Nancy Adams: You've changed. You're so different. Is this what the war has done to you?
2nd Lt. Rex 'Rocky' Thorne: Wasn't this what you wanted?
Nancy Adams: I didn't know. I spoke of the glory of war. I know now. The mud, the filth, the suffering, the agony, the poor, helpless, dying boys.
2nd Lt. Rex 'Rocky' Thorne: It isn't muddy up where I am. When death comes, it comes swiftly and cleanly. Ah, it's a grand war. I only hope the next one is half as good. I used to think I could take clay and mold it into the semblance of a living thing. The closer it came to being alive, the greater my glory. The power of life is more than that, Nancy. Life--life for myself as I control my plane. And then death, swift and final in the squeeze of my fingers.
[laughs]
2nd Lt. Rex 'Rocky' Thorne: You can't do that with clay, Nancy.
Nancy Adams: Then all that you said about saving yourself for something better--
2nd Lt. Rex 'Rocky' Thorne: Did I say that? Forget it. Why, this is a great war, and I'm having a grand time. It's all grand, every minute of it. Thirty-three planes shot down. Decorated by a French general. My picture in the papers. The idol of the allies, the hero, the great war ace. Pursued by women. Boy, I wouldn't have missed this for anything. You did me a great favor that day in the studio.
[laughs]
2nd Lt. Rex 'Rocky' Thorne: Me and my ideals for humanity. Ha! Why, I might still be back there slaving, trying to express myself on some remote conception of art.
Nancy Adams: Please, Rocky!
2nd Lt. Rex 'Rocky' Thorne: Come on, Nancy. Don't try to make me feel sorry for myself, because there's nothing to feel sorry for.


--Richard Dix (as ) in Ace of Aces

2nd Lt. Rex 'Rocky' Thorne: [looking at medals] For the glory of my country. Tell me, Nancy: are these worth forty-two dead men? Are they worth one dead man?
Nancy Adams: Oh, Rocky.
2nd Lt. Rex 'Rocky' Thorne: I knew the answer once. I was sure of it. Why did I forget?
Nancy Adams: We all forgot it, Rocky.
2nd Lt. Rex 'Rocky' Thorne: Most of us never knew. We never realized. But I thought I did. And then I forgot--forgot everything in the game of killing.


--Richard Dix (as ) in Ace of Aces

Bill Shear, aka William 'Bill' Shayne: You just watch my smoke, Abe. I'm gonna make Reno the biggest little city in the world.


--Richard Dix (as ) in Reno

Bruce Foster: You're young. You have your whole life ahead of you. You know where you're going. Or, maybe you're a searcher. You're pursuing a career. You're busy. You're mired in decadence and sloth, just killing time, numbing your brain.
[pause]
Bruce Foster: When are you going to marry? Start a family?
Peggy Wilson: Someday.
Bruce Foster: Someday? *Some*day? *Some*day may be too late.


--Richard Dix (as ) in No Marriage Ties

Dan Taylor: The war's over Pax. We can't start another one, just because you're restless.


--Richard Dix (as ) in American Empire

Frank Claymore: Holby, I'd be much obliged if you'd leave that nice little girl alone.
Tom Holby: What's it to you?
Frank Claymore: None of your damned business.


--Richard Dix (as ) in Souls for Sale

Jasper Horn: Begging your pardon in advance.


--Richard Dix (as ) in The Great Jasper

Paxton Bryce: At least we had some excitement when we owned the old Hattie T.
Dan Taylor: Wasn't it your idea to swap her for this?
Paxton Bryce: Yeah, but the whole set-up has changed! There was a war on - a man could make some real money. Or don't you remember?
Dan Taylor: Oh, I remember all right. I remember getting a broadside from a Union gunboat amidships and taking splinters from my, um, hide for two weeks.
Paxton Bryce: You got a hundred dollars for each splinter.
Dan Taylor: That's right - in Confederate money!


--Richard Dix (as ) in American Empire

[His dying words.]
Jasper Horn: Jenny girl, when I'm with the angels, you'll know I'm being true to you.


--Richard Dix (as ) in The Great Jasper

Sabra Cravat: Did you have to kill him?
Yancy Cravat: No, I could have let him kill me.


--Richard Dix (as Yancey Cravat) in Cimarron