Let’s talk about the seven inches with Mae West and many other bawdy quotes from her movies, interviews and and her book.
That cheeky line was uttered by Mae West, to a tall actor played as a cowboy in the 1970 film “Myra Breckinridge”.
In the same movie, Mae west also delivered this similar quip:
“…well I don’t care about your credit, as long as you’re over six.” – Mae West
(The quote can be heard in this movie clip of Myra Breckinridge; 0:18-20)
This actress was notorious for her mischievous and bawdy double entendres.
On April 19, 1927, Mae West together with two others was sentenced to 10 days in prison and given a $500 fine for putting on an indecent show, simply title “SEX“.
She even exploited about this incident by driving to jail in her flashy $20,000 limousine followed by throngs of cheering admirers.
Mae West was a comedienne, actress and writer was billed by the American Film Institute as 15th among the greatest female stars of all time.
Do you know that during World War II, Allied aircrew called their yellow-color inflatable, vest-like life preserver jackets “Mae Wests”?
It was because the vest resembled her torso and also partly from rhyming slang for “breasts”.
This “Mae West” jacket was mentioned in the story “North Sea Patrol” by Bartimeus in Blue Book Magazine, Vol. 71, No. 02, June 1940.
Then there is this Mae West Lips Sofa which is a surrealist sofa designed by Spanish painter Salvador Dali.
In Variety film review of the movie “I’m No Angel“, October 17, 1933, the writer Land wrote: “She’s as hot an issue as Hitler.”
This blonde bombshell was was painted by Salvador Dali, praised by George Bernard Shaw, photographed by Richard Avedon, loved by audiences, and even harassed by a extortionist in 1935.
Let’s Talk About The Seven Inches With Mae West
Here is a wide selection of authentic Mae West quotes on bad girls, curves, men, love and other naughty stuff.
All the quotes here are linked to credible and reliable sources, that include LIFE magazine, her movies, The Guardian, and books.
“Beulah,[…] peel me a grape.” – Mae West
(The quote is from the 1933 movie “I’m No Angel“)
(The quote is heard in this movie clip of “I’m No Angel“)
“When I’m good I’m very, very good, but when I’m bad, I’m better.” – Mae West
(The quote is from the 1933 movie “I’m No Angel“)
(The quote is heard in this movie clip of I’m No Angel; 0:14 – 8)
(The quote is also heard in this 1978 movie clip Sextette; 1:16-22)
“Why don’t you come up sometime and see me? I’m home every evening.” – Mae West
(The quote is from the 1933 movie “She Done Him Wrong“)
(The quote is heard in this movie clip of She Done Him Wrong; 1:11-14)
“Mmm…come up and see me sometime. The sooner the better.” – Mae West
(The quote is heard in this movie Sextette;1:16:44-49)
“Five times? Wedding bells must sound like an alarm clock to you.” – Mae West
(The quote is from the 1933 movie “I’m No Angel“)
(The quote is also found here.)
“I’ve being things and seen places.” – Mae West
(The quote is from the 1933 movie “I’m No Angel“)
(The quote is also found here.)
“Women are as old as they feel – and men are old when they lose their feelings.” – Mae West
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“She’s the kind of girl who climbed the ladder of success wrong by wrong.” – Mae West
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(The quote is also found in: )
“You can do what you want, but saving love doesn’t bring any interest.” – Mae West
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“A gold rush is what happens when a line of chorus girls spot a man with a bankroll.” – Mae West
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“Give a man a free hand and he’ll try to put it all over you.” – Mae West
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(The quote is also found in: )
“Too many girls follow the line of least resistance – but a good line is hard to resist.” – Mae West
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“There are no withholding taxes on the wages of sin.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 63)
“A woman in love can’t be reasonable– or she probably wouldn’t be in love.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 75)
“All discarded lovers should be given a second chance. But with somebody else.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 63)
“A dame that knows the ropes isn’t likely to get tied up.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 85)
“Don’t come crawlin’ to a man for love – He likes to get a run for his money.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 87)
“Don’t keep a man guessing too long–he’s sure to find the answer somewhere else.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 87)
“Men are easy to get but hard to keep.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 75)
“The best way to hold a man is in your arms.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 81)
“Some women pick men to marry–and others pick them to pieces.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 70)
“Don’t cry for a man who’s left you, the next one may fall for your smile.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 87)
“The curve is more powerful than the sword.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 68)
“It takes two to get one in trouble.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 31)
“Cultivate your curves–they may be dangerous but they won’t be avoided.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 83)
“I didn’t discover curves; I only uncovered them.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 68)
“Women with “pasts” interest men because men hope that history will repeat itself.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 61)
“A man in love is like a clipped coupon. It’s time to cash in.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 57)
“A girl whose curves are knockouts has been known to win on points.” – Mae West
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“The best way to behave is to misbehave.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 83)
“Look your best–who said love is blind?” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 81)
“Brains are an asset to the woman in love who’s smart enough to hide ’em.” – Mae West
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“I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 63)
“Men are my hobby, if I ever got married I’d have to give it up.” – Mae West
(The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae West By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 59)
“I’m no angel, but I’ve spread my wings a bit.” – Mae West
“I kept no records of my emotional life — the score never interested me — only the game.” – Mae West
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“Success is a two-bladed golden sword; it knights one and stabs one at the same time.” – Mae West
“I generally avoid temptation unless I can’t resist it” – Mae West
(The quote is from the 1940 movie “My Little Chickadee“)
“I was in a tight spot, but I managed to wiggle out of it.” – Mae West
(The quote is from the 1940 movie “My Little Chickadee“)
“A real farmer. He spent his childhood in the wheat, and his marriage in the hay.” – Mae West
(The quote is heard in the 1978 movie Sextette; 14:33-9)
“…you gotta get up early in the morning to catch a fox and stay up late at night to get a mink.” – Mae West
(The quote is heard in the 1978 movie Sextette;1:48-57)
“I’m the girl who works at Paramount all day, and Fox all night.” – Mae West
(The quote is heard in the 1978 movie Sextette;0:02-9)
“Ooh is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?” – Mae West
(The quote is heard in the 1978 movie Sextette; 1:02:17-21)
Note: You can watch the full movie “Sextette” over HERE.
(The quote is also found in:)
“Well, marriage is like a book. The whole story takes place between the covers.” – Mae West
(The quote is heard in the 1978 movie Sextette;33:10-4)
“I woke up in more strange places than Kissinger!” – Mae West
(The quote is heard in the 1978 movie Sextette;18:43-6)
“…I don’t know much about politics, but I do know a good party man when I see one.” – Mae West
(The quote is heard in the 1978 movie Sextette;1:10:27-31)
“…is that your sword or are you just glad to see me?” – Mae West
(The Nine Lives of Michael Todd by Art Cohn, Random House, 1958, 21. Catherine Wasn’t Great, P. 193)
“It is better to be looked over than overlooked.” – Mae West
(The quote is heard in the movie Belle Of The Nineties; 1:37-38)
(The quote is from the 1934 movie “Belle Of The Nineties“)
“That guy’s no good. His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork.” – Mae West
(The quote is from the 1934 movie “Belle Of The Nineties“)
“…I never had a Spanish guy, but I’ve heard of Spanish fly.” – Mae West
(This quote is from 1928 Play “Diamond Lil By Mae west”)
(The quote is heard in this Diamond Lil video clip;1:40-3)
“…when women go wrong, men go right after them.” – Mae West
(The quote is from the 1933 movie “She Done Him Wrong“)
“Anyone can acquire homosexuality, there are variations of it, but I found out that the true-born homosexual has the soul of a female inside a male body.” – Mae West
(Note: This quote is originally from “Mae West: The Queen at Home in Hollywood” Written By Anjelica Huston And Peter Lester, Interview Magazine, December 1974)
(The quote is also found here.)
“I was the first one ever to say “sex” on stage.” – Mae West
(Note: The quote is originally from “Mae West: The Queen at Home in Hollywood” Written By Anjelica Huston And Peter Lester, Interview Magazine, December 1974)
(The quote is also found here.)
“S*x is an emotion in motion.” – Mae West
(The Los Angeles Times on Sunday, 31 August 1969, P. 348)
“I believe in censorship. After all, I made a fortune out of it.” – Mae West
“I dress for women and undress for men.” – Mae West
(The quote is also found in: ‘There’s nothing better in life than diamonds’ By Charlotte Chandler, The Guardian, September, 2007)
(Note: This quote is originally from: “The Ultimate Seduction” By Charlotte Chandler, Doubleday, 1984, P. 41)
“The nearness of an attractive man kept me in a constant state of sensual unrest.” – Mae West
(“There’s Nothing Better In Life Than Diamonds” By Charlotte Chandler, The Guardian, September, 2007)
(Note: The quote is originally from: “The Ultimate Seduction” By Charlotte Chandler, Doubleday, 1984; p.43)
“…it’s not the men in my life that counts, it’s the life in my men.” – Mae West
(The quote is heard in the 1978 movie Sextette;14:03-7)
(The quote is also found in: “There’s Nothing Better In Life Than Diamonds” By Charlotte Chandler, The Guardian, September, 2007)
(Another source of the quote is found in: She Always Knew How: Mae West, A Personal Biography By Charlotte Chandler, Simon and Schuster, 2012)
(Note: The quote is originally from: “The Ultimate Seduction” By Charlotte Chandler, Doubleday, 1984, P. 58)
“I was a bad girl with a good heart.” – Mae West
(“There’s Nothing Better In Life Than Diamonds” By Charlotte Chandler, The Guardian, September, 2007)
(Note: The quote is originally from: )
“I’ve been in more laps than a napkin!” – Mae West
(“There’s Nothing Better In Life Than Diamonds” By Charlotte Chandler, The Guardian, September, 2007)
(Note: The quote is originally from: “The Ultimate Seduction” By Charlotte Chandler, Doubleday, 1984, P. 68)
“I believe in censorship! If a picture of mine didn’t get an “X” rating, I’d be insulted.” – Mae West
(“There’s Nothing Better In Life Than Diamonds” By Charlotte Chandler, The Guardian, September, 2007)
(Note: The quote is originally from: “The Ultimate Seduction” By Charlotte Chandler, Doubleday, 1984, P. 68)
“Money is sexy for men, but people don’t find it feminine for a woman to talk about it.” – Mae West
(“There’s Nothing Better In Life Than Diamonds” By Charlotte Chandler, The Guardian, September, 2007)
(Note: The quote is originally from: )
“…money is a great love potion for an affair. It buys a good bed with clean linens and time to enjoy it all.” – Mae west
(“There’s Nothing Better In Life Than Diamonds” By Charlotte Chandler, The Guardian, September, 2007)
(Note: This quote is originally from: “The Ultimate Seduction” By Charlotte Chandler, Doubleday, 1984, P. 69)
“Men admire devotion in their wives, beauty in other women.” – Mae West
(“There’s Nothing Better In Life Than Diamonds” By Charlotte Chandler, The Guardian, September, 2007)
(Note: This quote is originally from: “The Ultimate Seduction” By Charlotte Chandler, Doubleday, 1984, P. 70)
(The quote is also found in: The Wit And Wisdom Of Mae west By Mae West, Edited By Joseph Weintraub, G. P. Putnam, 1967, P. 57)
“…a hard man is good to find.” – Mae West
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“…never mind about the six feet. Let’s talk about the seven inches.” – Mae West
(The quote is heard in this movie clip of Myra Breckinridge; 3:22-26)
(The quote is also found in: Drag!: Male and Female Impersonators on Stage, Screen and Television: An Illustrated World History, McFarland & Company Incorporated Pub, 1994, P. 247)
“…don’t forget to remind me of the policeman’s ball, I..I.. mean the police show.” -Mae West
(The quote is heard in this movie clip of Myra Breckinridge; 3:44-48)
“Some of the wildest men make the best pets.” – Mae West
(The quote is from the 1934 movie “Belle of the Nineties“)
“When I’m caught between two evils, I generally like to take the one I’ve never tried.” – Mae West
(The quote is heard in this movie Klondike Annie; 55:58-56:00)
“What’s the good of resisting temptation? There’ll always be more.” – Mae West
(The quote is heard in this 1936 movie Klondike Annie; 23:18-21)
“A thrill a day keeps the chill away.” – Mae West
(The Hollywood Studios By Roy Pickard, F. Muller, 1978, P. 99)
(The quote is also found in: The New Yorker, Volume 74, Issues 11-17, F-R Publishing Corporation, 1998, P. 36)
(Another source of this quote is found at: Mae West: A Biography By Fergus Cashin, W. H. Allen, 1981, P. 77)
“…too much of a good thing can be wonderful.” – Mae West
“Life often begins after dark…” – Mae West
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“He should know that opportunity knocks for every man, but you have to give a woman a ring.” – Mae West
“…a girl in the convertible is worth five in the phone book.” – Mae West
“He should know that often a penny saved is a girl lost…” – Mae West
“He should know that an ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises…” – Mae West
“The rest of America could ask for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; I’d take the spotlight.” – Mae West
“Old Father Time will turn you into a hag if you don’t show the bit*h who’s the boss.” – Mae West
“I like all men – domestic and foreign…” – Mae West
“I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.” – Mae West
“Oh, I like it anywhere.” – Mae west
(The quote is heard in the 1978 movie Sextette, 0:16-17)
“…if I ever kept a diary it would have to be written in invisible ink.” – Mae West
“…the R.A.F. flyers have a life-saving jacket they a “Mae West” because it bulges in all the “right places.”” – Mae West
“…I consider it a swell honor to have such great guys wrapped up in me…” – Mae West
“Blind faith is a great thing for saints, but not for a thinking human being who is aware of the jungle beneath the floor of our society.” – Mae West
“I don’t like fashions that are mostly straight lines. A straight line may be the shortest distance between two points, but I got there quicker with curves. …” – Mae West
(Touching Home Is Fashion reviving those Mae West curves? By Grace Grether Tribune Fashion Editor, The Salt Lake Tribune, Sunday, May 10, 1964, P. 65)
Note: The link to the quote has just been removed.
Here is a documentary of Mae West titled “Mae West: And The Men Who Knew Her“.
Note: If you are still a big fan of the late Mae West, check out this site.