“When I'm good, I'm very good, but when I'm bad, I'm better.”
What this quote means
This witty quote plays with social norms of propriety. It suggests that when we deviate from the rules, we can reveal bolder, more creative, and more vibrant facets of ourselves. Mae West, known for her freedom of speech and provocation, celebrates a joyful form of transgression here. It resonates with the idea that moral perfection can be boring, and that it's often in the deviation from the norm that we find originality and charm. An invitation not to take ourselves too seriously and to dare to think outside the box.
How to apply it daily
In your week, dare a small benevolent transgression: say what you really think, or do something unexpected. Observe how it frees your creative energy.
Continue
Related quotes
Same author or same theme — keep reading.
“The real price of everything, what everything really costs to the man who wants to acquire it, is the toil and trouble of acquiring it.”Create visual
“It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.”Create visual
“The propensity to truck, barter and exchange one thing for another is common to all men, and to be found in no other race of animals.”Create visual
“An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.”Create visual
“The best time to plan a book is while you're doing the dishes.”Create visual
“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.”Create visual