23 Wisecracking Two-Bit Mathews Quotes With Page Numbers

Leave a Comment / The Outsiders Study guide / By / April 7, 2025 / 8 minutes of reading

Life’s one big joke to him, right?

Keith “Two-Bit” Mathews, the oldest member of the Greaser gang (besides Darry) in S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, is the indispensable wisecracker who always gets his “two bits” in.

Known for his rusty-colored sideburns, shoplifting skills, and prized switchblade, Two-Bit provides crucial comic relief, but beneath the jokes lies a fierce loyalty and surprisingly sharp observations about their world.

This collection features 23 of Two-Bit’s most memorable lines and key character descriptions. Explore his humor, his views on fights and Socs, his interactions with the gang, and his moments of unexpected seriousness, all accurately cited with page numbers from the Platinum Edition (Viking, 2006).

Get ready for the Greaser who keeps everyone laughing, even when things are tough.

Return to The Outsiders Study Guide Hub

A picture of a switchblade against a dark red background, with the text overlay:

“Life’s One Big Joke”: Two-Bit the Wisecracker

Two-Bit lives up to his name, constantly cracking jokes, finding humor in most situations, and providing much-needed levity for the gang.

“Two-Bit Mathews was the oldest of the gang and the wisecracker of the bunch… He had gray eyes and a wide grin, and he couldn’t stop making funny remarks to save his life… Life was one big joke to Two-Bit… I liked him real well because he kept us laughing at ourselves as well as at other things.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Two-Bit’s personality (Character: Ponyboy as narrator), Chapter 1, Page 10
(How does Ponyboy see the others? Explore Ponyboy’s views here.)

“Soda merely cocked one eyebrow, a trick he’d picked up from Two-Bit.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Two-Bit’s mannerisms (Character: Ponyboy as narrator), Chapter 1, Page 8

“I was plannin’ on getting boozed up tomorrow night,” Two-Bit said. “If I don’t, I’ll walk over and find y’all.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit Mathews), Chapter 1, Page 14

“Glory, Two-Bit, scare us to death!” [Ponyboy reacting] “Okay, greasers, you’ve had it” [Two-Bit imitating a Soc]

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Two-Bit’s prank (Characters: Ponyboy & Two-Bit), Chapter 2, Page 27

“Who’s this, your great-aunts?”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit Mathews to Cherry/Marcia), Chapter 2, Page 28

“Brother, you’re a sharp one. Where’d you two ever get to be picked up by a couple of greasy hoods like Pony and Johnny?”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit Mathews to Marcia), Chapter 2, Page 28

“You oughta see Kathy’s brother. Now there’s a hood. He’s so greasy he glides when he walks. He goes to the barber for an oil change, not a haircut.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about other Greasers (Character: Two-Bit), Chapter 7, Page 114

“Get thee hence, white trash,” Two-Bit said in a snobbish voice. “I am a Soc. I am the privileged and the well-dressed…”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit Mathews mocking Socs), Chapter 9, Page 136

“Work?” Two-Bit was aghast. “And ruin my rep? I wouldn’t be baby-sittin’ the kid here if I knew of some good day-nursery open on Saturdays.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders (Character: Two-Bit Mathews refusing work), Chapter 7, Page 112

“Getting His Two-Bits In”: Observations and Rules

Beneath the humor, Two-Bit possesses a street-smart understanding of the Greaser world, its rules, and the nature of their conflict with the Socs.

“He liked fights, blondes, and for some unfathomable reason, school.” … “He was still a junior at eighteen and a half and he never learned anything. He just went for kicks.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Two-Bit’s interests (Character: Ponyboy as narrator), Chapter 1, Page 10

“Two-Bit went on cheerfully, calling the Socs every name he could think of or make up.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Two-Bit’s attitude to Socs (Character: Ponyboy as narrator), Chapter 1, Page 12

“A fair fight isn’t rough;’ Two-Bit said. “Blades are rough. So are chains and heaters and pool sticks and rumbles. Skin fighting isn’t rough. It blows off steam better than anything.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit Mathews on fighting), Chapter 2, Page 29

“Our one rule besides Stick together is Don’t get caught.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit Mathews explaining Greaser rules), Chapter 2, Page 29

“He’ll probably find the fight,” Two-Bit stated cheerfully… “Does Dally have a blade?”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit Mathews about Dally/Shepards), Chapter 2, Page 29
(What was Dally thinking? Read Dally’s Quotes.)

“the chips are always down when it’s our turn, but that’s the way things are. Like it or lump it.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit on luck/fate), Chapter 3, Page 43

“What’s the safest thing to be when one is met by a gang of social outcasts in an alley? …No, another social outcast!”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Dialogue: 1st: Two-bit, 2nd: Ponyboy), Chapter 7, Page 113

“You know the rules. No jazz before a rumble.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit stating rumble rules), Chapter 7, Page 115

“You know, the only thing that keeps Darry from bein’ a Soc is us.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit Mathews about Darry), Chapter 8, Page 126
(Is he right about Darry? See Darry Curtis’s Quotes.)

Loyalty and the Gang’s Code

Despite his laziness, Two-Bit is fiercely loyal, always ready to back up the gang, defend his friends, and flash his prized switchblade when needed.

“Next time get one of us to go with you, Ponyboy,” Two-Bit said. “Any of us will.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit to Ponyboy), Chapter 1, Page 13

“Shut up talkin’ like that,” Two-Bit said fiercely [to Johnny], messing up Johnny’s hair. “We couldn’t get along without you, so you can just shut up!”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit comforting Johnny), Chapter 3, Page 43
(How much did Johnny need them? Read Johnny Cade’s Story in Quotes.)

“You mean if I’m looking for a good jumping, you outnumber us, so you’ll give it to us? Well…” He… reached in his back pocket and flipped out his switchblade. “Try it, pal.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit Mathews confronting Socs), Chapter 3, Page 45

“They treatin’ you okay, kid?” … “Don’t talk,” Two-Bit said, pulling up a chair, “just listen. We’ll bring you some hair grease next time.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit visiting Johnny), Chapter 8, Page 120

“No wonder he hates your guts,” Two-Bit snapped [at Johnny’s mother].

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit defending Johnny), Chapter 8, Page 123

Moments of Seriousness

The jokester facade occasionally drops, revealing Two-Bit’s genuine concern for his friends, particularly his desire to protect Ponyboy’s sensitivity and his grief over loss.

“I don’t know why I handed you that busted bottle,” Two-Bit said… “You’d never use it.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit Mathews to Ponyboy), Chapter 3, Page 47

“Ponyboy, listen, don’t get tough. You’re not like the rest of us and don’t try to be…”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit showing concern for Ponyboy), Chapter 12, Page 171

[Two-Bit] stared at me for a second, then grinned. “You little sonofagun,” he said in a relieved voice. [after Ponyboy picks up glass]

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit Mathews relieved about Ponyboy), Chapter 12, Page 171

¨No,¨ Two-Bit had said with a quivering sigh, ¨but that’s what I’m wishing was all that’s bothering me.¨” 

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Two-Bit Mathews showing grief over Dally/switchblade), Chapter 12, Pages 177-78
(What was Steve’s reaction? Check out Steve Randle’s Quotes.)

Two-Bit Mathews Quotes FAQ

What did Two-Bit say in The Outsiders?

Two-Bit is best known for his wisecracks and humorous observations. Key quotes include his take on fighting (“A fair fight isn’t rough,” p. 29), Greaser rules (“Don’t get caught,” p. 29), social standing (“chips are always down,” p. 43), and his concern for Ponyboy (“Ponyboy, listen, don’t get tough,” p. 171).

What is the quote “Life was one big joke to Two-Bit”?

This is Ponyboy’s description of Two-Bit’s outlook:

“Life was one big joke to Two-Bit.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, Chapter 1, Page 10

What does Two-Bit say about Darry?

He makes a sharp observation about Darry’s connection to the gang:

“You know, the only thing that keeps Darry from bein’ a Soc is us.”

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, Chapter 8, Page 126

What is the quote about Two-Bit’s switchblade after Dally dies?

After Dally’s death, Ponyboy recalls Two-Bit’s reaction to losing his prized knife:

“The way Two-Bit… had griped because he had lost his switchblade when they searched Dallas… ¨No,¨ Two-Bit had said with a quivering sigh, ¨but that’s what I’m wishing was all that’s bothering me.¨” 

~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, Chapter 12, Pages 177-78

Keith “Two-Bit” Mathews might see life as one big joke, but his humor provides essential levity, and his loyalty is crucial glue for the Greaser gang in *The Outsiders*. He’s the ever-present wisecracker, the conformist who fights because the gang does, yet beneath the jokes lies a deep affection for his friends and a desire to protect their remaining innocence.

We hope this collection of 23 quotes, accurately cited from the Platinum Edition (Viking, 2006), captures the wit, loyalty, and occasional seriousness of Two-Bit.

What’s your favorite Two-Bit moment or line? Share it below!

Cite This Page (MLA Format)

Mortis, Jeremy. “23 Wisecracking Two-Bit Mathews Quotes With Page Numbers From The Outsiders.” Ageless Investing, 11 June 2024, agelessinvesting.com/two-bit-mathews-quotes/.

Reference Edition Used

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

Further Reading & Related Resources:

Leave a Reply

Scroll to Top