Quotes from famous John Wayne movies have been inspiring others to reach for goodness and greatness for decades. Here are the 20 best quotes.
- John Wayne, known as “The Duke,” starred in Western and war movies, leaving behind iconic quotes that continue to inspire generations.
- From his humble beginnings as a prop boy to becoming one of the greatest male stars of classic American cinema, Wayne’s career spanned over five decades.
- Wayne’s quotes address various themes such as courage, respect, living in the present, and the importance of family, leaving a lasting impact on viewers.
Known as “The Duke” in the Golden Age of Hollywood, John Wayne starred in Western and war movies and television shows, delivering iconic quotes that have inspired generations. He performed from 1926 until his last role in 1976 as an aging gunfighter fighting cancer in The Shootist. Over the course of his career, John Wayne set a precedent for the industry and was later pronounced one of the greatest male stars of classic American Cinema by the American Film Institute.
While John Wayne went on to achieve worldwide fame, he began humbly as a prop boy and then an uncredited extra, born Marion Robert Morrison. It wasn’t until director Raoul Walsh cast him in The Big Trail (1930) that he landed his first starring role. With Fox Studios chief Winfield Sheehan, Walsh decided on John Wayne as Morrison’s new professional pseudonym and the rest was history. One hundred seventy-nine movies and television shows later, quotes from John Wayne are still motivating and inspiring generations.
10, “Well, It’s Not How You’re Buried. It’s How You’re Remembered.” (The Cowboys)
In response to Cimarron (A Martinez) complaining, “They didn’t even dig him a decent grave,” Wayne’s character Wil Anderson replies with this line. There are many movie quotes from John Wayne that stay with their viewers, but this one is certainly one of the most memorable and important to live by. Anderson points out that the state of a grave doesn’t matter so long as you’re remembered for the right reasons.
9, “You’re The Guy We’re Fighting This War For.” (Back to Bataan)
A film released in the final year of WWII, Back to Bataan hits hard. In this scene, Colonel Joseph Madden (Wayne) meets a young boy and tells him, with this iconic line, why the American army is fighting on behalf of the Philippines. A mix of fictionalized and true events, this film is a wrenching portrayal of war. This quote resonates decades afterward because it spotlights the individuals who suffered during WWII and the people who fought for them.
8, “You Look Like The Vermin-Ridden Son Of A Bitch You Are.” (The Cowboys)
There are a lot of “son of a bitch”s thrown around in this heartwarming film about found families, but this is one of the best (and certainly one of the funniest). Endlessly quotable, this is a line to keep in the back pocket for arguments.
7, “What You Need In These Parts Is A Marshal That’s Better At Smelling Than Spelling.” (Dark Command)
“I don’t know much about the law. Ain’t had much book learning,” Wayne’s character says. “But the good Lord gave me a nose for smelling a horse thief a mile off. And what you need in these parts is a marshal that’s better at smelling than spelling.” A person is worth more than their education; this line explains that with a succinct, even rhyming, success.
6, “Well, There Are Some Things A Man Just Can’t Run Away From.” (Stagecoach)
One of Wayne’s earliest films, Stagecoach, is a journey tale about a group of people sharing a stagecoach. This line from John Wayne, starring as Ringo Kid, is a pin-on-the-wall lesson about life. There are some things people can’t run away from and must face with dignity and courage.
5, “Get Down Off Them Horses. I Don’t Favor Looking Up To The Likes Of You.” (Red River)
A film about one of the world’s greatest cattle herds, John Wayne, as Thomas Dunson greets deserters of the cattle drive with this none-too-warm welcome. Not only is this an iconic display of Wayne’s characteristic self-confidence and commitment to law and order, but this is a line to boost a person’s own confidence in what they’re owed and what they owe others.
4, “It Takes A Good Fire To Burn Down The Weeds… To Let The Flowers Grow.” (Dark Command)
“We got a saying down in Texas,” Wayne tells Fletcher ‘Fletch’ McCloud after a tense moment and drops this saying. It’s important to take out the rough patches, the weeds, but it’s as important to make sure it leaves a place where flowers can grow.
3, “When He’s In Love, He Suffers Knowing It’s A Dead End.” (The Shepherd of the Hills)
“The bigger the man, the deeper the imprint. And when he’s in love, he suffers knowing it’s a dead end,” John Wayne says in this mesmerizing drama about a man hunting down the father who abandoned his mother. A seemingly romantic line for a dark film, this quote could be a song lyric for its poetry. It served as a reminder to viewers that love can hurt, that love is much more dimensional, involving much more hard work, than romance and honeymoons.
2, “Now I Don’t Hold Jail Against You, But I Hate A Liar.” (The Cowboys)
From the film that almost pioneered the found family trope, this line from John Wayne’s character was a welcome respite of not judging a person based on their pasts, particularly not their past mistakes. However, it reminds society that a) anyone can be a liar and b) liars are seldom trusted, whereas people who admit their mistakes can be.
1, “Young Fella, If You’re Looking For Trouble, I’ll Accommodate You. Otherwise, Leave It Alone.” (True Grit)
Finally, this last quote closes the ranking because it’s a real mic drop moment. It’s almost Shakespearean in its very dangerous warning and couldn’t be anywhere but the top of the list for its quotability for arguments and lessons for life. If a person is looking for trouble, they’ll find it. If they’re not, they shouldn’t stir things up.
One of Hollywood’s greatest actors, John Wayne, left a stirring impression on the world, and these are some of the quotes that still stick in the minds of fans everywhere.