Mae West

[ Flower Belle Lee, played by Mae West, speaking :] I generally avoid temptation unless I can’t resist it.

[ Peaches O’Day, played by Mae West, speaking :] I always say, keep a diary and someday it’ll keep you.

[Flower Belle Lee, played by Mae West, speaking:] Oh, arithmetic. I was always pretty good at figures myself.

[ The Frisco Doll, played by Mae West, speaking :] Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.

[ Ruby Carter, played by Mae West, speaking :] It’s better to be looked over than overlooked.

[ Lady Lou, played by Mae West, speaking :] Why don’t you come up sometime and see me?

[ Lady Lou, played by Mae West, speaking :] When women go wrong, men go right after them.

[ Tira, played by Mae West, speaking :] Peel me a grape.

[ Mandie Triplett, played by Mae West, respondingto being told, “Goodness, what beautifuldiamonds” :] Goodness had nothing to do withit, dearie.

You know, I always liked a man in uniform. . . . That one fits you perfect. Say, why don’t you come up some time. I’m home every evening.

I always like a man in uniform, and that one fits you grand. Say, why don’t you drop in and see me some time? Home every evening you know. . . . Why don’t you come up some time?

I generally avoid temptation unless 1 can’t resist it.

A man has one hundred dollars and you leave him with two dollars, that’s subtraction.

It ain’t no sin if you crack a few laws now and then, just so long as you don’t break any.

Whenever I’m caught between two evils, I take the one I’ve never tried.

He who hesitates is a damned fool.

Virtue has its own reward, but no box office.

I believe in censorship. I made a fortune out of it.

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

Let Shakespeare do it his way. I’ll do it mine. We’ll see who comes out better.

I don’t like myself, I’m crazy about myself.

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

I like restraint, if it doesn’t go too far.

I’ve been things and I’ve seen places.

I’m no angel but I’ve spread my wings a bit.

To err is human—but it feels divine.

“Goodness had nothing to do with it.”

The censors wouldn’t even let me sit on a guy’s lap, and I’ve been on more laps than a table napkin.

The best way to behave is to misbehave.

I’m the girl who lost her reputation and never missed it.

I feel like a million tonight—but one at a time.

Let’s forget the six feet and talk about the seven inches.

A hard man’s good to find—but you’ll mostly find him asleep.

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

I don’t know a lot about politics, but I can recognize a good party man when I see one.

It’s better to be looked over than overlooked.