Famous Marilyn Monroe Quotes

As unknown as her real name (Norma Jean), Marilyn Monroe’s real personality was equally hidden.  As she rose to fame in the 1940’s and the 1950’s, Marilyn became known for her sexy and scandalous lifestyle.  As she went further into the industry she continued to propagate the “dumb blonde” image.  To this day she is remembered for her iconic feminine sex appeal, but lessor known, is her intellect.

From stories of friends and her own writings, it is quite obvious that Marilyn was much deeper than her public appearances let on.  Her writings show her as a clever, curious, and deep woman who was more than met the eye.

To pay tribute to the woman who was so much on every level, we have listed some of Marilyn Monroe’s quotes about relationships, imperfections, love, and about the beauty and intricacies of life.

Beautiful and inspirational Marilyn Monroe Quotes on Beauty, Succes, Life, Love & Happiness:

1.”I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.”  – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

2. “Success makes so many people hate you. I wish it wasn’t that way. It would be wonderful to enjoy success without seeing envy in the eyes of those around you.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

3. “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

4. “I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

5.“It’s not true that I had nothing on. I had the radio on.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

6. “A wise girl kisses but doesn’t love, listens but doesn’t believe, and leaves before she is left.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

7. “It’s all make believe, isn’t it?” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

8. “I’m a failure as a woman. My men expect so much of me, because of the image they’ve made of me – and that I’ve made of myself – as a sex symbol. They expect bells to ring and whistles to whistle, but my anatomy is the same as any other woman’s and I can’t live up to it.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

9. “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.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

10. “Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

11. “I learned also that the best way to keep out of trouble was by never complaining or asking for anything.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

12.  “At twelve I looked like a girl of seventeen. My body was developed and shapely. But no one knew this but me. I still wore the blue dress and the blouse the orphanage provided. They made me look like an overgrown lummox.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

13. “Fame doesn’t fulfill you. It warms you a bit, but that warmth is temporary.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

14. “When it comes down to it, I let them think what they want. If they care enough to bother with what I do, then I’m already better than them.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

15. “I don’t want to make money, I just want to be wonderful.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

16. “Things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

17. “I don’t stop when I’m tired. I only stop when I’m done.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

18. “No one ever told me I was pretty when I was a little girl. All little girls should be told they’re pretty, even if they aren’t.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

19. “Sex is a part of nature. I go along with nature.”  – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

20. “One of the best things that ever happened to me is that I’m a woman. That is the way all females should feel.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

21. “If you’re gonna be two-faced at least make one of them pretty.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

22. “I want to grow old without facelifts. I want to have the courage to be loyal to the face I have made.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

23. “The ‘public’ scares me, but people I trust.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

25. “Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

26. “Just because you fail once doesn’t mean you’re gonna fail at everything.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

27. “It’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

28. “In spite of everything life is not without hope.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

29. “All a girl really wants from a guy is for him to prove to her that they are not all the same.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

30. “It’s better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

31. “I don’t mind living in a man’s world, as long as I can be a woman in it.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

32. “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.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

33. “If you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

34. “I am trying to find myself. Sometimes that’s not easy.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

35. “Dreaming about being an actress, is more exciting than being one.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

36. “I restore myself when I’m alone.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

37. “We are all of us stars, and we deserve to twinkle.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

38. “If I’d observed all the rules I’d never have got anywhere.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

39. “You never know what life is like, until you have lived it.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

40. “A career is wonderful, but you can’t curl up with it on a cold night.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

41. “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 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.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

42. “I don’t digest things with my mind.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

43. “I read poetry to save time.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

44. “It is wonderful to have someone praise you, to be desired.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

45. “The nicest thing for me is sleep, then at least I can dream.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

46. “Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

47. “Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

48. “I live to succeed, not to please you or anyone else.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

49. “A girl doesn’t need anyone that doesn’t need her.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

50. “We should all start to live before we get too old.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

51. “Nothing’s ever easy as long as you go on living.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

52. “Designers want me to dress like Spring, in billowing things. I don’t feel like Spring. I feel like a warm red Autumn.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

53. “Hollywood is a place where they’ll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

54. “We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupid. So are regrets.” – Marilyn Monroe Quotes

55. “I don’t know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot!” – Marilyn Monroe Quote

56.“I’ve never fooled anyone. I’ve let people fool themselves. They didn’t bother to find out who and what I was. Instead they would invent a character for me. I wouldn’t argue with them. They were obviously loving somebody I wasn’t.” – Marilyn Monroe Quote

57. “If I’d observed all the rules I’d never have got anywhere.” – Marilyn Monroe Quote

58. “Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about.” – Marilyn Monroe Quote

59. “Sometimes things fall apart so that better things can fall together.” – Marilyn Monroe Quote

Via: BrainyQuote, Goodreads

See also: 30+ Inspiring Dr. Seuss Quotes That Changed Lives