I'm the foe of moderation, the champion of excess. If I may lift a line from a die-hard whose identity is lost in the shuffle, 'I'd rather be strongly wrong than weakly right.'

[On being asked in her later years if she were Tallulah:] I'm what's left of her, dahling.

Do you know what my ambition is in life? To be without ambition. As far back as I can remember I've been absolutely hag-ridden. I'd like to attain the state of mind that the Indians call Nirvana. That, for me, would happen if I were free of ambition.

Of course cocaine is not adictive, darling. I should know, I've been doing it for years.

I have been absolutely hag-ridden with ambition. If I could wish to have anything in the world it would be to be free of ambition.

Bette [Davis] and I are good friends. There's nothing I wouldn't say to her face - both of them.

I have three phobias ...: I hate going to bed, get up and hate hate being alone.