She’s the Soc cheerleader who dared to see the sunset from both sides of the tracks.
Sherri “Cherry” Valance stands out in S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders as a crucial bridge between the warring worlds of the Greasers and the Socs. With her striking red hair and perceptive green eyes, she cuts through prejudice, recognizing shared humanity where others see only division.
Her interactions with Ponyboy and Dally reveal her duality, caught between Soc expectations and her own integrity.
This collection gathers 22 of Cherry’s most insightful quotes and key moments, showcasing her views on social divides, her famous empathy, and her conflicted feelings. All page numbers reference the reliable Platinum Edition (Viking, 2006) for accurate citation.
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Bridging Worlds: Soc vs. Greaser Perspectives
Cherry offers Ponyboy—and the reader—a rare, honest glimpse into the pressures and values of the Soc world, challenging stereotypes from both sides.
“All Socs aren’t like that,” she said. “You have to believe me, Ponyboy. Not all of us are like that.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Cherry Valance to Ponyboy), Chapter 2, Page 34
“That’s like saying all you greasers are like Dallas Winston. I’ll bet he’s jumped a few people.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Cherry Valance to Ponyboy), Chapter 2, Page 34
(How tough was Dally? See Dallas Winston’s Quotes.)
“It’s not just money. Part of it is, but not all. You greasers have a different set of values. You’re more emotional. We’re sophisticated— cool to the point of not feeling anything. Nothing is real with us.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Cherry Valance explaining Soc detachment), Chapter 3, Pages 37, 38
“Rat race is the perfect name for it,’ she said. ‘We’re always going and going and going, and never asking where… Maybe if we could lose our cool we would.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Soc dissatisfaction (Character: Cherry Valance), Chapter 3, Page 38
“Ponyboy… I mean… if I see you in the hall at school or something and don’t say hi, well it’s not personal or anything, but…”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Cherry Valance explaining social pressure), Chapter 3, Page 45
“She said she felt that the whole mess was her fault… and would testify that the Socs were drunk and looking for a fight and that you fought back in self-defense.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Dally reporting Cherry’s words about being a spy), Chapter 6, Page 86
“Things Are Rough All Over”: Empathy and Sunsets
Cherry’s iconic line, often linked to her appreciation for sunsets, signifies her ability to see universal struggles and shared beauty across the social divide.
“Things are rough all over.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about universal struggle (Character: Cherry Valance), Chapter 2, Page 35
“I’ll bet you think the Socs have it made… We have troubles you’ve never even heard of.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Soc problems (Character: Cherry Valance to Ponyboy), Chapter 2, Page 35
“I could just tell. I’ll bet you watch sunsets, too.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about shared appreciation (Character: Cherry Valance to Ponyboy), Chapter 3, Page 40
“Can you see the sunset real good on the West side? …You can see it on the East side, too.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about shared beauty (Dialogue: Ponyboy and Cherry), Chapter 8, Pages 129, 130
Cherry’s Voice: Observations and Inner Conflicts
Cherry isn’t afraid to speak her mind, whether cutting Dally down to size, expressing her principles, or admitting her conflicted attraction to danger.
“It’s a shame you can’t ride bull half as good as you can talk it,” the redhead said coolly…”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Cherry Valance to Dally), Chapter 2, Pages 21, 22
“You’d better leave us alone… or I’ll call the cops.” … “Please leave us alone,” she said. “Why don’t you be nice and leave us alone?”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Cherry Valance confronting Dally), Chapter 2, Page 22
“I wouldn’t drink it if I was starving in the desert. Get lost, hood!”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Cherry Valance refusing Dally’s Coke), Chapter 2, Page 22
“That might cool you off, greaser. After you wash your mouth and learn to talk and act decent, I might cool off, too.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Cherry Valance throwing Coke at Dally), Chapter 2, Page 24
“Thanks. He had me scared to death.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Cherry Valance after Johnny stands up to Dally), Chapter 2, Page 25
(What did Johnny say? Read Johnny Cade’s Quotes.)
“You two are too sweet to scare anyone… I’ve heard about Dallas Winston, and he looked as hard as nails… And you two don’t look mean.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Cherry Valance comparing Pony/Johnny to Dally), Chapter 2, Page 26
“No,” Cherry said slowly… “not innocent. You’ve seen too much to be innocent. Just not… dirty.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Cherry Valance analyzing Ponyboy), Chapter 2, Page 26
“I could fall in love with Dallas Winston,” she said. “I hope I never see him again, or I will.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally’s dangerous appeal (Character: Cherry Valance), Chapter 3, Page 46
“I couldn’t,” she said in a quiet, desperate voice. “He killed Bob… I couldn’t ever look at the person who killed him.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Cherry Valance on why she can’t visit Johnny), Chapter 8, Page 128
Ponyboy’s Observations of Cherry
Through Ponyboy’s eyes, we see Cherry’s striking appearance, her integrity, and her profound impact on his understanding of the Socs and the world.
“Boy, she was good-looking… a cheerleader at our school. I’d always thought she was stuck-up.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Cherry Valance, (Character: Ponyboy), Chapter 2, Page 24
“My name’s Sherri, but I’m called Cherry because of my hair.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Cherry Valance), Chapter 2, Page 22
“Marcia and Cherry weren’t alike. Cherry had said she wouldn’t drink Dally’s Coke if she was starving, and she meant it. It was the principle of the thing.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Cherry’s integrity (Character: Ponyboy as narrator), Chapter 2, Page 30
“So Cherry Valance, the cheerleader, Bob’s girl, the Soc, was trying to help us… it was Cherry the dreamer who watched sunsets and couldn’t stand fights.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Cherry Valance’s complexity (Character: Ponyboy Curtis as narrator), Chapter 6, Page 86
Cherry Valance Quotes FAQ
What is Cherry Valance’s most famous quote?
Undoubtedly her most famous and thematic line is: “Things are rough all over.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, Chapter 2, Page 35
What does Cherry say about sunsets?
Recognizing a kindred spirit in Ponyboy, she says:
“I’ll bet you watch sunsets, too.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, Chapter 3, Page 40
This shared appreciation becomes a key symbol of their connection across social lines.
What does Cherry Valance say to Ponyboy?
Cherry has several significant conversations with Ponyboy. Key points include explaining Soc values (“We’re sophisticated… cool to the point of not feeling anything,” p. 38), acknowledging shared humanity (“Things are rough all over,” p. 35), sharing her conflicted feelings about Dally (p. 46), and warning him about social pressures (“if I see you… and don’t say hi… it’s not personal,” p. 45).
Does Cherry love Dally or Ponyboy?
Cherry expresses a dangerous attraction to Dally (“I could fall in love with Dallas Winston… I hope I never see him again,” p. 46), but she forms a deep, platonic bond of understanding and friendship with Ponyboy. There’s no indication she loves Ponyboy romantically.
Cherry Valance serves as a crucial lens in The Outsiders, offering insight, empathy, and a challenge to the divisions that define Ponyboy’s world. Her ability to see the individual beyond the label—whether Greaser or Soc—and her own internal conflicts make her one of the novel’s most compelling and modern characters.
We hope this collection of Cherry’s quotes, accurately cited from the Platinum Edition (Viking, 2006), helps deepen your understanding of her character and S.E. Hinton’s timeless story.
What does Cherry Valance teach us about perspective? Share your view below!
Cite This Page (MLA Format)
Mortis, Jeremy. “22 Insightful Cherry Valance Quotes With Page Numbers From The Outsiders.” Ageless Investing, 12 Jul. 2023, agelessinvesting.com/cherry-valance-quotes/.
Reference Edition Used
Hinton, S. E. The Outsiders. Platinum ed., Viking Books for Young Readers, 2006.
Further Reading & Related Resources:
Jeremy Mortis, founder of Ageless Investing, applies a rigorous analytical approach (the SPARK framework) to distill timeless wisdom and contextualized quotes from classic literature, saving you time while deepening understanding. Learn more about Jeremy’s unique background and methodology on his author bio page.