Elizabeth Taylor

You find out who your real friends are when you're involved in a scandal.

Elizabeth Taylor (27 February 1932 – 23 March 2011) was an American English-born Academy Award winning actress.

Quotes

I've always admitted that I'm ruled by my passions.

• I'm the same as a key piece of machinery in a steel mill, which is needed to make steel and to make money for the mill owners. If I break down, it's their problem. My problem is to build some kind of decent life for myself in this crazy unreal world in which I make my living.
  • As quoted in "The Frail Goddess," The Real and the Unreal (1961) by Bill Davidson, p. 78

• I've been married too many times. How terrible to change children's affiliations, their affections — to give them the insecurity of placing their trust in someone when maybe that someone won't be there next year.
  • Elizabeth Taylor : An informal memoir (1965)

• The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they're going to have some pretty annoying virtues.
  • As quoted in The Seven Deadly Sins (2000) by Steven Schwartz, p. 23

• My heart…my mind… are broken. I loved Michael with all my soul and I can't imagine life without him. We had so much in common and we had such loving fun together.
  • As quoted in "Michael Jackson: Elizabeth Taylor Honors her good friend" by Dave Karger, Entertainment Weekly (26 June 2009)]

• I still can't believe it. I don't want to believe it. It can't be so. He will live in my heart forever but it’s not enough. My life feels so empty. I don't think anyone knew how much we loved each other. The purest most giving love I've ever known.
  • As quoted in "Michael Jackson: Elizabeth Taylor Honors her good friend" by Dave Karger, Entertainment Weekly (26 June 2009)

• Oh God! I'm going to miss him. I can’t yet imagine life without him. But I guess with God’s help... I'll learn. I keep looking at the photo he gave me of himself, which says, 'To my true love Elizabeth, I love you forever.' And, I will love HIM forever.
  • As quoted in "Michael Jackson: Elizabeth Taylor Honors her good friend" by Dave Karger, Entertainment Weekly (26 June 2009)

• I've always admitted that I'm ruled by my passions.
  • As quoted in "Elizabeth Taylor's 20 best quotes" in The Telegraph (23 March 2011)

• You find out who your real friends are when you're involved in a scandal.
  • As quoted in "Elizabeth Taylor's 20 best quotes" in The Telegraph (23 March 2011)

• There is no deodorant like success.
  • LIFE (18 Dec 1964) Page 82

Quotes about Taylor

• I was with her one Easter in France or Africa and all the animals on the set tried to get into her lap.
  • Lillian Gish, speaking at a tribute staged on May 5, 1986 by the Film Society of Lincoln Center; as quoted in "Film Society Honors Taylor" by Jim Robbins, Variety (May 14, 1986), p. 36

• Really nice girl. I dated her only once.
  • Ralph Kiner, as quoted in "Ralph Kiner attracts Another Sellout Crowd of Autograph-Seekers" by Dan McGibbeny, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (February 13 Feb 1950)

• See what happens? One date with me and Liz ends up engaged to a millionaire.
  • Ralph Kiner, regarding Taylor's engagement—announced two months after her much-publicized 21 Dec 1949 dinner date with Kiner—to Nick Hilton; as quoted in "The Scoreboard" by Les Biederman, The Pittsburgh Press (12 Apr 1950)

• Elizabeth Taylor should get a divorce and settle down.
  • Oscar Levant, as quoted in 3 on a Toothbrush (1965) by Jack Paar, cited in "3 On A Toothbrush — by jack paar" by Ian Glass, The Miami News (April 4, 1965), p. 72
    • A well-worn line that appears to have been coined in 1881, regarding Sarah Bernhardt, in "Amusements This Evening", The Daily Picayune (January 27, 1881), p. 4

• There are three things I never saw Elizabeth do: be on time, tell a lie, be unkind to anyone at all.
  • Mike Nichols, speaking at the Film Society of Lincoln Center tribute; op. cit.