Dan Scott quotes from One Tree Hill

Dan

Don't be so quick to judge me, Lucas. It's easy to have all the answers from a distance, but everybody makes decisions they regret. Me, your mother, Keith. But we learn to live with it. It's part of life.

Dan

They said we were beaten! They said we were dead! But they should know by now: you can’t kill Dan Scott!

Dan

My name is Dan Scott. I killed my brother.

Dan

[to the judges] When I was 17 years old, I fell in love. Her name was Karen. And for a long time, she loved me back. We had a son, Lucas. But we never became the family we should have been. Instead my brother Keith assumed that role. And in my heart something died. I deserve to be in here. There's no excuse for the crime that I committed. And believe me when I tell you I spend every moment wishing I could take that fateful day back. Keith Scott is dead because of me. And that's something I have to live with for the rest of my life. So I'll just make one pledge here today. If at some time you decide to grant me my freedom, know that I'll spend every living moment trying to mend the lives of the people that I hurt by my actions. Because I've lost more than my freedom. I've lost something far more important than that. My family. These young men stand at the dawn of their adult lives. So far, because of what I put them through, they've had it pretty rough. They deserve better. They deserve a father. I hope some day you'll give them that.

Dan

[Voice over] It’s been said that the saddest thing a man will ever face is what might have been. But what of a man whose faced with what was? Or what may never be? Or what can no longer be? Choosing the right path is never easy. It’s a decision we make with only our hearts to guide us. But sometimes we find our way to something better. Sometimes we fight through the regret and remorse of our mistakes, our malice and our jealousy and the shame we feel for not being the people we were meant to be. And that’s when we find our way to something better. Or when something better finds its way to us.

Dan

:[to Carrie]Your plan sucks.

Dan

God I hate the woods.

Dan

Not even I would shoot a man in the back, Lucas. Actually that's not true, I've shot several men in the back. Most of them deserved it but I wouldn't recommend you do it.

Dan

You're my sons and I failed you. I'm sorry for that, for so many other things. But I'm proud that each of you have become the man that I could never be. You're good men and you're good brothers. Don't let the world change that.

Dan

(opening voiceover) I sat there in the dark ..alone, broken. On the eve of my son's first game in the NBA, I sat alone on a playground basketball court and waited for death. I'd been given only days to live. That was 14 months ago.

Dan

(ending voiceover) Forgiveness is never easy. Bitterness is easy. Hatred is easy. But forgiveness, that's a tough one. Sometimes, people say things they don't mean or do things they can't take back. Sometimes we do things we can't take back. So we feed ourselves to starve the pain.

Dan

I do know one thing: if people saw my life, they’d feel a lot better about theirs.

Dan

[on tv show] They say that truth is the best indication against slander. So what’s the truth? Is she lying? Or am I about to become a grandfather again?[...] Believe nothing. Just because a wise man said it, or you read it in a book…words of divine order, or because your mother told you…it doesn’t make it true. Believe only what you yourself can test and judge to be true.[...] Falling in love is the easiest thing you’re ever gonna do. It’s the most exciting thing, the most powerful thing. That’s why falling out of love hurts like hell, but falling in love…there’s nothing better. It’s the best it ever gets. [...] A lifetime of love. Now there’s a miracle. Relationships aren’t always easy. I should know. I’m on my second marriage. How many of you are divorced? Divorce doesn’t just happen. And relationships don’t just end in an instant. [...] We all want to be loved…to be happy. So why aren’t we? Because we’ve become experts at sabotaging our own happiness. Feeling like victims, when in fact it’s the choices we make, the bad habits, the vices, the inability to show love and compassion. These are the things that tear us down. We’re not victims. We’re assassins when it comes to love and happiness.[...] Ah, we applaud the sentiment, but we don’t change. Why? Because we want what we want. So we do it, we say it, we try it and we victimize ourselves.[...] It’s a question of character. It’s really about who has better character. Is it Renee or Nathan?

Dan

Sometimes we fall short of the people we were meant to be. Sometimes people do things they’re ashamed of. And usually after the guilt sets in, we make things worse. My son Nathan Scott is a good man, but sometimes people do funny things in the face of pressure and desperation, and the truth, well, the truth is an absolute. And the truth can set you free. My name is Dan Scott (True). I love my wife Rachel (True). My son Nathan loves me (True). I’m president of the United States (True). I’m Santa Claus (True). I didn’t kill my brother (True). Life is funny isn’t it? Sometimes bad things happen to good people and it isn’t fair.

Dan

I've talked a lot about forgiveness. As you can imagine, a man like me has to believe in it. But I don't. Forgiveness doesn't exist. There's simply what you do... and how you pay for it. So remember that, when you practice whatever evil's in your heart... or when you cheat, or steal, or lust, or hate, or gossip, or covet, or whatever it is that you do, or you're planning to do, or you have done. There is no forgiveness. There's just what comes next. Take it from someone who's been there, who is there. There's only pain... and guilt... and the misery of knowing who you are, and what you did. So don't do it. Just stop... before it's too late. I miss you, big brother. Every second of every day.