Mae West (1893 – 1980) earned international fame as an actress and singer, but she was also a talented playwright and screenwriter. In fact, it was she who wrote all the clever and sometimes bawdy quips that were her stock in trade. This collection of Mae West quotes gathers some of her wittiest and best known.

At one point in the 1930s, Mae was the highest-earning woman in the U.S. Constantly doing battle with censors, she famously said, “I believe in censorship. I made a fortune out of it.” Mae created her iconic persona, and behind it was her desire to poke holes in stodgy convention and hypocrisy.

The American Film Institute named  her the 15th greatest female screen legend, an honor she richly deserved. When her film career wound down, she continued to write books and plays. Read More→