It’s the dream of many screenwriters to pen a one-liner for a star that’s so memorable – that so captures the essence of a character, that’s so in touch with the cultural zeitgeist – that as moviegoers leave the theater, the line is on their lips. From there, the famous line graduates to meme and beyond. While zingers have been around since at least The Iliad, they truly found their voice, so to speak, in the Spaghetti Westerns and James Bond films in the 1960s and early ‘70s; then flowered into a movie art form in the tough-cop-mercenary-hero films of the 1970s and ‘80s — the ones that made Clint Eastwood famous.
But in the quotable realm of movie stars, no one has added to the patois like Clint Eastwood. From the 1960s to the 2000s – from cigarillo-smoking gunslingers to .44-toting rebel cops, to the old racist guy in the neighborhood – Eastwood, now 93, has squinted and growled through some of cinema’s most memorable moments … and left screenwriters with a legacy of inspiration.  
Here are some of his best one-offs, barbs, affronts, cutdowns, and rough-hewn aphorisms.
A Fistful of Dollars (1964)
Screenwriters: Based on the film Yojimbo, by Akira Kurosawa, with seven writers credited, including director Leone, and five uncredited.
Eastwood’s first starring role, and also the first of “The Man With No Name” trilogy by director Sergio Leone that inspired the Spaghetti Western genre, Eastwood plays a mysterious stranger who arrives at a U.S.-Mexico border town that’s torn apart by a feud between two smuggler families … which he inserts himself into.
Shortly after arriving in town, he’s confronted by three gunmen from one smuggler family. He tells the undertaker, “Get three coffins ready.”
Later, after gunning down four men, he corrects himself: “My mistake, four coffins.”

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)
Screenwriters: Agenore Incrocci, Furio Scarpelli, Luciano Vincenzoni, and Leone
Set during the American Civil War, this epic is the third film in Leone’s trilogy. Eastwood’s bounty-hunter gunslinger – nicknamed “Blondie,” representing “the good” – tangles up with his antagonists, Tuco (“the ugly”) and Angel Eyes (“the bad”) as they search for buried Confederate gold.
After winning a climactic three-way gunfight (but leaving Tuco alive), they head to the site of the buried Confederate gold, when Eastwood tells Tuco how it’s going to work: 
“You see, in this world, there’s two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig.”

Dirty Harry (1971)
Screenwriters: Harry Julian Fink, Rita M. Fink, Dean Riesner
Created by Harry and Rita Fink, Eastwood’s Harry Callahan (“Dirty Harry”) serves as the template for all rebel antiheroes in action movies that followed. But it started here. Dirty Harry, armed with a .44 Magnum, is a San Francisco cop who bends and sometimes breaks the rules for the greater good – to get scum killers and crooks off the streets of his dirty, beloved town.
Dirty Harry follows the hunt for a serial killer who’s terrifying the city. But close to the film’s beginning, we are introduced to Harry and everything he and his hand cannon are capable of. While eating a sandwich, he happens upon a bank robbery. After shooting and injuring one shotgun-wielding robber, he knocks off the other two. 
Then, he casually approaches the bleeding suspect lying at the bank’s entrance – who briefly considers reaching for his nearby shotgun.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Eastwood’s Harry says, pointing his .44 at the robber. “Did he fire six shots or only five? Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I’ve kinda lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?”

Magnum Force (1973)
Screenwriters: Harry Julian Fink, Rita M. Fink, John Milius
In Magnum Force, Dirty Harry is back, and he’s searching for a group of vigilante killers. This time, the call is coming from inside the house – or rather, the San Francisco Police Department.  
After (explosively) dispatching the rogue lieutenant who headed up the vigilante gang, Eastwood’s Harry repeats a line he delivered earlier in the film – an “I told you so” that only he knows. 
“A man’s got to know his limitations,” he says. 

The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
Screenwriters: Adapted from the novel by Asa Earl Carter, screenplay by Philip Kaufman, Sonia Chernus
The Outlaw Josey Wales is that perfect Western that melds old-school tropes and lightning-fast gunslinging with contemporary commentary. It even has an ending that includes a ride off into the sunset.
Eastwood’s good-at-heart outlaw, Josey Wales, is just a hardworking father, husband, and farmer in Missouri during the Civil War when he sees his family murdered by “Redleg” Union soldiers. He then dedicates his life to avenging their deaths. Along the way, and despite his efforts to remain a lone cowboy, he takes on a surrogate family that includes a mangy mutt, an aging Native American chief, a tough but traumatized Native American woman, plus a naive Kansas granny and her granddaughter. 
The film is rich with quotable lines. 
“Buzzards gotta eat, same as the worms,” he says after killing two bounty hunters and not wanting much to bury them.

“Are you gonna pull those pistols or whistle Dixie?” he tells other would-be killers.
“I always heard there were three kinds of suns in Kansas,” he tells his Kansas-born love interest, “sunshine, sunflowers, and sons-of-bitches.”
“I guess we all died a little in that damned war,” he says close to the film’s end. 
But it’s when a bounty hunter reveals his profession to Eastwood’s Wales – and shrugs, “Man’s got to do something for a livin’ these days” – that Eastwood offers his trademark scowling wisdom.
“Dyin’ ain’t much of a living, boy,” he says. 

Sudden Impact (1983)
Screenwriters: Harry Julian Fink, Rita M. Fink, Joseph Stinson
By now, the “Dirty Harry” canon had become nearly as anticipated as a James Bond film, but with more big guns and violence. Moviegoers knew they’d hear some tough and funny lines, and that the (sort of) good guy would win in the end. 
In other words, the time was right for Eastwood to deliver.
After gunning down all but one in a gang of diner robbers, Eastwood’s Harry approaches the last standing (but injured) crook, who has grabbed a hostage. Sizing up the situation, Harry’s waiting, hoping, for the suspect to make one more wrong move. 
“Go ahead,” Eastwood growls, “make my day.”

Widely considered Eastwood’s most popular one-liner, it has been co-opted by everyone from President Ronald Reagan (threatening Congress) to ordinary dads everywhere wanting to impress their children with their impressive powers of impersonation. 
Pale Rider (1985)
Screenwriters: Michael Butler, Dennis Shryack
Another classic though underappreciated Western in Eastwood’s career, the actor plays a mysterious preacher (whose real name might be Death). When he arrives in a prospector village that’s being bullied by a greedy mining company, he inspires the townsfolk to fight back.  
After disabling one of the mining company’s goons, and just before he breaks a boulder in half with his sledgehammer, Eastwood’s Preacher playfully says, “The Lord certainly does work in mysterious ways.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s9kzbLF-4E
The Dead Pool (1988)
Screenwriters: Harry Julian Fink, Rita M. Fink, Steve Sharon
The final “Dirty Harry” includes a brief appearance by then little-known Jim Carrey as a heavy metal rock star. He’s the first victim in a “dead pool” that’s sending a list of celebrities to the morgue. 
Dirty Harry is also on the dead-pool list. Not that he cares about anything, including what anyone else thinks.
“Well, opinions are like assholes,” he says at one point. “Everybody has one.”

Unforgiven (1992)
Screenwriter: David Webb Peoples
As this is an Oscar-winning film that attempts to debunk many of the stereotypes of movies and novels about the Old West, the memorable lines in this poetic picture are less attempts at a catchphrase and more a look into the dark recesses of the human soul. 
Eastwood’s William Munny is a gunslinger who has done terrible things in his life. But now, nearing the end of his life, he offers perspective and caution to the would-be mentee who admires him.   
“It’s a hell of a thing, killin’ a man,” he says. “Take away all he’s got, and all he’s ever gonna have.”

In a powerful joint letter addressed to Indonesian President Joko Widodo, more than 30 prominent stars from the realms of acting, fashion, and music have called for an immediate end to Indonesia’s dog and cat meat trades. The celebrities include Jeff Bridges, Billie Eilish, Charlize Theron, Clint Eastwood, Kim Basinger, Courteney Cox, Ricky Gervais, Andie McDowell, and Zooey Deschanel.
The plea comes in the wake of a successful rescue operation conducted by animal charities Humane Society International (HSI) and Animal Friends Manado Indonesia (AFMI) at Tomohon Extreme Market, one of the country’s most notorious markets.
This year, the Tomohon Extreme Market, located in the city of Tomohon in North Sulawesi province, was permanently shut down in July by Mayor Caroll Senduk, in collaboration with HSI and AFMI.

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The market had been infamous for the slaughter and sale of over 130,000 dogs and countless cats annually. The charities rescued the remaining animals found alive at the market slaughterhouse.
Ending Indonesia’s dog meat trade
The joint letter commends the leaders across Indonesia who have taken steps to eradicate the dog and cat meat trades, acknowledging the 28 cities and regencies that have already passed directives and regulations prohibiting these trades.
“We are writing to extend our congratulations to those leaders throughout Indonesia who have taken action to eradicate the dog and cat meat trades in their jurisdictions, saving tens of thousands of dogs and cats every month from the cruel and dangerous trades,” the letter says.
The stars also highlight the groundbreaking action taken by the City of Tomohon. “There are now 28 cities and regencies that have passed Directives and regulations prohibiting the trades, as well as the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, and the groundbreaking and progressive action taken by the City of Tomohon in July ending the sale and slaughter of dogs and cats, and their meat, at the nation’s most infamous market—Tomohon Extreme Market.”
“We now urge the central government of Indonesia to ensure that all regulations and laws to end the cruel and dangerous dog and cat meat trades are fully enforced, and that a nationwide ban is introduced so that we can soon celebrate a truly dog and cat meat-free Indonesia,” the letter concludes with an urgent appeal to President Joko Widodo.
Four Paws
In addition to American stars, the letter was also endorsed by some of Indonesia’s most influential celebrities, including Bubah Alfian, Cinta Laura Kiehl, D.J. Bryant, Davina Veronica, Luna Maya, and Prilly Latuconsia. It underscores the fact that a significant majority of Indonesians and international visitors oppose the cruel and exploitative dog and cat meat trade.
Celebrities take action
Lola Webber, HSI’s director of campaigns to end the dog meat trade, expressed gratitude for the support of global and Indonesian stars, emphasizing the importance of their voices in advocating for the millions of animals subjected to horrific abuse.
“We are so grateful to these outspoken Indonesian and global stars who are using their voices to speak up for the millions of dogs and cats who endure the most horrific abuse for the meat trade,” Webber said in a statement. “We echo their praise for those Indonesian leaders working with us to end this cruelty and we join with them in urging President Widodo to introduce a nationwide ban.”
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The celebrities were inspired to pen the letter following the successful dog and cat meat trade ban at Tomohon Market achieved by HSI and AFMI. The historic agreement signed by six dog and cat traders associated with the market has disrupted the vast supply network of animal thieves and traffickers involved in their brutal transport.
Frank Delano from AFMI highlighted the public health risks posed by the cat and dog meat trades, particularly the spread of the deadly rabies virus. “The dog and cat meat trades are not only obscenely cruel, but they also jeopardize public health through the spread of the deadly rabies virus during dog slaughter, butchery, and consumption. So to see these celebrities stand with the majority of Indonesian citizens in calling for an end to this miserable trade is really encouraging.”

Sometimes, our idea of a show isn’t the same as the actual show itself. We might misremember certain details because of the way the show has grown in the zeitgeist. Certain aspects make their way into the culture, while other parts fall by the wayside. Some of us remember Gilligan’s Island as being a show that was broadcast in color. However, its first season was originally broadcast in black and white.
We might look back on Rawhide and think that Clint Eastwood was the lead the whole time. He’s grown to be one of the biggest stars in the world, so it should follow that he was the biggest star of his show. Surely, Eastwood’s Rowdy Yates received top billing throughout the entire series, right?
The truth, though, is that for seasons 1 through 7, the star of Rawhide was Eric Fleming, the actor who played Gil Favor. Favor, the trail boss, began most episodes with a monologue. It was Favor who led the drovers, driving the cattle from town to town along each path they encountered. Especially in the earliest episodes, Clint Eastwood’s Rowdy Yates was young and impulsive. Gil Favor, as the leader, had to keep Yates under control.
As the show progressed, though, the network began making a few decisions about the direction the series would head in. Specifically, in 1965, CBS began shaking up the cast to better suit their vision. Rawhide wasn’t alone. That year, CBS also dramatically changed its show Hazel, switching up the family that Shirley Booth worked for as the title character. The series, to network executives, had grown stale, and the bright and shiny new couple was supposed to breathe fresh life into the show.
Rawhide saw some big changes at the behest of those same network executives. Eric Fleming was out, and newcomers Raymond St. Jacques and David Watson were in. These new faces were meant to punch up the series to hopefully attract new audiences.
Who was there to lead the new herd? Why, naturally, it was Rowdy Yates! Clint Eastwood became the top-billed star on Rawhide thanks to CBS interference. Yates was trail boss for Rawhide‘s eighth and final season.