--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't tell how good a man or a…" description: "\"You can't tell how good a man or a watermelon is 'til they get thumped.\" — Roy Bean" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/roy-bean-38004_cowboy_you-can-t-tell-how-good-a-man-or-a-water_2440082.png" --- # You can't tell how good a man or a watermelon is 'til they… ![“You can't tell how good a man or a watermelon is 'til they get thumped.” quote by Roy Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/roy-bean-38004_cowboy_you-can-t-tell-how-good-a-man-or-a-water_2440082.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/roy-bean-38004_cowboy_you-can-t-tell-how-good-a-man-or-a-water_2440082.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/roy-bean-38004_cowboy_you-can-t-tell-how-good-a-man-or-a-water_2440082.png) > “You can't tell how good a man or a watermelon is 'til they get thumped.” [Roy Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bean/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person’s true character is revealed only after they face hardship or defeat. **In simple terms:** Character shows after failure. Key Takeaway Judge people after they’re tested. Themes character resilience judgment Mood cautious reflective Type observational advice When to use this quote - leadership evaluation - personal relationships - team dynamics - conflict resolution Key Concepts human nature integrity adversity Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess someone's character under stress? - What signs indicate genuine resilience? A Different Perspective People may act differently under pressure, masking true traits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cowboy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowboy/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [“Something thumped in front of me. A bottle of wine. “It’s fine if you drink directly from it,” was all Mor said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/something-thumped-in-front-of-me-a-bottle-of-wine-it-s-fine-if-you/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [Red and raw like my heart, pried from your's, the two beating, no longer together, but a thousand miles between them when only yesterday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/red-and-raw-like-my-heart-pried-from-your-s-the-two-beating-no-longer/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [Always take a good look at what you're about to eat. It's not so important to know what it is, but it's critical to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/texas-bix-bender/always-take-a-good-look-at-what-you-re-about-to-eat-it-s-not-so/) [Texas Bix Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/texas-bix-bender/) > [Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/never-slap-a-man-who-s-chewing-tobacco/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [Don't squat with your spurs on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/don-t-squat-with-your-spurs-on/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [Speak your mind, but ride a fast horse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/texas-bix-bender/speak-your-mind-but-ride-a-fast-horse/) [Texas Bix Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/texas-bix-bender/) > [If in another world there is any riding — and God forbid that I should go to any heaven in which there are no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bontine-cunninghame-graham/if-in-another-world-there-is-any-riding-and-god-forbid-that-i-should/) [Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bontine-cunninghame-graham/) > [It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/it-don-t-take-a-genius-to-spot-a-goat-in-a-flock-of-sheep/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [Whole watermelons will keep in the fridge for about a week with no negative consequences for the texture or flavor, while cut pieces are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sohla-el-waylly/whole-watermelons-will-keep-in-the-fridge-for-about-a-week-with-no/) [Sohla El-Waylly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sohla-el-waylly/) > [I don't know if this is an illusion but I would love to be able to take my card-throwing skills and be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-franco/i-don-t-know-if-this-is-an-illusion-but-i-would-love-to-be-able-to/) [Dave Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-franco/) > [“As for sex. Well, of course I could’ve had sex. Guys will have sex with a watermelon if they’re desperate enough. Lots of girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-matas/as-for-sex-well-of-course-i-could-ve-had-sex-guys-will-have-sex-with/) [Carol Matas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-matas/) > [“IT ALL BEGAN with the High Court case about the madman and the watermelons. The man in question, named Ivan, lived along the River…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/it-all-began-with-the-high-court-case-about-the-madman-and-the/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [A friend of mine said onions are the only food that makes you cry. That was before I hit him in the face with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-villaflor-amante/a-friend-of-mine-said-onions-are-the-only-food-that-makes-you-cry/) [Michelle Villaflor Amante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-villaflor-amante/) > [If you want to understand what a watermelon is, you take a watermelon, get a knife, and cut the watermelon. Then you put a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seungsahn/if-you-want-to-understand-what-a-watermelon-is-you-take-a-watermelon/) [Seungsahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seungsahn/) > [Watermelon - it's a good fruit. You eat, you drink, you wash your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-caruso/watermelon-it-s-a-good-fruit-you-eat-you-drink-you-wash-your-face/) [Enrico Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-caruso/) ## More by Roy Bean > [Spring with its wavin' green grass and heaps of sweet-smellin' flowers on every hill and in every dale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bean/spring-with-its-wavin-green-grass-and-heaps-of-sweet-smellin-flowers/) [Roy Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bean/) > [Don't interfere with something that ain't bothering' you none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bean/don-t-interfere-with-something-that-ain-t-bothering-you-none/) [Roy Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bean/) > [And finally Winter, with its bitin', whinin' wind, and all the land will be mantled with snow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bean/and-finally-winter-with-its-bitin-whinin-wind-and-all-the-land-will/) [Roy Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bean/) > [A decent cowboy does not take what belongs to someone else and if he does he deserves to be strung up and left for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bean/a-decent-cowboy-does-not-take-what-belongs-to-someone-else-and-if-he/) [Roy Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bean/) > [You have been tried by twelve good men and true, not of your peers but as high above you as heaven is of hell,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bean/you-have-been-tried-by-twelve-good-men-and-true-not-of-your-peers-but/) [Roy Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bean/) > [Gentlemen, I find the law very explicit on murdering your fellow man, but there's nothing here about killing a Chinaman. Case dismissed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bean/gentlemen-i-find-the-law-very-explicit-on-murdering-your-fellow-man/) [Roy Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bean/) > [Hang 'em first, try 'em later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bean/hang-em-first-try-em-later/) [Roy Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bean/) > [Time will pass and seasons will come and go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bean/time-will-pass-and-seasons-will-come-and-go/) [Roy Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bean/) > [And Fall, with her yeller harvest moon and the hills growin' brown and golden under a sinkin' sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bean/and-fall-with-her-yeller-harvest-moon-and-the-hills-growin-brown-and/) [Roy Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bean/) > [I find this corpse guilty of carrying a concealed weapon and I fine it $40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bean/i-find-this-corpse-guilty-of-carrying-a-concealed-weapon-and-i-fine/) [Roy Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bean/) > [I know the law... I am it's greatest transgressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bean/i-know-the-law-i-am-it-s-greatest-transgressor/) [Roy Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bean/) [Explore all 12 Roy Bean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bean/) ## More Cowboy quotes > [If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/if-lawyers-are-disbarred-and-clergymen-defrocked-doesn-t-it-follow/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [“I’ll always come back to you,” he said. “Always.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/i-ll-always-come-back-to-you-he-said-always/) [Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/) > [Whether I'm in the main event or on the preliminary card, the same Cowboy is going to be out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-cerrone/whether-i-m-in-the-main-event-or-on-the-preliminary-card-the-same/) [Donald Cerrone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-cerrone/) > [“Let's face it. I'm the romantic equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle. Men date me then disappear , never to be heard from again." Jaymes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-jaymes/let-s-face-it-i-m-the-romantic-equivalent-of-the-bermuda-triangle-men/) Olivia Jaymes > [Henry Kissinger may have wished I had presented him as a combination of Charles DeGaulle and Disraeli, but I didn't…out of respect for DeGaulle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/henry-kissinger-may-have-wished-i-had-presented-him-as-a-combination/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [“Howdy, ma'am. You always talk to yourself?” Velia glanced up into bright eyes, as blue as the flame on a cigarette lighter, belonging to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-mccoy-dressel/howdy-ma-am-you-always-talk-to-yourself-velia-glanced-up-into-bright/) [Mary J. McCoy-Dressel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-mccoy-dressel/) > [Freebird Michael Hayes was my first broadcast partner who was a pure, 100% antagonist. Hayes and I joined forces during Cowboy Bill Watts' attempt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/freebird-michael-hayes-was-my-first-broadcast-partner-who-was-a-pure/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) > [A lot of old guys in movies are like cowboys - they talk like cowboys and they dress like cowboys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/a-lot-of-old-guys-in-movies-are-like-cowboys-they-talk-like-cowboys/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [My uncle Claude was my favorite uncle he was also my godfather. He and I were really, really close. He used to take me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/my-uncle-claude-was-my-favorite-uncle-he-was-also-my-godfather-he-and/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [Sometimes a cowgirl has to do what a cowboy can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-a-cowgirl-has-to-do-what-a-cowboy-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you threw Elvis and a scarecrow in a blender, topped the whole thing off with Seagram's 7 and pressed dice, you would make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-portes/if-you-threw-elvis-and-a-scarecrow-in-a-blender-topped-the-whole/) [Andrea Portes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-portes/) > [I love vintage cowboy boots, and some days I'm into platform stilettos encrusted in jewels. It's really all over the place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kacey-musgraves/i-love-vintage-cowboy-boots-and-some-days-i-m-into-platform-stilettos/) [Kacey Musgraves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kacey-musgraves/) > [I wore hot pants and cowboy boots and I thought, 'What have I gotten myself into?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alek-wek/i-wore-hot-pants-and-cowboy-boots-and-i-thought-what-have-i-gotten/) [Alek Wek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alek-wek/) > [The thing that bothers me the most is the recklessness and greed of the local ranchers, who run too many cattle back here, choking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/the-thing-that-bothers-me-the-most-is-the-recklessness-and-greed-of/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [Spring comes with joyous laugh, and song, and sunshine, and the burnt sacrifice of the over-ripe boot and the hoary overshoe. The cowboy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-wilson-nye/spring-comes-with-joyous-laugh-and-song-and-sunshine-and-the-burnt/) [Edgar Wilson Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-wilson-nye/) [Browse all 710 Cowboy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowboy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't tell how good a man or a watermelon is 'til they get thumped.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Roy Bean" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bean/you-can-t-tell-how-good-a-man-or-a-watermelon-is-til-they-get-thumped/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cowboy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bean/you-can-t-tell-how-good-a-man-or-a-watermelon-is-til-they-get-thumped/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/roy-bean-38004_cowboy_you-can-t-tell-how-good-a-man-or-a-water_2440082.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/roy-bean-38004_cowboy_you-can-t-tell-how-good-a-man-or-a-water_2440082.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57c/roy-bean-38004_cowboy_you-can-t-tell-how-good-a-man-or-a-water_2440082.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't tell how good a man or a watermelon is 'til they get thumped.” — Roy Bean", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Roy Bean", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bean/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't tell how good a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bean/you-can-t-tell-how-good-a-man-or-a-watermelon-is-til-they-get-thumped/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bean/you-can-t-tell-how-good-a-man-or-a-watermelon-is-til-they-get-thumped/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```