107+ John Wayne Quotes

John Wayne was a legendary American actor and filmmaker who starred in over 170 films in his career.

He was known for his distinctive voice, rugged good looks, and iconic roles in Western and war films.

Some of his most famous movies include “Stagecoach,” “The Searchers,” and “True Grit.”

He was also known for his strong sense of patriotism, conservative political views, and his no-nonsense attitude.

John Wayne’s quotes are often characterized by their straightforwardness, strength, and patriotism. They reflect his views on life, politics, and the world around him. Here are some common characteristics of John Wayne quotes:

Straightforwardness: John Wayne’s quotes are often simple and direct, with no ambiguity or hidden meanings. He believed in speaking his mind and being honest, even if it meant being blunt.
Strength: John Wayne was known for his physical strength and his portrayal of strong, heroic characters on screen. His quotes often reflect this strength, emphasizing the importance of determination, courage, and self-reliance.
Patriotism: John Wayne was a staunch patriot who loved his country and believed in its values. Many of his quotes reflect this patriotism, emphasizing the importance of duty, honor, and loyalty to one’s country.
Conservative values: John Wayne was a conservative who believed in traditional American values, such as hard work, personal responsibility, and the importance of family. Many of his quotes reflect these values, as well as his views on issues such as the role of government.

Overall, John Wayne’s quotes reflect his no-nonsense, patriotic, and conservative worldview, and his belief in the importance of strength, determination, and self-reliance.

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John Wayne Quotes

Here are some John Wayne quotes:

“Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”
“Life is tough, but it’s tougher when you’re stupid.”
“I have a face that is a cross between two pounds of halibut and an explosion in an old clothes closet.”
“A man’s got to have a code, a creed to live by.”
“Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It’s perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we’ve learned something from yesterday.”
“I’m the stuff men are made of.”
“A goal, a love and a dream give you total control over your body and your life.”
“I won’t be wronged, I won’t be insulted, and I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.”
“I’m a dying breed, a dinosaur… a cowboy actor.”
“I’m not the sort to back away from a fight. I don’t believe in shrinking from anything. It’s not my speed; I’m a guy who meets adversities head-on.”
“I’m not the easiest guy in the world to get along with. So I’ll settle for saying that when I’m right, I’m right, and when I’m wrong, I’m wrong.”
“I’m a firm believer in giving credit where credit’s due.”
“I’ve always followed my father’s advice: he told me, first to always keep my word and, second, to never insult anybody unintentionally. If I insult you, you can be goddamn sure I intend to. And, third, he told me not to go around looking for trouble.”
“Talk low, talk slow, and don’t say too much.”
“A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.”
“All battles are fought by scared men who’d rather be someplace else.”
“I’d like to know why well-educated idiots keep apologizing for lazy and complaining people who think the world owes them a living.”
“There’s right and there’s wrong. You gotta do one or the other. You do the one and you’re living. You do the other and you may be walking around, but you’re dead as a beaver hat.”
“I won’t be happy until we have every boy in America between the ages of six and sixteen wearing a glove and swinging a bat.”
“I’m not the kind of man to bottle up my feelings, Kemo Sabe.”
“A man’s got to have a job, or he’s got to have money stored away somewhere.”
“When the road looks rough ahead, remember the ‘Man upstairs’ and the word Hope. Hang onto both and ‘tough it out’.”
“A man ought to do what he thinks is right.”
“I’ve always followed my father’s advice: he told me, first to always keep my word and, second, to never insult anybody unintentionally.”
“I have a great respect for the past. If you don’t know where you’ve come from, you don’t know where you’re going. I have respect for the past, but I’m a person of the moment. I’m here, and I do my best to be completely centered at the place I’m at, then I go forward to the next place.”
“I’m not the type to sit around and wait for things to happen.”
“A man’s gotta have a heart, even if it’s no bigger than a mustard seed.”
“I’m an American, and I’m proud of it. But I’m also proud of the fact that I’m Irish, and I’ve got a little bit of England in me too.”
“I’m not a good actor, but I’m the best John Wayne there is.”
“I never trust a man that doesn’t drink.”
“I define manhood simply: Men should be tough, fair, and courageous, never petty, never looking for a fight, but never backing down from one either.”
“All the screen cowboys behaved like real gentlemen. They didn’t drink, they didn’t smoke. When they knocked the bad guy down, they always stood with their fists up, waiting for the heavy to get back on his feet. I decided I was going to drag the bad guy to his feet and keep hitting him.”
“I’m a doer, not a talker.”
“You can take everything a man has, except his word.”
“I’m just an old-fashioned cowboy.”
“In Westerns, you were permitted to kiss your horse, but never your girl.”
“The only way to have a good time is to make sure you’re the one in control.”
“The time to worry about a drought is when the sun is shining.”
“I would like to be remembered as a man who had a wonderful time living life, a man who had good friends, fine family – and I don’t think I could ask for anything more than that, actually.”
“I’m a product of my own choices.”
“I’m not the kind of person to try to be hip or cool. I’m definitely an individual.”
“I have a lot of pride in the way I came up, in the way I lived, and in the way I worked.”
“I’m not a politician. I’m a businessman, and that’s what I care about most.”
“It’s not the years, honey, it’s the mileage.”
“When you come to see a show, you don’t wanna see the star up there feeling sorry for himself. You want to see somebody that’s really happy to be there.”
“In all my movies, I have played John Wayne, and no one else.”
“I’ve had great success being a total idiot.”
“I don’t feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves.”
“I was not a great actor, but I did a great job of acting like a great actor.”
“I’m not the type to sit and cry over spilled milk. I’m too busy cleaning it up.”
“Nobody should come to the movies unless he believes in heroes.”
“I never have been and never will be a politician. I think there are too many of those already.”
“I have tried to live my life so that my family would love me and my friends respect me. The others can do whatever the hell they please.”
“When the road gets dark – and you can no longer see – just let my love throw a spark – and have a little faith in me.”
“I was a much better actor when I didn’t have any lines.”
“It’s not enough to just have talent. You also have to be tough and resilient.”
“When you’re up to your neck in alligators, you forget that you came to drain the swamp.”
“I have never lost my faith in God.”
“I am a demonstrative man, a baby picker-upper, a hugger and a kisser – that’s my nature.”
“There is no need to be afraid of a woman, because the worst she can do is knock you on your butt.”
“I believe in white supremacy until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility. I don’t believe in giving authority and positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people.
“When you stop fighting, that’s death.”
“I was never a leading man. I’ve always been the sidekick.”
“I’m the guy who’ll take a punch and get up again. I’m not the type to sit and cry over spilled milk.”
“A man’s got to have a heart, even if it’s no bigger than a mustard seed.”
“I never have been and never will be a quitter.”
“I believe in working hard and playing hard.”
“I have a great deal of respect for the past. If you don’t know where you come from, then you don’t know where you’re going.”
“I don’t talk about my personal life. It’s a patriotic duty to keep it private.”
“I’ve always been lucky in life. I’ve always had a good time. It’s been fun.”

Famous John Wayne Movie Quotes

Famous John Wayne Movie Quotes:

“I won’t be wronged. I won’t be insulted. I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.” – The Shootist (1976)
“Well, there are some things a man just can’t run away from.” – Stagecoach (1939)
“A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.” – The Alamo (1960)
“Out here, due process is a bullet.” – The Green Berets (1968)
“Life is tough, but it’s tougher when you’re stupid.” – Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)
“You’re short on ears and long on mouth.” – The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
“There’s right and there’s wrong. You got to do one or the other. You do the one and you’re living. You do the other and you may be walking around, but you’re dead as a beaver hat.” – The Sacketts (1979)
“I’m the stuff men are made of.” – Red River (1948)
“All battles are fought by scared men who’d rather be some place else.” – In Harm’s Way (1965)
“Never apologize and never explain. It’s a sign of weakness.” – She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)

Best John Wayne Quotes

Best John Wayne Quotes:

“Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”
“Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It’s perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we’ve learned something from yesterday.”
“Life is tough, but it’s tougher when you’re stupid.”
“I’m the stuff men are made of.”
“I’m the guy who’ll be remembered as John Wayne because that’s what he calls me and nobody ever said a word about it.”
“Talk low, talk slow and don’t say too much.”
“I have tried to live my life so that my family would love me and my friends respect me. The others can do whatever the hell they please.”
“I never have really become accustomed to the limelight and all the things that go with it.”
“I won’t be wronged. I won’t be insulted. I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.”
“I’ve had a hell of a lot of fun and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

John Wayne Quotes About Life

John Wayne Quotes About Life:

“Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It’s perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we’ve learned something from yesterday.”
“Life is hard; it’s harder if you’re stupid.”
“I’m an American, and I love my country. And because I love my country, I want it to be a better country. If you don’t like what’s going on here, then leave it. Or better yet, work to change it.”
“The four pillars of life are attitude, integrity, discipline, and gratitude.”
“Life is tough, but it’s tougher when you’re stupid.”
“The things that are most worthwhile in life are the things that require effort, but which ultimately bring the greatest satisfaction.”
“In life, it’s not what you do, it’s how you do it.”
“I’ve always followed my father’s advice: he told me, first to always keep my word and, second, to never insult anybody unintentionally. If I insult you, you can be goddamn sure I intend to.”
“When the road looks rough ahead, remember the ‘Man upstairs’ and the word HOPE. Hang onto both and ‘tough it out’.”

John Wayne Cowboy Quotes

John Wayne Cowboy Quotes:

“I won’t be wronged. I won’t be insulted. I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.”
“A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.”
“Life’s hard. It’s even harder when you’re stupid.”
“I’m the stuff men are made of.”
“Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”
“A man ought to do what he thinks is right.”
“There’s right and there’s wrong. You got to do one or the other. You do the one and you’re living. You do the other and you may be walking around, but you’re dead as a beaver hat.”
“It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got.”
“Talk low, talk slow and don’t say too much.”
“I have never in my life seen a Kentuckian who didn’t have a g-u-n, a pack of cards, and a jug of whiskey.”

FAQs – John Wayne Quotes

What were John Wayne’s most common catchphrases?

John Wayne had several catchphrases that he was known for, including:

“Pilgrim” – This was one of John Wayne’s most famous catchphrases and was used in several of his films, including “The Searchers” and “Stagecoach.”
“Well, now…” – John Wayne often used this phrase as a lead-in to a statement or response.
“That’ll be the day!” – This catchphrase was popularized by John Wayne’s role in “The Searchers” and has since become a well-known expression.
“A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.” – This catchphrase has become a popular expression and was used by John Wayne in several of his films.
“Listen, pilgrim…” – Similar to his use of “Pilgrim” on its own, John Wayne would often begin a sentence with “Listen, pilgrim” as a way of getting someone’s attention or making a point.
“Talk low, talk slow, and don’t say too much.” – This phrase, used by John Wayne in “The Shootist,” has become a popular expression for speaking with authority and confidence.
“Fill your hands, you son of a b****!” – This catchphrase, used by John Wayne in “True Grit,” has become a well-known expression for challenging someone to a fight or confrontation.
“I’m not gonna apologize for who I am.” – This catchphrase, used by John Wayne in “The Shootist,” has become a popular expression for being unapologetically true to oneself.
“Never apologize and never explain. It’s a sign of weakness.” – This catchphrase, used by John Wayne in “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,” has become a popular expression for standing by one’s actions without justification.
“Out here, due process is a bullet.” – This catchphrase, used by John Wayne in “The Green Berets,” has become a popular expression for the harsh realities of combat and war.

Did John Wayne know Ronald Reagan?

Yes, John Wayne and Ronald Reagan knew each other. They were both actors in Hollywood during the same era, and they both served as presidents of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) at different times.

They first met in 1947 when Reagan was running for the presidency of SAG, and Wayne was one of his supporters.

They became good friends over the years and shared similar conservative political views.

Wayne also supported Reagan’s bid for governor of California in 1966.

Wayne died in 1979 before Reagan was elected president in 1980 over Jimmy Carter.

Reagan also paid tribute to Wayne after his death, calling him a “great American” and a “true patriot.”

Conclusion – John Wayne Quotes

John Wayne was a legendary actor and filmmaker whose quotes are still relevant today.

He was known for his straightforwardness, strength, patriotism, and conservative values.

Many of his quotes emphasized the importance of hard work, determination, and self-reliance, and reflected his belief in the values of the American West.

His quotes continue to inspire and resonate with people, serving as a reminder of the strength and resilience that we all possess within us.