Mae West didn’t invent sex, but she sure made talking about it an art form. The Hollywood bombshell was known for her sharp wit, bold attitude, and unapologetic confidence. She broke ground with her sassy, brash depictions of women and sexuality, setting the stage for generations of stars like Madonna, Cher, and Beyoncé to follow.
Rediscovering her today reminds us that she was more than just a film star—she was a trailblazer who challenged social norms and made sure that women, and their desires, had a voice in Hollywood.
Here are eight of Mae West’s most iconic, jaw-dropping quotes that prove she was a woman way ahead of her time:
#1. “Come up and see me sometime.”
While this quote is often attributed to West, she didn’t initially say it in those exact words. However, she embraced the famous line, even recording a song by the same name. Her flirtatious invitation became one of her most famous catchphrases, showing off her mastery of innuendo.
#2. “Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?”
From her later film Sextette (1977), this line showed that even in her 80s, West hadn’t lost her edge. Delivered with her signature wink and suggestive tone, this quote is classic Mae—equal parts playful and provocative.
#3. “It’s not the men in your life that counts, it’s the life in your men.”
In I’m No Angel (1933), West’s character Tira knows how to command attention from men, but she also has a sharp understanding of what really matters—living life to its fullest, regardless of who’s by your side.
#4. “Never let one man worry your mind. Find ’em, fool ’em, and forget ’em.”
Mae West’s character in I’m No Angel wasn’t about wasting time on heartbreak. This line is timeless advice for anyone who’s ever dealt with a broken heart: move on, and don’t let one man define your happiness.
#5. “When women go wrong, men go right after them.”
In She Done Him Wrong (1933), West plays Lady Lou, a saloon singer with men at her feet. This quote is both funny and insightful, highlighting how society often blames women for leading men astray—though West knew better than anyone how to turn the tables.
#6. “He’d be the kind a woman would have to marry to get rid of.”
When it came to marriage, West wasn’t shy about her skepticism. This line sums up her irreverent view of matrimony—seeing it as more of a burden than a romantic ideal.
#7. “I like all types of men. In fact, the man I don’t like doesn’t exist.”
During a 1959 interview on Person to Person, West took viewers on a tour of her apartment, filled with mirrors for “personal observation.” She dropped this gem, revealing her boundless appreciation for the opposite sex. Although the interview never aired, this quote captures West’s unfiltered love of men and life.
#8. “Sex and I have a lot in common. I don’t want to take any credit for inventing it—but I may say, in my own modest way, and in a manner of speaking—that I rediscovered it.”
In her 1959 memoir Goodness Had Nothing to Do with It, West gets the last word on her infamous relationship with sex. She wasn’t afraid to embrace her sexuality or the fact that she helped redefine how women talked about it.
