Quotes & anectdotes from the wise, the foolish, the courageous & the drunk

Mae West Actor

  • Gender: Female
  • Citizenship: United States
  • Born: Aug 17, 1893
  • Died: Nov 22, 1980

Mary Jane "Mae" West was an American actress, singer, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades.

Known for her bawdy double entendres, West made a name for herself in vaudeville and on the stage in New York before moving to Hollywood to become a comedienne, actress and writer in the motion picture industry. In consideration of her contributions to American cinema, the American Film Institute named West 15th among the greatest female stars of all time. One of the more controversial movie stars of her day, West encountered many problems, including censorship. When her cinematic career ended, she continued to perform in Las Vegas, in the United Kingdom, and on radio and television, and to record rock and roll albums. Asked about the various efforts to impede her career, West replied, "I believe in censorship. I made a fortune out of it."

Marriage is a great institution, but I'm not ready for an institution. greatness & marriage

When I'm good I'm very, very good, but when I'm bad, I'm better. being good

Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before. being funny

A woman in love can't be reasonable - or she probably wouldn't be in love. love

I only like two kinds of men, domestic and imported. men

One and one is two, and two and two is four, and five will get you ten if you know how to work it. work

Too much of a good thing can be taxing. being good

Love conquers all things except poverty and toothache. love

Ten men waiting for me at the door? Send one of them home, I'm tired. home & men

I like a man who's good, but not too good - for the good die young, and I hate a dead one. being good

Any time you got nothing to do - and lots of time to do it - come on up. time

Too much of a good thing can be wonderful. being good

It's not the men in my life that count, it's the life in my men. life & men

Personally, I like two types of men - domestic and foreign. men

A hard man is good to find. being good

I used to be Snow White, but I drifted. being funny

A man's kiss is his signature. men

Love thy neighbor - and if he happens to be tall, debonair and devastating, it will be that much easier. love

The best way to hold a man is in your arms. best

She's the kind of girl who climbed the ladder of success wrong by wrong. success

Love isn't an emotion or an instinct - it's an art. art & love

A man can be short and dumpy and getting bald but if he has fire, women will like him. women

I only have 'yes' men around me. Who needs 'no' men? men

Look your best - who said love is blind? best & love

He's the kind of man a woman would have to marry to get rid of. marriage

When women go wrong, men go right after them. men & women

I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number you get in a diamond. diets

Save a boyfriend for a rainy day - and another, in case it doesn't rain. dating

It's hard to be funny when you have to be clean. being funny

When I'm good, I'm very good. But when I'm bad I'm better. being good

Personality is the most important thing to an actress's success. success

St. Patrick's Day March 17, 2025

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