Born in San Francisco, CA, Clint Eastwood moved around a bit before re-settling in California in 1951 when he was 21 years old. As a child, he found himself bored at school and had to be held back for a year. In his early 20s, he spent two years at the Fort Ord Military Reservation and decided to enroll at LA City College, but his interest in acting took center stage.
Eastwood dropped out of college and decided to pursue his career. He was first cast for a couple of B-rated films, for which he was not credited. They include the “Revenge of the Creature” (1955) and “Tarantula” (1955). While he pursued acting, he took other jobs to ensure he had enough income to continue. Three years later, Eastwood made it onto the show “Rawhide” (1959), which turned him into a familiar face for audiences throughout seven seasons.
Eastwood saw some success during his first decade of acting but it wasn’t until the mid-1960s, when he starred as the Man with No Name in “A Fistful of Dollars” (1964), the first film of a trilogy, that his career took off. Eastwood went on to star in “For a Few Dollars More (1965) and “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (1966). His life started changing within a few short months after the American release of these three films.
By the late 60s, Eastwood once again starred in several successful films, including “Hang Them High” (1968) and “Coogan’s Bluff” (1968). He expertly embodied characters with a tough exterior in these films, but he always managed to have some fun with the roles, infusing them with a bit of unconventional humor. It’s this spin that makes his quotes so memorable. Eastwood has a long list of credits, and he has continued working into his nineties.
To assemble this collection of Clint Eastwood’s most famous quotes, 247 Tempo reviewed IMDb as well as other sources dedicated to quoting films. Some of these quotes you’ll recognize right away, and they’ll transport you to the exact scene during which Eastwood spoke them. Others you’ll find intriguing and this may require a re-watch of the film to see if you can notice the moment when he utters those exact words. (For quotes for a fellow “tough guy,” click here for 25 of the most memorable movie quotes from John Wayne.)
Here Is a List of the 25 Most Famous Quotes by Clint Eastwood:
“Go ahead. Make my day.”
- Character: (Dirty) Harry Callahan
- Film: “Sudden Impact” (1983)
“Do I feel lucky?”
- Character: (Dirty) Harry Callahan
- Film: “Dirty Harry” (1971)
“There’s two kinds of people, my friend. Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig.”
- Character: The Man with No Name
- Film: “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” (1966)
“The dead can be very useful sometimes.”
- Character: The Man with No Name
- Film: “A Fistful of Dollars” (1965)
“And I’m here to kill you.”
- Character: William Munny
- Film: “Unforgiven” (1992)
“Dying ain’t much of a living, boy”
- Character: Josey Wales
- Film: “The Outlaw Josey Wales” (1976)
“Every gun makes its own tune.”
- Character: The Man with No Name
- Film: “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” (1966)
“A good man always knows his limitations.”
- Character: (Dirty) Harry Callahan
- Film: “Magnum Force” (1973)
“It’s a hell of a thing, killin’ a man.”
- Character: William Munny
- Film: “Unforgiven” (1992)
“Okay, you did two things wrong. First, you asked a question, and second, you asked another question.”
- Character: Frankie Dunn
- Film: “Million Dollar Baby” (2004)
“When a man’s got money in his pocket, he begins to appreciate peace.”
- Character: The Man with No Name
- Film: “A Fistful of Dollars” (1965)
“With all due respect sir, you’re beginning to bore the hell out of me.”
- Character: Sergeant Thomas Highway
- Film: “Heartbreak Ridge” (1986)
“I know what you’re thinking. ‘Did he fire six shots or only five?’ Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I kind of lost track myself.”
- Character: Dirty Harry
- Film: “Dirty Harry” (1971)
“Alive or dead? It’s your choice.”
- Character: The Man with no Name
- Film: “For a Few Dollars More” (1965)
“Go where you’re lookin’, and look where you’re goin’.”
- Character: Miko
- Film: “Cry Macho” (2021)
“Girlie, tough ain’t enough.”
- Character: Frankie Dunn
- Film: “Million Dollar Baby” (2004)
“Get off my lawn”
- Character: Walt Kowalski
- Film: “Gran Torino” (2008)
“We all have it coming, kid.”
- Character: William Munny
- Film: “Unforgiven” (1992)
“Ever notice how you come across somebody once in a while you shouldn’t have f***ed with? That’s me.”
- Character: Walt Kowalski
- Film: “Gran Torino” (2008)
“I’m not okay. I’m sick, I’m tired, and I’m armed, too, so be careful.”
- Character: Hank Forrigan
- Film: ”In The Line of Fire” (1993)
“About time this town had a new sheriff.”
- Character: The Stranger
- Film: “High Plains Drifter” (1973)
“If you want a guarantee, buy a toaster.”
- Character: Nick Pulovski
- Film: “The Rookie” (1990)
“Well, do ya, punk?”
- Character: (Dirty) Harry Callahan
- Film: “Dirty Harry” (1971)
“Everybody wants results, but nobody wants to do what they have to do to get them done.”
- Character: (Dirty) Harry Callahan
- Film: “Dirty Harry” (1971)