- Tracy Powell: I need a stake, Haver. It's a rich claim, I know it. Ain't expecting you to stake me without getting something in return. I'll pay.
- Willis Haver: Tracy, you don't understand, you see... I'm running a bank now. It makes a little difference. It's not just me. There are others in San Francisco I have to account to. I can't invest the depositor's money in a claim without knowing what's in it first.
- Tracy Powell: How can I know what I got unless I get the equipment to find out?
- Willis Haver: Heh heh... Just a vicious circle, ain't it? Can't get the money unless you know what you have. Can't tell what you have unless you have the money to find out. Heh heh. Ah, it's like I said: it's a business now. A man don't stand a chance by himself. Unless he's, uh, willing to go along.
- Bert Killian: A man don't need no mountain to live out his life happy.
- Tracy Powell: You ain't seen it up in the hills like I have, Bert. It's truly like they say: in one day a man can make hisself enough to live like a king the rest of his life.
- Bert Killian: You got a sickness, Tracy. Can't you see it? You got a sickness. And you'll either die from it or end up partners with the devil. There ain't no in-between.
- Tracy Powell: Then you and me better have a drink. 'Cause you're lookin' at a man who's figurin' on goin' straight to the devil.
- Sam Wilkins: [Sam has run two Mexican prospectors off their gold claim at gunpoint] Say, you're gonna' do all right, boy. Look at those fools down by the river, scratchin' for a little dust. You just keep your eye on a Mexican. He'll show you where you can get real hunks of gold, right in these hills.
- Tracy Powell: I wasn't figurin' on no claim jumping.
- Sam Wilkins: Well, what's a matter? You wanted to come outta' here with some gold, didn't ya? You can't have a weak stomach and get rich!