It turns out that, at social gatherings, as a source of entertainment, conviviality, and good fun, I rank somewhere between a sprig of parsley and a single ice-skate.

Misfortune, and recited misfortune especially, can be prolonged to the point where it ceases to excite pity and arouses only irritation.

Hollywood is one place in the world where you can die of encouragement.

Never throw mud: you can miss the target, but your hands will remain dirty.

[On an actor who'd broken her leg in London:] Oh, how terrible. She must have done it sliding down a barrister.

Scratch an actor and you'll find an actress.

Yes, well, let me tell you that if nobody had ever learned to quote, very few people would be in love with La Rochefoucauld. I bet you I don't know ten souls who read him without a middleman.