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.
10 “It’s Wanting That Gets So Many Folk In Trouble…”
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.”
Red Dead Redemption came out during the 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 really felt, so Marston can get a pass here.
8 “We All Need Friends, Old Timer. We Die Alone, But We Live Among Men.”
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.”
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.”
One of the most pivotal moments in Red Dead Redemption 2 comes when John is apparently 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.”
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’ own 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.”
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 own side or pave his own 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 in an effort to save his family, feeling that he has no choice.
3 “People Don’t Forget. Nothing Gets Forgiven.”
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 are 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.”
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 has lost all respect after his betrayal of the gang.
1 “If You Find Yourself In A Hole, The First Thing To Do Is Stop Diggin’.”
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 own 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.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Stadia.
