31+ Best R. Lee Ermey Quotes From The Military Actor
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R. Lee Ermey was a Marine drill instructor turned actor nominated for the Golden Globe awards.
R. Lee Ermey received the nomination for his best-known role as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in 'Full Metal Jacket' the 1987 movie. Read on to know how the drill instructor reached the Golden Globe nomination.
R. Lee Ermey was a kid and was found in a few troubles related to petty crimes. At the age of 17 when he was caught in his second petty crime, the police gave him two options: 1.
Jail 2. Military.
He definitively chose the Military and soon was enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. R. Lee Ermey served as a Marine drill instructor in India and served in the Marine units in Japan, South Vietnam, and California too.
During his course at the University of Manilla in Philipines, he tried his luck at his first movie break in the film named 'Apocalypse Now', using his G.I Bill or Military veteran benefits, and had no stop to his acting life after that.
He is now known as an actor and anchor, as well as a voice artist even after his death.
For a few best R. Lee Ermey quotes, 'Full Metal Jacket' Golden Globe nominee, check the list below. For more inspiration check John Wayne quotes and cowboy quotes.
Most Popular R. Lee Ermey Quotes From His Movies
Along with 'Full Metal Jacket', R. Lee Ermey has played a crucial role in many other films. Check this movie quotes list by R. Lee Ermey and his different characters from the movie.
1. "I do not need you to tell me what is or is not okay. In this courtroom, I am the one who decides what is or is not okay. Okay?"
- Judge Clawson, 'Murder In The First', 1995.
2. "I am Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, your senior drill instructor. From now on you will speak only when spoken to, and the first and last words... will be 'Sir'. Do you... understand that?"
- Sgt. Hartman, 'Full Metal Jacket', 1987.
3. "You're so ugly you could be a modern art masterpiece!"
- Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, 'Full Metal Jacket', 1987.
4. "Because I am hard, you will not like me. But the more you hate me, the more you will learn."
- Sgt. Hartman, 'Full Metal Jacket', 1987.
5. "Coach: What is it that I always said?
J.D. Wayne: If you can dream it, you can do it."
- 'Saving Silverman', 2001.
6. "Sgt. Hartman: Pvt. Pyle, if there is one thing in this world that I hate, it is an unlocked footlocker! You know that don't you?
Pvt. Pyle: Sir, yes, sir."
- 'Full Metal Jacket', 1987.
7. "Pvt. Joker: Sir, it is the private's duty to inform the senior drill instructor that Pvt. Pyle has a full magazine that is locked and loaded, Sir!
Sgt. Hartman:Now, you listen to me, Pvt. Pyle... I want that weapon, and I want it now. You will place that rifle on the deck at your feet, and step back away from it."
- 'Full Metal Jacket', 1987.
8. "He told the truth, and once you've heard the truth, everything else is just cheap whiskey."
- Sheriff Buck Olmstead, 'Switchback' 1997.
9. "If you ladies leave my island, if you survive recruit training, you will be a weapon. You will be a minister of death praying for war. But until that day... you are the lowest form of life on Earth."
- Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, 'Full Metal Jacket', 1987.
10. "This rotten war was gettin' to us: we'd stayed too long, and seen too much."
- Bill Hafner, 'The Siege Of Firebase Gloria', 1989.
11. "Sgt. Hartman: How tall are you, private?
Pvt. Cowboy:Sir, five-foot-nine, sir."
- 'Full Metal Jacket', 1987.
Inspiring R. Lee Ermey Quotes As An Actor
Being an actor is a way one can experience a number of roles and identities. Here are a few quotes by R. Lee Ermey with his experience of being an actor in a movie and more.
12. "In order to be a good actor, I'm a firm believer that you need to bring something to the table."
- R. Lee Ermey.
13. "Finally, mutually, and completely, they released all doubts, abandoned all fears, unwilling and unable to deny this overpowering love."
- R. Lee Ermey.
14. "I honestly do feel that I am a role model for young people."
- R. Lee Ermey.
15. "I spend a lot of time with my characters."
- R. Lee Ermey.
16. "Playing the good guy is tough..."
- R. Lee Ermey.
17. "Try as you may, you can never defy love."
- R. Lee Ermey.
18. "Every character I've ever played, I always try to take him right to the edge and not allow him to fall over..."
- R. Lee Ermey.
R. Lee Ermey Quotes About Marines And Army
Being the Marine Corps influential figure, R. Lee Ermey has a few quotes that talk about his experience before he entered the movie-line.
19. "For me, it's an honor for the military to ask me to go to Iraq, Afghanistan, or GITMO. I'm happy to go."
- R. Lee Ermey.
20. "Drill instructors worked seven days a week, fifteen to seventeen hours a day in many cases, with no time off in between platoons."
- R. Lee Ermey.
21. "There was a huge, tremendous amount of disabled veterans and the Veteran's Administration just wasn't geared up for it."
- R. Lee Ermey.
22. "The drill instructor must have total and complete control. Mindless obedience is what he's after."
- R. Lee Ermey.
23. "Your rifle is only a tool. It is a hard heart that kills. If your killer instincts are not clean and strong you will hesitate at the moment of truth."
- R. Lee Ermey, 'Full Metal Jacket', 1987.
24. "It's my firm conviction that when Uncle Sam calls, by God we go, and we do the best that we can."
- R. Lee Ermey.
25. "Without discipline, there is no Marine Corps."
- R. Lee Ermey.
26. "Back in those days, intimidation was the greatest tool the drill instructor had. Without that tool, he would not have had control."
- R. Lee Ermey.
Famous R. Lee Ermey Quotes To Remember
Be it as the Gunnery Sergeant Hartman or as R. Lee Ermey himself, here are a few R. Lee Ermey quotes that one can keep close to them forever.
27. "I don't have to be concerned about everybody else's character."
- R. Lee Ermey.
28. "The biggest problem was the politicians knew nothing about fighting a war."
- R. Lee Ermey.
29. "There's a lot of whiners in every crowd."
- R. Lee Ermey.
30. "Most of you will go to Vietnam. Some of you will not come back. But always remember this: Marines die."
- Sgt. Hartman, 'Full Metal Jacket', 1987.
31. "I hate to hear Less is more."
- R. Lee Ermey.
32. "I play well with everybody."
- R. Lee Ermey.
33. "I'm never like I say, I'm never happy, I'm never satisfied, it's never good enough."
- R. Lee Ermey.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotesfor everyone to enjoy! If you liked our quotes suggestions for R. Lee Ermey quotes then why not take a look at Cary Grant quotes, or Hollywood quotes.
Main image credit: Kraft74 / Shutterstock.com
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Master of Arts specializing in Mass Communication/Media Studies
Srija ChandaMaster of Arts specializing in Mass Communication/Media Studies
An aspiring media professional, Srija is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Mass Communication at St. Xavier's University, Kolkata, after completing her degree in journalism. With experience in PR and social media, she has also honed her leadership skills through her participation in a youth parliament. Srija's interests include devouring books, watching movies, and exploring new places through travel.
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