Olds West Wisdom

My friend and I are working on a door decoration for our children's teacher. It's our annual teacher appreciation week and every teacher get their door decorated. This year's theme is "Our Teachers are the Best in the West!" In an effort to plan something really cute, I've been researching old west sayings. Here's some of the wisdom I have found from those old cowboys!


There's no place 'round the campfire for a quitter's blanket.

Tossin' your rope before buildin' a loop don't ketch the calf.

Polishing your pants on saddle leather don't make you a rider.

A closed mouth gathers no boots.

Don't name a cow you plan to eat.

Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for.

Never miss a good chance to shut up.

Life is not about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.

Keep skunks, lawyers, and bankers at a distance.

Life is simpler when you plough around the stump.

Forgive your enemies. It messes with their heads.

Don't sell your mule to buy a plough.

Don't corner something meaner than you.

It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

Most of the stuff people worry about never happens.

Don't squat with your spurs on.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Don't interfere with something that ain't botherin' you none.

Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

It's better to be a has-been than a never-was.

A wink's as good as a nod to a blind mule.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

There never was a horse that couldn't be rode, there never was a rider that couldn't be throwed.
When in doubt, let your horse figure it out.

Behind every successful rancher is a wife who works in town.
He's all hat and no cattle.

Never hire the people you drink with.

A man afoot is no man at all.

When a bad man dies he either goes to hell or the Pecos.

A good fence should be pig tight, horse high, and bull strong.
Only a fool argues with skunk, a mule, or a cook.
It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep.

Any hoss's tail kin ketch cockleburs.

Wide open spaces don't breed no chatterboxes.

You can never tell which way the pickle's goin' to squirt.

If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.

Always drink upstream from the herd.

Don't worry about bitin' off more'n you can chew; your mouth is probably a whole lot bigger'n you think.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then, to make sure it's still there with ya.

There's two theories to arguin' with a woman. Neither one works.

A pair of six-shooters beats a pair of aces.

An angry bull is less dangerous than an angry woman.

Every cowboy thinks he knows more than every other cowboy. But the only thing they all know for sure is when's payday and where's grub."

An old timer is a man who's had a lot of interesting experiences -- some of them true.

Only a buzzard feeds on his friends.

Speak your mind, but ride a fast horse.

Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear or a fool from any direction.

A cow outfit's never better than its hosses.

No one but cattle know why they stampede and the ain't talking.

You'll never break a horse if you stay sittin' on the fence.

Never drink unless you're alone or with somebody.

You can judge a man by the hoss he rides.

A full house divided don't win no pots.

When a cowboy's too old to set a bad example, he hands out good advice.

A bronc rider should be light in the head and heavy in the seat.

Letting the cat out of the bag is a whole lot easier than putting it back in.