Today, word came through my Twitter feed that Geoffrey Lewis passed away. He was one of those character actors who appeared in movies and a ton of television shows. I have seen him many times but never knew his name. I also did not know that he was the father of Juliette Lewis.
With his passing, I thought it would be appropriate to search for wisdom in his movies. For those who have not read one of the Movie Wisdom posts, there are a few rules. First, it must be a movie in which Geoffrey Lewis appeared. Second, it must be a movie that I have seen. Third, the wisdom can be spoken by any character in the film.
With that being said, I must admit that my favorite role of his was not in a movie. It was in a Magnum, P.I. episode called I Never Wanted to Go to France, Anyway.
Now, he is some of the wisdom of Geoffrey Lewis.
From High Plains Drifter
It’s what people know about themselves inside that makes ’em afraid.
From My Name Is Nobody
Folks that throw dirt on you aren’t always trying to hurt you, and folks that pull you out of a jam aren’t always trying to help you. But the main point is when you’re up to your nose in shit, keep your mouth shut.
If a man is a man, he needs someone to believe in.
The secret of a long life is you try not to shorten it.
Dying is not the worst thing that can happen to a man.
Two things go straight to a man’s heart, bullets and gold.
There was never any “good old days”.
From The Great Waldo Pepper
The biplane’s gone the way of the Dodo.
From Every Which Way But Loose
I’m not afraid of any man, but when it comes to sharing my feelings with a woman, my stomach turns to royal gelatin.
From Tom Horn
If you really knew how dirty and raggedy-assed the Old West was, you wouldn’t want any part of it.
From Bronco Billy
I think every kid in America ought to go to school… at least up to the eighth grade.
From Any Which Way You Can
A hand out is what you get from the government, a hand up is what you get from a friend.
From Fletch Lives
It takes a big man to admit when he’s wrong.
From Tango and Cash
Too much television can hurt your eyes.
Crazy people aren’t afraid of anybody.
From The Man Without a Face
People spend too much time thinking of the past. Whatever else it is, it’s gone.
From Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
If you’re thirsty, a drink will cure it, if you’re not, a drink will prevent it. Prevention is better than a cure.
To understand the living, you got to commune with the dead.
It’s better to be on the edge of a party.
SBI: A Thinning Crowd 