Peggy Lee quotes:

I learned courage from Buddha, Jesus, Lincoln, Einstein, and Mr. Cary Grant.

You can't beat The Beatles, you join 'em.

Retire? Not on your life. I have no plans to stop singing. What are you going to do when you love music? It's a terrible disease. You can't stop. Of course, I'd like to get off the road.

You cant beat The Beatles, you join em.

I'm always happy when I'm cleaning, and besides, I had just found out that I was going to have a baby.

I try to project not only a song but a personality.

The thing that I always notice that dates a record is the rhythm section. With a good arranger the music can be timeless. But, rhythm can change, because heaven knows, we didn't know rock was going to come in, did we?

I knew I couldn't sing over them, so I decided to sing under them. The more noise they made the more softly I sang. When they discovered they couldn't hear me, they began to look at me. Then they began to listen. As I sang, I kept thinking, 'softly with feeling.' The noise dropped to a hum; the hum gave way to silence. I had learned how to reach and hold my audience -- softly, with feeling.

I really don't have that many run-ins. People by and large are very nice to me.

I regard singing pretty much like acting. Each song is like playing a different role. I get very involved with my material. I feel a responsibility for the emotion it brings out in the listener.

If that's all there is, my friends, then let's keep dancing.

Is That All There Is?

One day he went away and I thought I'd die, but I didn't. And I said to myself: 'is that all there is to love?'

They weren't really weddings, just long costume parties. (on three of her weddings)

What are you going to do when you love music? You can't stop.

You should always look like a star. Otherwise people will lose a little of the esteem they have for you.