Experts on romance say for a happy marriage there has to be more than a passionate love. For a lasting union, they insist, there must be a genuine liking for each other. Which, in my book, is a good definition for friendship.

I was honoured when they asked me to appear at the president's birthday rally in Madison Square Garden. There was like a hush over the whole place when I came on to sing 'Happy Birthday,' like if I had been wearing a slip, I would have thought it was showing or something. I thought, 'Oh, my gosh, what if no sound comes out!'

Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.

Beauty and femininity are ageless and can't be contrived, and glamour, although the manufacturers won't like this, cannot be manufactured. Not real glamour; it's based on femininity.

Fame is like caviar, you know - it's good to have caviar but not when you have it at every meal.

I think that when you are famous every weakness is exaggerated.

I am involved in a freedom ride protesting the loss of the minority rights belonging to the few remaining earthbound stars. All we demanded was our right to twinkle.

Fear is stupid. So are regrets.

Having a child, that's always been my biggest fear. I want a child and I fear a child.

Fame will go by and, so long, I've had you, fame. If it goes by, I've always known it was fickle. So at least it's something I experience, but that's not where I live.

Respect is one of life's greatest treasures. I mean, what does it all add up to if you don't have that?

I have noticed... that men usually leave married women alone and are inclined to treat all wives with respect. This is no great credit to married women.

Men are so willing to respect anything that bores them.

The real lover is the man who can thrill you just by touching your head or smiling into your eyes - or just by staring into space.

I am good, but not an angel. I do sin, but I am not the devil. I am just a small girl in a big world trying to find someone to love.

Sometimes, wearing a scarf and a polo coat and no makeup and with a certain attitude of walking, I go shopping or just look at people living. But then, you know, there will be a few teenagers who are kind of sharp, and they'll say, 'Hey, just a minute. You know who I think that is?' And they'll start tailing me. And I don't mind.

I don't know if high society is different in other cities, but in Hollywood, important people can't stand to be invited someplace that isn't full of other important people. They don't mind a few unfamous people being present because they make good listeners.

A strong man doesn't have to be dominant toward a woman. He doesn't match his strength against a woman weak with love for him. He matches it against the world.

The 'public' scares me, but people I trust.

Before marriage, a girl has to make love to a man to hold him. After marriage, she has to hold him to make love to him.

Marriage destroyed my relationship with two wonderful men.

I don't know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot.

I have always had a talent for irritating women since I was fourteen.

When it comes to gossip, I have to readily admit men are as guilty as women.

Sex is a part of nature. I go along with nature.

I read poetry to save time.

The truth is, I've never fooled anyone. I've let men sometimes fool themselves.

I have never cared especially for outdoor sports and have no desire to excel at tennis, swimming, or golf. I'll leave those things to the men.

Some of my foster families used to send me to the movies to get me out of the house and there I'd sit all day and way into the night. Up in front, there with the screen so big, a little kid all alone, and I loved it. I loved anything that moved up there and I didn't miss anything that happened and there was no popcorn either.

An actress is not a machine, but they treat you like a machine. A money machine.

It's better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone - so far.

I restore myself when I'm alone.

A woman can't be alone. She needs a man. A man and a woman support and strengthen each other. She just can't do it by herself.

I used to think as I looked out on the Hollywood night, 'There must be thousands of girls sitting alone like me dreaming of being a movie star.' But I'm not going to worry about them. I'm dreaming the hardest.

I am alone; I am always alone no matter what.

It's often just enough to be with someone. I don't need to touch them. Not even talk. A feeling passes between you both. You're not alone.

I want to grow old without facelifts. I want to have the courage to be loyal to the face I have made.

If your man is a sports enthusiast, you may have to resign yourself to his spouting off in a monotone on a prize fight, football game or pennant race.

My dinners at home are startlingly simple. Every night, I stop at the market near my hotel and pick up a steak, lamb chops or some liver, which I broil in the electric oven in my room. I usually eat four or five raw carrots with my meat, and that is all. I must be part rabbit; I never get bored with raw carrots.

There is just no comparison between having a dinner date with a man and staying home playing canasta with the girls.