40 'Stand By Me' Quotes to Reminisce and Grieve Our Long-Gone Childhood Days

vSetting off on a trek, four young boys are not only journeying as four children on an innocent adventure but will soon discover upon their journey an awakening that many of us face when growing up. Read the 40 quotes below to find out more.

"Stand By Me" is a unique coming-of-age film based on Stephen King's novella "The Body." In the movie, four young boys from the town of Oregon set off on a journey to look for a missing boy.

The movie speaks to themes of the bonds of friendships and how growing up always comes with a rude awakening into the world's harsh realities. Read the 40 quotes below to find out more about this film.

The Writer’s quote: “Friends come in and out of your life like busboys in a restaurant.” | Source: AmoDays

Teddy Duchamp Quotes

“I am acting my age. I'm in the prime of my youth, and I'll only be young once.” ― Teddy Duchamp

“My father stormed the beach at Normandy.” ― Teddy Duchamp

"Yeah, by the time we get there, the kid won't even be dead anymore." ― Teddy Duchamp

“Yeah? I'd like to see you climb over this fence and get me, fat ass!” ― Teddy Duchamp

"That was the all-time train dodge. Too cool. Vern, you were so scared you looked like that fat guy, Abbott Costello, when he saw the mummy." ― Teddy Duchamp

Teddy Duchamp’s quote: “I am acting my age. I'm in the prime of my youth, and I'll only be young once.” | Source: AmoDays

The Writer Quotes

“Now he said, "Sic'em, boy!" But what I heard was, "Chopper! Sic balls!" ― The Writer

“Although I haven’t seen him in more than 10 years, I know I’ll miss him forever. I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anybody?” ― The Writer

“We knew exactly who we were and where we were going. It was grand.” ― The Writer

“Friends come in and out of your life like busboys in a restaurant.” ― The Writer

The Writer’s quote: "The kid wasn’t sick. The kid wasn’t sleeping. The kid was dead." | Source: AmoDays

“We’d only been gone for two days, but somehow the town seemed different; smaller.” ― The Writer

“I wondered how Teddy could care so much for his dad, who practically killed him. And I couldn't give a shit about my own dad, who hadn't laid a hand on me since I was three! And that was for eating the bleach under the sink.” ― The Writer

"The kid wasn’t sick. The kid wasn’t sleeping. The kid was dead." ― The Writer

Chris Chambers Quotes

“I just wish I could go someplace where nobody knows me.” ― Chris Chambers

“Yeah, but you're gonna be stupid for the rest of your life." ― Chris Chambers

Chris Chambers’s quote:“I just wish I could go someplace where nobody knows me.." | Source: AmoDays

"Oh man, you should have seen your face! Yeah, that was cool! That was really fine!" ― Chris Chambers

"Yeah! My dad would hide me anyway. But hell, that’s worth a hiding!" ― Chris Chambers

Gordie Lachance Quotes

"Walking talking Jesus!" ― Gordie Lachance

"Does the word [expletive] mean anything to you?" ― Gordie Lachance

“Suck my fat one, you cheap dime store hood.” ― Gordie Lachance

More Quotes

Gordie Lachance’s quote: I'm no good. 'My dad said it. I'm no good." | Source: AmoDays

“Hey, you! Stop teasing that dog,; you hear me! Stop teasing him! Sonny, I'm gonna beat your [expletive, teasing my dog like that!” ― Milo

“Don't you call me that, you little tin weasel peckerwood loony's son.” — Milo

“I know who you are. You're Teddy Duchamp. Your dad's a loony. A loony up in the nuthouse in Togus. He took your ear and he put it to a stove and burnt it off.” — Milo

“Would you two shut the [expletive] up? If either one of you [expletive] had $2,000, I’d kill you both.” – Ace Merrill

Chris Chambers’s quote:“Yeah, but so what? Everybody's weird.'" | Source: AmoDays

Vern Tessio, Chris Chambers, and Teddy Duchamp: I grow up, and when I look at you, I throw up!" ― "Stand By Me"

"If I could only have one food for the rest of my life? That's easy-Pez. Cherry-flavored Pez. No question about it." -― Vern Tessio

Dialogue Quotes

"Chris Chambers: 'How do you know if a Frenchman has been in your backyard?'

Teddy Duchamp: 'Hey, I’m French, all right?

Chris Chambers: 'Your garbage cans are empty, and your dog’s pregnant.

Teddy Duchamp: 'Didn’t I just say I’m French?'

Teddy Duchamp: “Oh, great! You brought the comb! What did you bring a comb for? You don’t even have any hair!”

Vern Tessio: What am I supposed to do, think of everything? I brought the comb!” ― “Stand By Me”

“Teddy Duchamp: 'Gordie, go get the food, you morphodite.'

Gordie Lachance: 'Don’t call me any of your mother’s pet names.'" ― "Stand By Me "

"Teddy Duchamp: 'Did your mother have any kids that lived?'

Vern Tessio: 'What do you mean?''" ― "Stand By Me "

Vern Tessio’s quote: “You think Mighty Mouse could beat up Superman?” | Source: AmoDays

" Vern Tessi: Hey, hey, hey! I think Chris is right,. Let's just go back."

Chris: 'You saying you wanna go back?'

Gordie: 'No. We're going to see a dead kid... maybe it shouldn't be a party.'" ― "Stand By Me"

“Gordie: [Still in a trauma state of shock] 'Why did he have to die, Chris? Why did Denny have to die?

Chris: 'I don't know.'

Gordie: [Still in shock] 'It should've been me.'

Chris: 'Don't say that.'

Gordie: [Trying not to cry] 'It should've been me!'

Chris: 'Don't say that, man!'

Gordie: [Gordie tries to be strong but starts to weep slightly] I'm no good. 'My dad said it. I'm no good.'

Chris: 'He doesn't know you.'

Gordie: [Gordie starts to weep] 'He hates me.'

Chris: 'He doesn't hate you.'

Gordie: [Voice breaking] 'He hates me!'

Chris: 'No! He just doesn't know you.'” ― “Stand By Me”

"Gordie Lachance: 'Do you think I'm weird?'

Chris Chambers: 'Definitely.'

Gordie Lachance: No, man, seriously. Am I weird?'

Chris Chambers: Yeah, but so what? Everybody's weird.'" ― “Stand By Me”

"Gordie Lachance: 'Shut up!'

Teddy Duchamp: 'I don't shut up.' ― “Stand By Me”

"Teddy: 'Goofy's a dog. He's definitely a dog.'

'Gordie: I knew the $64,000 question was fixed. There's no way anybody could know that much about opera!'

Chris: 'He can't be a dog. He drives a car and wears a hat.'

Gordie: 'Wagon Train's a really cool show, but did you notice they never get anywhere? They just keep wagon training.'

Vern: 'Oh, God. That's weird. What the hell is Goofy?'” ― “Stand By Me”

The Writer’s quote: “We’d only been gone for two days, but somehow the town seemed different; smaller.” | Source: AmoDays

"Ace Merrill: 'You weren’t planning on taking the body from us, were you, boys?'

Chris Chambers: 'You get away. We found him. We got dibs.”' ― “Stand By Me”

“Gordie: '[Expletive] writing, I don't want to be a writer. It's stupid. It's a stupid waste of time'.

Chris: 'That's your dad talking.'

Gordie: [Still angry] '[Expletive]!'

Chris: 'Bull true'.

Chris: 'I know how your dad feels about you. He doesn't give a shit about you. Denny was the one. He cared about, and don't try to tell me different. You're just a kid, Gordie.'

Gordie: [Shocked and Angry] 'Oh, gee! Thanks, Dad!'

Chris: 'Wish the hell I was your dad. You wouldn't be goin' around talkin' about takin' these stupid shop courses if I was. It's like God gave you something, man, all those stories you can make up. And He said, "This is what we got for ya, kid. Try not to lose it." Kids lose everything unless there's someone there to look out for them. And if your parents are too fucked up to do it, then maybe I should.”' — “Stand By Me”

“Ace: 'What are you gonna do? Shoot us all?'

Gordie: 'No, Ace. Just you.'” — “Stand By Me”

"Vern Tessio: 'You think Mighty Mouse could beat up Superman?'

Teddy Duchamp: 'What are you, cracked?'

Vern Tessio: 'No, I saw him on TV the other day; he was holding five elephants in one hand."' — “Stand By Me”

"Chris Chambers: 'Hey, Vern. You better turn yours over.'

Vern Tessio: 'This is the way I like to do it. Oh, man! Gordie, you got any more?'" ― "Stand By Me"

The Writer’s quote: “I’d never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve." | Source: AmoDays

The film, released in the mid-1980s, still tugs at the heartstrings of viewers and those lucky enough to dust it off and watch it for the first time. It included big names for some main characters, such as the late River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O Connell.

To read quotes based on another novel by King, scan through 34 'Carrie' Quotes from the 1976 Film Based on Stephen King’s Novel.