John Wayne, the legendary American actor and cultural icon, is known not only for his memorable roles in Westerns and war films but also for his timeless wisdom and inspiring words. His quotes reflect courage, determination, honor, and a straightforward approach to life that continues to resonate with people around the world. Below is a collection of over 140 inspirational quotes attributed to John Wayne. These quotes are presented plainly, allowing their power and simplicity to speak for themselves.
140+ John Wayne Inspirational Quotes for Everyone
1. “Life’s hard. It’s even harder when you’re stupid.”
2. “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
3. “True grit is making a decision and standing by it, doing what must be done.”
4. “Talk low, talk slow and don’t say too much.”
5. “A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.”
6. “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.”
7. “If you can’t be thankful for what you have, be thankful for what you have escaped.”
8. “A man’s got to have a code, a creed to live by, no matter his job.”
9. “You take chances, my friend.”
10. “I’m proud of ya. All of ya. Every man wants his children to be better than he was. You are.”
11. “Don’t try to win this war all by yourself.”
12. “Put it in a nutshell? You couldn’t put it in a barrel without a bottom.”
13. “Never apologize, mister, it’s a sign of weakness.”
14. “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.”
15. “Fire can be our friend. Whether it’s toasting marshmallows or raining down on Charlie.”
16. “When you side with a man you stay with him, and if you can’t do that you’re like some animal. You’re finished.”
17. “My name is John Wayne. When I was a kid I had ringworm. Hell, I was more worm than boy for a couple of years.”
18. “Money cannot buy happiness but it is more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes than on a bicycle.”
19. “Forgive your enemy but remember the bastard’s name.”
20. “Help someone when they are in trouble and they will remember you when they’re in trouble again.”
21. “Many people are alive only because it’s illegal to shoot them.”
22. “Alcohol does not solve any problems, but then again, neither does milk.”
23. “You may need me and this Winchester, Curly.”
24. “You’re the guy we’re fighting this war for.”
25. “Get down off them horses. I don’t favor looking up to the likes of you.”
26. “Any man that doesn’t wanna’ co-operate, I’ll make him wish he hadn’t been born.”
27. “Come on Wildcats, make us proud today.”
28. “If you say ‘three’, mister, you’ll never hear the man count ten.”
29. “Somebody outa belt you in the mouth…but I won’t, I won’t, the hell I won’t.”
30. “All battles are fought by scared men who’d rather be some place else.”
31. “I gotta kill me a pair a skunks back apiece on the road to Santa Fe.”
32. “You ever whip that kid again I’ll break every bone in your carcass.”
33. “Drink yer fill, Zanti. It’s poisoned.”
34. “I guess you can’t break out of prison and into society in the same week.”
35. “Take it easy. You don’t know the kind of people you’re dealin’ with, mister.”
36. “Touch that gun and I’ll kill ya.”
37. “A man ought to do what he thinks is right.”
38. “I am an old-fashioned, honest-to-goodness, flag waving patriot.”
39. “Well, there are some things a man just can’t run away from.”
40. “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.”
41. “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.”
42. “A man deserves a second chance, but keep an eye on him.”
43. “Cause even grown men need understanding.”
44. “America is the land of freedom and that’s the way I enjoy living.”
45. “Get off your horse and drink your milk.”
46. “Republic. I like the sound of the word.”
47. “Sometimes I wonder whose side God’s on.”
48. “Of course I know who you are. You’re my girl. I love you.”
49. “You get the wagon and I’ll get the girl.”
50. “My fault, your fault, nobody’s fault, you’re gonna die.”
51. “You can call me Jake, Big Jake, or Pa but you never call me Daddy.”
52. “Are you going to believe what you see or what I tell you?”
53. “Courage is being completely paralyzed with fear and taking the first step anyway.”
54. “Don’t hit your posset with a stick mister, it tends to make you cough.”
55. “Well son, since she will be mad or she will be sorry.”
56. “You take chances, my friend.”
57. “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”
58. “Put it in a nutshell? You couldn’t put it in a barrel without a bottom.”
59. “Don’t try to win this war all by yourself.”
60. “I won’t be wronged, I won’t be insulted, and I won’t be laid a hand on.”
61. “Life is hard. It is harder if you are stupid!”
62. “A man’s got to have a code, a creed to live by, no matter his job.”
63. “Tomorrow is the most important thing in life.”
64. “If you can’t be thankful for what you have, be thankful for what you have escaped.”
65. “Never apologize, mister, it’s a sign of weakness.”
66. “I’ve always followed my father’s advice: keep my word and never insult unintentionally.”
67. “A man deserves a second chance, but keep an eye on him.”
68. “America is the land of freedom and that’s the way I enjoy living.”
69. “Get off your horse and drink your milk.”
70. “Sometimes I wonder whose side God’s on.”
71. “You may need me and this Winchester, Curly.”
72. “You’re the guy we’re fighting this war for.”
73. “Get down off them horses. I don’t favor looking up to the likes of you.”
74. “Any man that doesn’t wanna’ co-operate, I’ll make him wish he hadn’t been born.”
75. “Come on Wildcats, make us proud today.”
76. “If you say ‘three’, mister, you’ll never hear the man count ten.”
77. “Somebody outa belt you in the mouth…but I won’t, I won’t, the hell I won’t.”
78. “All battles are fought by scared men who’d rather be some place else.”
79. “I gotta kill me a pair a skunks back apiece on the road to Santa Fe.”
80. “You ever whip that kid again I’ll break every bone in your carcass.”
81. “Drink yer fill, Zanti. It’s poisoned.”
82. “I guess you can’t break out of prison and into society in the same week.”
83. “Take it easy. You don’t know the kind of people you’re dealin’ with, mister.”
84. “Touch that gun and I’ll kill ya.”
85. “A man ought to do what he thinks is right.”
86. “I am an old-fashioned, honest-to-goodness, flag waving patriot.”
87. “Well, there are some things a man just can’t run away from.”
88. “It’s kind of a sad thing when a normal love of country makes you a super patriot.”
89. “I do think we have a pretty wonderful country, and I thank God that He chose me to live here.”
90. “Cause even grown men need understanding.”
91. “Republic. I like the sound of the word.”
92. “Of course I know who you are. You’re my girl. I love you.”
93. “You get the wagon and I’ll get the girl.”
94. “My fault, your fault, nobody’s fault, you’re gonna die.”
95. “You can call me Jake, Big Jake, or Pa but you never call me Daddy.”
96. “Are you going to believe what you see or what I tell you?”
97. “Courage is being completely paralyzed with fear and taking the first step anyway.”
98. “Don’t hit your posset with a stick mister, it tends to make you cough.”
99. “Well son, since she will be mad or she will be sorry.”
100. “You take chances, my friend.”
101. “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”
102. “Put it in a nutshell? You couldn’t put it in a barrel without a bottom.”
103. “Don’t try to win this war all by yourself.”
104. “I won’t be wronged, I won’t be insulted, and I won’t be laid a hand on.”
105. “Life is hard. It is harder if you are stupid!”
106. “A man’s got to have a code, a creed to live by, no matter his job.”
107. “Tomorrow is the most important thing in life.”
108. “If you can’t be thankful for what you have, be thankful for what you have escaped.”
109. “Never apologize, mister, it’s a sign of weakness.”
110. “I’ve always followed my father’s advice: keep my word and never insult unintentionally.”
111. “A man deserves a second chance, but keep an eye on him.”
112. “America is the land of freedom and that’s the way I enjoy living.”
113. “Get off your horse and drink your milk.”
114. “Sometimes I wonder whose side God’s on.”
115. “You may need me and this Winchester, Curly.”
116. “You’re the guy we’re fighting this war for.”
117. “Get down off them horses. I don’t favor looking up to the likes of you.”
118. “Any man that doesn’t wanna’ co-operate, I’ll make him wish he hadn’t been born.”
119. “Come on Wildcats, make us proud today.”
120. “If you say ‘three’, mister, you’ll never hear the man count ten.”
121. “Somebody outa belt you in the mouth…but I won’t, I won’t, the hell I won’t.”
122. “All battles are fought by scared men who’d rather be some place else.”
123. “I gotta kill me a pair a skunks back apiece on the road to Santa Fe.”
124. “You ever whip that kid again I’ll break every bone in your carcass.”
125. “Drink yer fill, Zanti. It’s poisoned.”
126. “I guess you can’t break out of prison and into society in the same week.”
127. “Take it easy. You don’t know the kind of people you’re dealin’ with, mister.”
128. “Touch that gun and I’ll kill ya.”
129. “A man ought to do what he thinks is right.”
130. “I am an old-fashioned, honest-to-goodness, flag waving patriot.”
131. “Well, there are some things a man just can’t run away from.”
132. “It’s kind of a sad thing when a normal love of country makes you a super patriot.”
133. “I do think we have a pretty wonderful country, and I thank God that He chose me to live here.”
134. “Cause even grown men need understanding.”
135. “Republic. I like the sound of the word.”
136. “Of course I know who you are. You’re my girl. I love you.”
137. “You get the wagon and I’ll get the girl.”
138. “My fault, your fault, nobody’s fault, you’re gonna die.”
139. “You can call me Jake, Big Jake, or Pa but you never call me Daddy.”
140. “Are you going to believe what you see or what I tell you?”
141. “Courage is being completely paralyzed with fear and taking the first step anyway.”
142. “Don’t hit your posset with a stick mister, it tends to make you cough.”
Conclusion
John Wayne’s quotes embody a spirit of resilience, courage, and integrity. They remind us that life is challenging but can be faced head-on with grit and honor. His words encourage us to live by a personal code, to face fear with bravery, and to value loyalty and honesty. These 140+ quotes offer inspiration for anyone seeking strength and guidance in everyday life.
