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3 Meanings of The Dude Abides

 ,
Yeah, well - the Dude abides.
~ The Dude, The Big Lebowski, Last Scene
The dude abides are the last lines spoken by main character, The Dude, in the 1998 film The Big Lebowski. This is interpreted as having philosophical connotations such that people have debated what exactly this phrase means. The following are possible interpretations.

Takin' 'er Easy For All Us Sinners

The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners.
~ The Stranger, The Big Lebowski, Last Scene
The phrase the dude abides occurs in the final scene of the film in a conversation between The Dude and The Stranger. The Stranger appears to directly clarify the phrase in the quote above. His interpretation is that this means the dude will be " Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners." This is a common interpretation whereby people feel that it means that the dude will follow the path of dudeness without much resistance.

Taoism

Can you remain tranquil until right action occurs by itself?
~ Tao Te Ching, Chapter 15
There are clear parallels between the behavior of The Dude and spiritual traditions such as Taoism that advocate going with the flow without resistance. As such, the dude abides has been compared to classical works such as the Tao Te Ching.

The Dude Lives On

One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the Earth abideth for ever.
~ Ecclesiastes 1:4 (KJV)
An alternative explanation for the dude abides is the idea that The Dude lives on. This is found in the words of The Stranger with "It's good knowin' he's out there." The word abide or abideth is traditionally used for things that are eternal or that last for a long time as in the quote above.
Overview: The Dude Abides
Type
Definition
The last lines spoken by main character, The Dude, in the 1998 film The Big Lebowski.
Interpretation (1)
Going with the flow without resistance.
Interpretation (2)
The idea that The Dude lives on whereby the character The Dude from the film The Big Lebowski is still out there somewhere.
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