Last Updated: January 1, 2024 by Quote.cc Team

Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California, was an American actress, model, and singer, who became a major sex symbol in the 1950s and early 1960s. Renowned for her comedic talent and screen presence, Monroe became one of the most popular and enduring icons of Hollywood.

Monroe’s rise to stardom began with modeling and led to small roles in films. Her breakthrough came with “Niagara” (1953), followed by critically acclaimed performances in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953) and “How to Marry a Millionaire” (1953). Her most notable performance was in “Some Like It Hot” (1959), which won her a Golden Globe for Best Actress.

Monroe’s glamorous public life often overshadowed her private struggles. Despite her fame, she grappled with issues such as depression and anxiety. Monroe’s life was marked by her troubled personal life, including her marriages to baseball star Joe DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller.

Monroe’s tragic and untimely death on August 5, 1962, at the age of 36, led to intense speculation and theories, contributing to her status as a cultural and Hollywood legend. Her blend of beauty, talent, and vulnerability, along with her impact on fashion, film, and popular culture, has left an indelible mark on Hollywood and the world. Monroe remains a symbol of glamour, charm, and the American dream’s complexity.

For those looking to channel Monroe’s confidence or needing a strong female-focused Instagram caption, we’ve rounded up 50 quotes often attributed to Marilyn Monroe that sum up the sultry and smart silver screen star.

Marilyn Monroe Quotes

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

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

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

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

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

“Fear is stupid. So are regrets.” – Marilyn Monroe

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

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

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

“The real lover is the man who can thrill you by kissing your forehead or smiling into your eyes or just staring into space.” – Marilyn Monroe

“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.” – Marilyn Monroe

“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

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

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

“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

“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

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

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

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

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

“Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.” – Marilyn Monroe

“I am not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful.” – Marilyn Monroe

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

“I’ve never dropped anyone I believed in.” – Marilyn Monroe

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

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

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

“She was a girl who knew how to be happy even when she was sad. And that’s important—you know.” – Marilyn Monroe

“I think that love and work are the only things that really happen to us.” – Marilyn Monroe

“The truth is, I’ve never fooled anyone. I’ve let men sometimes fool themselves.” – Marilyn Monroe

“To all the girls that think you’re fat because you’re not a size zero, you’re the beautiful one. It’s society who’s ugly.” – Marilyn Monroe

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

“You believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself.” – Marilyn Monroe

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

“In Hollywood, a girl’s virtue is much less important than her hairdo.” – Marilyn Monroe

“If I’m a star, then the people made me a star.” – Marilyn Monroe

“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

“I always felt insecure and in the way—but most of all I felt scared. I guess I wanted love more than anything else in the world.” – Marilyn Monroe

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

“Being a sex symbol is a heavy load to carry, especially when one is tired, hurt and bewildered.” – Marilyn Monroe

“Dogs never bite me. Just humans.” – Marilyn Monroe

“I don’t mind making jokes, but I don’t want to look like one.” – Marilyn Monroe

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

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

“I’m trying to find myself as a person, sometimes that’s not easy to do. Millions of people live their entire lives without finding themselves. But it is something I must do.” – Marilyn Monroe

“The body is meant to be seen, not all covered up.” – Marilyn Monroe

“I learned to walk as a baby, and I haven’t had a lesson since.” – Marilyn Monroe

“I don’t consider myself an intellectual. And this is not one of my aims. But I admire intellectual people.” – Marilyn Monroe

“I think there’s two things in human beings… that they want to be alone, but they also want to be together.” – Marilyn Monroe

“Stars are ageless, aren’t they?” – Marilyn Monroe