Marlene Dietrich

"One should never underestimate the power of a well-timed smile."

"I have been criticized for not being German enough, not American enough, not feminine enough—and I've never cared."

"Life would be terribly dull if you didn't have someone to argue with."

"The truth is often uncomfortable, but it's always better than a comfortable lie."

"I've always thought that the most interesting people are the ones with secrets."

"Success doesn't come to those who wait; it comes to those who create their own opportunities."

"A woman who knows her own mind is a threat to those who want her to be docile."

"I never believed in the idea of being too old for anything."

"The real luxury in life is having time to be bored."

"If you're going to do something, do it with style and conviction."

"I learned that the most powerful thing you can do is laugh at yourself."

"Never ask a woman her age or a man his income; both are sensitive subjects."

"The stage lights make you feel like you're alive in a way nothing else can."

"I've always preferred working to the idle life of leisure."

"Beauty fades, but style is forever."

"One should always have a plan B, but never tell anyone about it."

"The world is full of small people living small lives, and I refuse to be one of them."

"I've learned that the best revenge is living well and being happy."

"If you don't have critics, you're probably not doing anything interesting."

"Love is the only thing that makes sense in this world."

"I have always believed in the power of silence."

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

"A woman's greatest power is knowing when to say no."

"I've never been one to follow the rules, and look where it got me."

"Character is built through adversity, not through ease."

"I prefer honest criticism to hollow praise."

"The best time to invest in yourself is always right now."

"I've learned that staying true to yourself is often the loneliest path."

"The most beautiful thing about growing older is the freedom to be yourself."

"I don't believe in second chances; I believe in first impressions."