42 Hattie McDaniel Quotes

Hattie McDaniel was a legendary actress who was born on June 10, 1893.

She was an American singer-songwriter, actress, and comedian. Hattie won the Oscar Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 'Gone with the Wind' (1939).

She is the first African American to receive an Oscar. In addition to having two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and being elected into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1975, she made history in 2006 when she became the first Black Oscar winner to be recognized on a US postage stamp.

She received her induction into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame in 2010. Hattie was the first Black lady to sing on the radio in the United States, and she also performed on tv and recorded 16 blues sides between 1926 and 1929. She performed in more than 300 movies, although only 83 of those gave her screen credits.

Hattie McDaniel Quotes About Movies

This actress possessed the qualities of being a brilliant artist. Since childhood, the time she decided she realized her absorbing passion to create excellent performances up on stage.

“This is one of the happiest moments of my life, and I want to thank each one of you who had a part in selecting me for one of their awards, for your kindness.

It has made me feel very, very humble; and I shall always hold it as a beacon for anything that I may be able to do in the future. I sincerely hope I shall always be a credit to my race and to the motion picture industry.

My heart is too full to tell you just how I feel, and may I say thank you and God bless you.”

- Hattie McDaniel on winning the Oscar for 'Gone With The Wind'.

"Peter Ames: All right, Hilda, can you carry a gun?

Hilda: No, suh! I'se a pacifist."

- ‘The Mad Miss Manton’.

"I feel no great personal pride for my contribution to the world of art."

"To you young people who are aspiring to succeed in some line of endeavor, in spite of the troubles that many of us have experienced, let me say this: There is still room at the top."

"I've learned by livin' and watchin' that there is only eighteen inches between a pat on the back and a kick in the seat of the pants."

"Mammy: What gentlemen says and what they thinks is two different things, and I ain't noticed Mr. Ashley askin' for to marry you."

- ‘Gone With The Wind’.

“I cannot help but feel sad when I look over a crowd of our fine young men and realize that the world has found no better way to solve its problems than by taking so many of these young lives.”

“When I was 8 years old, I knew what I was going to be—an actress.”

“Every actor and actress is possessed of the absorbing passion to create something distinctive and unique.”

“The only choice permitted us is either to be servants for $7 a week or to portray them for $700 per week.”

"Aunt Cora: Hattie, have you ever been married?
Hattie: No Ma'am, but I been engaged.
Aunt Cora: Oh, just as good.
Hattie: No Ma'am... it's a lot better."

- ‘Carefree’.

"What is the thing that Hollywood demands most? Sincerity. No place in the world will pay such a high price for this admirable trait."

“I don’t belong on this earth. I always feel out of place – like a visitor.”

“Bob Hope, Red Skelton, and Eddie Cantor… help us keep our balance.”

“It sure looks good to see an honest-to-goodness audience after looking at you all for so long from the silver screen.”

“I did my best and God did the rest.”

"Mammy: It ain't fittin', it just ain't fittin'."

- ‘Gone With The Wind’.

“I sincerely hope that I shall always be a credit to my race, and to the motion picture industry.”

“I’ve played everything but a harp.”

"That's a powerful lucky rabbit's foot. I got the part in 'Gone With The Wind' because of it. I got my Warner contract, thanks to it."

"We all respect sincerity in our friends and acquaintances, but Hollywood is willing to pay for it."

"It sure looks good to see an honest-to-goodness audience after looking at you all for so long from the silver screen.”

“Mammy: It makes my blood run cold, the things they say to one another.”

- ‘Gone With The Wind’.

"I'd rather make $700 a week playing a maid than earn $7 a day being a maid. "

"I'd rather play a maid than be one."

Hattie McDaniel Quotes About Life

Life teaches everybody in some way or another. Here you can read these Hattie McDaniel quotes and see her take on life.

"I did my best, and God did the rest."

"I always have the best of everything."

“In my life, God comes first, work second, and men third.”

"The entire race is usually judged by the actions of one man or woman."

“I'm letting no man handle my bank account.”

"It's not how much can I spare; it's how much have I?"

"You can best fight any existing evil from the inside."

"Faith is the black person's federal reserve system."

Funny Hattie McDaniel Quotes

Being a comedian, indeed she possessed a great sense of humor which you can enjoy with these quotes.

"Putting a little time aside for clean fun and good humor is very necessary to relieve the tensions of our time."

"I am loathed to get married again. I've been married enough; I just prefer to forget it."

"As for those grapefruit and buttermilk diets, I'll take roast chicken and dumplings."

(Some Hattie McDaniel quotes to inspire you!)

Hattie McDaniel Quotes for Mothers

There isn't a greater job than motherhood. See how beautifully Hattie McDaniel has described that through her quotes.

"When I was little, my mother taught me how to use a fork and knife. The trouble is that Mother forget to teach me how to stop using them!"

"My desire for the part of Mammy was not dominated by selfishness for Hollywood has been good to me and I am grateful."

"Playing the Mammy of Miss Leigh was just about the biggest thrill I've ever had."

"In playing the part of Mammy, I tried to make her a living, breathing character, the way she appeared to me in the book."

"A woman's gifts will make room for her."

"I am proud of my standing as a woman interested in her race."