--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Never ask a man where's he's been. If…" description: "\"Never ask a man where's he's been. If he's out on legitimate business, he doesn't need an alibi. And, girls, if he has been out on illegitimate busines..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/mae-west-1200_alibi_never-ask-a-man-where-s-he-s-been-if-he_2343288.jpg" --- # Never ask a man where's he's been. If he's out on… ![“Never ask a man where's he's been. If he's out on legitimate business, he doesn't need an alibi. And, girls, if he has been out on illegitimate business, it's your own fault.” quote by Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/mae-west-1200_alibi_never-ask-a-man-where-s-he-s-been-if-he_2343288.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/mae-west-1200_alibi_never-ask-a-man-where-s-he-s-been-if-he_2343288.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/mae-west-1200_alibi_never-ask-a-man-where-s-he-s-been-if-he_2343288.jpg) > “Never ask a man where's he's been. If he's out on legitimate business, he doesn't need an alibi. And, girls, if he has been out on illegitimate business, it's your own fault.” [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A woman claims she never needs to explain her whereabouts, implying men should not be questioned about their actions, and blames women for any misconduct. **In simple terms:** Women are blamed for men's misdeeds. Key Takeaway Question double standards in accountability. Themes gender relationships accountability humor Mood critical ironic Type social humorous When to use this quote - dating - workplace - friendships - legal contexts Key Concepts double standards social expectations power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do societal norms excuse harmful behavior? - What can change to hold men accountable? A Different Perspective The statement reinforces sexist stereotypes and excuses male misconduct. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alibi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alibi/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [“If you have the woman you love, what more do you need? Well, besides an alibi for the time of her husband’s murder. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dark-jar-tin-zoo/if-you-have-the-woman-you-love-what-more-do-you-need-well-besides-an/) Dark Jar Tin Zoo > [“I need an alibi.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/i-need-an-alibi/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [“I need no alibi,I did steal your heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sapphire-belucci/i-need-no-alibi-i-did-steal-your-heart/) [Sapphire Belucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sapphire-belucci/) > [“No legitimate business man ever got started on the road to permanent success by any other means than that of hard, intelligent work, coupled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-d-van-amburgh/no-legitimate-business-man-ever-got-started-on-the-road-to-permanent/) F.D. Van Amburgh > [“Marketing is the lifeblood of every legitimate business.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utibe-samuel-mbom/marketing-is-the-lifeblood-of-every-legitimate-business/) [Utibe Samuel Mbom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utibe-samuel-mbom/) > [I wouldn't be in a legitimate business for all the money in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-angiulo/i-wouldn-t-be-in-a-legitimate-business-for-all-the-money-in-the-world/) Gennaro Angiulo > [Crime is a logical extension of the sort of behavior that is often considered perfectly respectable in legitimate business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rice/crime-is-a-logical-extension-of-the-sort-of-behavior-that-is-often/) Robert Rice > [We are kidding ourselves if we don't think of the drug business as a legitimate business. It's what funds governments. It's too much money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-craig/we-are-kidding-ourselves-if-we-don-t-think-of-the-drug-business-as-a/) [Daniel Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-craig/) > [No scheme pays as well as legitimate business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/no-scheme-pays-as-well-as-legitimate-business/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [Vanity is not half a bad principle, if it will but stick to legitimate business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/vanity-is-not-half-a-bad-principle-if-it-will-but-stick-to-legitimate/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [“Honesty whispers, "Don't get pricked by the thorns of lie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-hopes/honesty-whispers-don-t-get-pricked-by-the-thorns-of-lie/) [Angelica Hopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica-hopes/) > [An alibi is a reason with a bad reputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/an-alibi-is-a-reason-with-a-bad-reputation/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [“Don't ever accuse anyone of being full of pride, undignified and unprofessional when simply they are wise to move away from dishonest schemers. Dishonesty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-hopes/don-t-ever-accuse-anyone-of-being-full-of-pride-undignified-and/) [Angelica Hopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica-hopes/) > [“on Arthur Russell and check out his so-called alibi.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-gibney/on-arthur-russell-and-check-out-his-so-called-alibi/) [Patricia Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-gibney/) > [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-many-who-find-a-good-alibi-far-more-attractive-than-an/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) ## More by Mae West > [Reason was nowhere, time was an immovable object nailed high on the wall, except where the world kept shop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/reason-was-nowhere-time-was-an-immovable-object-nailed-high-on-the/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [I've been in 'Who's Who' and I know what's what, but it'll be the first time I ever made the dictionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-ve-been-in-who-s-who-and-i-know-what-s-what-but-it-ll-be-the-first/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Look your best - who said love is blind?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/look-your-best-who-said-love-is-blind/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Don't let a man put anything over on you except an umbrella.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/don-t-let-a-man-put-anything-over-on-you-except-an-umbrella/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [In my long and colorful career, one thing stands out: I have been misunderstood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/in-my-long-and-colorful-career-one-thing-stands-out-i-have-been/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [The finest woman that ever walked the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/the-finest-woman-that-ever-walked-the-streets/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [The best way to hold a man is in your arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/the-best-way-to-hold-a-man-is-in-your-arms/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Live close, visit often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/live-close-visit-often/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [A real farmer. He spent his childhood in the wheat, and his marriage in the hay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/a-real-farmer-he-spent-his-childhood-in-the-wheat-and-his-marriage-in/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Marriage? I ain't got time for a husband or child. All my life I've looked after myself as if I was my own child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/marriage-i-ain-t-got-time-for-a-husband-or-child-all-my-life-i-ve/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [“If I can't a man with a million dollars, I'll a million men with one dollar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/if-i-can-t-a-man-with-a-million-dollars-i-ll-a-million-men-with-one/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Sometimes I don't drink so the next day I can remember having fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/sometimes-i-don-t-drink-so-the-next-day-i-can-remember-having-fun/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Positive thoughts generate positive feelings and attract positive life experiences. You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/positive-thoughts-generate-positive-feelings-and-attract-positive/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [I believe in the single standard -- for men and women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-believe-in-the-single-standard-for-men-and-women/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [“Goodness had nothing to do with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/goodness-had-nothing-to-do-with-it/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) [Explore all 271 Mae West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) ## More Alibi quotes > [There are many who find a good alibi far more attractive than an achievement. For an achievement does not settle anything permanently. We still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/there-are-many-who-find-a-good-alibi-far-more-attractive-than-an/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“on Arthur Russell and check out his so-called alibi.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-gibney/on-arthur-russell-and-check-out-his-so-called-alibi/) [Patricia Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-gibney/) > [“Don't ever accuse anyone of being full of pride, undignified and unprofessional when simply they are wise to move away from dishonest schemers. Dishonesty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-hopes/don-t-ever-accuse-anyone-of-being-full-of-pride-undignified-and/) [Angelica Hopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica-hopes/) > [An alibi is a reason with a bad reputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/an-alibi-is-a-reason-with-a-bad-reputation/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [“Honesty whispers, "Don't get pricked by the thorns of lie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelica-hopes/honesty-whispers-don-t-get-pricked-by-the-thorns-of-lie/) [Angelica Hopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelica-hopes/) > [People always ask me, 'Where were you when Kennedy was shot?' Well, I don't have an alibi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emo-philips/people-always-ask-me-where-were-you-when-kennedy-was-shot-well-i-don/) [Emo Philips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emo-philips/) > [“You met a guy in an alley, and he kissed you? Is he still alive, or do I need to provide you with an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-d-locke/you-met-a-guy-in-an-alley-and-he-kissed-you-is-he-still-alive-or-do-i/) [I.D. Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-d-locke/) > [“We must have one love, one great love in our life, since it gives us an alibi for all the moments when we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/we-must-have-one-love-one-great-love-in-our-life-since-it-gives-us-an/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Think and then act. Never act and then alibi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-iba/think-and-then-act-never-act-and-then-alibi/) [Henry Iba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-iba/) > [There are whole years for which I hope I'll never be cross-examined, for I could not give an alibi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/there-are-whole-years-for-which-i-hope-i-ll-never-be-cross-examined/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [“The world turned and flung me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-iserson/the-world-turned-and-flung-me/) [David Iserson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-iserson/) > [“any particular idiot in mind?” “I do, indeed. If Tom was actually here on Monday, and he needed an alibi, well, man, he didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/any-particular-idiot-in-mind-i-do-indeed-if-tom-was-actually-here-on/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [The public wouldn't like the perfect umpire in every game. It would kill off baseball's greatest alibi - 'We was robbed.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-evans/the-public-wouldn-t-like-the-perfect-umpire-in-every-game-it-would/) [Billy Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-evans/) > [A community is an alibi for the failure of individual love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/a-community-is-an-alibi-for-the-failure-of-individual-love/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [A is for Alibi, my first book, was published in 1982. As it happened the next couple of books took place in June and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/a-is-for-alibi-my-first-book-was-published-in-1982-as-it-happened-the/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) [Browse all 60 Alibi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alibi/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Never ask a man where's he's been. If he's out on legitimate business, he doesn't need an alibi. 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