"That's the trouble, a sex symbol becomes a thing. But if I'm going to be a symbol of something, I'd rather it be sex than some of the things we've got symbols of... I just hate to be a thing."

“Coverage of Monroe's death and aftermath by the Los Angeles Times”

“People had a habit of looking at me as if I were some kind of mirror instead of a person. They didn't see me, they saw their own lewd thoughts, then they white-masked themselves by calling me the lewd one.”

“Say good-bye to Pat, say good-bye to Jack and say good-bye to yourself, because you're a nice guy.”

“A career is wonderful, but you can't curl up with it on a cold night.”

“Hollywood's a place where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss, and fifty cents for your soul. I know, because I turned down the first offer often enough and held out for the fifty cents.”

“The sweaters were hand-me-downs. They were really too small for me, and I guess that's what made everyboy take notice take notice. But it made me feel important. Men were looking at e for the first time. And I liked it. I felt good in them. And when I felt how tight they held me in, I quit wearing a bra.”