How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from No Country for Old Men.
Quote #4
"I always liked to hear about the old-timers. Never missed a chance to do so."
Sheriff Bell sure is stuck in the past, and constantly asking for stories about the "old-timers" probably has something to do with that. Just check out the way he talks about "old-timers," too, as though they're a totally different breed from us degenerate modern-day folk. Spoiler: people are just about the same now as they always have been.
Quote #5
"You can't help but compare yourself against the old-timers. Can't help but wonder how they'd have operated these times."
Sheriff Bell is always looking for guidance on how to respond to modern troubles. For that reason, he wishes that some of the old-time sheriffs were still around so he could see how they reacted to modern problems. Our guess? They'd have reacted a lot like he does.
Quote #6
"Your daddy ever tell you how Uncle Mac come to his reward?"
Ellis wants to but Sheriff Ed Tom's nostalgic bubble, so he tells the story of how a man named Uncle Mac was shot and killed on his front doorstep by a gang of thugs. See? Senseless violence has always been part of human nature. Aren't we lucky!