CowboySpirit.TV – Though there were some arguments and tall tales, the most exciting stories cowboys had to tell around the campfire at night dealt with three subjects: Cows, horses, and advice. Much of the advice that has been passed down as Old West sayings was honed to a sharp enough point that it stuck, so that many people still repeat them today. Here are ten more of these sayings to enjoy.
1. It's better to be a has been that a never was.
2. We all have pieces of crazy in us, some just have bigger pieces than others.
3. An onion can make people cry but there’s never been a vegetable that can make people laugh.
Any man saying this probably said so well out of earshot of the cook!
4. Many a mistake has come from wide open wallets and wide open mouths.
5. That dog won't hunt.
This was another way to say that someone (or something) couldn’t do as expected. Variants include “that man won’t ride” or “that horse won’t set”.
6. “If a man knows anything, he ought to die with it in him.” – Sam Bass, outlaw
7. “No cowboy ever quit while his life was hardest and his duties were most exacting.” – J. Frank Dobie, Old West journalist and author
8. “There is only one road away from trouble, and this is along the straight and narrow road.” – Otto Wood, an outlaw at the very end of the Old West
9. Don't let the tail wag the dog.
In other words, remember who is in charge, and don’t let newcomers control an outcome.
10. “Poker is a science; the highest court in Texas has said so.” – Quince Forrest, The Log of a Cowboy
Have you heard any of these Old West sayings, either on film or in person? Please share with the CowboySpirit.TV community!
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