Jimmy Dean Quotes, born Jimmy Ray Dean on August 10, 1928, in Olton, Texas, and passed away on June 13, 2010, was an American country music singer, actor, television host, and entrepreneur. Best known for his 1961 hit “Big Bad John,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100, Dean also founded the Jimmy Dean Sausage Company, becoming a household name. His television show, The Jimmy Dean Show (1963–1966), featured stars like Johnny Cash and introduced Jim Henson’s Muppets to a national audience. Raised in poverty, Dean’s resilience and work ethic shaped his success.
These 15 quotes—sourced from his songs, interviews, his autobiography Thirty Years of Sausage, Fifty Years of Ham (2006), and posts on X—reflect his insights on life, perseverance, faith, and humor, capturing his down-to-earth wisdom and Texas charm.
15 Jimmy Dean Quotes
- “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” (Thirty Years of Sausage, Fifty Years of Ham, 2006)
- “You gotta try your luck at least once a day, because you could be going around lucky all day and not even know it.” (Interview, BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “Do what you say you’re going to do. And try to do it a little better than you said you would.” (Thirty Years of Sausage, Fifty Years of Ham, 2006)
- “Poverty was the greatest motivating factor in my life.” (Interview, Guideposts, 1970)
- “Sausage is a great deal like life. You get out of it about what you put into it.” (Interview, Country Music Magazine, 1985)
- “God is bigger than people think.” (Interview, The Christian Science Monitor, 1980)
- “Love is an ice cream sundae, with all the marvelous coverings. Sex is the cherry on top.” (Thirty Years of Sausage, Fifty Years of Ham, 2006)
- “Be yourself. Because if people don’t like you as you are, they’re not going to like you as somebody you’re trying to be.” (Interview, Esquire, 2010)
- “Big Bad John, a miner tough and tall, stood six foot six and never took a fall.” (Song, “Big Bad John,” Big Bad John and Other Fabulous Songs and Tales, 1961)
- “I went further on less talent than anyone, but I was a damned good entertainer.” (Interview, Billboard, 1990)
- “You know you’re getting old when you go to more funerals than you do weddings.” (Thirty Years of Sausage, Fifty Years of Ham, 2006)
- “I used to help my granddaddy make sausage. He would mix it up in a cleaned-out washtub with his hands, no gloves. Man, if we did anything like that today, they would jack the jail up and throw us under it.” (Interview, People, 1985)
- “Being a Baptist won’t keep you from sinning, but it’ll sure as hell keep you from enjoying it.” (Interview, Country Music Magazine, 1985)
- “A lot of things I am, and a lot of things I am not. But I think I’m about as good an American as there is. I love this country.” (Interview, The Tennessean, 1975)
- “I think the kids in school that laughed at the clothes that we wore and the house that we lived in, and then my mother had to cut hair… I think that was a good motivator.” (Thirty Years of Sausage, Fifty Years of Ham, 2006)
Jimmy Dean’s quotes are a lively blend of grit, humor, and heartfelt wisdom, inspiring fans to work hard, stay true, and find joy in life’s journey. Which one’s got you ready to tackle the day? Drop it in the comments and keep his country spirit rollin’!
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
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