- Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright: I reckon the Ponderosa holds about as much claim on us as we do to her. It's more like a partnership. Like we're all sort of beholdin' to one another. What I mean to say is that Pa won't let us cut down a tree unless there's another tree growin' to take its place, or take a cup of water outta the lake if it makes the lake go down too much. The Ponderosa's got a mighty lot to give. Like Pa says, we ain't to take one ounce out of her that she can't grow back.
- [last lines]
- Adam Cartwright: Pa, you think Joe and I enjoyed doin' it? There was no other way.
- Ben Cartwright: Oh, I know you meant well. Maybe there was no other way. Hoss is the only one that can decide that.
- [Hoss comes down the steps of the ranch house]
- Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright: Well, you fellas gonna sit here and mope all day or you gonna go out and go to work with me?
- [first lines]
- Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright: Hoss, you know, I was just thinkin' about something. There's no reason why we both have to go see Josh Layton's widow.
- Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright: Now listen, Little Joe. You're not about to saddle me with goin' to see some poor old widow woman all by myself.
- Joseph 'Little Joe' Cartwright: Pa told you to keep an eye on me? What in the heck for?
- Eric 'Hoss' Cartwright: To keep you from gettin' chased all the way back to the Ponderosa by some hoppin' mad daddy with a shotgun in his hand... and from the look in your eye that's just about what's gonna happen.