“Stand it like a man and give some back.”

Al Swearengen, Deadwood

~ 0:00 mark (just watch all 1 minute 19 seconds of this glorious clip)

Context
Merrick, the local newspaper man, was recently beaten by a thug (trying to intimidate him and to get him to stop printing unfavorable pieces about his boss). Swearengen, the local bar owner, comes by to see why he isn’t back up and running again:

Swearengen:
Why ain’t you up and running again?

Merrick:
I’m in despair.
The physical damage is repairable, but the psychic wound may be permanent.

Swearengen:
(Leans forward, concern on his face)
You ever been beaten, Merrick?

Merrick:
(Rolls his eyes)
Once, when I thought I had the smallpox, Doc Cochran slapped me in the face.

Swearengen:
(quickly slaps Merrick in the face)

Merrick:
Ah! Stop it, Al.

Swearengen:
Are you dead?

Merrick:
Well, I’m in pain, but no, I’m obviously not dead.

Swearengen:
And obviously you didn’t fucking die when the Doc slapped you.

Merrick:
No.

Swearengen:
So including last night, that’s THREE fucking damage incidents that didn’t kill you.

Pain or damage don’t end the world, or despair or fuckin’ beatin’s. The world ends when you’re dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man — and give some back.