Clint Eastwood is an undeniable Hollywood legend. He’s infamous for his no-nonsense attitude, extremely gritty performances, and those golden, unforgettable one-liners. He’ll nail his role as a gunslinger in a classic Western film just as he’ll also deliver a memorable performance as a fearless detective who has been hardened by life to the point of not being able to be bothered to care about much of anything.
We’re going to take a look at some of the quotes that Clint Eastwood has gifted the world throughout his prolific career.
1. On the returns from hard work
“What you put into life is what you get out of it.”
2. On pessimism
“I don’t believe in pessimism. If something doesn’t come up the way you want, forge ahead. If you think it’s going to rain, it will.”
3. On fighting for what you believe in
“God gave you a brain. Do the best you can with it. And you don’t have to be Einstein, but Einstein was mentally tough. He believed what he believed. And he worked out things. And he argued with people who disagreed with him. But I’m sure he didn’t call everybody jerks.”
4. On the two kinds of people in this world
“There are two kinds of people in this world. I people and we people. I’ve always tried to be a we person.”
5. On acknowledging death
“Whether you like it or not, you’re forced to come to the realization that death is out there. But I don’t fear death, I’m a fatalist. I believe when it’s your time, that’s it. It’s the hand you’re dealt.”
6. On people’s love for Western movies
“People love westerns worldwide. There’s something fantasy-like about an individual fighting the elements. Or even bad guys and the elements. It’s a simpler time. There’s no organized laws and stuff.”
7. On what makes a genius
“I’ve never met a genius. A genius to me is someone who does well at something he hates. Anybody can do well at something he loves, it’s just a question of finding the subject.”
8. On not fearing doubt
“As you get older, you’re not afraid of doubt. Doubt isn’t running the show. You take out all the self-agonizing.”
9. On good timing in comedy
“Comedy isn’t necessarily all dialogue. Think of Buster Keaton. The poker face and all this chaos going on all around him. Sometimes it’s a question of timing, of the proper rhythm.”
10. On the motivation to keep working
“I keep working because I learn something new all the time.”
11. On the value of self-respect
“Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that’s real power.”
12. On not taking yourself too seriously
“Take your work seriously, but don’t take yourself seriously.”
13. On recognizing what you can control
“You should be able to control the environment around you. Not have it control you.”
14. On insecurity
“The less secure a man is, the more likely he is to have extreme prejudice.”
15. On the recklessness of youth
“When you’re young, you’re very reckless. Then you get conservative. Then you get reckless again.”
16. On self accountability
“Sometimes if you want to see a change for the better, you have to take things into your own hands.”
17. On the value of confidence
“You have to feel confident. If you don’t, then you’re going to be hesitant and defensive, and there’ll be a lot of things working against you.”
