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
Marriage is a great institution, but I'm not ready for an institution.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Marriage may be viewed positively, but some individuals may feel unprepared for the commitment it entails.
Mae West's quote humorously captures the tension between the societal expectation of marriage as an important institution and the individual's readiness to embrace such a significant commitment. It suggests that while marriage is often celebrated as a valuable life milestone, not everyone feels prepared to conform to its expectations or limitations.
Themes
MarriageCommitmentPreparednessRelationshipsHumor
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the pressures of marriage among friends.
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
What bothers me is that there is so much emphasis on food, rather than gathering and meeting - so that there is all this effort in creating the right food, whereas the food is only a small part of whether the encounter is successful or not.
Alain De BottonRead
In almost every marriage there is a selfish and an unselfish partner. A pattern is set up and soon becomes inflexible, of one person always making the demands and one person always giving way.
Iris MurdochRead
I've always tried to balance my life with what is good for me but also keeping in mind how it affects somebody else.
Roger StaubachRead
I know the anger lies inside of me like I know the beat of my heart and the taste of my spit. It is easier to be furious than to be yearning. Easier to crucify myself in you than to take on the threatening universe of whiteness by admitting that we are worth wanting each other.
Audre LordeRead
I always had an affinity for older people. I had a job delivering newspapers, and one place I had to go was an old people's home. Some people would introduce you to their neighbors as if you were a nephew or grandson. They didn't get many visitors, so they acted like you were coming to see them. And that stuck with me for a long time.
John PrineRead
Jerome was sliding and climbing on top of me and it felt like it had the night before, like a crushing weight. So do boys and men announce their intentions. They cover you like a sarcophagus lid. And call it love.
Jeffrey EugenidesRead