Some of her maxims:
ON DIAMONDS
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend and dogs are a man’s best friend. Now you know which sex has more sense.
I love to put on diamonds and beautiful evening gowns and make my girlfriends upset.
I never hated a man enough to give him his diamonds back.
ON HER HUSBANDS
How many husbands have I had? You mean apart from my own?’
My husband said it was him or the cat. I miss him sometimes.
Husbands are like fires — they go out when unattended.
I believe in large families: every woman should have at least three husbands.
ON HER BOYFRIENDS
A great mind. A big brain.
(On Richard Nixon. She hinted that everything about him was big.)
ON SEX
I know nothing about sex because I was always married.
ON MEN
The only place a man wants depth in a woman is in her décolletage.
I want a man who’s kind and understanding. Is that too much to ask of a millionaire?
ON OTHER WOMEN
Being jealous of a beautiful woman is not going to make you more beautiful.
The women’s movement hasn’t changed my sex life. It wouldn’t dare.
ON LOVE
A girl must marry for love. And keep on marrying until she finds it.
To be loved is a strength. To love is a weakness.
Men fall in love with their eyes — they like what they see. And women fall in love with their ears — they like what they hear.
I only cook when I’m in love.
ON MARRIAGE
I always said marriage should be a 50-50 proposition. He should be at least 50 years old and have at least $50 million.
A man in love is incomplete until he has married. Then he’s finished.
ON DIVORCE
I am a marvellous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man, I keep his house.
Getting divorced just because you don’t love a man is almost as silly as getting married just because you do.
FAVOURITE MAXIM
Never complain, never explain.
