I freely chose the kind of life I led because I was convinced that a woman has as much right as a man to live the way she does if she does no actual harm to society.
Mae WestRead
Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote humorously plays on the idea of flirtation and surprise.
Mae West's quote cleverly juxtaposes two unexpected interpretations of a situation, blending innuendo with humor. It illustrates the playful tension often found in flirtatious encounters, suggesting that what might appear serious could also represent something joyful, revealing the complexity of human interactions and attraction.
Themes
HumorFlirtationInnocenceJoyUnexpected
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a relatable icebreaker at a social gathering.
More from Mae West
All quotes βKiss and make up-but too much makeup has ruined many a kiss.
Mae WestRead
I'll try anything once, twice if I like it, three times to make sure.
Mae WestRead
A girl in the convertible is worth five in the phone book.
Mae WestRead
Don't keep a man guessing too long - he's sure to find the answer somewhere else.
Mae WestRead
I only have 'yes' men around me. Who needs 'no' men?
Mae WestRead
Similar quotes
I think of shock as kind of an uptown form of surprise. Comedy is filled with surprise, so when I cross a line... I like to find out where the line might be and then cross it deliberately, and then make the audience happy about crossing the line with me.
George CarlinRead
I could see that, if not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled.
P. G. WodehouseRead
Reported as Oscar Wilde's last words on his death bed... This wallpaper is killing me. One of us has to go.
Oscar WildeRead
The fine line between roaring with laughter and crying because it's a disaster is a very, very fine line. You see a chap slip on a banana skin in the street and you roar with laughter when he falls slap on his backside. If in doing so you suddenly see he's broken a leg, you very quickly stop laughing and it's not a joke anymore.
Roald DahlRead
If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much.
Mark TwainRead
Things I wonder about the FBI's list of the "Ten Most Wanted" criminals: When they catch a guy and he comes off the list, does number eleven automatically move up? And does he see it as a promotion? Does he call his criminal friends and say, "I made it, Bruno. I'm finally on the list"?
George CarlinRead