9 Iconic Robert Duvall Quotes

We lost Robert Duvall yesterday at 95, and over the last twenty-four hours, I have been poring through all his old roles and just enjoying what made him so special as an actor.

One of the things he could do better than most is just look at another character and deliver a line that you knew was going to last forever.

Today, I want to go over ten of them that I think really stand out and that have stuck with me over the years.

Let's dive in.

1. The Smell of Victory

"I love the smell of napalm in the morning. You know, one time we had a hill bombed, for 12 hours. When it was all over, I walked up. We didn’t find one of 'em, not one stinkin' dink body. The smell, you know that gasoline smell, the whole hill. Smelled like... victory."

• Character: Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore
• Film: Apocalypse Now (1979)
• Why it’s iconic: This is perhaps the most famous monologue in war cinema history. And Duvall’s casual, almost nostalgic delivery while standing amidst chaos perfectly captured the surreal madness of the Vietnam War. I think if you had to sum up his career in one character, this would be the one I wanted to show people. And that might be a hot take.

2. Family Business

"Mr. Corleone Never Asks A Second Favor Once He's Refused The First, Understood?"

• Character: Tom Hagen
• Film: The Godfather: Part II (1974)
• Why it’s iconic: As the Corleone family’s consigliere , Hagen was the calm center of a violent storm. When he heads to Hollywood to ask a favor, he delivers death with such authority and ease that you immediately know what kind of power his family wields.

3. A Simple Request

"You're either going to hack it or pack it. Within 30 days, I'm going to lead the toughest flyingest sons of bitches in the world."

• Character: Bull Meechum
• Film: The Great Santini (1979)
• Why it’s iconic: Duvall earned an Oscar nomination for playing the terrifyingly disciplined Marine fighter pilot. It's an amazing role, and he is so intimidating in it. This line encapsulates the rigid, uncompromising nature of a man who treated his family like a military squadron.

4. On How to Behave

"Shame to go forever without takin' a taste of somethin'."

• Film: Open Range (2003)
• Character: Boss Spearman
• Why it’s iconic: This pretty much sums up his ethos in this movie. These are cowboys who stop for a better life and realize they have to kill to get it. It shakes their core and the core of the town.

5. The Cowboy Philosophy

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"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's living." Watch #LonesomeDove any time on Shout! TV. #tommyleejones #robertduvall #western #nowstreaming #whattowatch

"It ain’t dying I’m talking about, it’s living. I enjoyed it as much as anyone ever did."

• Character: Augustus "Gus" McCrae
• Mini-Series: Lonesome Dove (1989)
• Why it’s iconic: Duvall has often cited Gus McCrae as his favorite role. And you can see the joy he brings to all the dialogue. This quote serves as the emotional heartbeat of the series, reflecting a life lived without regret on the American frontier.

6. Dealing with the Law

"Fck you Captain Yardley, fck you very much."

• Character: Prendergast
• Film: Falling Down (1993)
• Why it’s iconic: Playing the retiring detective, Duvall provides the perfect understated foil to Michael Douglas’s erratic protagonist. It’s a masterclass in "polite but firm" authority. And when it all goes wrong at the end, Duvvall finally stands up to power.

7. The Preacher’s Zeal

"One for the road, Rodney. One for the road."

• Character: Euliss "Sonny" Dewey
• Film: The Apostle (1997)
• Why it’s iconic: Duvall wrote, directed, and starred in this passion project. He plays a preacher with a mean streak who's out there looking for his own redemption. This line showcases the frantic, charismatic energy he brought to the role of a flawed man of God who could swing a bat.

8. A Different Kind of Lawyer

"The truth is at the bottom of a bottomless pit."

• Character: Jerome Facher
• Film: A Civil Action (1998)
• Why it’s iconic: Playing a cynical, eccentric defense attorney, Duvall reminds us that in the courtroom, the truth is often a luxury that no one can afford. And that if you go looking for it there, you may not find it.

9. True Friendship

"You can drive through it. I know it in my heart."

• Character: Harry Hogge
• Film: Days of Thunder
• Why it’s iconic: This is a great movie about friendship and believing in one another. And in this line, Duvall knows just what to say to get his hot head drive to listen to him, and listen to himself.

Summing It All Up

These are my picks for his best lines, but I bet you have ones that you think have shaped you, as well.

Let me know what you think in the comments.