To live creatively free, do what you know how to do now, then 'act as if' you know how to do the rest.

People have grown fond of me, like some old building.

Plain women know more about men than beautiful ones do. But beautiful women don't need to know about men. It's the men who have to know about beautiful women.

I would have been a terrible mother because I'm basically a very selfish human being. Not that that has stopped most people going off and having children.

You can't just be talented: You have to be terribly smart and energetic and ruthless. You also have to become necessary to people, by working hard and well and bringing more than your bones and your skin to the project. Don't just show up. Transform the work, yourself, and everybody around you. Be needed. Be interesting. Be something no one else can be--and consistently.

The woman's position in the world today is so much harder than a man's that it makes me choke every time I hear a man complain about anything.

I loved Spencer Tracy. I would have done anything for him.