Doris Day: 10 inspiring quotes from the Hollywood icon to live your life by

Hollywood icon Doris Day has passed away, aged 97.

The Doris Day Animal Foundation confirmed in a statement that the actor, singer and activist had died early on Monday, 13 May, at her home in California.

She was surrounded by close friends when she passed, according to the statement, which added Day had been "in excellent physical health for her age, until recently contracting a serious case of pneumonia".

Day was one of the biggest stars of the fifties and sixties, appearing in classic films like Pillow Talk, Calamity Jane and The Pajama Game.

She was also an Oscar winner, a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and a staunch campaigner for animal rights for much of her life.

But more so than that, she was one of the most quotable stars of her era and, alongside her treasured filmography, she left of us with some truly inspiration words to help us navigate our way through life. Here at ten of our favourites...

1. Doris on... the pursuit of happiness.

I like joy; I want to be joyous; I want to have fun on set; I want to wear beautiful clothes and look pretty. I want to smile and I want to make people laugh. And that's all I want. I like it. 

I like being happy. I want to make others happy.

2. Doris on... real wealth.

Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty.

3. Doris on... woman's best friend...

I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source.

4. ...and standing up for animal rights...

Killing an animal to make a coat is sin. It wasn't meant to be, and we have no right to do it.

5. ...and just loving animals in general.

I've never met an animal I didn't like and I can't say the same thing about people.

6. Doris on... growing older.

The really frightening thing about middle age is the knowledge that you'll grow out of it. Middle age is youth without levity, and age without decay.

7. Doris on... never giving up.

I've been through everything. I always said I was like those round-bottomed circus dolls - you know, those dolls you could push down and they'd come back up? I've always been like that.

I've always said, no matter what happens, if I get pushed down, I'm going to come right back up.

8. Doris on... the excess of the super rich.

When I see Liz Taylor with those Harry Winston boulders hanging from her neck, I get nauseated. Not figuratively, but nauseated! 

All I can think of are how many dog shelters those diamonds could buy.

9. Doris on... looking on the brighter side of life.

I love to laugh. It's the only way to live. Enjoy each day - it's not coming back again!

10. Doris on... men.

If it's true that men are such beasts, this must account for the fact that most women are animal lovers.

For a full tribute to Doris Day, click here.

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