--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Women like a man with a past, but they…" description: "\"Women like a man with a past, but they prefer a man with a present\" — Mae West" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/mae-west-1200_humorous_women-like-a-man-with-a-past-but-they-pr_889855.jpg" --- # Women like a man with a past, but they prefer a man with a… ![“Women like a man with a past, but they prefer a man with a present” quote by Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/mae-west-1200_humorous_women-like-a-man-with-a-past-but-they-pr_889855.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/mae-west-1200_humorous_women-like-a-man-with-a-past-but-they-pr_889855.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/mae-west-1200_humorous_women-like-a-man-with-a-past-but-they-pr_889855.jpg) > “Women like a man with a past, but they prefer a man with a present” [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. Women may be attracted to a man with history, yet they often value a man who is present and engaged now. **In simple terms:** Past vs. present matters to women. Key Takeaway Cultivate present‑focused relationships. Themes relationships attraction presence Mood thoughtful romantic Type social personal When to use this quote - dating - friendship - partner selection Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does being present outweigh past achievements? - What balance between history and present engagement is ideal? A Different Perspective Emphasis on presence may overlook valuable experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous/) [Innuendo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innuendo/) [Like Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-man/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past Prefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-prefer-1137131/) [Prefer Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prefer-man-1000671/) [Sarcastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sarcastic/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Witty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witty/) [Women Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-like/) ## Related quotes > [Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/is-that-a-gun-in-your-pocket-or-are-you-just-happy-to-see-me/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [I don't care too much what happened in the past. I prefer to focus on what is coming next and I am really looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-vettel/i-don-t-care-too-much-what-happened-in-the-past-i-prefer-to-focus-on/) [Sebastian Vettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-vettel/) > [I never hanker after the past - I prefer to devote myself to new tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steffi-graf/i-never-hanker-after-the-past-i-prefer-to-devote-myself-to-new-tasks/) [Steffi Graf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steffi-graf/) > [If I have to have a past, then I prefer it to be multiple choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/if-i-have-to-have-a-past-then-i-prefer-it-to-be-multiple-choice/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [I prefer a man who will burn the flag and then wrap himself in the constitution to a man who will burn the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-washington/i-prefer-a-man-who-will-burn-the-flag-and-then-wrap-himself-in-the/) [Craig Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-washington/) > [I much prefer being a man. Women have to spend so much time pulling themselves together, and their shoes kill your feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-carter/i-much-prefer-being-a-man-women-have-to-spend-so-much-time-pulling/) [Lynne Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-carter/) > [Women don't like men who know they're good looking. They'd much prefer a man who doesn't know he's good looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/women-don-t-like-men-who-know-they-re-good-looking-they-d-much-prefer/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [“I’m not interested in any other man’s G-string. In fact,” she slipped her hands down the back of his pants and squeezed his tight,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-turner/i-m-not-interested-in-any-other-man-s-g-string-in-fact-she-slipped/) [Jennifer Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-turner/) > [Of the two lots, the woman's lot of perpetual motherhood, and the man's of perpetual babyhood, I prefer the man's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/of-the-two-lots-the-woman-s-lot-of-perpetual-motherhood-and-the-man-s/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Women like a man with confidence. Because without that, whats to destroy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/women-like-a-man-with-confidence-because-without-that-whats-to-destroy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I made myself platinum, but I was born a dirty blonde.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-made-myself-platinum-but-i-was-born-a-dirty-blonde/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/too-much-of-a-good-thing-can-be-wonderful/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [Love thy neighbor - and if he happens to be tall, debonair and devastating, it will be that much easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/love-thy-neighbor-and-if-he-happens-to-be-tall-debonair-and/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [I like a man what takes his time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-like-a-man-what-takes-his-time/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [I always did like a man in uniform. And that one fits you grand. Why don't you come up sometime and see me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-always-did-like-a-man-in-uniform-and-that-one-fits-you-grand-why/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) ## 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. 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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 Humorous quotes > [“One of the classier features of this home was the padded toilet seat. 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What kind of move was that?” Trevor leaned over her with a big smile on his face. “You really thought I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecilia-aubrey-chris-almeida/holy-hell-trev-what-kind-of-move-was-that-trevor-leaned-over-her-with/) [Cecilia Aubrey & Chris Almeida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecilia-aubrey-chris-almeida/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [“Some women walk towards a better future. Others have chauffeurs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/some-women-walk-towards-a-better-future-others-have-chauffeurs/) [Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. However, if a sheep stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-harding/in-the-olden-days-in-england-you-could-be-hung-for-stealing-a-sheep/) [Mike Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-harding/) > [Many public-school children seem to know only two dates—1492 and 4th of July; and as a rule they don't know what happened on either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/many-public-school-children-seem-to-know-only-two-dates-1492-and-4th/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [The Democrats said, "We don't know what's wrong with America, but we can fix it." The Republicans said, "There's nothing wrong with America, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-democrats-said-we-don-t-know-what-s-wrong-with-america-but-we-can/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [“Shut up, you fool...Really. I’m running out of things to throw at you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-parr/shut-up-you-fool-really-i-m-running-out-of-things-to-throw-at-you/) [K.M. Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-parr/) > [“There's something not quite Christian about it," Tony said. He sat back in his chair and looked up to where his Bible sat on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-comeau/there-s-something-not-quite-christian-about-it-tony-said-he-sat-back/) [Joey Comeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-comeau/) > [“Can you imagine life without the horror genre? There would be no monsters. Only a\*\*holes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-a-arnzen/can-you-imagine-life-without-the-horror-genre-there-would-be-no/) [Michael A. Arnzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-a-arnzen/) > [Almost makes you want to go to jail out here, doesn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/almost-makes-you-want-to-go-to-jail-out-here-doesn-t-it/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [The USA is so enormous, and so numerous are its schools, colleges and religious seminaries, many devoted to special religious beliefs ranging from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-medawar/the-usa-is-so-enormous-and-so-numerous-are-its-schools-colleges-and/) [Peter Medawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-medawar/) > [“I'm going to use them to track him down and thwart him." "Thwart?" Sarissa asked. "Thwart." I said. "To prevent someone from accomplishing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-m-going-to-use-them-to-track-him-down-and-thwart-him-thwart-sarissa/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) [Browse all 2,693 Humorous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Women like a man with a past, but they prefer a man with a present", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mae West" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/women-like-a-man-with-a-past-but-they-prefer-a-man-with-a-present/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Humorous" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/women-like-a-man-with-a-past-but-they-prefer-a-man-with-a-present/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/mae-west-1200_humorous_women-like-a-man-with-a-past-but-they-pr_889855.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/mae-west-1200_humorous_women-like-a-man-with-a-past-but-they-pr_889855.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/mae-west-1200_humorous_women-like-a-man-with-a-past-but-they-pr_889855.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Women like a man with a past, but they prefer a man with a present” — Mae West", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mae West", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Women like a man with a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/women-like-a-man-with-a-past-but-they-prefer-a-man-with-a-present/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/women-like-a-man-with-a-past-but-they-prefer-a-man-with-a-present/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```