Skip to main content

The 21 Best Manly Quotes of All Time

In the courageous pursuit to become the man you want to be, make your experiences tough, adventurous, and true. Becoming a man is more than working a nine-to-five and owning an electric toothbrush. It’s facing humiliation, falling in love, not getting what you want, and knowing how to grill a steak.

Plenty of great men — from burly badasses to eclectic artists and iconic movie characters — have been exactly where you are now, developing into the emotionally and physically strong guy you know you can be. These forefathers have a word or two of wisdom to pass down, so man-up, kid.

Recommended Videos

Related Reading

Take your time going through this list of best manly quotes and let each one soak in, preferably with a stiff drink in hand and a moment of quiet away from the demanding world.

For more inspiration, check out the best quotes about beer, whiskey, and food, and some inspirational last words from famous men.

Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“When I believe in something, I fight like hell for it.”

Malcolm Wallace

Malcolm Wallace
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“I know you can fight, but it’s our wits that make us men.”

Rumi

Rumi
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“Die to your ego, and become a true human being.”

Paul Newman

Paul Newman
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“If you’re playing a poker game and you look around the table and can’t tell who the sucker is, it’s you.”

Ray Charles

Ray Charles
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“Love is a special word, and I use it only when I mean it. You say the word too much and it becomes cheap.”

Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood
Everett Collection. Inc. / Alamy

“Improvise, adapt, and overcome!”

Saul Bellow

Saul Bellow
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“A man should be able to hear, and to bear, the worst that could be said of him.”

John Lennon

John Lennon
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“As usual, there is a great woman behind every idiot.”

Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway
Hemingway

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.”

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.”

Voltaire

Voltaire
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.”

Stan Lee

Stan Lee
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“No one has a perfect life. Everybody has something that he wishes was not the way it is.”

Stone Cold Steve Austin

Stone Cold Steve Austin
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“Why have you not broken from the pack? You’re playing it safe. Safe ain’t gonna get you shit in this world”

Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“The heart of man is very much like the sea; it has its storms, it has its tides, and in its depths, it has its pearls too”

Craig Ferguson

Craig Ferguson
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“If a man doesn’t know how to dance, he doesn’t know how to make love — there, I said it!”

Milan Kundera

Milan Kundera
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“A man is responsible for his ignorance.”

Rocky Balboa

Rocky Balboa
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”

Bill Murray

Bill Murray
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“Life is so damn short. For fuck’s sake, just do what makes you happy.”

George Costanza

George Costanza
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“I was in the pool!”

Ron Swanson

Ron Swanson
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Pretty much anything ever said by Ron Swanson, including:

  • “There is no wrong way to consume alcohol.”
  • “It’s always a good idea to demonstrate to your coworkers that you are capable of withstanding a tremendous amount of pain.”
  • “I’ve never known what bangs are and I don’t intend to learn.”
Jahla Seppanen
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Born and raised off-the-grid in New Mexico, Jahla Seppanen is currently a sports, fitness, spirits, and culture writer in…
Ranked: The best serial killer movies of all time
Stream these flicks and learn about the most masterful serial killers
Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr. in Zodiac.

Whether they’re based on a true story or not, serial killer movies are often the most visceral, intense cinematic experiences you can have in any given two hours. While they may not be great for every occasion, a good movie about a serial killer can thrill like no other and leave you with nightmares for weeks afterward. We’ve pulled the cream of the crop for this list, which features all manner of killers who kill for all manner of reasons, or for no reason at all. 

12. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Read more
The 50 best movies of all time: Add these to your watch list
The cast of Star Wars

Moviemaking is an art form that transports audiences to alternate worlds, often informing our views and allowing us to learn about the people and places around us in real life. The best films try something new while staying grounded in their principles. Great actors craft memorable characters, and talented musicians provide the sound of the picture.

There are so many movies to choose from in the history of Hollywood, but what if you could only watch 50 before you die? These essential films range from science fiction to fantasy, and even superhero flicks. No matter what genre is your favorite, you'll find a fantastic movie experience amongst this GOAT list. These are the best movies of all time!

Read more
The best Ryan Gosling movies of all time
These are our favorite movies from one of Canada's finest exports
Ryan Gosling as Ken in Barbie

Few actors have had more fascinating careers in the 21st century than Ryan Gosling. Since emerging as an A-list star, Gosling has found a way to inhabit roles in broad comedies, serious dramas, and almost everything in between while maintaining a remarkably consistent persona.

Gosling is a great actor, but he's also someone who knows where and when to push himself and when he should rely on the charms that come with his insanely good looks. He's younger than movie stars like Brad Pitt or George Clooney, but he definitely exists in the same mold. These are the best Ryan Gosling movies so far.

Read more