70 Matthew McConaughey Quotes

Solomon Ibeh
Mar 15, 2023 By Solomon Ibeh
Originally Published on Feb 27, 2023
Fact-checked by Deepali Singhal
Matthew McConaughey on red carpet
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 9.2 Min

Matthew McConaughey had his breakout role with a supporting performance in the comedy 'Dazed And Confused'.

He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2014 for his role in the movie 'Dallas Buyers Club'. Over the years, the Academy Award-winning actor has provided us with many iconic moments and memorable quotes.

From the classic romantic comedy to the big science fiction blockbuster, McConaughey has had an impressive career and has a long list of memorable and inspiring quotes that can be drawn from his filmography. In this article, we've compiled some of the best Matthew McConaughey quotes to bring you some motivation and wise words.

So, sit back, relax, and get ready to explore the world of Matthew McConaughey.

Funny Matthew McConaughey Quotes

"The man who invented the hamburger was smart; the man who invented the cheeseburger was a genius."

"Now, you lose something in your life, or you come into a conflict, and there's gonna come a time that you're gonna know: There was a reason for that. And at the end of your life, all the things you thought were periods, they turn out to be commas. There was never a full stop in any of it."

"I think I can keep a rhythm to a beat, but there are quite a few people who would argue with me."

"There aren't many things that are universally cool, and it's cool not to litter. I'd never do it."

"The unsaid rule for living in a trailer park is: 'If the door's shut, don't come a-knockin.' But if it's open and you're walkin' by, feel free to say, 'Hello.' "

"God has shown me that it's a scientific fact that gratitude reciprocates."

"I will say this: one of the things that is a pain when you're expecting children is how much advice unsolicited people give you when you're not asking for it."

"I go on The Daily Beast. The Daily Beast is one of the websites that I check out."

"There are certain nights you and your image just aren't in the same bed." I have my own vocabulary. I love linguistics. That surprises people."

"Water's never clumsy."

"I say to the paparazzi, 'Fellas, take your shot and go.' It's just they usually find me on a beach."

"The best education I've had in my life is to travel."

"I think the discipline comes with turning that cellphone and Blackberry off and unplugging completely. You do that, and you go through some withdrawals in the beginning. You start thinking, 'Oh, do I need to do this? Do I need to do that?' You forget that we were doing just fine with the payphone."

Motivational Matthew McConaughey Quotes

"My rule is to break one sweat a day."

"There are three things to my account that I need each day. One of them is something to look up to, another is something to look forward to, and another is someone to chase."

"When I say I have gotten a lot more self-ish, I mean I am less concerned with what people think of me. I'm not worried about how I'm perceived. Selfish has always gotten a bad rap."

"Life is a series of commas, not periods."

"My number one thing? Don't overleverage yourself. Don't say you can do something when you really can't."

"In Texas, there is a certain honor of being a Texan that is a measure of doing something the best that you can."

"Life's barely long enough to get good at one thing. So be careful what you get good at."

"You want to be a writer? Start writing. Do you want to be a filmmaker? Start shooting stuff on your phone right now."

"Life is not a popularity contest. Take the hill, but first answer the question: What is my hill?"

"I talk to myself all the time. Just make sure you answer."

"I love having my hands in the dirt. It is never a science and always an art. There are no rules. And if it comes down to me versus that weed, I'm trying to pull out of the ground that doesn't want to come out? I know I'll win."

"A man should always have his diary on him. That way, he's guaranteed to have something incredible to read."

"If you want your hair to be thicker, cut it when the moon is about to be full - a heavy, full, waxing moon. Do not cut it when the moon's waning."

"I don't dabble and spend much mind or time dealing with; I don't know, people's perceptions of me. I truly don't."

"Good ideas are free – or at least they should be."

"There's a difference in thinking you are a champion and knowing that you are."

"Instead of denying these fears, declare them, say them out loud, admit them, give them the credit they deserve…Find the courage to overcome them."

"I've got a great sense of humor, and if I'm able to say or do something in a movie that people feel like they want to repeat, that's hugely flattering."

"Music is a really great creative tool for me, for different roles."

"There's a gap between what I want to do, what I do on camera, and what gets edited. Right? So the goal is to try and close the gaps."

"What's the biggest compliment is if I read a review and it's exactly what I wrote down in my diary before ever filming it. That's really cool. That's the biggest signifier of closing the gaps."

"I'm not arrogant enough to look back on my career and criticize my choices. It's really not my place."

"I love Los Angeles, and it's been very good to me, but if everyone is running around telling the stories, who's living them? You don't play characters that are celebrities – you play guys who know what to do when their septic tank's blocked."

“Sometimes which choice you make is not as important as making a choice and committing to it.”

"A denied expectation hurts more than a denied hope, while a fulfilled hope makes us happier than a fulfilled expectation."

"I believe the truth is only offensive when we're lying."

"Persist, pivot, or concede. It's up to us, our choice every time."

"I'd rather lose money having fun than make money being bored."

"When you can design your own weather, blow in the breeze. When you're stuck in the storm, pray for luck and make the best of it."

"If everything we did was right, we'd never know what was wrong."

"The inevitability of a situation is not relative; when we accept the outcome of a given situation as inevitable, then how we choose to deal with it is relative."

"I've never been a jealous person, and I've never felt built up by someone else's failure - that's a cheap thrill."

"We dissect failure a lot more than we dissect success."

Matthew McConaughey Quotes From His Movies

"Let me tell you this, the older you do get, the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin' man, L-I-V-I-N." - 'Dazed And Confused', 1993

"Hook me up to the morphine drip, let me fade on out? Nah. Sorry, lady, but I prefer to die with my boots on." - 'Dallas Buyers Club', 2013

"When you take that field today, you've got to lay that heart on the line, men. From the souls of your feet, with every ounce of blood you've got in your body, lay it on the line until the final whistle blows.

And if you do that, if you do that, we cannot lose. We may be behind on the scoreboard at the end of the game, but if you play like that, we cannot be defeated." - 'We Are Marshall', 2006

"And until we can see each other as equals, justice is never going to be even-handed. It will remain nothing more than a reflection of our own prejudices." - 'A Time To Kill', 1996

"What's so special about the wind? Surfing is to... be with that mystery. To ride that mystery for as long as you can. And then when it's over, that's cool because you know what? You were there, in line and on time." - ‘Surfer, Dude’, 2008

"There are fierce powers at work in the world, boys. Good, evil, poor luck, best luck. As men, we've got to take advantage where we can." - ‘Mud’, 2012

"Is the world fundamentally a better place because of science and technology? We shop at home; we surf the web... at the same time, we feel emptier, lonelier and more cut off from each other than at any other time in human history..." - 'Lone Star', 1996

Matthew McConaughey Quotes About Love

"What the heck is true love? I remember feeling, back when I was 12 and 'going' with this girl, 'Is this true love?'"

“My wife and I don't compete. We know each other's preferences, and we work to provide those for each other. One will take over when the other is faced with something he or she dislikes. That's what friends do.”

"When I see grace in a woman, that's very sexy. You can tell by how someone moves or their rhythm."

"We have a big appetite for putting people down, but, at the heart of everyone, there's enough room for all of us to succeed."

"To bring a healthy child into this world, raise them right and watch them grow is the biggest miracle there is."

"I don't dislike any of my exes. If I took time to form a relationship, it's gonna hurt when we move on, but are you puttin' White-Out over all that beautiful time together? That was real-time in your life. It's connected to where you are today."

"I've got incredible support from my wife and family and people around me. I've got great people around me who handle anything on the outside, business-wise, who help free me up to create in my job."

"Sure, I can get a little bit jealous. The good part about jealousy is that it comes from passion. It's also the dangerous part, and it's an ugly emotion that hurts."

Matthew McConaughey Quotes From 'Greenlights'

"Don't walk into a place like you wanna buy it, walk in like you own it."

"Can we live in a way where we look forward to looking back?"

"To lose the power of confrontation is to lose the power of unity."

"Sometimes we don't need advice. Sometimes we just need to hear we're not the only one."

"Travel and humanity have been my greatest educators. They have helped me understand the common denominator of mankind. Values."

"All destruction eventually leads to construction; all death eventually leads to birth; all pain eventually leads to pleasure. In this life or the next, what goes down will come up."

"Now you can shut that door on me, or we can walk through it together."

“The best advice comes from people who don't give advice.”

“Guilt and regret kill many a man before their time. Get off the ride. You are the author of the book of your life. Turn the page.”

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Sources

https://www.chron.com/culture/celebrities/slideshow/Matthew-McConaughey-s-best-film-quotes-102098.php

https://everydaypower.com/matthew-mcconaughey-quotes/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/3636965.Matthew_McConaughey

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Written by Solomon Ibeh

Bachelor of Engineering

Solomon Ibeh picture

Solomon IbehBachelor of Engineering

As an engineering graduate from the University of Benin, Solomon is a highly skilled professional with a diverse background in education, engineering, and digital marketing. He brings a strong analytical mindset and problem-solving skills to his work. His experience working on campaigns for companies such as Facebook, including the No False News Zone, Made4Africa, and the CBN (Consumer Protection Awareness) campaigns, showcases his ability to collaborate with diverse teams and deliver successful projects.

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Fact-checked by Deepali Singhal

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature, Master of Arts specializing in English Literature

Deepali Singhal picture

Deepali SinghalBachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature, Master of Arts specializing in English Literature

With experience spanning multiple continents, Deepali is a skilled content strategist and editor. She holds a Master's in English Literature from London's Metropolitan University and has worked for prestigious companies such as the Springer Nature Group and Oxford University Press. Deepali has also contributed to further education sites across the United States. Her focus now lies in children's entertainment and education, and she is dedicated to making learning an enjoyable experience.

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