40 Mae West Quotes That Are Better Than Anything Marilyn Monroe Ever Said

Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons

Mae West (1893-1980) was a full-blown badass and probably the first true feminist movie star. Her film career started in 1932—thirteen years before Marilyn Monroe’s—and thus everything she said was much braver and riskier than anything Marilyn said.


1.

Marriage is a great institution, but I’m not ready for an institution.


2.

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


3.

A hard man is good to find.


4.

To err is human, but it feels divine.


5.

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


6.

Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?


7.

When I’m good, I’m very good. But when I’m bad I’m better.


8.

A woman in love can’t be reasonable—or she probably wouldn’t be in love.


9.

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


10.

I’ll try anything once, twice if I like it, three times to make sure.


11.

He who hesitates is a damned fool.


12.

Good girls go to heaven; bad girls go everywhere.


13.

I’m single because I was born that way.


14.

If a little is great, and a lot is better, then way too much is just about right!


15.

When women go wrong, men go right after them.


16.

Every man I meet wants to protect me. I can’t figure out what from.


17.

Love conquers all things except poverty and toothache.


18.

It’s hard to be funny when you have to be clean.


19.

I speak two languages, Body and English.


20.

His mother should have thrown him out and kept the stork.


21.

I’m a woman of very few words, but lots of action.


22.

Life is short. break the rules forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile.


23.

Too much of a good thing can be wonderful!


24.

Women like a man with a past, but they prefer a man with a present.


25.

I generally avoid temptation unless I can’t resist it.


26.

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


27.

Save a boyfriend for a rainy day—and another, in case it doesn’t rain.


28.

Look your best—who said love is blind?


29.

Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.


30.

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


31.

The score never interested me, only the game.


32.

All discarded lovers should be given a second chance, but with somebody else.


33.

A dame that knows the ropes isn’t likely to get tied up.


34.

I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.


35.

There are no good girls gone wrong—just bad girls found out.


36.

A man’s kiss is his signature.


37.

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.


38.

Those who are easily shocked should be shocked more often.


39.

Give a man a free hand and he’ll run it all over you.


40.

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