Top 150 Quotes & Sayings by John Wayne

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an American actor John Wayne.

Last updated on September 17, 2024.

Marion Robert Morrison, known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed Duke, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Golden Age, especially in Western and war movies. His career flourished from the silent era of the 1920s through the American New Wave, as he appeared in a total of 179 film and television productions. He was among the top box-office draws for three decades, and he appeared with many other important Hollywood stars of his era. In 1999, the American Film Institute selected Wayne as one of the greatest male stars of classic American cinema.

American - Actor | May 26, 1907 - June 11, 1979

Source: Wikipedia

Nothing is so discouraging to an actor than to have to work for long hours upon hours in brightly lighted interior sets.

John Wayne

I've loved reading all my life.

John Wayne

Everybody that I was in school with had an uncle or father in the law, and I started to realize that I was going to end up writing briefs for about ten years for these fellows who I thought I was smarter than. And I was kind of losing my feeling for that.

John Wayne

I was sure I'd set the world on fire, and it was hard for a young feller like me to realize the truth - that I hadn't set the world on fire, and I was totally unprepared to handle the consequences if 'The Big Trail' had been a success and launched me as a star.

John Wayne

Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway.

John Wayne

Talk low, talk slow and don't say too much.

John Wayne

When you come to see a picture of mine, I want you to know that I'm not going to do anything that will make you uncomfortable. I want you to know that you won't be disappointed in me.

John Wayne

When I was a sophomore at USC, I was a socialist, pretty much to the left. But not when I left the university. I quickly got wise. I'd read about what had happened to Russia in 1917 when the Communists took over.

John Wayne

My folks always let me go to the movies every Saturday. We were really motion-picture goers.

John Wayne

All I'm for is the liberty of the individual.

John Wayne

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.

John Wayne

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.

John Wayne

Get off your horse and drink your milk.

John Wayne

Nobody should come to the movies unless he believes in heroes.

John Wayne

I'd read up on the history of our country and I'd become fascinated with the story of the Alamo. To me it represented the fight for freedom, not just in America, but in all countries.

John Wayne

Real art is basic emotion. If a scene is handled with simplicity - and I don't mean simple - it'll be good, and the public will know it.

John Wayne

I never have really become accustomed to the 'John.' Nobody ever really calls me John... I've always been Duke or Marion or John Wayne. It's a name that goes well together, and it's like one word - John Wayne.

John Wayne

In westerns, you meet a hardy bunch of characters. There is no jealousy on such pictures.

John Wayne

Tomorrow hopes we have learned something from yesterday.

John Wayne

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

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

If everything isn't black and white, I say, 'Why the hell not?'

John Wayne

I was ashamed to admit I was hipped to the idea of acting. That's why I started in with the props.

John Wayne

Get off your butt and join the Marines!

John Wayne

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.

John Wayne

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

You have to be a man before you can be a gentleman.

John Wayne

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

A man's got to have a code, a creed to live by, no matter his job.

John Wayne

Nobody ever saw a cowboy on the psychiatrist's couch.

John Wayne

The reason there are so many stupid people is because it's illegal to kill them.

John Wayne

My hope and prayer is that everyone know and love our country for what she really is and what she stands for.

John Wayne

Slap some bacon on a biscuit and let's go! We're burnin' daylight!

John Wayne

My favorite four-letter words are 'hard work'.

John Wayne

When the road looks rough ahead, remember the 'Man upstairs' and the word HOPE. Hang onto both and 'tough it out'.

John Wayne

If you can't be thankful for what you have, be thankful for what you have escaped.

John Wayne

Life is getting up one more time than you've been knocked down.

John Wayne

A man's got to do what a man's got to do.

John Wayne

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

A friend of mine told me to shoot first and ask questions later. I was going to ask him why, but I had to shoot him.

John Wayne

Sure I wave the American flag. Do you know a better flag to wave? Sure I love my country with all her faults. I'm not ashamed of that, never have been, never will be.

John Wayne

Very few of the so-called liberals are open-minded.... They shout you down and won't let you speak if you disagree with them.

John Wayne

It's kind of a sad thing when a normal love of country makes you a super patriot. I do think we have a pretty wonderful country, and I thank God that He chose me to live here.

John Wayne

I believe in white supremacy, until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility. I don't believe giving authority and positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people ... I don't feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from [the Native Americans] ... Our so-called stealing of this country from them was just a matter of survival. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves.

John Wayne

I have found a certain type calls himself a Liberal...Now I always thought I was a Liberal. I came up terribly surprised one time when I found out that I was a Right-Wing Conservative Extremist, when I listened to everybody's point of view that I ever met, and then decided how I should feel. But this so-called new Liberal group, Jesus, they never listen to your point of view.

John Wayne

Life is tough pilgrim, it is even tougher if you're stupid

John Wayne

You don't have to fight to be brave. Millions of good, fine, decent folks show more bravery than heavyweight champs just by getting out of bed every morning, going out to do a good day's work and living the best life they know how against the law of odds.

John Wayne

You're short on ears and long on mouth.

John Wayne

I didn't vote for him, but he's my President, and I hope he does a good job.

John Wayne

You're going to think I'm being corny, but this is how I really feel: I hope my family and my friends will be able to say that I was an honest, kind and fairly decent man.

John Wayne

Government has no wealth, and when a politician promises to give you something for nothing, he must first confiscate that wealth from you -- either by direct taxes, or by the cruelly indirect tax of inflation.

John Wayne

TRUE Courage is when you are scared to death and STILL saddle up and ride in!

John Wayne

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.

John Wayne

A man deserves a second chance, but keep an eye on him.

John Wayne

True grit is making a decision and standing by it, doing what must be done.

John Wayne

I believe in white supremacy until the blacks are educated to the point of responsibility. I don`t believe in giving authority and positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people.

John Wayne

Women have the right to work wherever they want, as long as they have the dinner ready when you get home.

John Wayne

Life is hard; it's harder if you're stupid.

John Wayne

All battles are fought by scared men who'd rather be some place else.

John Wayne

Male menopause is a lot more fun than female menopause. With female menopause you gain weight and get hot flashes. Male menopause ? you get to date young girls and drive motorcycles.

John Wayne

Top 150 Quotes & Sayings by John Wayne

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