork in the Road”

Watching Arthur and John interact in Red Dead Redemption 2 is a treat for fans of the first game. They both share a great bond, and this is especially palpable if players pay attention to this particular line of dialogue that Marston says in “The Battle of Shady Belle”.

John’s advice resonates with Arthur if he has high honor once he contracts tuberculosis. It marks the start of a slow and poignant end for an outlaw who deserved way more, while also deepening the bond between him and John.

14 “But You’re My Brother.”

Addressing: Arthur Morgan

• John’s final words to Red Dead Redemption 2’s protagonist.

The ending to Arthur Morgan’s story will make the most stoic person cry their heart out, especially if Arthur has high Honor. Even near the end of his journey, Arthur makes it a point to safeguard John’s life, especially since the man has a wife and kid he has to look out for.

While Arthur tries to hammer in the point that his life ain’t worth John’s, all it takes is for the latter to call him his brother to make for one of the most emotional farewells in video game history. Whatever happens after this, most people will agree that Arthur Morgan left a lasting impression on the protagonist of the first Red Dead Redemption.

13 “Some Men Are Born Rich Enough And Dumb Enough To Enjoy Their Lives. Ain’t Nothing Fair. You Know That.”

Addressing: Abigail Marston

Life isn’t fair in the slightest, and this is a fact that many people are quite familiar with. The Wild West takes no prisoners, and people who don’t conform to the tough nature of life in this time period will be swept away into dust in no time flat.

Generational wealth, intelligence, good luck — the distribution of these elements, among many others in life, is unequal to a ridiculous extent. So, it’s easy to see why Marston shares the same beliefs, given that he was also given the short end of the stick in life time and time again.

12 “I Hear You Speak And Suddenly I’m Reminded Of How The People I Respected Most In My Life Had A Problem With Authority.”

Addressing: Leigh Johnson

• A callback to his time in Dutch’s gang

Marston was surrounded by many strong and bold men throughout his life, with notable mentions being Arthur Morgan and Dutch van der Linde. Sure, the latter may have gone off the deep end after Hosea’s death, but there’s no denying that there was a time when John looked up to this man as well, considering him to be a great and reliable leader.

After he left the gang and was tasked with hunting down the stragglers, John met people who exhibited the same level of authority. This line was pretty poignant and showed a glimpse back into his past back when his adventures in Red Dead Redemption 2 were nothing more than a backdrop for the first game’s story.

11 “Now I Ain’t The Judge, But…As It Turns Out, It’s You Or Me. The Way I See It, Might As Well Be You.”

Addressing: Javier Escuella

• During “The Gates of El Presidio”

Javier Escuella is one of the many members of the Van der Linde gang that Marston has to hunt down to secure the safety and well-being of his family. The man had retreated to Mexico, and the only way the Pinkertons could accost him across national borders was to send someone like Marston to unceremoniously take him out.

While Javier is a member of the same group as Marston, it’s clear that there’s no love lost between the two. John even goes so far as to say that he’ll happily take his former compatriot out if it means securing his freedom.

10 “It’s Wanting That Gets So Many Folk In Trouble…”

Addressing: Bonnie MacFarlane

• One of his best quotes, spoken early on in the game

Greed is one of the biggest sins that is present in most men. So, it’s easy to see why Marston says this line, given how he’s seen the very worst of what humans are capable of when greed takes over.

It’s the constant thirst for money and power that forces people to sacrifice their humanity for their own selfish goals. Most of the antagonists in the Red Dead Redemption series are people in power who want to abuse their authority for a myriad of heinous purposes.

9 “I Just Know That There Are Two Theories When Arguing With Women. And Neither One Works.”

Addressing: Bonnie MacFarlane

• Rockstar’s excellent dialogue writing is on full display.

Red Dead Redemption is set at a time when the Wild West was in full swing and the Industrial Revolution was in its early throes. Given the dated nature of this era, it’s only a given that most people would have rather… problematic views when it comes to women.

This sentiment is echoed by Marston as well, who utters a line that is pretty hilarious once players look past its sexist nature. After all, these views are a product of their time as opposed to a real reflection of what people felt, so Marston can get a pass here.

8 “We All Need Friends, Old Timer. We Die Alone, But We Live Among Men.”

Addressing: Clyde Evans

• During “Water and Honesty”

Most people like the solitude of being left alone to their own devices, there’s no denying that. However, there are times when even the biggest loners around would need a friend, and Marston understands that.

After all, Marston spends the majority of the first game completely alone, so perhaps a few friends wouldn’t be the worst thing. Of course, the last time John decided to stick around with a group of friends, he was left behind to die… but even that isn’t enough to make John lose faith in the warmth of companionship.

7 “It Ain’t No Secret I Didn’t Get These Scars Falling Over In Church.”

Addressing: Dutch Van Der Linde (when referenced in Red Dead Redemption 2)

• A popular quote uttered in both games

Red Dead Redemption 2 introduced John by showing how he got those iconic scars on his face. It’s a great and powerful way to introduce one of the series’ best characters.

John is a grizzled warrior who has seen his fair share of fights and shootouts. It’s quite possible that those scars on his face aren’t the only marks left on his body, and this line shows that danger hounds him at every step… even when he’s surrounded by the gang and his friends.

6 “I Left The Gang After The Gang Left Me.”

Addressing: Landon Ricketts

• Taking about his past in Mexico

One of the most pivotal moments in Red Dead Redemption 2 comes when John is shot down during a train robbery. Dutch, in an attempt to keep their goals at the forefront, decides to abandon one of the most loyal and toughest warriors in his posse.

This is one of the major reasons why Arthur loses faith in his group and John even agrees to hunt them down in the first place. In the latter’s mind, they left him for dead, so all he was doing was returning the favor.

5 “If You Win Power, Remember Why You Wanted It.”

Addressing: Abraham Reyes

• A wise line showing how mature Marston is

John says this line to Abraham Reyes as John bids him goodbye in Red Dead Redemption. Abraham Reyes is the leader of the revolution in Mexico, seeking to take down Allende, the abusive and violent colonel of the Mexican Army, and claim power for himself. The Mexican Army betrayed John, too, putting Reyes on John’s side and putting John in a position to help Reyes in his endeavors. Throughout the game, though, players unravel Reyes’ personality, discovering that Reyes, too, can be cruel and thoughtless.

John advises Reyes not to abuse his power once he obtains it. In the end, John’s quote falls on deaf ears, as Reyes goes on to become a dictatorial leader of Mexico. Reyes’ abuse of power mirrors that of the leader of John Marston’s old gang, Dutch van der Linde, making this another situation where John Marston puts forth his best efforts and maintains a strong sense of morality but the situation does not go his way.

4 “My Side Ain’t Chosen. My Side Was Given.”

Addressing: Abraham Reyes

• Explaining his side of things to Reyes

As John Marston rides out with Abraham Reyes, he explains where he came from and the people he knew while in the gang. This quote sums up John Marston’s situation perfectly; throughout all of John’s life, others have made his decisions for him. John didn’t choose to be an outlaw from the beginning; Dutch took him in and guided him, shaping his principles.

Even after splitting off from the gang, John Marston was not able to choose his side or pave his path in life. He didn’t choose to seek out and kill Dutch van der Linde and Bill Williamson of his own accord; in fact, he remarks that he has little interest in doing so, especially as compared to the Pinkerton agents. He seeks them out to save his family, feeling that he has no choice.

3 “People Don’t Forget. Nothing Gets Forgiven.”

Addressing: Bonnie MacFarlane

• Showing how his father’s hatred for something intangible consumed his very being

John says this to Bonnie MacFarlane in Red Dead Redemption, explaining that his father hated the English for things they had done long before he was alive. He tells her that, similarly to his father’s lingering hatred, no one will forget his involvement with the gang, even after he’s chosen a different path.

Red Dead Redemption 2 offers a small callback to this conversation in a camp conversation with John and Hosea. John asks Hosea what he thinks about forgiveness, with John saying this exact quote to him. Hosea says that he disagrees, though, and that forgiving and forgetting is more than possible. This is one situation where it seems that, unfortunately, John, not Hosea, was correct, at least in the context of the games.

2 “You See A Man Whose Character Changed. I See A Man Who Got Found Out For Who He Really Was.”

Addressing: Sadie Adler

• Talking about Dutch’s sad descent from great heights

Though Dutch van der Linde and Hosea Matthews saved John’s life as a child, John isn’t willing to blindly follow Dutch as things get worse for him and for the gang. When John says this to Sadie Adler in Red Dead Redemption 2, he suggests that he thinks Dutch was always a bad man, obsessed with greed – but Dutch is good at hiding it.

Even at the end of Red Dead Redemption, it’s unclear as to what Dutch’s true motives were, and whether he was always out only for himself. Each member of the gang has their own opinion on the matter, but this quote offers insight into John’s perspective on Dutch’s decline and suggests that he is somewhat cynical after all that he’s seen. Dutch was an important figure in John’s life, but he lost all respect after he betrayed the gang.

1 “If You Find Yourself In A Hole, The First Thing To Do Is Stop Diggin’.”

Addressing: Abigail Marston

• Said in “Old Friends, New Problems”

John says this to his wife Abigail, and it’s likely something that he has learned from experience rather than directly repeated. The quote means that once one finds themselves in trouble, they should assess their behavior to determine what they can do to make things better rather than ignoring the problem and making it worse over time.

This quote contrasts the behavior of Dutch van der Linde, John’s old mentor; after his mental state begins to decline and the gang falls apart, he continues to follow Micah Bell’s advice and put members of the gang in danger. After witnessing Dutch’s downfall, John realizes the importance of redemption: taking responsibility for one’s actions and being willing to change them.