Clint Eastwood is, without a doubt, one of the most iconic actors in cinema history, both accomplished in front of the camera and behind it. His last western, Unforgiven, may not be as recognizable as something like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, but it’s a success in its own right, with Eastwood serving as lead actor and director.
Unforgiven is a dark story, but one full of redemption and closure, especially for Will Munny, whose bloody past came back to haunt him. Redemption stories always have some quality, timeless quotes. With that, here are ten of the most memorable quotes from Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven.
“We all have it comin,’ kid.”
Will Munny has seen it all, his bloody background has made him a reclusive soul whose legacy speaks for him. If there’s one thing he’s learned after years of killing, it’s that death comes for us all. No matter the ambition of a young gun like the Schofield Kid, Will Munny knows what’s waiting on the other side. Killing Little Bill may have redeemed some of that, but it won’t stop for what’s coming for him shortly. Like Little Bill said, he’ll see him in the afterlife.
“I’ve killed women and children. I’ve killed everything that walks or crawls at one time or another. And I’m here to kill you, Little Bill, for what you done to Ned.”
Arguably the best scene in the entire movie, this line, spoken by Will to Bill, was cold and true. Will knows what he is and what he isn’t, and he wears it like armor, with nothing getting to him. When Little Bill tries to scare Will away from killing him and his gang, he becomes the man he once was to put away a corrupt sheriff.
There’s a reason this movie won best director and best actor, with Clint Eastwood at the forefront of it all. Westerns may be one-dimensional shooters, but Unforgiven proves they can be much, much deeper than that.
“Deserve’s got nothin’ to do with it.”
Little Bill is manipulative and cunning, but Will Munny put him in his place. In his final moments, Little Bill tries to talk his way out of inevitable death, but Will lets him know that, no matter what he says, it won’t spare him. The truth is always hard to swallow, but William Munny from Missouri always does what needs to be done. The only thing Little Bill deserved was death, and his plea for mercy proves he’s really a coward on the inside.
“He should have armed himself… if he’s going to decorate his saloon with my friend.”
In this pivotal scene, Will uses a rule of thumb from the early westerns to teach those who’ve wronged him a lesson. Will never lets his guard down, as, after years of bounty hunting, he’s learned to keep himself alive by keeping his gun close.
Not only is Will mad at Little Bill, but he’s enraged with the death of his friend, Ned. This was only fuel to the fire with Will making sure Little Bill and co. would pay for what they did to the town and his partner, Ned.
“Its a hell of a thing, killing a man. You take away everything he’s got and everything he’s ever gonna have.”
Westerns glorify killing and murder, almost to the point where it seems laughable. But Unforgiven instills the feeling of dread when it comes to killing someone. Will’s had his fair share of deaths and understands the weight it carries, whether it be his wife or someone he’s hunting. Though it’s a relatively simple line, it’s tremendously significant considering the context of the movie and the haunting background of William Munny. The Schofield Kid is just getting started, and it’s likely he’s on the same path as Will.
“What I said the other day, you looking like me, that ain’t true. You ain’t ugly like me, it’s just that we both have got scars.”
Will and Ned are retired for a reason, with age as the obvious answer and disgust with death as the other. Both have a pessimistic view of life—though Ned is a little more optimistic than Will—and understand the toll years of bounty hunting has on a man.
The mileage meter has reached its peak with both characters realizing the end of their journey is near. Their scars have riddled their body with wounds that tear open when confronted, but Will Munny made sure Ned’s and his wounds would only open one last time.
“All right, I’m coming out. Any man I see out there, I’m gonna shoot him.”
One of the best things about Will’s character is his cold demeanor despite his reserved nature. The audience never sees the atrocities Will committed in his past but can imagine enough based on accounts from people who know of him. His attempts to leave behind the man he once was were an exercise in futility, as he couldn’t run away from his past. However, fans couldn’t deny the demanding voice and prose of Will who can make a man drop instantly if he wants to.
“You better bury Ned right!”
Will saved the day by the end, putting Little Bill and his corrupt ways to rest. His demeanor, though, remained the same despite having done an act of kindness. Unforgiven is unforgiving (get it) in its ability to act as a redemption story but retain the impulsiveness of mankind.
Ned didn’t deserve to die, which is why Will is adamant about his burial and final resting place. Little Bill may be gone, but that doesn’t mean things can’t go haywire.
“You don’t have to worry, Kid. I ain’t gonna kill you. You’re the only friend I got.”
Will is feared by many, which leaves little room for friends. Despite his brief partnership, the Schofield kid and Ned, though he was killed, were the only people he called friends.
“I’ll see you in hell, William Munny.”
What better way to say goodbye to your arch-enemy than with this classic line? What Unforgiven does so well is stray away from the classic western genre while including small homages and nods to it at the same time. This line was perfect considering the evil nature of Bill, a man who wanted nothing than to rule over a small little town.
