Mae West

"I'm not denying the power of sexual attraction—I'm just not a slave to it."

"A kiss may be just a kiss, but it can mean everything."

"The greatest gift I give myself is permission to be exactly who I am."

"I've learned more from my mistakes than from my successes."

"Pity the poor man who falls in love with a woman like me."

"I make my living off my wits, and they've never failed me yet."

"The secret to getting what you want is knowing what you're worth."

"I've scandalized more people than most people have met."

"A woman of a certain age knows exactly what she wants—and how to get it."

"I prefer interesting shadows to dull light."

"The world needs more people who refuse to apologize for existing."

"I've never believed in playing small. Life is too short for that."

"I believe in the power of positive thinking, but I also believe in the power of positive doing."

"The secret to my success is that I bit off more than I could chew and chewed as fast as I could."

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

"I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it."

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

"I'm no angel, but I've spread my wings a bit."

"Between two evils, I always pick the one I haven't tried yet."

"The curves are all there. You just have to apply the paint."

"A man in the house is worth two in the street."

"Too much of a good thing is simply wonderful."

"I've been things and seen places."

"It ain't no sin if you crack a few laws along the way."

"I only have eyes for you, and occasionally for the waiter."

"You've got to be original because if you're like someone else, what do they need you for?"

"Cultivate your curves, but do it with intelligence and grace."

"The best way to handle a man is to keep him guessing."

"I have no regrets, only education."

"A woman who takes her husband about face is following the Biblical injunction."