Dallas Winston quotes help us understand what it’s like to have a rough childhood and always get in trouble.
Dallas Winston, also known as Dally, is a member of the Greasers in The Outsiders.
He has a tough exterior, but beneath his tough exterior lies a troubled individual.
Dally’s difficult childhood and experiences with the law have shaped his character, making him mean. However, he is loyal to his gang members and is always ready to support them.
Dally symbolizes the harsh realities of life and the struggle to survive in a tough environment. He demonstrates the consequences of a troubled past and its impact on a person’s behavior.
Dally’s tragic end reminds us of the consequences of a life filled with violence and desperation.
The Outsiders Quotes With Page Numbers
Dallas Winston Character Description
Dallas Winston, also known as Dally, is a complex character in S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. He has an elfish face with high cheekbones, a pointed chin, small, sharp animal teeth, and lynx-like ears.
Dally’s almost white-blonde hair falls over his forehead in wisps, and he has blazing blue eyes that Ponyboy describes as “cold with all the hatred in the world” (Hinton 9).
Dally’s physical appearance reflects his tough and rebellious personality. He is known for his hardened demeanor, resulting from a tough upbringing and spending three years on the wild side of New York.
His father’s neglect further contributes to his toughness, as he states, “My old man doesn’t give a hang if I’m in jail dead in a car wreck or drunk in the gutter” (Hinton 54).
Despite his harsh exterior, Dally cares deeply for his gang and treats them like family. He shows his loyalty and protection towards
Johnny when he says, “Johnny, you don’t know what a few months in jail can do to you, man. You get mean in jail, I just don’t wanna see that happen to you like it happened to me, man. Understand? (Chapter 6, Page 89”
Dally’s actions demonstrate his fierce loyalty and willingness to go to great lengths for those he cares about.
His reckless and impulsive nature also characterizes Dally’s personality. He is shown to be mean and aggressive towards others, such as Cherry, but it is hinted that this behavior is a defense mechanism.
Despite his tough exterior, Dally has a vulnerable side, which is evident when he gives Ponyboy his leather bomber jacket and takes care of him and Johnny when they are in trouble.
In Chapter 6, Dally’s concern for Johnny is revealed when he pleads with him, saying, “Johnny, I ain’t mad at you. I just don’t want you to get hurt. You don’t know what a few months in jail can do to you… Like it happened to me…” (Chapter 6, page 89).
He is also concerned about Ponyboy at the fire. He tells Ponyboy, “When you jumped out of the church. I meant to hit you just hard enough to knock you down and put out the fire, but when you dropped like a ton of lead, I thought I’d aimed too high and broke your neck.” He thought for a minute. “I’m glad I didn’t, though.”
Dally’s ultimate sacrifice for Johnny showcases his deep love and attachment to his friend. After Johnny’s death, Dally is overcome with grief and runs to rob a grocery store.
This act can be seen as a manifestation of his desperation and loss. When confronted by the police, Dally aims his unloaded gun at them, displaying his desire for a tragic end. He is shot and dies almost instantly, crumpling under a street light in the park.
Lastly, in a letter to Ponyboy, Johnny reflects on the fleeting nature of innocence and encourages Ponyboy to hold on to his youthful optimism.
Johnny writes, “I’ve been thinking about it, and that poem, that guy that wrote it, he meant you’re gold when you’re a kid… Keep that way, it’s a good way to be… And don’t be so bugged over being a greaser… Your buddy, Johnny” (Chapter 12, pages 178-179).
This quote reveals Dally’s influence on Johnny and his desire for Ponyboy to maintain his innocence and positivity. It also suggests that Dally may have lost his sense of hope and idealism.
Dally’s tragic end highlights the depth of his emotions and struggles throughout his life. His character poignantly portrays the complexities of human nature and the impact of one’s upbringing on one’s personality and choices.
Dallas Winston Quotes With Page Numbers From The Outsiders
“If I had to pick the real character of the gang, it would be Dallas Winston— Dally. I used to like to draw his picture when he was in a dangerous mood, for then I could get his personality down in a few lines. He had an elfish face, with high cheekbones and a pointed chin, small, sharp animal teeth, and ears like a lynx. His hair was almost white it was so blond, and he didn’t like haircuts, or hair oil either, so it fell over his forehead in wisps and kicked out in the back in tufts and curled behind his ears and along the nape of his neck. His eyes were blue, blazing ice, cold with a hatred of the whole world. Dally had spent three years on the wild side of New York and had been arrested at the age of ten. He was tougher than the rest of us—tougher, colder, meaner. The shade of difference that separates a greaser from a hood wasn’t present in Dally. He was as wild as the boys in the downtown outfits, like Tim Shepard’s gang.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Ponyboy as the narrator), Chapter 1, Page 10
“. So Dally, even though he could get into a good fight sometimes, had no specific thing to hate. No rival gang. Only Socs. And you can’t win against them no matter how hard you try, because they’ve got all the be.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Ponyboy as the narrator), Chapter 1, Page 11
“In New York, Dally blew off steam in gang fights, but here, organized gangs are rarities— there are just small bunches of friends who stick together, and the warfare is between the social classes.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Ponyboy as the narrator), Chapter 1, Page 11
“He had quite a reputation. They have a file on him down at the police station. He had been arrested, he got drunk, he rode in rodeos, lied, cheated, stole, rolled drunks, jumped small kids— he did everything. I didn’t like him, but he was smart and you had to respect him.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Ponyboy as the narrator), Chapter 1, Page 11
“If it had been me, or Two-Bit, or Soda or Steve, or anyone but Johnny, Dally would have flattened him without a moment’s hesitation.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Johnny Cade and Dally Winston (Character: Ponyboy Curtis as the narrator), Chapter 1, Page 12
“Dally looked at the rest of us. “How about y’all? Two-Bit? Johnnycake, you and Pony wanta come?”
“Me and Johnny’ll come,”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Dally Winston and Ponyboy as the narrator), Chapter 1, Page 14
“Steve was looking at Dally’s hand. His ring, which he had rolled a drunk senior to get, was back on his finger. “You break up with Sylvia again?”
“Yeah, and this time it’s for good. That little broad was two-timin’ me again while I was in jail.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Dally Winston and Steve Randle), Chapter 1, Page 14
“We deserve a lot of our trouble, I thought. Dallas deserves everything he gets, and should get worse, if you want the truth.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Ponyboy as the narrator), Chapter 1, Page 16
“He was too late, though; Dally walked out with two packages of Kools under his jacket.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Ponyboy as the narrator), Chapter 1, Page 19
“Dally hated to do things the legal way. He liked to show that he didn’t care whether there was a law or not. He went around trying to break laws.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Ponyboy as the narrator), Chapter 2, Page 20
“Dally eyed them coolly, then walked down the aisle and sat right behind them. I had a sick feeling that Dally was up to his usual tricks, and I was right. He started talking, loud enough for the two girls to hear. He started out bad and got worse. Dallas could talk awful dirty if he wanted to and I guess he wanted to then. I felt my ears get hot.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Ponyboy as the narrator), Chapter 2, Page 20
“I wouldn’t have felt so embarrassed if they had been greasy girls— I might even have helped old Dallas. But those two girls weren’t our kind. They were tuff-looking girls— dressed sharp and really good-looking. They looked about sixteen or seventeen. One had short dark hair, and the other had long red hair. The redhead was getting mad, or scared. She sat up straight and she was chewing hard on her gum. The other one pretended not to hear Dally. Dally was getting impatient. He put his feet up on the back of the redhead’s chair, winked at me, and beat his own record for saying something dirty. She turned around and gave him a cool stare.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Ponyboy Curtis and Cherry Valance), Chapter 2, Page 21
“Dally merely looked at her and kept his feet where they were. “Who’s gonna make me?”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Dally Winston), Chapter 2, Page 21
“It’s a shame you can’t ride bull half as good as you can talk it,” the redhead said coolly and turned back around.
That didn’t bother Dally in the least. “You two barrel race, huh?”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Cherry Valance and Dally Winston), Chapter 2, Page 22
“You’d better leave us alone,” the redhead said in a biting voice, “or I’ll call the cops.”
“Oh, my, my”— Dally looked bored— “you’ve got me scared to death. You ought to see my record sometime, baby.” He grinned slyly. “Guess what I’ve been in for?”
“Please leave us alone,” she said. “Why don’t you be nice and leave us alone?”
Dally grinned roguishly. “I’m never nice. Want a Coke?”~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Cherry Valance), Chapter 2, Page 22
“She was mad by then. “I wouldn’t drink it if I was starving in the desert. Get lost, hood!”
Dally merely shrugged and strolled off.”~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Characters: Dallas Winston and Cherry Valance), Chapter 2, Page 22
“Dropout” made me think of some poor dumb-looking hoodlum wandering the streets breaking out street lights— it didn’t fit my happy-go-lucky brother at all. It fitted Dally perfectly, but you could hardly say it about Soda.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally, (Character: Ponyboy), Chapter 2, Page 23
“She gave him an incredulous look; and then she threw her Coke in his face. “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 to Dallas Winston), Chapter 2, Page 24
“I wouldn’t have felt so embarrassed if they had been greasy girls— I might even have helped old Dallas. But those two girls weren’t our kind. They were tuff-looking girls— dressed sharp and really good-looking.
They looked about sixteen or seventeen. One had short dark hair, and the other had long red hair. The redhead was getting mad, or scared. She sat up straight and she was chewing hard on her gum. The other one pretended not to hear Dally. Dally was getting impatient. He put his feet up on the back of the redhead’s chair, winked at me, and beat his own record for saying something dirty. She turned around and gave him a cool stare.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Cherry Valance and Dally (Character: Ponyboy), Chapter 2, Page 24
“Cherry sighed in relief. “Thanks. He had me scared to death.”
Johnny managed an admiring grin. “You sure didn’t show it. Nobody talks to Dally like that.”
She smiled, “From what I saw, you do.”~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dallas Winston (Character: Cherry Valance), Chapter 2, Page 25
“How come y’all ain’t scared of us like you were Dally?”
Cherry sighed. “You two are too sweet to scare anyone. First of all, you didn’t join in Dallas’s dirty talk, and you made him leave us alone. Aid when we asked you to sit up here with us, you didn’t act like it was an invitation to make out for the night. Besides that, I’ve heard about Dallas Winston, and he looked as hard as nails and twice as tough. And you two don’t look mean.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Cherry Valance and Ponyboy), Chapter 2, Page 26
“He climbed over the chair and plopped down beside Marcia. “Who’s this, your great-aunts?”
“Great-grandmothers, twice removed,” Cherry said smoothly.”~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Characters: Cherry Valance, Ponyboy, and Dallas Winston), Chapter 2, Page 28
“Ponyboy, will you come with me to get some popcorn?” Cherry asked.
I jumped up. “Sure. Y’all want some?”
“I do,” said Marcia. She was finishing the Coke Dally had given her. I realized then that 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. But Marcia saw no reason to throw away a perfectly good, free Coke.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Characters: Cherry Valance, Ponyboy, and Marcia), Chapter 2, Page 30
“Your friend— the one with the sideburns— he’s okay?”
“He ain’t dangerous like Dallas if that’s what you mean. He’s okay.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Characters: Cherry Valance and Ponyboy), Chapter 2, Page 31
“All Socs aren’t like that,” she said. “You have to believe me, Ponyboy. Not all of us are like that.”
“Sure,” I said.
“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, (Characters: Cherry Valance and Ponyboy), Chapter 2, Page 34
“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 (Character: Cherry Valance), Chapter 3, Page 46
“As Johnny told him the story, I studied Dally, trying to figure out what there was about this tough-looking hood that a girl like Cherry Valance could love.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Cherry and Dally (Character: Ponyboy as the narrator), Chapter 3, Page 46
“…At least you got Soda. I ain’t got nobody.’ ‘Shoot,’ I said, startled out of my misery, ‘you got the whole gang. Dally didn’t slug you tonight cause you’re the pet. I mean, golly, Johnny, you got the whole gang.’ ‘It ain’t the same as having your own folks care about you,’ Johnny said simply. ‘it just ain’t the same.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about friends (Character: Johnny Cade and Ponyboy), Chapter 3, Pages 51, 52
“It would be a miracle if Dally loved anything. The fight for self-preservation had hardened him beyond caring.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Ponyboy as narrator), Chapter 4, Page 59
“He didn’t bat an eye when Johnny told him what had happened, only grinned and said “Good for you” when Johnny told how he had knifed the Soc. Finally Johnny finished. “We figured you could get us out if anyone could. I’m sorry we got you away from the party.”
“Oh, shoot, kid”— Dally glanced contemptuously over his shoulder— “I was in the bedroom.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Ponyboy as narrator and Dallas Winston and Johnny Cade), Chapter 4, Page 59
“‘Man, I thought New York was the only place I could get mixed up in a murder rap'”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Johnny Cade (Character: Dallty Winston), Chapter 4, Page 61
“At the word “murder,” Johnny made a small noise in his throat and shuddered. Dally walked us back to the door, turning off the porch light before we stepped out. “Git goin’!” He messed up Johnny’s hair. “Take care, kid,” he said softly.
“Sure, Dally, thanks.” And we ran into the darkness.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Johnny Cade (Character: Dallty Winston), Chapter 4, Page 62
“bewildering feeling of being rushed, things are happening too quick. Too fast. I figured I couldn’t get into any worse trouble than murder. Johnny and I would be hiding for the rest of our lives. Nobody but Dally would know where we were, and he couldn’t tell anyone because he’d get jailed again for giving us that gun. If Johnny got caught, they’d give him the electric chair, and if they caught me, I’d be sent to a reformatory. I’d heard about reformatories from Curly Shepard and I didn’t want to go to one at all. So we’d have to be hermits for the rest of our lives…”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about sticking together (Character: Ponyboy as narrator), Chapter 4, Page 65
“Dally was so real he scared me.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Ponyboy as the narrator), Chapter 5, Page 76
“I started to say “Look who’s talking” but decided it would be safer not to. Dally needed a shave— a stubble of colorless beard covered his jaw— and he looked like he was the one who’d been sleeping in his clothes for a week instead of us; I knew he hadn’t seen a barber in months. But it was safer not to get mouthy with Dally Winston.
“Hey, Ponyboy”— he fumbled with a piece of paper in his back pocket— “I gotta letter for you.”
“A letter? Who from?”
“The President, of course, stupid. It’s from Soda.”
“Sodapop?” I said, bewildered. “But how did he know…?”
“He came over to Buck’s a couple of days ago for something and found that sweat shirt. I told him I didn’t know where you were, but he didn’t believe me. He gave me this letter and half his pay check to give you.
Kid, you ought to see Darry. He’s takin’ this mighty hard…”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Ponyboy and Dally), Chapter 5, Page 76
“‘Don’t worry,’ Dally went on, ‘it ain’t loaded. I ain’t aimin’ to get picked up for murder. But it sure does help a bluff.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Dallas Winston, A.K.A. Dally), Chapter 5, Page 83
“Johnny, you don’t know what a few months in jail can do to you, man. You get mean in jail, I just don’t wanna see that happen to you like it happened to me, man. Understand?”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally, identity (Character: Dallas Winston, A.K.A. Dally), Chapter 6, Page 89
“The church was on fire!
“Let’s go see what the deal is,” I said, hopping out.
“What for?” Dally sounded irritated. “Get back in here before I beat your head in.”
I knew Dally would have to park the car and catch me before he could carry out his threat, and Johnny was already out and following me, so I figured I was safe.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Johnny (Character: Dallas Winston and Ponyboy Curtis as the narrator), Chapter 7, Page 90
. “Kid, you scared the devil outa me the other day. I thought I’d killed you.”
“Me?” I said, puzzled. “Why?”
“When you jumped out of the church. I meant to hit you just hard enough to knock you down and put out the fire, but when you dropped like a ton of lead I thought I’d aimed too high and broke your neck.” He thought for a minute. “I’m glad I didn’t, though.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Johnny (Character: Dallas Winston and Ponyboy Curtis as the narrator), Chapter 8, Page 124
“You get tough like me and you don’t get hurt. You look out for yourself and nothin’ can touch you…”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about identity (Character: Dallas Winston, A.K.A. Dally), Chapter 9, Page 147
“Dally swallowed and reached over to push Johnny’s hair back. ‘Never could keep that hair back… that’s what you get for tryin’ to help people, you little punk, that’s what you get…’ Whirling suddenly, he slammed back against the wall. His face contracted in agony, and sweat streamed down his face. ‘Damnit Johnny…’ he begged, slamming one fist against the wall, hammering it to make it obey his will. ‘Oh, damnit, Johnny, don’t die, please don’t die…’ He suddenly bolted through the door and down the hall.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Johnny (Character: Dallas Winston, A.K.A. Dally), Chapter 9, Page 149
“Johnny was the only thing Dally loved. And now Johnny was gone.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Ponyboy as narrator), Chapter 10, Page 152
“…I knew he would be dead, because Dally Winston wanted to be dead and he always got what he wanted.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Ponyboy as the narrator), Chapter 10, Page 154
“He died violent and young and desperate, just like we all knew he’d die someday.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Ponyboy as narrator), Chapter 10, Page 154
“You still have a lot of time to make yourself be what you want. There’s still lots of good in the world. Tell Dally. I don’t think he knows.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Johnny Cade’s note to Ponyboy), Chapter 12, Page 179
“It was too late to tell Dally. Would he have listened? I doubted it. Suddenly it wasn’t only a personal thing to me. I could picture hundreds and hundreds of boys living on the wrong sides of cities, boys with black eyes who jumped at their own shadows. Hundreds of boys who maybe watched sunsets and looked at stars and ached for something better. I could see boys going under street lights because they were mean and tough and hated the world, and it was too late to tell them that there was still good in it, and they wouldn’t believe you if you did. It was too much of a problem to be just a personal thing. There should be some help, someone should tell them before it was too late. Someone should tell their side of the story, and maybe people would understand then and wouldn’t be so quick to judge a boy by the amount of hair oil he wore.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Ponyboy as the narrator), Chapter 12, Page 179
What are some quotes that Dally said?
“Yeah, and this time it’s for good. That little broad was two-timin’ me again while I was in jail.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Characters: Dally Winston and Steve Randle), Chapter 1, Page 14
“you’ve got me scared to death. You ought to see my record sometime, baby.” He grinned slyly. “Guess what I’ve been in for?”
“Please leave us alone,” she said. “Why don’t you be nice and leave us alone?”
Dally grinned roguishly. “I’m never nice.”~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Cherry Valance and Dallas Winston), Chapter 2, Page 22
“Johnny, you don’t know what a few months in jail can do to you, man. You get mean in jail, I just don’t wanna see that happen to you like it happened to me, man. Understand?”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about identity (Character: Dallas Winston, A.K.A. Dally), Chapter 6, Page 89
What were Dallas Winston’s last words?
Dally’s last words were to Johnny in the hospital. But later, Ponyboy mentions that Dally called to let them know he robbed a grocery store.
“Damnit, Johnny…” he begged, slamming one fist against the wall, hammering it to make it obey his will.
“Oh, damnit, Johnny, don’t die, please don’t die…”
He suddenly bolted through the door and down the hall”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Dallas Winston, A.K.A. Dally), Chapter 9, Page 149
What was Dally Winston’s best quote?
“You get tough like me and you don’t get hurt. You look out for yourself and nothin’ can touch you…”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about identity (Character: Dallas Winston, A.K.A. Dally), Chapter 9, Page 147
Who did Dally call before he died?
Dally called the Curtis residence before he died, and Darry answered.
“The phone rang, and after a moment’s hesitation, Darry turned from me to it. He said
“Hello” and then listened. He hung up quickly.
“It was Dally. He phoned from a booth. He’s, just robbed a grocery store and the cops are after him.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Ponyboy as the narrator and Darry), Chapter 10, Page 153
What caused Dally’s death?
A combination of factors causes Dally’s death in The Outsiders. The tragic death of Johnny, whom Dally cared for deeply, shattered any remaining meaning he found in life.
Unable to cope with the pain, abuse, and tragedy he has endured, Dally robs a grocery store, attracting the police, and ultimately dies via suicide by cop.
His death represents the consequences of a society that abandons vulnerable children and the lack of empathy, care, and resources that could have potentially helped him escape the trauma of his upbringing.
Who does Dally love?
In The Outsiders, Dally loves Johnny. Johnny is described as the only thing Dally truly loves, and his death deeply affects him. Ponyboy realizes this in his quote, “Johnny was the only thing Dally loved. And now Johnny was gone.” (S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, Chapter 10, Page 152).
How was Dally’s death foreshadowed?
Dally’s death is foreshadowed in the beginning when Ponyboy writes about Dally in the past tense.
“If I had to pick the real character of the gang, it would be Dallas Winston— Dally. I used to like to draw his picture when he was in a dangerous mood, for then I could get his personality down in a few lines.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Dally (Character: Ponyboy as the narrator), Chapter 1, Page 10
Also, Dally’s mention of his unloaded gun foreshadows how he dies.
“‘Don’t worry,’ Dally went on, ‘it ain’t loaded. I ain’t aimin’ to get picked up for murder. But it sure does help a bluff.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Dally), Chapter 5, Page 83