Top 10 Most Controversial Quotes From Tommy Lee Jones

Here are 10 quotes from Tommy Lee Jones that could be considered controversial.

1. “Let me explain something you already know. I’m from Texas and we understand the nature of a border. From what I’ve seen, vigilant Texans are being ordered to stand down and allow criminals to pass. Mr. President, prepare to see Texans ignoring those orders.” This quote is from Jones himself, in a speech he gave at the Republican National Convention in 2012. He says this to criticize President Barack Obama’s immigration policy and to express his support for border security. The quote could be seen as controversial because it implies that Texans are superior to other Americans in their understanding of border issues, and that they are willing to disobey the federal government and take matters into their own hands.
2. “Kindness and politeness are not overrated at all. They’re underused.” This quote is also from Jones himself, in an interview he gave to The Guardian in 2002. He says this to share his view on manners and civility. The quote could be seen as controversial because it contrasts with Jones’s reputation as a gruff and taciturn actor, and because it suggests that most people are rude and unkind.
3. “Lose the chrome-plated sissy pistol and get yourself a Glock.” This quote is from Jones’s character Agent K in the movie “Men in Black”, in which he plays a veteran agent of a secret organization that deals with aliens. He says this to his rookie partner Agent J, played by Will Smith, when he gives him a new weapon. The quote could be seen as controversial because it mocks Agent J’s choice of firearm and implies that it is feminine and weak, which might offend some people who prefer different types of guns or who oppose gender stereotypes.
4. “I don’t see people as groups, I see them as individuals.” This quote is from Jones himself, in an interview he gave to The New York Times in 2007. He says this to explain his approach to acting and directing. The quote could be seen as controversial because it challenges the idea of identity politics and collective representation, which might upset some people who belong to or advocate for certain groups.
5. “I think that no matter how much you don’t like yourself or the drama of your life you can still find some comedy in it.” This quote is from Jones himself, in an interview he gave to Indie London in 2005. He says this to describe his sense of humor and his attitude towards life. The quote could be seen as controversial because it implies that self-loathing and misery are common and inevitable, and that laughter is the only way to cope with them, which might depress some people who seek more positive solutions.
6. “What I want from each and every one of you is a hard-target search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in that area.” This quote is from Jones’s character Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard in the movie “The Fugitive”, in which he plays a relentless pursuer of a fugitive doctor accused of murdering his wife. He says this to his team when they are closing in on their target. The quote could be seen as controversial because it shows Gerard’s obsession and determination to catch the fugitive at any cost, which might clash with some people’s views on justice and human rights.
7. “Imagine what you’ll know tomorrow.” This quote is also from Agent K in “Men in Black”, in which he says this to Agent J after revealing the existence of aliens to him. The quote could be seen as controversial because it suggests that there is more to reality than what most people know or believe, which might challenge some people’s worldview or faith.
8. “All my life I’ve had the privilege to make my living with my imagination, and the most important thing has been to see my creative life grow. I was educated to do that and have lived accordingly.” This quote is from Jones himself, in an interview he gave to The New York Times in 2012. He says this to reflect on his career as an actor and a director. The quote could be seen as controversial because it implies that Jones has had an easy and fulfilling life thanks to his talent and education, which might provoke envy or resentment among some people who struggle or suffer in their lives.
9. “Ethnic stereotypes are boring and stressful and sometimes criminal. It’s just not a good way to think. It’s non-thinking. It’s stupid and destructive.” This quote is also from Jones himself, in an interview he gave to The New York Times in 2007. He says this to express his opinion on racism and prejudice. The quote could be seen as controversial because it condemns any form of generalization or discrimination based on ethnicity, which might anger some people who hold or benefit from such views.
10. “The tactic of leading people into… a war that doesn’t make any sense by telling them they are under attack, and if they raise any objection they’re unpatriotic, is a very old tactic. And it doesn’t intimidate me.” This quote is also from Jones himself, in an interview he gave to The Guardian in 2002. He says this to criticize President George W. Bush’s administration for its handling of the Iraq War and its treatment of dissenters. The quote could be seen as controversial because it accuses the government of lying and manipulating the public into supporting an unjust war, which might offend some people who support or serve in the military.