- Eddie: [to the judge] I knew all that stuff about you helping us was baloney. I'll tell you why we can't go home: because our folks are poor. They can't get jobs and there isn't enough to eat. What good will it do you to send us home to starve? You say you've got to send us to jail to keep us off the streets. Well, that's a lie. You're sending us to jail because you don't want to see us. You want to forget us. But you can't do it because I'm not the only one. There's thousands just like me, and there's more hitting the road every day.
- Tommy: [also to the judge] You read in the papers about giving people help. The banks get it. The soldiers get it. The breweries get it. And they're always yelling about giving it to the farmers. What about us? We're kids!
- Eddie: Go ahead! Put me in a cell. Lock me up! I'm sick of being hungry and cold. Sick of freight trains. Jail can't be any worse than the street. So give it to me!
- Eddie: [walking in and putting $22 on the table after selling his car] Here, Dad.
- James Smith: Wha... ? Where'd this come from?
- Eddie: Oh, I sold my car. I was tired of it anyway. You know me... have a thing a little while... get sort of fed up with it.
- Eddie: [opening the refrigerator] I guess I'm like my cousin Hugo.
- Eddie: [turning and looking at his father] Hey, you're not sore at me, are you, Pop?
- James Smith: [getting up and walking toward Eddie] No matter what you ever do, Edward, you'll never make me feel as proud of you as I have this minute.
- Tommy: [just prior to the amputation] Doc?
- Dr. Heckel: Yes, son.
- Tommy: [motioning for the doctor to come closer] If I... If I cough... that means it's hurtin' too much.
- Tommy: [Tommy looks around but his friend look away] You see, I don't want the fellas to think I'm a baby.
- Tommy: Shucks, what do I care about an old leg? Just think, from now on, when I get a new pair of shoes, I'll only have to break in one of them.