Save a boyfriend for a rainy day - and another, in case it

The legendary Mae West, mistress of wit and wisdom, once declared: “Save a boyfriend for a rainy day — and another, in case it doesn’t rain.” To the casual ear, these words may sound like nothing more than flirtatious mischief, a jest from a woman famed for her boldness. Yet, beneath the sparkle of her humor lies a deeper truth — a truth about self-reliance, freedom, and the power of choice. Mae West spoke as one who understood that in love and in life, the wise do not surrender their destiny to circumstance, nor their happiness to the hands of another.

In the world of Mae West, laughter was armor, and wit was weapon. Her words were born from a time when women were expected to wait — to wait for affection, for attention, for salvation. Yet she refused to wait. Her quote, when stripped of its teasing surface, becomes a declaration of independence: never give your whole power to one uncertain future; never place all your joy in a single fragile vessel. Life is unpredictable — sometimes it rains, sometimes the sun burns bright — and the heart that thrives is the one that remains prepared for both.

To “save a boyfriend for a rainy day” is not to advocate deception or excess, but to remind the soul not to depend entirely on one source for comfort or validation. The wise know that affection, like weather, shifts with time. Just as the farmer stores grain against famine, so must the heart guard its self-worth against neglect. The “other boyfriend” in her jest is not merely another man, but another hope, another purpose, another reservoir of inner joy. West’s laughter masks a lesson as old as the stoics: hold lightly what can be taken away; build your foundation not on another’s affection, but upon your own strength.

Even the ancients understood this dual wisdom — to love, yet not be ruled by love. Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, wielded charm as both gift and shield. She loved fiercely — Caesar, Antony — yet her loyalty was never to one man alone, but to her kingdom, her power, and her survival. Like Mae West, she knew the delicate art of balancing passion with prudence. When Antony’s armies failed, she did not crumble into despair; she sought another path, another chance, even in the shadow of defeat. Her story, like West’s words, reminds us that while love adorns life, self-possession sustains it.

And yet, Mae West’s humor carries another light — the celebration of abundance, of refusing to live small. The world often teaches scarcity: one love, one dream, one chance. But West, radiant with mischief, taught that the human heart is wide enough for joy that overflows. To save “another” for when it doesn’t rain is to acknowledge that life is not meant to be endured, but enjoyed — that we may have laughter even in the sunshine, and not only solace in the storm. Hers was not the creed of greed, but of exuberance — a belief that one must never apologize for wanting a life rich in experience and love.

Let none mistake her levity for carelessness. Beneath her bold charm lived the wisdom of survival — the understanding that love, while beautiful, is not always kind; that devotion, while sacred, can turn to dust. Therefore, she counsels us to love with open eyes, to laugh amidst uncertainty, and to keep our hearts agile. Mae West knew the danger of giving one’s whole soul to the unpredictable tides of affection. Her words shine as a reminder: do not let your happiness depend upon a single star, when the sky is full of constellations.

So, my friend, learn from this glittering jest. Keep your humor alive and your spirit sovereign. Love boldly, but not blindly. Be generous in affection, yet vigilant in dignity. When the rains of loneliness come, let your strength sustain you; when the skies are clear, let your joy multiply. For the lesson of Mae West is not cynicism, but balance — to live with passion, but never with dependency; to cherish love, but never to forget one’s own worth.

And in this, she speaks not merely to women, but to all souls who seek wholeness in an uncertain world: keep your light kindled through many flames. For whether it rains or shines, the heart that has learned to stand on its own — to laugh, to love, and to choose — will never be left in darkness.