And now for a little lighthearted amusement! Since today, August 17, is Mae West’s birthday, let’s enjoy this wonderful wordsmith’s whimsy:

“An ounce of performance is worth pounds of performance.”

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

“Love conquers all things except poverty and toothache.”

“I generally avoid temptation unless I can’t resist it.”

“When I’m good, I’m very good. But when I’m bad, I’m better.”

“It is better to be looked over than overlooked.”

“I’ve been in more laps than a napkin.”

“To err is human, but it feels divine.”

“I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.”

“She’s the kind of girl who climbed the ladder of success wrong by wrong.”

“I never loved another person the way I loved myself.”

“Personality is the glitter that sends your little gleam across the footlights and the orchestra pit into that big black space where the audience is.”

“I speak two languages, Body and English.”

“Ten men waiting for me at the door? Send one of them home, I’m tired.”

“Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.”

Bravo, Mae, well and wittily said — may you inspire us as we all write on!