Duane Chapman Quotes

Powerful Duane Chapman for Daily Growth

About Duane Chapman

Duane Lee Chapman, popularly known as Dog the Bounty Hunter, is an American bounty hunter, bail bondsman, and television personality. Born on February 2, 1953, in Denver, Colorado, Chapman grew up in a challenging environment, with a troubled family life that included multiple foster homes and a brief stint in prison for first-degree murder. However, these experiences fueled his determination to turn his life around and become a respected law enforcement figure. Chapman's professional career began in the 1970s when he worked as a bounty hunter in Colorado. He later moved to Hawaii, where he founded the Honolulu-based Da Kine Bail Bonds agency. It was here that Chapman gained national attention with his unconventional and often dramatic methods of apprehending fugitives, which were documented in the popular A&E reality TV series "Dog the Bounty Hunter," which ran from 2003 to 2012. Chapman's life and career have been marked by high-profile cases, including tracking down Andrew Luster (the "Bluebeard" heir) and assisting in the apprehension of Max Factor cosmetics heir Andrew Lustig. His memoir, "You Can Run but You Can't Hide," published in 2007, offers an insightful look into his life and career. After his TV show ended, Chapman continued to work as a bounty hunter while also pursuing new ventures such as writing additional books, speaking engagements, and even running for political office. Despite the ups and downs in his personal life, including the loss of his wife Beth Chapman to cancer in 2019, Duane Chapman remains a larger-than-life figure in the world of law enforcement and reality TV.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I'm not a preacher of hate; I'm a man of love who hates sin."

This quote suggests that Duane Chapman, also known as "Dog The Bounty Hunter," identifies strongly with the principles of love but finds issue with the actions or behaviors (sin) that deviate from those principles. In other words, he is a person who believes in love and compassion but expresses disapproval towards behaviors or choices that are considered immoral or harmful. It's important to note that this quote does not imply a message of hate but rather one of strong moral conviction against sinful acts.


"When you go after the bad guys, it's like turning on a light switch in a dark room. All the cockroaches scurry."

This quote by Duane "Dog" Chapman suggests that when pursuing or exposing those who engage in wrongdoings (the "bad guys"), it inevitably causes an upheaval, much like turning on a light in a dark room startles hidden pests (the "cockroaches"). The "cockroaches" represent other individuals who might be involved, complicit, or motivated by the same kind of illicit activities. It implies that such actions tend to bring out those who hide from the light of justice, leading to an exposure and potentially resolution of a larger issue.


"God didn't create all men equal... He created men equal in His image. But as far as intelligence goes, there is no equality."

Duane "Dog" Chapman suggests that while all people share the commonality of being created in God's image, they may not be equal in terms of intellectual capacity. This quote implies a recognition of inherent human dignity and divine origin, while acknowledging the diversity in cognitive abilities among individuals. However, it is essential to remember that intelligence is multi-dimensional and encompasses various aspects such as emotional, social, creative, and practical intelligence, not just academic intelligence. Furthermore, the quote does not justify inequality or discrimination but rather points out natural differences that exist between people.


"I've got my God-given instincts and I follow them."

Duane Chapman's quote signifies that he trusts his inherent, inner guidance or intuition from a higher power in making decisions and guiding his actions. This implies faith in one's own instincts, while also acknowledging their divine origin, as he refers to them as "God-given." The emphasis on following these instincts indicates a proactive stance towards life choices and decisions, reflecting his personal philosophy or code of conduct.


"If you can't catch 'em, you can't brag about it." (often misattributed to Chapman, this quote is actually from another bounty hunter, Art Rowe)

This quote implies that boasting or taking pride in something only has value if one has actually achieved or accomplished it. In the context of bounty hunting, catching a criminal (or 'them') signifies a successful hunt, hence, the catcher can rightfully brag about it. The implication is that merely talking about potential success without tangible evidence or results does not hold merit.


You can't be afraid to put out a fire if you're a fireman. You can't be afraid to be a police officer and carry a gun if you're afraid to get up and go out there. So you've got to put that fear to the side and go out in faith to overcome that.

- Duane Chapman

Gun, Side, Officer, Faith

Faith is the substance of hope - of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. So if you can hope for it and imagine it, and keep imagining and hoping and seeing yourself driving a new car, or seeing yourself getting that job, or seeing yourself excel, seeing yourself help that person - that is faith.

- Duane Chapman

Hope, Evidence, Hoped, Faith

As a bounty hunter, I have to dress the part. If I came to the door and looked like Carrot Top, you'd laugh.

- Duane Chapman

Dress, Door, Carrot Top, Bounty

When I was a child I liked watching shows about bounty hunters and Canadian Mounties. I liked the 'Lone Ranger,' I liked shows where the guy saved the girl from the villain. I just liked those kinds of things and I wanted to be a guy like that, you know, that would save the damsel in distress.

- Duane Chapman

Villain, Distress, Hunters, Bounty

I have the utmost respect and 'aloha' for black people - who have already suffered so much due to racial discrimination and acts of hatred.

- Duane Chapman

People, Black, Acts, Utmost Respect

And I used to say, 'I'm black, too.' In other words, I - my whole life I've been called a half-breed, a convict, king of the trailer trash, this and that. I take that and stand.

- Duane Chapman

King, Other, Been, Trailer

I've always taken pride to be the white guy that can talk to the black people, that can refer to them truly as a brother from a different mother.

- Duane Chapman

Black, Always, Guy, Refer

The closest thing to hell on earth is prison. It's the worst experience I've ever had in my life. Besides death.

- Duane Chapman

Death, My Life, Had, Closest

My father is the reason I am the way I am today. He's why I acted up and he's why I prayed to be the opposite of him. We made up before he died but I vowed to never raise my kids like how he raised me.

- Duane Chapman

Father, Reason, Before, Vowed

I'm marrying my common-law wife, Beth, the Christian way, with a preacher and all that.

- Duane Chapman

Wife, Christian, Preacher, Marrying

Everybody's under God's planet, and God is the Almighty, the Beginning, the End, the Alpha, the Omega. He's Big Daddy. He gives out these little soldiers and sons and angels and saints to help everybody else get through to him. I'm not the 'Jesus-only or you're going to Hell' kind of guy.

- Duane Chapman

Big, Through, Everybody, Alpha

If I was Judge Del Rosario, I would say Ili, of all people, you know better.

- Duane Chapman

People, Better, Say, All People

We believe that God is big enough to give every nationality their own religion, as he's given them their own taste in food, in plants, in furniture, and housing. I think that each religion has their basic Christ-ish way to get to the Everlasting God.

- Duane Chapman

Big, Housing, I Think, Nationality

I've been a biker, I've been a convict, I've been a husband, father, and son.

- Duane Chapman

Father, Son, Been, Father And Son

In Hawaii, we have something called Ho'oponopono, where people come together to resolve crises and restore peace and balance.

- Duane Chapman

Resolve, Restore, Crises, Together

I love what I do. I love to capture the guy. I love to tell the victim 'Don't worry anymore. They're in jail.' And this is my way to heaven. This is my way to contribute to America what I know how to do best, and that's chase down the predator.

- Duane Chapman

Love, Tell, Contribute, Predator

I have a hard problem, being some part Native American - being a Christian: do you get burned, do you get cremated, do you get - let the sharks eat you? How do you die?

- Duane Chapman

Die, Some, Part, Burned

Born on a mountain, raised in a cave. Arresting fugitives is all I crave.

- Duane Chapman

Mountain, Cave, Arresting, Crave

I was in prison for a charge in Texas, murder one. Back in the '70s in Texas, I was there. I heard the shot. I was in the car.

- Duane Chapman

Car, Back, Charge, Prison

I'm Native American, so it's in my blood to always want brothers and friends. I'm a good brotherhood guy.

- Duane Chapman

Want, Always, Brothers, Native

I'm going to be Dog, and I'm going to be an entertainer. And I'm going to make mistakes.

- Duane Chapman

Dog, Mistakes, Going, Entertainer

I'm very emotional. That's why I wear shades a lot.

- Duane Chapman

Emotional, Very, Lot, Shades

Six men can carry you or 12 men can judge you. You decide!

- Duane Chapman

Men, Decide, Six, Judge

When someone is looking down, they're saying no. When they're looking up, they're looking to their brain for memory. When they look to the left, they're looking for a lie or something they memorized. When they look to the right, they're feeling sorry - they don't want to answer.

- Duane Chapman

Memory, Lie, Want, Sorry

Dog is God spelled backward.

- Duane Chapman

God, Backward, Dog

It's just like being a father; you got to show them love and you got to show them the path. I don't like this role-model stuff, though.

- Duane Chapman

Love, Like, Though, Path

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