25th Anniversary Issue th
The Last Words For more than a decade, this page has picked the brains of the world’s most fascinating men. Here’s what they taught us.
What’s the best advice you ever received? As a teenager, I’d get frustrated by people I thought were not smart, and my father told me, “Son, don’t ever get frustrated by stupid people. Being mad at stupidity is like being mad at grass — it’s everywhere.” JAMES CARVILLE March 2013
“Everybody you ever meet knows something you don’t.” A cab driver told me that 30 years ago, and I’m reminded of it every single day. BILL NYE April 2015
What skill should every man have? The ability to fix things. You’ve got a lot of insecure people these days because they can’t f ix a drippy faucet. We’re getting weaker and weaker as a species. I think the bugs will take us over pretty soon.
What’s the most cherished possession you’ve ever lost? My son. I ain’t never lost nothing else that wasn’t replaceable.
my publisher told me I ought to go back out to the oil platforms. I told him, “You go.”
WILLIE NELSON April 2008
YVON CHOUINARD October 2010
What should every man know about women? They love to laugh. You can laugh more women into bed than you can seduce into it — just so long as they stop laughing when you’re in bed.
What should everyone understand about the political system? Small-town democracy works better than people know. Big money is very important, but on issues that the voters speak out on, they will kick big money’s ass.
PHILIP LEVINE November 2011
MICHAEL CAINE July 2012
When is it OK for a man to lie? Just about anytime, if it makes life more interesting and you’re not hurting anyone. MICHAEL DOUGLAS May 2010
How does a man know when someone is bullshitting him? Here’s the problem: When someone’s bullshitting you, they’re usually telling you something you want to hear, so you don’t want it to be bullshit, and so you haven’t turned on your bullshit detector. Which is why, when you can find people who are honest with you, you should stay close to them. AARON SORKIN August 2012
What’s the best cure for heartache? There isn’t any cure for it. Just try like hell to behave yourself and have some class. BURT REYNOLDS December 2015
What adventure changed your life? I spent 65 years in Air Force cockpits and fought in four wars, but I never looked at it as an adventure. It’s duty. You could say that the most important thing I did was break the sound barrier. That’s the reason we’re on the moon. But it was my job to try. That’s the way I looked at it.
BARNEY FRANK May 2012
What was it like to be the most feared man on the planet? I realized that was something a little boy wanted. I was scared of society, so that’s why I wanted people to be afraid of me. I’m not afraid of society now; that’s why all I want is for people to respect me. That’s why I give people respect. MIKE TYSON February 2014
CHUCK YEAGER January 2009
What advice would you give the younger you? Lighten the fuck up.
Right after I resigned from the Army, in 1965, I f lew helicopters for oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. I f lew personnel from rig to rig, and I’d live on a platform out at sea. I had a lot of time to myself — no wine, women, or songs — so I’d sit in my helicopter and write. That’s where I wrote “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Help Me Make It Through the Night.” A few years later when I was on the road and not writing so much,
ANTHONY HOPKINS March 2010
How does a man know it’s time to walk away? When he doesn’t have the same passion and commitment. After I became champion, I got civilized with the parties and the private planes, the buffets and the caviar. That guy should stay out of the ring. SUGAR RAY LEONARD February 2012
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MEN’S JOURNAL
illustration by SEAN McCABE
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: DOUGLAS: JASON LAVERIS/FILMMAGIC/GETTY IMAGES; NELSON: C. FLANIGAN/FILMMAGIC/ GETTY IMAGES; LEONARD: PAUL ARCHULETA/GETTY IMAGES; NYE: JASON LAVERIS/FILMMAGIC/GETTY IMAGES; CAINE: GEORGE PIMENTEL/WIREIMAGE/GETTY IMAGES. MOUNT RUSHMORE: MARK EDWARD HARRIS/GETTY IMAGES
How should a man handle getting old? Badly. There isn’t any other way. Break all the mirrors in the house.
KRIS KRISTOFFERSON April 2010