Jacqueline Susann Quotes

Powerful Jacqueline Susann for Daily Growth

About Jacqueline Susann

Jacqueline Susann (September 20, 1918 – September 23, 1974) was a groundbreaking American novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and actress, best known for her blockbuster novel "Valley of the Dolls." Born to Jewish parents in Pittsburgh, Susann grew up in a working-class neighborhood, where she developed a love for movies and entertainment. After attending Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University), she moved to New York City to pursue a career as an actress. In the 1940s, Susann made her Broadway debut in "Blithe Spirit" by Noël Coward. Though her acting career was unsuccessful, it led her to write plays and scripts for soap operas like "Love of Life," where she worked alongside Irna Phillips. In 1962, Susann published "Valley of the Dolls," a novel that portrayed the lives of three young women in the glamorous world of show business. The book was an instant success and became one of the best-selling novels of all time, spending over 40 weeks at number one on the New York Times Best Seller list. "Valley of the Dolls" was adapted into a film in 1967, further solidifying Susann's place in pop culture. Subsequent works by Susann, including "Once Is Not Enough," also found commercial success. Throughout her career, she used her platform to champion women's rights and fought against sexism and misogyny within the entertainment industry. Despite her professional achievements, Susann faced challenges in her personal life, battling alcoholism, drug addiction, and a tumultuous relationship with her second husband, producer Irving Mansfield. In 1974, at the age of 56, she succumbed to cancer, leaving behind an indelible mark on American literature and popular culture. Her novels continue to resonate with readers, reflecting the struggles and triumphs of women in a rapidly changing world.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I do not want anyone to know I am scared."

This quote by Jacqueline Susann suggests a desire for emotional self-sufficiency and a determination to hide or suppress feelings of fear. The individual wants to maintain an image of strength, control, and invulnerability, rather than reveal personal vulnerabilities to others. It's a reflection of human nature, where we often strive to present ourselves as confident and fearless in social situations, even when internal emotions may tell a different story.


"Success is a great deodorant."

This quote by Jacqueline Susann suggests that success can effectively mask or neutralize unpleasantness in someone's past, including any failures or mistakes they might have made along the way. In other words, when an individual achieves significant success, people tend to overlook their shortcomings and focus more on their accomplishments, as if the scent of success acts as a powerful deodorant covering up any unpleasant odors or negative aspects in one's past.


"Love is like a bubble bath, it's nice if you have it every day, but if someone else draws the water while you're out, you get over it."

This quote suggests that love, like a luxurious bubble bath, is enjoyable and comforting when experienced regularly, but life may sometimes disrupt our plans. The phrase "it's nice if you have it every day" implies that consistent love or affection is desirable but not always attainable due to external factors. The second part of the quote, "but if someone else draws the water while you're out," signifies that one should accept the temporary absence or interruption of love with understanding and grace. It emphasizes adaptability in relationships, acknowledging that life's unpredictability may lead to moments when we must cope without our desired connection. Ultimately, Jacqueline Susann's quote encourages resilience and optimism, suggesting that even though love may be disrupted, it will return or be replaced, as if someone always refills the bubble bath when we're gone.


"We all know that love is never enough to make any relationship work, because if it were, there would be only happy marriages in the world."

This quote suggests that while love is a crucial component in any relationship, it alone cannot sustain it. Real-world experiences reveal that relationships require more than just love to thrive, such as mutual understanding, respect, trust, effective communication, and willingness to compromise. The implication is that a relationship's success depends on a combination of emotions (love) and practical aspects (skills, compatibility, effort).


"The higher we soar, the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly."

This quote suggests that as individuals or groups achieve greater heights, understanding, or success, they may seem incomprehensible or insignificant to those who are not yet at their level. It underscores the idea that growth, progress, and achievement often come with a shift in perspective, making it easier for some people to connect and understand others who are on similar paths. In other words, as we expand our knowledge, skills, or experiences, we may appear smaller or simpler to those who have yet to embark on their own journey towards growth.


I don't think any novelist should be concerned with literature.

- Jacqueline Susann

Think, Literature, Concerned, Novelist

Acting is glamour but writing is hard work, so I'm going to be an actress.

- Jacqueline Susann

Work, Going, Actress, Glamour

The second draft is on yellow paper, that's when I work on characterizations. The third is pink, I work on story motivations. Then blue, that's where I cut, cut, cut.

- Jacqueline Susann

Work, Pink, Cut, Motivations

I wanted to write it long before I wrote Every Night, Josephine! I'd been thinking about it a long time.

- Jacqueline Susann

Been, Before, Wrote, Every Night

As a writer no one's gonna tell me how to write, I'm gonna write the way I wanna write!

- Jacqueline Susann

Tell, How, Gonna, Wanna

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