A man nearly always loves for other reasons than he thinks. A lover is apt to be as full of secrets from himself as is the object of his love from him.
Ben Hecht

Chicago is a sort of journalistic Yellowstone Park, offering haven to a last herd of fantastic bravos.
Ben Hecht

Hollywood held this double lure for me, tremendous sums of money for work that required no more effort than a game of pinochle.
Ben Hecht

I discovered early in my movie work that a movie is never any better than the stupidest man connected with it. There are times when this distinction may be given to the writer or director. Most often it belongs to the producer.
Ben Hecht

I have written a raucous valentine to a poet's dream and agony.
Ben Hecht

I know that a man who shows me his wealth is like the beggar who shows me his poverty; they are both looking for alms from me, the rich man for the alms of my envy, the poor man for the alms of my guilt.
Ben Hecht

I'm a Hollywood writer, so I put on my sports jacket and take off my brain.
Ben Hecht

In Hollywood, a starlet is the name for any woman under thirty who is not actively employed in a brothel.
Ben Hecht

In moderating, not satisfying desires, lies peace.
Ben Hecht

Listen, little boy. In this business, there's only one law you gotta follow to keep outta trouble. Do it first, do it yourself, and keep on doin' it.
Ben Hecht


Love is a hole in the heart.
Ben Hecht

Love is the magician that pulls man out of his own hat.
Ben Hecht

People's sex habits are as well known in Hollywood as their political opinions, and much less criticized.
Ben Hecht

Prejudice is a raft onto which the shipwrecked mind clambers and paddles to safety.
Ben Hecht

The rule in the art world is: you cater to the masses or you kowtow to the elite; you can't have both.
Ben Hecht

There's only one law you gotta follow to keep outta trouble. Do it first, do it yourself, and keep on doin' it.
Ben Hecht

Time is a circus, always packing up and moving away.
Ben Hecht

Trying to determine what is going on in the world by reading newspapers is like trying to tell the time by watching the second hand of a clock.
Ben Hecht