55 John Wayne Quotes From The Western Film Star
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John Wayne was something of an iconic American actor and filmmaker, who has acted in some of the best Western movies.
John Wayne has said some inspirational and the wisest of words throughout his life. Even his last words, "Of course I know who you are. You're my girl. I love you," have become famous.
The man acted in at least 80 movies in his lifetime and mostly in Western movies. He portrayed his roles in the best way. Hence, he has been nicknamed 'The Duke'. He also had a wise look on life. So, read up on our quotes to know more about the great man.
If you liked our John Wayne quotes go check out [Cary Grant] and Lucille Ball quotes.
Best John Wayne Quotes
These are a few of the best of John Wayne quotes about western quotes, some John Wayne horse quotes or John Wayne cowboy quotes.
1. "I do think we have a pretty wonderful country, and I thank God that He chose me to live here."
- John Wayne.
2. "I play John Wayne in every picture regardless of the character, and I've been doing all right, haven't I?"
- John Wayne.
3. "I've always had deep faith that there is a Supreme Being, there has to be."
- John Wayne.
4. "There must be some higher power or how else does all this stuff work?"
- John Wayne.
5. "I want to play a real man in all my films, and 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."
- John Wayne.
6. "Nobody should come to the movies unless he believes in heroes."
- John Wayne.
7. "I suppose my best attribute if you want to call it that, is sincerity. I can sell sincerity because that's the way I am."
- John Wayne.
8. "All I'm for is the liberty of the individual."
- John Wayne.
9. "I'm very conscious that people criticize Hollywood. Yet we've created a form, the Western, that can be understood in every country."
- John Wayne.
10. "I decided I was going to drag the bad guy to his feet and keep hitting him."
- John Wayne.
11. "Talk low, talk slow and don't say too much."
- John Wayne.
12. "I would like to be remembered, well ... the Mexicans have a phrase, 'Feo fuerte y formal'. Which means he was ugly, strong and had dignity."
- John Wayne.
13. "A man deserves a second chance, but keep an eye on him."
- John Wayne.
14. "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."
- John Wayne.
15. "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."
- John Wayne.
Famous John Wayne Quotes About Life
John Wayne had something of a distinct view on life. Here we have some John Wayne love quotes and life quotes that says it all.
16. "Those who like me already know me, and those who don't like me wouldn't want to read about me anyway."
- John Wayne.
17. "Don't ever for a minute make the mistake of looking down your nose at westerns."
- John Wayne.
18. "You can't whine and bellyache because somebody else got a good break and you didn't."
- John Wayne.
19. "Words are what men live by… words they say and mean."
- John Wayne.
20. "You can take everything a man has as long as you leave him his dignity."
- John Wayne.
21. "Life is getting up one more time than you've been knocked down."
- John Wayne.
22. "A man’s got to have a code, a creed to live by, no matter his job."
- John Wayne.
23. "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."
- John Wayne.
24. "A goal, a love, and a dream give you total control over your body and your life."
- John Wayne.
25. "I'd like to know why well-educated idiots keep apologizing for lazy and complaining people who think the world owes them a living."
- John Wayne.
John Wayne Inspirational Quotes
These are some inspirational quotes from John Wayne, like some John Wayne patriotic quotes and John Wayne quotes courage and what makes a man great quotes.
26. "A man ought to do what he thinks is right."
- John Wayne.
27. "There’s right and there’s wrong. Y’gotta do one or the other, do the other and you may be walking around, but you’re dead as a beaver hat.”
- John Wayne.
28. "When the road looks rough ahead, remember the 'Man upstairs' and the word hope. Hang onto both and 'tough it out'."
- John Wayne.
29. "You have to be a man before you can be a gentleman."
- John Wayne.
30. "True grit is making a decision and standing by it, doing what must be done."
- John Wayne.
31. "I'm not the sort to back away from a fight...I'm a guy who meets adversities head on."
- John Wayne.
32. "When you come against trouble, it’s never half as bad if you face up to it."
- John Wayne.
33. "I’m the stuff men are made of."
- John Wayne.
34. "Sure I love my country with all her faults. I'm not ashamed of that, never have been, never will be."
- John Wayne.
35. "Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway."
- John Wayne.
Famous Movie Quotes
Lastly, here are some of the iconic movie quotes and famous lines from movies of John Wayne that also include some a best movie quote about life and John Wayne 'The Shootist' quotes.
36. "No matter where people go, sooner or later there's the law. And sooner or later they find God's already been there."
- John Wayne as John Chisum, 'Chisum', 1970.
37. "I guess, into each life a little rain must fall."
- John Wayne as Sergeant Stryker, 'Sands of Iwo Jima', 1949.
38. "Every man wants his children to be better'n he was."
- John Wayne as Wil Andersen, 'The Cowboys', 1972.
39. "A man oughta do what he thinks is best."
- John Wayne as Hondo Lane, 'Hondo', 1953.
40. "Republic. I like the sound of the word… Some words can give you a feeling that makes your heart warm. Republic is one of those words."
- John Wayne as Davy Crockett, 'The Alamo', 1960.
41. "Liberty Valance: You lookin' for trouble, Doniphon?
Tom Doniphon: You aim to help me find some?"
- John Wayne as Tom Doniphon, 'The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance', 1962.
42. "He must learn that a man's word to anything, even his own destruction, is his honor."
- John Wayne as Lt. Col. Kirby York, 'Rio Grande', 1950.
43. "We brought nothing into this world and it's certain we can carry nothing out."
- John Wayne as Thomas Dunson, 'Red River', 1948.
44. "I've been called a lot of things, but not 'comfortable'!"
- John Wayne as Cord McNally, 'Rio Lobo', 1970.
45. "Sheriff J. P. Harrah: Cole, they laughed at me. Right in front of McLeod, they just laughed at me.
Cole Thornton: They've been laughing at you for a couple of months. You just haven't being sober enough to hear it."
- John Wayne as Cole Thornton, 'El Dorado', 1966.
46. "We are few, but we are still proud, for if a man loses pride in manhood he is nothing."
- John Wayne as George Washington McLintock, 'McLintock!', 1963.
47. "There'll be no locks or bolts between us, Mary Kate... except those in your own mercenary little heart!"
- John Wayne as Sean Thornton, 'The Quiet Man', 1952.
48. "Feathers: How does a... how does a man get to be a sheriff?
John T. Chance: Gets lazy. Gets tired of selling his gun all over. Decides to sell it in one place."
- John Wayne as John T. Chance, 'Rio Bravo', 1959.
49. "Baby sister, I was born game and I intend to go out that way."
- John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn, 'True Grit', 1969.
50. "Figure a man's only good for one oath at a time; I took mine to the Confederate States of America."
- John Wayne as Ethan Edwards, 'The Searchers', 1956.
51. "There are some things a man just can't run away from."
- John Wayne as The Ringo Kid, 'Stagecoach', 1939.
52. "Never apologize. It's a sign of weakness."
- John Wayne as Captain Nathan Brittles, 'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon', 1949.
53. "You're short on ears and long on mouth!"
- John Wayne as Jake, 'Big Jake', 1971.
54. "All battles are fought by scared men who'd rather be someplace else."
- John Wayne as Rear Admiral Rock Torrey, 'In Harm's Way', 1965.
55. "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."
- John Wayne as J.B. Books, 'The Shootist', 1976.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for John Wayne quotes then why not take a look at Katharine Hepburn, or Lauren Bacall quotes.
Article image credit: MM_photos / Shutterstock.com
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art
Georgia StoneBachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art
Georgia is an experienced Content Manager with a degree in French and Film Studies from King's College London and Bachelors degree from Université Paris-Sorbonne. Her passion for exploring the world and experiencing different cultures was sparked during her childhood in Switzerland and her year abroad in Paris. In her spare time, Georgia enjoys using London's excellent travel connections to explore further afield.
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