"It's better to be hated for who you are, than to be loved for someone you're not. It's a sign of your worth sometimes, if you're hated by the right people."
About Bette Davis
Bette Davis — Life and Legacy
Bette Davis, an iconic American actress, is celebrated for her fierce performances and unyielding spirit in a male-dominated industry. Known for her roles in films like 'All About Eve' and 'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?', Davis challenged the conventional expectations of women in Hollywood. Her quotes often reflect her complex relationship with identity and authenticity, as seen in her assertion, 'I am not a has-been. I am a will be.' This statement reveals her belief in the enduring nature of talent and the refusal to be defined by past successes. Davis's worldview was marked by a commitment to self-expression and a rejection of superficiality. She famously stated, 'You should be a little bit afraid of your own talent,' emphasizing the responsibility that comes with artistic ability. This insight into her psyche illustrates her understanding of the pressures of fame and the importance of staying true to oneself. Throughout her career, she consistently portrayed strong, complex characters, which resonated with audiences and set a new standard for female roles in cinema. Today, Bette Davis's quotes and philosophies continue to inspire those navigating the complexities of identity and authenticity. Her legacy as a trailblazer for women in film remains relevant, reminding us of the importance of staying true to oneself in the face of societal pressures.
Quote collection
Bette Davis quotes (page 1 of 8)
151 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"You should never say bad things about the dead, you should only say good . . . Joan Crawford is dead. Good."
"There comes a time in every woman's life when the only thing that helps is a glass of champagne."
"Getting old is not for sissies."
"Some young Hollywood starlets remind me of my grandmother's old farmhouse -- all painted up nice on the front side, a big swing on the backside, and nothing whatsoever in the attic."
"You will never be happier than you expect. To change your happiness, change your expectation."
"If everyone likes you, you're not doing it right."
"A sure way to lose happiness, I found, is to want it at the expense of everything else."
"If you've never been hated by your child, you've never been a parent."
"My passions were all gathered together like fingers that made a fist. Drive is considered aggression today; I knew it then as purpose."
"The key to life is accepting challenges. Once someone stops doing this, he's dead."
"I'd marry again if I found a man who had fifteen million dollars, would sign over half to me, and guarantee that he'd be dead within a year."
"I was thought to be 'stuck up.' I wasn't. I was just sure of myself. This is and always has been an unforgivable quality to the unsure."
"There may be a heaven, but if Joan Crawford is there, I'm not going."
"It's true we don't know what we've got until its gone, but we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives. Pleasure of love lasts but a moment, Pain of love lasts a lifetime."
"Being called very, very difficult is the beginning of success. Until you're called very, very difficult you're really nobody at all."
"You should know me well enough by now to know I don't ask for things I don't think I can get."
"I want to die with my high heels on, still in action."
"Basically, I believe the world is a jungle, and if it's not a bit of a jungle in the home, a child cannot possibly be fit to enter the outside world."
"Pleasure of love lasts but a moment, Pain of love lasts a lifetime."