18 The Outsiders Quotes About Family With Page Numbers

It’s more than blood; it’s who stands with you.

In S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, the concept of “family” stretches far beyond traditional definitions. It encompasses the fractured, struggling bond between the Curtis brothers, the fierce loyalty of the Greaser gang acting as a chosen family, and the stark, painful absence felt by those with neglectful or abusive parents.

Understanding these dynamics is key to grasping the novel’s emotional core.

This collection gathers 18 powerful quotes exploring the theme of family in its many forms within the novel. See how biological ties are tested, how chosen families provide refuge, and how broken homes shape characters, all accurately cited with page numbers from the Platinum Edition (Viking, 2006).

Discover the words that define belonging on the outside.

Return to The Outsiders Study Guide Hub

The Curtis Brothers: Bonds Under Pressure

Orphaned and struggling, Darry, Sodapop, and Ponyboy navigate their roles as brothers and guardians, their bond tested by responsibility, fear, and misunderstanding, yet ultimately proving resilient.

“Since I was dreaming, I brought Mom and Dad back to life…”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Ponyboy as narrator reflecting on lost parents), Chapter 3, Page 48
(How does Ponyboy cope? See Ponyboy’s defining quotes.)

“He should never yell at Soda. Nobody should ever holler at my brother… Nobody in my family had ever hit me. Nobody.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Ponyboy as the narrator reacting to Darry hitting him), Chapter 3, Page 50

“Oh, Pony, I thought we’d lost you . . . like we did Mom and Dad . . .”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Darry Curtis expressing fear for Ponyboy), Chapter 6, Page 99
(What drives Darry? Explore Darry’s quotes.)

“My parents are dead. I live here with just Darry and Soda, my brothers… If the judge decides Darry isn’t a good guardian… I’m liable to get stuck in a home somewhere.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Ponyboy Curtis on his family situation), Chapter 11, Page 164

“I started writing names across the paper. Darrel Shaynne Curtis, Jr. Soda Patrick Curtis. Ponyboy Michael Curtis.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Ponyboy as the narrator connecting with family names), Chapter 12, Page 172

“Hey, Ponyboy”— Soda gave me a tearful grin— “don’t you start crying, too. One bawl-baby in the family’s enough.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Sodapop Curtis to Ponyboy), Chapter 12, Page 176
(What caused Soda’s tears? Read Sodapop’s quotes on the brothers’ fighting.)

“We’re all we’ve got left. We ought to be able to stick together against anything. If we don’t have each other, we don’t have anything.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Sodapop Curtis pleading for unity), Chapter 12, Page 176

The Gang as Chosen Family

For many Greasers, especially those from broken homes, the gang provides the loyalty, protection, and sense of belonging missing from their biological families.

“…I could have gotten one of the gang… Darry and Soda and I have grown up with and consider family. We’re almost as close as brothers…”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Ponyboy as the narrator on gang bonds), Chapter 1, Page 3

“You take up for your buddies, no matter what they do. When you’re a gang, you stick up for the members… make like brothers… It’s a pack.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Ponyboy as the narrator explaining the code), Chapter 2, Page 26

“…At least you got Soda. I ain’t got nobody.’ … ‘you got the whole gang.’ ‘It ain’t the same as having your own folks care about you,’ Johnny said simply.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Dialogue: Johnny Cade and Ponyboy on family vs. gang), Chapter 3, Pages 51, 52
(How did neglect shape him? See Johnny Cade’s full story.)

“…Darry finally got it through the guy’s head that we were about as much family as Dally and Johnny had.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Ponyboy as the narrator at the hospital), Chapter 7, Page 102

“Our front door is always unlocked in case one of the boys is hacked off at his parents and needs a place to lay over and cool off.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Ponyboy as the narrator on the Curtis house as refuge), Chapter 7, Page 105

Broken Homes and Their Impact

The novel unflinchingly shows how parental abuse, neglect, or absence shapes the lives and personalities of characters like Johnny, Dally, and Two-Bit.

“Johnny was high-strung anyway, a nervous wreck from getting belted every time he turned around and from hearing his parents fight all the time.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Ponyboy Curtis about Johnny’s home life), Chapter 2, Page 33

“It ain’t fair that we have all the rough breaks!… Johnny’s father being a drunk and his mother a selfish slob, and Two-Bit’s mother being a barmaid… Steve— his hatred for his father…”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Ponyboy Curtis reflecting on troubled families), Chapter 3, Page 43
(How did Two-Bit handle it? Check Two-Bit’s Wisecracks.)

“Johnny’s parents didn’t care if he came home or not.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Ponyboy as narrator), Chapter 3,  Page 48

“I don’t guess my parents are worried about me or anything?” … “My parents,” Johnny repeated doggedly, “did they ask about me?” “No,” snapped Dally, “they didn’t… my old man don’t give a hang…”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Dialogue: Johnny Cade & Dallas Winston), Chapter 6, Page 87
(Did Dally truly not care? See Dally’s Hardened Perspective.)

This constant feeling of being unwanted profoundly shapes Johnny’s worldview and his final, famous message to Ponyboy (explore the full meaning of ‘Stay Gold’ here).

“He’s dead— his mother has had a nervous breakdown. They spoiled him rotten… but they gave in to him all the time.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Randy about Bob’s parents), Chapter 7, Page 116

“His parents let him run wild— because they loved him too much or too little? … I hoped they hated us, that they weren’t full of that pity-the-victims-of-environment junk…”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Ponyboy as the narrator reflecting on Bob’s parents), Chapter 11, Page 162

Family Quotes FAQ

What does Ponyboy say about family in The Outsiders?

Ponyboy acknowledges both his biological brothers and the gang as family: “…one of the four boys Darry and Soda and I have grown up with and consider family. We’re almost as close as brothers…” (Chapter 1, Page 3). He also recognizes the unique bond of the gang: “You take up for your buddies… stick together, make like brothers…” (Chapter 2, Page 26).

How is the theme of family shown in The Outsiders?

Family is central, shown through:

• The struggles and loyalty of the **Curtis brothers** adapting after their parents’ death.
• The **Greaser gang** acting as a protective, chosen family, offering belonging where biological families fail.
• The damaging effects of **dysfunctional or absent parents** on characters like Johnny and Dally.

In The Outsiders, “family” is the anchor in a storm—whether it’s the one you’re born into or the one you choose when everything else fails. Hinton shows us the fierce loyalty that binds the Greasers and the heartbreaking consequences when biological families break down. These bonds, in all their forms, are what ultimately define survival and belonging.

We hope this collection of 18 quotes, accurately cited from the Platinum Edition (Viking, 2006), illuminates the critical theme of family in this unforgettable novel.

Which relationship best represents “family” in *The Outsiders* for you? Share your thoughts!

Cite This Page (MLA Format)

Mortis, Jeremy. “18 The Outsiders Quotes About Family With Page Numbers.” Ageless Investing, 19 June 2024, agelessinvesting.com/the-outsiders-quotes-about-family/.

Reference Edition Used

Hinton, S. E. The Outsiders. Platinum ed., Viking Books for Young Readers, 2006.

Further Reading & Related Resources:

• The Complete Outsiders Study Guide Hub
• Analysis of All Outsiders Characters
• Main Outsiders Quotes By Chapter

Jeremy Mortis

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.