Selected Quotes by Katharine Hepburn
“[Lauren Bacall] and Bogie seemed to have the most enormous opinion of each other's charms, and when they fought it was with the utter confidence of two cats locked deliciously in the same cage.”
Katharine Hepburn, Art
“To put it simply: There was no bunk about Bogie. He was a man.”
Katharine Hepburn, Art, Sex
“I truly believe that people do the best they can.”
Katharine Hepburn, Belief
“My father had been disgusted and heartsick over the fact that I wanted to act. Thought it a silly profession closely allied to street-walking.”
Katharine Hepburn, Art
“I have no romantic feelings about age. Either you are interesting at any age or you are not. There is nothing particularly interesting about being old-or being young for that matter.”
Katharine Hepburn, Love
“He's worked his entire life and he's never lived a single moment, I mean not a moment, in the real world.”
Katharine Hepburn, Work, Happiness
“Death will be a great relief. No more interviews.”
Katharine Hepburn, Death, Success
“How wonderful are the women and men in the world who feed us. Especially those who feed us with no salary. The mothers—I thought. The wives.”
Katharine Hepburn, Society
“Being a housewife and a mother is the biggest job in the world, but if it doesn't interest you, don't do it - I would have made a terrible mother.”
Katharine Hepburn, Goals
“No part of marriage is the exclusive province of any one sex.”
Katharine Hepburn, Sex
“Listen to the Song of Life.”
Katharine Hepburn, Life, Goals, Music
“Heaven to be the first one up and to eat breakfast all alone.”
Katharine Hepburn, Happiness
“Only when a woman decides not to have children, can a woman live like a man. That's what I've done.”
Katharine Hepburn, Sex
“I just recently realized that women are supposed to be the inferior sex.”
Katharine Hepburn, Sex
“Live dangerously. There's a lot to be said for sinning.”
Katharine Hepburn, Life, Goals, Belief
“Only the really plain people know about love - the very fascinating ones try so hard to create an impression that they soon exhaust their talents.”
Katharine Hepburn, Love
“Fuck the roots.”
Katharine Hepburn, Life
“Be yourself, it's a tough act to follow.”
Katharine Hepburn, Goals
“I don't feel the slightest interest in the next world; I think it's here. And I think anything good that you&apps;re going to do, you should do for other people here and not so you can try to have a happy time in the next world.”
Katharine Hepburn, Belief, Goals
“Now how can anybody look at that and not believe in God? I mean, how can anybody look at this and not believe there is some higher power, some divine force at work in the universe greater than Man, some god that created it, that created all this, that created us?”
Katharine Hepburn, Belief
“I was fearless...and lawless.”
Katharine Hepburn, Courage
“You politicians remain professional because the voters remain amateur.”
Katharine Hepburn, Government
“I don't care what is written about me as long as it isn't true.”
Katharine Hepburn, Success
“Acting is the most minor of gifts and not a very high-class way to earn a living. After all, Shirley Temple could do it at the age of four.”
Katharine Hepburn, Art
“The calla lilies are in bloom again. Such a strange flower—suitable to any occasion. I carried them on my wedding day, and now I place them here in memory of something that has died.”
Katharine Hepburn, Nature, Love, Death
“life is to be lived.if you have to support yourself,you had bloody well better find some way that is going to be interesting.And you don't do that by sitting around.”
Katharine Hepburn, Life, Work
“Children need boundaries, so they can know how far they have to go to get beyond them.”
Katharine Hepburn, Life
“I could peel you like a pear and god himself would see the justice in it.”
Katharine Hepburn, Belief, Justice
“Most people our brought up to believe they are as good as the person next to them, I was told I was better.”
Katharine Hepburn, Life
“I would have made a terrible parent. The first time my child didn't do what I wanted, I'd kill him.”
Katharine Hepburn, Anger and Fighting
“Enemies are so stimulating.”
Katharine Hepburn, Anger and Fighting
“Wouldn't it be great if people could get to live suddenly as often as they die suddenly?”
Katharine Hepburn, Life, Death
“I never lose sight of the fact that just being is fun.”
Katharine Hepburn, Happiness
“Everyone thought I was bold and fearless and even arrogant, but inside I was always quaking.”
Katharine Hepburn, Courage
“I have loved and been in love. There's a big difference.”
Katharine Hepburn, Love
“I'm an atheist, and that's it. I believe there's nothing we can know except that we should be kind to each other and do what we can for people.”
Katharine Hepburn, Belief, Goals
“I have many regrets, and I'm sure everyone does. The stupid things you do, you regret if you have any sense, and if you don't regret them, maybe you're stupid.”
Katharine Hepburn, Life
“Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get — only what you are expecting to give — which is everything. What you will receive in return varies. But it really has no connection with what you give. You give because you love and cannot help giving.”
Katharine Hepburn, Love
“If you want to sacrifice the admiration of many men for the criticism of one, go ahead, get married.”
Katharine Hepburn, Sex
“You can’t change the music of your soul.
- From Esquire 1967
Katharine Hepburn, Life
“If you need a helping hand, you can find one at the end of your arm.”
Katharine Hepburn, Life
“Never complain. Never explain.”
Katharine Hepburn, Goals
“Life can be wildly tragic at times, and I've had my share. But whatever happens to you, you have to keep a slightly comic attitude. In the final analysis, you have got not to forget to laugh.”
Katharine Hepburn, Life, Happiness
“Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere.”
Katharine Hepburn, Sex
“What you see before you, my friend, is the result of a lifetime of chocolate.”
Katharine Hepburn, Life
“If you want to change attitudes, start with a change in behavior.”
Katharine Hepburn, Life
“The thing about life is that you must survive. Life is going to be difficult, and dreadful things will happen. What you do is move along, get on with it, and be tough. Not in the sense of being mean to others, but being tough with yourself and making a deadly effort not to be defeated.”
Katharine Hepburn, Life
“What in the world would we do without our libraries?”
Katharine Hepburn, Intelligence/Wisdom
“If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased.”
Katharine Hepburn, Life
“I have not lived as a woman. I have lived as a man. I've just done what I damn well wanted to, and I've made enough money to support myself, and ain't afraid of being alone.”
Katharine Hepburn, Sex, Wealth
“Life is hard. After all, it kills you.”
Katharine Hepburn, Life
“Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then.”
Katharine Hepburn, Sex
“Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get - only with what you are expecting to give - which is everything.”
Katharine Hepburn, Love
“We are taught you must blame your father, your sisters, your brothers, the school, the teachers - but never blame yourself. It's never your fault. But it's always your fault, because if you wanted to change you're the one who has got to change.”
Katharine Hepburn, Life
“If you obey all of the rules, you miss all of the fun.”