4 Life Lessons To Learn From “The Duke” John Wayne

He’s as popular as he ever was. Born with the name Marion Mitchell Morrison, actor John Wayne (nicknamed “The Duke”) was a legend.

Known for his westerns and war movies, Wayne didn’t let life get him down. These quotes summarise his philosophy from which we can all benefit, as we struggle in today’s complex world.

Courage Is Being Scared To Death And Saddling Up Anyway

Today, many of us fear the future. But the world has always been shaky. Even with fear and hesitation, we sometimes stick out our big toe to try something new, only to discover that everything is going to be just fine. The truth is: Life is meant to be an adventure. You are supposed to saddle up.

Talk Low, Talk Slow And Don’t Say Too Much

John Wayne was a man of few words in his movies. In watching his 1959 movie “Rio Bravo” on TV the other night (co-starring the cooler Dean Martin), there were many scenes of Wayne just doing his famous walk – saying nothing. But he held my attention. Now more than ever, in a world that simply won’t shut up, silence is a powerful tool.

Tomorrow Always Comes

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.

If you’re feeling down, remember that a clean slate is ahead of you. Yes, problems do not go away just because of another sunrise. But how we respond can. Know that tomorrow will bring a fresh perspective, new feelings and new plans.

Life Is Tough, But It’s Tougher If You’re Stupid

We all do things we shouldn’t have. In our hectic lives, there is less time for contemplation and forethought. Without those essential ingredients, life can become derailed surprisingly fast. We do indeed reap what we sow.

This weekend, stop your busy schedule and create a thinking zone where quiet deliberation replaces panic.

It is not well known, but John Wayne was fluent in Spanish.

But he wasn’t perfect, ruining his marriages over well-publicised affairs. Wayne was also a big drinker. Movie directors made sure to shoot all his scenes in the morning before his mean drinking side took over.

Wayne could also hold a grudge for many years, refusing to work for a movie director he felt had mistreated him when he was a young actor just starting out.

Despite it all, John Wayne spoke his mind, held his ground, and in his later years, bravely fought cancer.

Wayne had requested these words on his tombstone: “Ugly, strong and dignified.” He died in 1979 at age 72.

Be brave, say less, take time to think about things.

[This post by Cory Galbraith originally appeared on LinkedIn and has been reproduced with permission.]

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