Top 120 John Wayne Quotes (2025 Update)

1. “Life’s hard. It’s even harder when you’re stupid.”

— John Wayne

Featured in: Life is Hard Quotes, Hilarious Quotes, Character Quotes

2. “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”

— John Wayne

Featured in: Courage Quotes, Values Quotes, Quotes About Trying, Challenges Quotes, Being Strong Quotes

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

— John Wayne

Featured in: Commitment Quotes, Being Strong Quotes, Quotes for Better Decisions, Duty Quotes, Responsibility Quotes

4. “Talk low, talk slow and don’t say too much.”

— John Wayne

Featured in: Short Quotes, Famous Movie Quotes

5. “A man's got to do what a man's got to do.”

— John Wayne

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.”

— John Wayne

Featured in: Time Quotes, New Beginnings Quotes, Future Quotes, Moving Forward Quotes

7. “If you can’t be thankful for what you have, be thankful for what you have escaped.”

— John Wayne

8. “A man’s got to have a code, a creed to live by, no matter his job.”

— John Wayne

Featured in: Inspirational Quotes for Men, Famous Movie Quotes, Principles And Laws

9. “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

10. “Life is getting up one more time than you’ve been knocked down.”

— John Wayne

Featured in: Obstacles Quotes, Grit Quotes, Epic Quotes, Survival Quotes, Quitting Quotes

11. “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

Featured in: Respect To Be Respected Quotes, Disrespect Quotes

12. “When you stop fighting, that’s death.”

— John Wayne

Featured in: Warrior Quotes

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

— John Wayne

14. “The reason there are so many stupid people is because it’s illegal to kill them.”

— John Wayne

15. “It’s getting to be ri-goddamn-diculous.”

— John Wayne

16. “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

Featured in: Country Quotes

17. “We brought nothing into this world and it’s certain we can carry nothing out.”

— John Wayne

18. “I want to play a real man in all my films, and I define manhood simply: men should be tough, fair, and courageous, never petty, never looking for a fight, but never backing down from one either.”

— John Wayne

Featured in: Real Quotes

19. “I didn’t vote for him, but he’s my President, and I hope he does a good job.”

— John Wayne

20. “Tomorrow hopes we have learned something from yesterday.”

— John Wayne

21. “It rankles me when somebody tries to force somebody to do something.”

— John Wayne

22. “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

Featured in: Firsts Quotes

23. “Nobody ever saw a cowboy on the psychiatrist’s couch.”

— John Wayne

24. “You have to be a man before you can be a gentleman.”

— John Wayne

25. “Sure I wave the American flag. Do you know a better flag to wave?”

— John Wayne

26. “I never trust a man that doesn’t drink.”

— John Wayne

27. “Ahh, women! I never met one yet that was half as reliable as a horse!”

— John Wayne

28. “You’re short on ears and long on mouth.”

— John Wayne

29. “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

30. “A long time ago, I made me a rule. I let people do what they want to do.”

— John Wayne

31. “Life is tough, but if you are stupid, it’s a lot tougher.”

— John Wayne

32. “There’s right and there’s wrong. You got to do one or the other. You do the one and you’re living. You do the other and you may be walking around, but you’re dead as a beaver hat.”

— John Wayne

33. “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

34. “A man ought to do what he thinks is right.”

— John Wayne

35. “I am an old-fashioned, honest-to-goodness, flag waving patriot.”

— John Wayne

36. “Well, there are some things a man just can’t run away from.”

— John Wayne

37. “Never apologize, mister, it’s a sign of weakness.”

— John Wayne

38. “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

39. “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

Featured in: Country Quotes

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

— John Wayne

41. “Cause even grown men need understanding.”

— John Wayne

42. “America is the land of freedom and that’s the way I enjoy living.”

— John Wayne

43. “Get off your horse and drink your milk.”

— John Wayne

44. “Republic. I like the sound of the word.”

— John Wayne

45. “Sometimes I wonder whose side God’s on.”

— John Wayne

46. “Of course I know who you are. You’re my girl. I love you.”

— John Wayne

47. “Senator Joseph McCarthy was one of the greatest Americans who ever lived.”

— John Wayne

48. “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

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

— John Wayne

Featured in: Country Quotes

50. “Give the American people a good cause, and there’s nothing they can’t lick.”

— John Wayne