“I don’t want to make money, I just want to be wonderful.”
- June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962
- American
- Actress, Singer, Model, Pop Culture Icon
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Quote
“I don’t want to make money, I just want to be wonderful.”
Explanation
This quote reveals Marilyn Monroe’s deep yearning for personal fulfillment and artistic authenticity, rather than material wealth. By saying she doesn’t want to “make money,” Monroe downplays the value of fame’s financial rewards. Instead, her true desire is to “be wonderful”—to be genuinely admired, respected, and meaningful, both as an artist and as a person. The word “wonderful” carries emotional and moral weight, suggesting that what she sought was not success alone, but significance.
This statement is especially poignant given Monroe’s status as a global icon whose image generated immense wealth—for studios, marketers, and the public imagination—often more than for herself. Yet despite her fame and fortune, she continued to struggle with being taken seriously, with having her talent acknowledged beyond her beauty. Her quote reflects a desire to be loved not for what she had, but for who she truly was—to achieve something lasting, sincere, and good.
In today’s culture, saturated with the pursuit of profit, Monroe’s words resonate as a countercultural ideal. They speak to anyone who values meaning over money, integrity over applause. Her quote is not a rejection of success, but a declaration that true greatness lies in authenticity, excellence, and heart—not in wealth alone. It’s a reminder that being “wonderful” may be harder to measure, but far more worth striving for.
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