“I don’t know if high society is different in other cities, but in Hollywood, important people can’t stand to be invited someplace that isn’t full of other important people. They don’t mind a few unfamous people being present because they make good listeners.”
- June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962
- American
- Actress, Singer, Model, Pop Culture Icon
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Quote
“I don’t know if high society is different in other cities, but in Hollywood, important people can’t stand to be invited someplace that isn’t full of other important people. They don’t mind a few unfamous people being present because they make good listeners.”
Explanation
This quote showcases Marilyn Monroe’s sharp critique of the superficiality and social dynamics within Hollywood’s elite circles. She highlights the performative nature of status and the obsession with being surrounded by other “important” people. Her tone is observant and subtly satirical, exposing how celebrity culture often revolves around mutual validation and exclusivity, rather than genuine connection or conversation.
Monroe, as both an insider and outsider in Hollywood, experienced these social dynamics firsthand. Despite her fame, she often felt isolated and insecure, and her awareness of the industry’s hierarchical and transactional relationships is evident here. By noting that “unfamous people… make good listeners,” she points to the power imbalance in such gatherings, where the less famous are often expected to be silent admirers rather than equal participants.
In modern culture, her insight remains strikingly relevant, especially in industries and spaces where status, visibility, and influence dominate social interactions. Her quote serves as both a commentary on elitism and a reflection on the loneliness that can exist even in glamorous spaces. It reminds us that genuine connection is often sacrificed in favor of reputation and image, and that being truly heard and seen remains a rare form of social currency.
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