Life of Will Rogers

• Full Name: William Penn Adair Rogers
• Born: 4 November 1879, near Oologah, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma)
• Heritage: Cherokee Nation
• Died: 15 August 1935, in an airplane crash near Point Barrow, Alaska, alongside aviator Wiley Post
• Occupations: Vaudeville performer, actor (71 films), humorist, columnist (4,000+ syndicated columns), radio personality, and social commentator
• Career Highlights:
• Started as a cowboy and trick roper, performing in Wild West shows in the U.S. and abroad.
• Became a vaudeville star with the Ziegfeld Follies (1916–1925), adding witty political commentary to his rope tricks.
• Transitioned to Hollywood films (silent and talkies) and became one of the highest-paid actors of the 1930s.
• Wrote widely read newspaper columns and hosted popular radio broadcasts.
• Legacy: Known as “Oklahoma’s Favorite Son,” Rogers was beloved for his homespun humor and sharp political wit.  His style was folksy yet insightful, making complex issues relatable to ordinary Americans.

Famous Will Rogers Quotes

Here are some of his most memorable lines:

•   “I never met a man I didn’t like.”
•   “I am not a Member of any organized political party.  I am a Democrat.”
•   “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”
•   “The short memories of the American voters are what keep our politicians in office.”
•   “I don’t make jokes.  I watch the government and report the facts.”
•   “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned to buy things they don’t want to impress people they don’t like.”
•   “Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.”
•   “Never miss a good chance to shut up.”
•   “Buy land.  They ain’t making any more of the stuff.”
•   “Worrying is like paying on a debt that may never come due.”