Ozark: 20 Best Ruth Quotes @ Its Prime Media

June 21, 2020, 5:30 p.m.

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Ozark: 20 Best Ruth Quotes

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Summary Ruth Langmore's abundance of witty and on-target quotes sets her apart as one of the most memorable characters in Ozark.

Julia Garner's delivery of Ruth's iconic lines helped her win three Emmys and made Ozark one of the most-watched shows on Netflix.

Ruth's love-hate relationship with Marty Byrde and her journey throughout the show contribute to her transformation into one of the best characters on Ozark.

Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the Netflix series Ozark and discussions of ableism, drugs, and misogynistic language.

Ruth Langmore quotes show why the character became one of the most memorable in the crime drama Ozark. Ruth (Julia Garner) is often tough, fearless, and very intelligent. Her love-hate relationship with the show's main character, Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman), is always entertaining. One minute she will die for him, and the next minute she wants to kill him. Both her interaction with Marty and her journey through the show helped her morph into the best character on Ozark other than the Byrde family, and fans watched her spiral to an eventful conclusion.

Julia Garner won three Emmys for Best Supporting Actress In A Drama Series in 2019, 2020, and 2022 for her performance as Ruth in Ozark. One of the big things that makes Ruth Langmore stand out is her abundance of brilliant quotes, often witty and very much on target. It is Garner's delivery of these iconic lines that helped bring her awards recognition and helped Ozark become one of the most-watched shows on Netflix for four thrilling seasons. In the end, the Ozark cast might not have had a better character than Ruth Langmore.

Related Why Ozark Ended After Season 4 (Was It Canceled?) Ozark finished after its fourth season, but many audiences are confused as to whether or not this was actually the creators' own decision.

20 "What You Got Ain’t A Disability, Just Poor Judgment."

Season 3, Episode 5: "It Came From Michoacán"

Joseph Sikora's Ozark villain Frank Cosgrove Jr — the entitled son of the Kansas City mob boss — has mostly had a terrible relationship with Ruth (at least until the last season). He spent most of his days in Marty's casino trying his luck at high-stakes card games. During the games, he was often unruly and couldn't refrain from using foul language.

When he shows up one day and parks his Dodge Challenger in the area allocated for people with disabilities, Ruth doesn't hesitate to call him out for it. And she does so in the most offensive way possible by making fun of his level of intelligence, leading to one of the best Ruth quotes from Ozark season 3. It's the kind of biting remark that made Ruth such a fan-favorite character in Ozark, and also showed that she was never afraid to put Frank in his place, despite his family connections.

19 "If I Was Kidding I Would've Said You're Witty And Handsome."

Season 1, Episode 3: "My Dripping Sleep"

In the third episode of Ozark season 1, "My Dripping Sleep", Ruth puts the $20,000 they took from Marty in a cabinet in the trailer. Neither Russ (Marc Menchaca) nor Boyd (Christopher James Barker) feels it is a safe spot, so Russ asks her if she's kidding. She bluntly demonstrates her honesty by reminding Russ what she'd have said if she were.

As she leaves to go look for Marty, she lets Russ know that if she was kidding, she would have praised his looks. Russ looked nothing close to a male model on a magazine cover, so the joke landed perfectly. This is yet another example of Ruth's incredibly scathing wit that made her so popular. It also shows how Ruth is willing to dismiss anyone around her, even her own uncle.

18 "Look, I Know I Kissed You Last Night, But It's Coz I Thought I Was Gonna Die."

Season 3, Episode 9: "Fire Pink"

After Marty gets kidnapped by Navarro's (Felix Solis) men and then Navarro's bank account gets flagged, Ruth, Wendy (Laura Linney), and Helen (Janet McTeeer) begin freaking out. Ben (Tom Pelphrey), who had been trying to woo Ruth, went to the trailer park to see her. He told her he wouldn't go anywhere until he knew she was safe. Ruth was awed by Ben, so she kissed him.

One of the best Ruth quotes in Ozark came when she let Ben know that she didn't kiss him because she liked him.

The next day, Ben showed up again, but Ruth didn't seem so pleased to see him. One of the best Ruth quotes in Ozark came when she let Ben know that she didn't kiss him because she liked him. She only did so because the Marty incident had made her scared. It's that kind of humorous ruthlessness that makes her one of the best characters in Ozark.

17 "How's About Instead Of S*****n’ On Me, You Get Your Own House In Order?"

Season 3, Episode 10: "All In"

Ruth and Marty certainly have a love-hate style relationship, with Marty often trying to control Ruth as he believes he is better than her throughout the show. This eventually becomes a big problem for them, and this is a great moment for Ruth. Marty might technically be Ruth's boss, but he certainly is no better than her when it comes to making questionable decisions and breaking laws.

Despite the dynamic of their relationship, Ruth didn't treat Marty any differently from other Ozark characters when it came to her sharp tongue, and the confrontations between the two were always momorable. This Ruth Ozark quote is a perfect example of Ruth putting Marty in his place. She makes it clear that he needs to sort his problems out before blaming her, which is his usual go-to decision.

Related How Old Is Ruth Langmore In Ozark? Although the events of Ozark's confusing timeline occur during small time spans, Ruth Langmore matures much more than her age implies.

16 "Was He Murdered?"

Season 3, Episode 3: "Kevin Cronon Was Here"

Marty isn't the only person Ruth is prepared to talk back to and silence, as she showcases when Helen begins to creep into her life. Helen Pierce, played by Janet McTeer, was introduced in Ozark season 2 and was one of the most intimidating presences on the show, though this didn't seem to impact the way Ruth dealt with her.

While most of the other characters are petrified of Helen, that isn't the case with Ruth, who isn't as intimidated by her. When Helen tries to sympathize with Ruth by pointing out that her father died when she was the same age as Ruth, she quickly fires back by asking if he was murdered. It's clearly a moment of her telling Helen to be silent, as they can't be compared, and it makes for a fantastic encounter between them.

15 "Y'all Need To Have A Story. For instance, Old Auntie Dips**t Just Left Me A Whole Bundle And She Dropped Dead And Yadda Yadda Yadda."

Season 3, Episode 4: "Boss Fight"

Ozark season 3 was one of the most intense of the show, and the upped stakes also led to some of the best Ruth quotes in the entire series, showing that even impending danger wouldn't put a dent in her unflappable humor. After Navarro kidnaps Marty, he demands that business go on as usual. So, Ruth did her best to fill her boss's shoes.

Since the FBI agent, Maya (Jessica Frances Dukes), was watching every move, Ruth and Wendy came up with a perfect plan to launder money without Maya’s noticing. They assembled a group of stooge players (including Ben) and gave them $9000 each. Their job was to go to the casino, lose the money, then get paid $1000. Ruth also did a great job of explaining to them what they should say if they were asked about the money's origins.

14 "I’ve Got A Pretty Strong F*****g Stomach… Pardon My French."

Season 2, Episode 7: "One Way Out"

Ruth Langmore has a habit of squeezing a swear word into nearly every sentence. She swears more than any other character in Ozark, and is always somehow endearing when she does so, just as she is when insulting her superiors or refusing to be intimidated by the likes of Helen.

This particular expletive filled Ruth Ozark quote about her strong stomach is hilarious because she expresses self-awareness of this by apologizing in her own way.

However, this particular expletive filled Ruth Ozark quote about her strong stomach is hilarious because she expresses self-awareness of this by apologizing in her own way. The moment comes in the funeral home while she's talking with the director, making it very clear that anything they show or tell her won't be an issue, alluding to the fact she's been through a lot and is made of tough stuff. The addition of "pardon my French" makes the scene even more comical and unforgettable.

13 "If You’re A Killer, Then I’m Snow White. And I Don’t See Any Dwarves Around."

Season 1, Episode 5: "Ruling Days"

In the Ozark season 1 episode "Ruling Days," Bobby's body is discovered at Marty's boat dock. The Sheriff takes a look at the sale documents for the strip club and concludes that neither Marty nor his wife had any motive to kill Bobby (Adam Boyer). Bobby's death is thus ruled as an accident. Later on, Marty explains to Ruth that he didn't kill Bobby.

Marty does this to make her feel comfortable and not be afraid of something similar happening to her. Ruth tells Marty that she is not concerned — not even close. However, as it's Ruth, she can't simply come out and say that she knows he's not as dangerous as others seem to think. She knows he is not a killer, but it's the characteristically colorful way she expresses her trust that makes this one of the best Ruth Langmore quotes.

Related Ozark Season 4: Why Ruth's Uncle Song Was Deeper Than You Realized In Ozark season 4, Ruth’s uncle sings John Prine’s song "Angel From Montgomery.” Here’s why the song was the perfect choice for the series finale.

12 "What The F**k Are You Gonna Do? Kill Me, You F****n’ B***h Wolf?"

Season 3, Episode 10: "All In"

After Ben gets killed by a cartel hitman, Ruth becomes angry and goes to confront Wendy in the finale of Ozark season 3. In turn, Wendy blames Ruth for what happened, since she is the one who organized his release from the psychiatric hospital. Ruth then asks what her boss is going to do to Wendy and quits, letting out yet another timeless expletive-filled Ruth Langmore quote instead of simply fielding the question.

Later on, the scheming Helen asks Ruth if she'd like to work for her, and she seems open to the idea. However, Helen died before this potentially interesting dynamic could come to fruition. Not only is the colorful language Ruth uses part of the reason this is such a memorable Ozark quote, but it's the absolute fearlessness she shows too.

11 "How About I Pop Those T**s And Squeeze Out The Silicon?"

Season 2, Episode 5: "Game Day"

One thing that is always clear about Ruth Langmore is that she has no filter, a fact made apparent by practically every line she delivers. This is a key reason she's the source of so many of the best Ozark quotes, as it's almost impossible to guess what she's going to say in any situation, but it's almost a certainty that it will be hilarious.

Ruth doesn't care who she offends, and she makes it a point to insult everyone.

Ruth doesn't care who she offends, and she makes it a point to insult everyone. This has led to many of the best Ruth Ozark quotes, and one of the most hilarious lines comes during an argument with the stripper, Jade, when she won't leave and keeps eavesdropping on her conversation in season 2. It's a quick remark that easily sends Jade on her way and shows how Ruth is able to shut down just about anyone with a well-timed insult.

10 "You Know, Wyatt, In Our World, It's Good To Be One Of The Smart Ones. Remember That, Okay?"

Season 1, Episode 3: "My Dripping Sleep"

Ruth isn't just a source of so many memorable Ozark quotes because she's foul-mouthed and has a sharp wit, but also because she's actually quite intelligent and insightful beneath her abrasive exterior. By the third episode of Ozark season 1, Ruth was already showing just how far wise she was compared to her relatives.

With reckless uncles like Boyd and Russ who would always drain her funds, she needed to figure out ways to make more money. She decided to blackmail Marty to pay her more money to keep the secrets. She also wanted him to make her more involved in the operations. While at it, she made sure to advise Wyatt (Charlie Tahan) not to be like the other members of the family who lack ambition, letting him know he could succeed where others failed.

9 "You Owe Me A Job."

Season 1, Episode 3: "My Dripping Truth"

Ruth Langmore is never one to beat around the bush, which is why she is one of the most endearing characters in Ozark. She has a way of getting to the point immediately. She follows this up with a great follow-up as she asks Marty if she's speaking Greek when he doesn't seem to understand, and it makes for a tremendous scene.

Ruth believes Marty cost her a job, and she demands that he replace it with another. It's the real starting point of their relationship, and it makes for a fun encounter. It showcases her no-nonsense personality and is an early hint at how she will be one of the smartest Ozark characters.

Related Where Is Ozark Filmed? Filming Locations Explained Take a look at Ozark filming locations to see where Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, and Julia Garner filmed Netflix’s Ozark season 4.

8 "Shut Your Nugget Mouth And Get The Hell Out."

Season 1, Episode 9: "Coffee, Black"

This Ruth quote from the Ozark season 1 episode "Coffee, Black" is yet another situation that shows many of Ruth's best and, somehow, funniest lines also seem to stream from the most intense situation that Julia Garner's character finds herself in. Intending to bring Marty down, the FBI made Ruth's uncle Russ wear a wire so that he could get some information from her.

Ruth quickly realized what was going on and decided to protect both herself and Marty by all means possible — but, of course, she expressed this insight to Russ using a characteristically colorful turn of phrase. When Russ insists on talking to her, she reasserts her dominance and bluntly tells him to shut his nugget mouth. Russ had no option but to be quiet, but his betrayal eventually led to his demise in the end.

7 "Everything He Touches Turns To Dogs**t. I’m Starting To Think We Might Be Related."

Season 3, Episode 9, "Fire Pink"

Ruth is an incredibly self-aware character, and she knows exactly what she and her own family are like — and the times when she uses this awarness in a humorous way with one of her trademark colorful observations often make for some of her best quotes in Ozark. When Ben gets released from the mental health facility thanks to Darlene (Lisa Emery) and the Sheriff, he still refuses to lay low.

After Ben reveals that he spoke to Helen's daughter, Ruth realizes that this means a death sentence for him so she makes plans to hide him. She takes him to Darlene's house where Wyatt is also staying. As she is speaking to Wyatt, she tells him that Ben is reckless and unpredictable, then jokes that he may be a long-lost Langmore.

6 “I Don’t Know S**t About F**k.”

Season 2, Episode 10, "The Gold Coast"

While many of Ruth's best Ozark quotes are quite lengthy, and have some kind of tongue-in-cheek double meaning, others are incredibly memorable simply due to being incredibly blunt and simple. Ruth's quote about now knowing "s***t about f**k" has become one of her most iconic ones on Ozark. It has become a popular meme when people want to joke about having no clue about something.

Ruth said the words in the tenth episode of the second season as Marty was trying to explain to her how to handle things when she took over the operation. Marty laid out everything in detail but Ruth was just not sure if she was cut out for it. She lets Marty that she doubts if she is the right person for the job, and when Marty insists, she emphasizes her concerns with expletives.

5 "God's A M**********r Isn't He? Built Me Smart Enough To Know How F****d Up My Life Is, But Not Quite Smart Enough To Haul My Ass Out Of It."

Season 4, Episode 4: "Ace Deuce"

There are several memorable Ruth quotes in Ozark that come from her interactions with Marty, the money-laundering antagonist played by Jason Batemen. Batemen and Garner have great antagonistic chemistry on-screen, and it's moments like this one from Ozark season 4 that really showcase it. In one of her more insightful conversations with Marty, Ozark viewers get a rare glimpse of Ruth's more vulnerable side with this season 4 quote.

Her line where she admits how she's not "smart enough" to get out of the circumstances she has been born into goes against her personality in Ozark.

She has lost her spot in the casino, her first love, and her relationship with Wyatt at this point. Her line where she admits how she's not "smart enough" to get out of the circumstances she has been born into goes against her personality in Ozark. She's usually the overconfident, egoistic, and brazen character who knows she can do anything, but not even Ruth Langmore is immune to the hardships of life.

Related Ozark: 10 Things We Still Need Answered After The Finale Though the finale of the Netflix series Ozark wraps up many of its storylines, there are still many questions that fans want answered.

4 "Why Would They Make DEFCON 1 Worse Than DEFCON 5?"

Season 4, Episode 7: "Sanctified"

Ruth provides some much-needed comic relief during the wild season 4 episode, “Sanctified.” When Marty goes to her to ask for a favor, she jokingly asks him if he ever just loses his keys, or if “every g*****n thing” with him is “DEFCON 5.” Marty explains with a hilarious straight face that “DEFCON 1 is worse than DEFCON 5,” which only momentarily confuses Ruth before she snaps back with how “they’re all f*****g bad.”

After Marty leaves, Ruth thinks out loud and asks why they would make “DEFCON 1 worse than DEFCON 5.” It’s a funny exchange in the middle of a serious situation that highlights how unintentionally humorous Ruth can be. It's also a quote that shows how she's insightful, since her observation definitely makes sense.

3 "Is That My Fault That You Can't Communicate For S**t With Your Wife?"

Season 3, Episode 3: "Kevin Cronon Was Here"

When Ruth gets caught in between Marty and Wendy's argument, she doesn't appreciate how Marty berates her for helping Wendy acquire the Big Muddy casino. Ruth had no idea they were having marital issues, and she had just gone and devised and flawlessly executed a plan for Wendy, which is why it's understandably disappointing that Marty would once again fail to see her brilliance.

Of course, Ruth doesn't bother healthily communicating her feelings. Instead, she just snaps at Marty for faulting her for his issues with Wendy. This brutal honesty makes for one of the best Ruth Langmore quotes, and like any instance where she puts Marty in his place is one of the episode's highlights.

2 "Brand It Like It’s The F*****g Moët Of Dope."

Season 4, Episode 2, "Let The Great World Spin"

While Ruth is usually quick to figure out the motivations driving other characters in Ozark, definitely doesn't understand Darlene straight away. Ruth doesn't realize how old-school and unreceptive Darlene is, as she is used to running her drug business her way. This traditional way of doing things extends to how she distributes her heroin, which Ruth disrupts by suggesting they create "the f*****g Moët of dope" by rebranding their drugs into luxury goods.

Still, what is a point of chagrin for Darlene is, as are many of Ruth's best quotes in the show, incredibly entertaining for the audience.

This is only one line in the wildly entertaining exchange between her and Wyatt at Darlene's dinner table. They laugh about how they'll turn it into "hipster heroin" and call the concept "from farm to needle." All of this happens as Darlene fumes in the background, making the humorous scene slightly tense. Still, what is a point of chagrin for Darlene is, as are many of Ruth's best quotes in the show, incredibly entertaining for the audience.

1 "If You Want To Stop Me, You're Gonna Have To F*****g Kill Me!"

Season 4, Episode 7: "Sanctified"

While many of the best Ruth Langmore quotes are those when she's insulting others, or making expletive-filled yet astute observations, perhaps the one that sticks out to audiences the most is when she's simply being tough as nails. Ruth's most memorable quote in Ozark is said during the final moments of the season 4 episode, "Sanctified."

After her devastating discovery of Wyatt's (and Darlene's) bodies, she can barely contain her rage as she drives over to the Byrdes' home to figure out who did it. Marty and Wendy's annoying response about not going after Javi only makes her even more furious, which eventually prompts her now iconic line about how they'll have to "f*****g kill" her if they want to stop her. Ozark viewers can feel her pain and anger.

Ozark Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Ozark is a drama-thriller that follows the Byrde family’s journey from their everyday, suburban Chicago life to their dangerous criminal enterprise in the Ozarks, Missouri. When financial advisor Marty Byrde sees a money-laundering scheme for a prolific Mexican drug cartel go wrong, he is forced to launder $500 million in five years to keep himself and his family safe. The series explores capitalism, family dynamics, and survival through the eyes of (anything but) ordinary Americans. Cast Julia Garner , Katrina Lenk , Damian Young , Felix Solis , Joseph Sikora , Sofia Hublitz , John Bedford Lloyd , Charlie Tahan , Jessica Frances Dukes , Ali Stroker , Lisa Emery , Adam Rothenberg , Laura Linney , Skylar Gaertner , CC Castillo , Jason Bateman , Bruno Bichir , Alfonso Herrera Release Date July 21, 2017 Seasons 4 Streaming Service(s) Netflix Showrunner Bill Dubuque Expand